25 Types of Brooms to Sweep Your Floors

No matter which type of vacuum cleaner you have, nothing will touch the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of various types of brooms. This is especially true when you’re trying to get debris and dust off the edges and corners of the room. If you have pets or kids and your floors are a crumb buffet, brooms can be a huge help. 

Also, it’s great that brooms are mostly silent, especially when you compare them to the din a vacuum can create. If you’re considering investing in a high-quality type of broom to help you keep your home clean, chances are, you’ll most likely pick one without much thought. However, there are different types of brooms available, and some will work better for your needs than others. We’ll outline 25 options below. 

1 Old Broom
You may not realize just how many types of brooms are available on the current market until you start shopping, but it’s essential that you get the correct broom for your needs. Broom by 1024greenstreet / CC BY-SA 2.0

25 Types of Brooms

You can make your chore list a lot easier by picking out the correct type of broom. The following options all have various usefulness levels, and some are going to be much better suited for daily cleaning than heavy-duty projects like cleaning out the workshop floor. 

1. Angle Broom

This type of broom is very modern, and it’s popular in millions of homes because the bristles angle. Instead of having traditional straight bristles, these brooms come cut at an angle, and this makes it easier to get into corners and neat your kitchen’s toe kick. Unlike a more traditional broom design that can leave behind bits of debris and food in these tight areas, these brooms make it easy to get everything as you sweep. 

The bristles on this type of broom are usually plastic, and they get made to last for years of heavy use without falling out or wearing. As the broom ages and you use it, the bristles get more flexible. This makes it easier to get into small spaces without a huge amount of effort. 

2. Bamboo

For people who are eco-conscious and worried about sustainability, this is a nice type of broom to pick out. Getting a broom with a bamboo handle ensures you have an environmentally-friendly option. Bamboo is very fast-growing, and this makes it easy to harvest to use without worrying about taking too much. Also, it’s very lightweight and strong, and this makes it easy to sweep without any flex. 

3. Besom Brooms

These types of brooms come with twigs that get tied very tightly around a stick. They won’t last nearly as long as softer, newer brooms do. Also, how stiff the twigs are will limit the amount of cleaning you can do without damaging or breaking them. Because of these facts, most people use this broom more for an ornament in the home instead of a functional cleaning tool. They are often the broom you see when you see depictions of witches flying, so they make fantastic Halloween decorations. 

4. Corn

Corn is an extremely common bristle material for various types of brooms. It’s extremely sturdy, but it’s not so stiff and strong that it won’t bend when you use it. You’ll get straight fibers that can trap even the smallest amounts of debris and dirt quickly and pull them out from behind appliances and furniture. This is also a relatively cost-effective type of broom to find, and this makes them popular in a huge range of homes. 

5. Dustpan Included

Unless you’re already attached to a dustpan, it’s a good idea to purchase a broom that comes with a dustpan included in the purchase. As a bonus, this ensures that it’s the correct size for the broom you picked out. Some brooms are extremely wide, and this means that they won’t work well with a typical dustpan. So, buying a broom with an included dustpan ensures that this isn’t an issue. 

Some brooms come outfitted with very short dustpans that make you bend down very close to the ground to use. If you want to make it easy on yourself and your body, you can buy a dustpan that has a handle that is the same length as the broom. This allows you to easily pick up dust, dirt, and debris from your floor without bending down and trying to hold both the broom and dustpan at the same time. Some dust pans come with a flatter bottom, and this lets you rest them on the floor while you work. 

2 Dust Pan
If you buy a broom that has a dustpan included, you shouldn’t have any problems snapping it onto the handle when you finish using it to ensure that it’s always on the broom when you need it. Dust Pan by Joanna Bourne / CC BY 2.0

6. Extendable Handle

Depending on the size of your home or space, you might not have room to store a full-sized broom. This is especially true if you live in a smaller apartment. In this situation, the best type of broom you can get comes with an extendable handle. The telescoping handle makes it easy to adjust your broom’s height to the perfect level for various people to use before shrinking down to a smaller size for storage purposes. 

7. Fiberglass

Any broom with a fiberglass handle will generally be a more expensive type of broom than the counterparts, but these brooms also tend to last for years due to the handle’s construction. They generally get welded, and this makes them very hard to destroy. In turn, you’ll get all of the cleaning power you need without worrying. Since they won’t splinter or crack, you won’t have to worry about injuring yourself when you use it. 

8. Hand Broom

Most types of brooms come with a very long handle attached that makes them very easy to use when you stand upright, but hand brooms come with a very short handle. They’re not great for trying to clean larger areas, but they work well for spot cleaning in smaller rooms. If you’ve had a minor spill and a small amount of debris that you need to clean quickly, picking a hand broom will ensure that you finish quickly. 

They typically come with a dustpan that snaps onto the handle, and this makes it easy to get rid of debris without having to search for a dustpan. They’re great for emergency cleanups or to keep around the house for small messes. The bristles will usually be a plastic. 

9. Hard Brooms

If you’re after a type of broom that comes with stiff bristles, this may be a good choice. They have bristles that have significantly less flex to them, and this makes them great for getting into cracks, grout lines in tile, and holes and getting all of the dirt out. A soft broom wouldn’t be able to get into these crevices very well, but the stiff bristles on this type of broom are perfect. It’s also a solid choice when you need to clean a dirtier area but you don’t want to drag out the vacuum.  

10. Horsehair

Typically used alongside another material for the bristles, this type of broom bristles are so soft that you don’t use them by themselves. It’s so light and soft that it can easily control the fine particles of debris, dirt, and dust. The additional materials that make up the broom can take on the bigger debris and dirt that you need to move. The horsehair will go behind to finish your cleaning project, and this leaves you a hard floor that is very clean and neat. 

11. Manufactured Wood

Broom handles that feature manufactured wood are very straight, sturdy, and not prone to cracking. You also won’t worry about getting splinters from this type of broom, and they usually last for several years of hard use without showing any huge signs of wear and tear. The handle will often outlast the bristles. You want to find one that is a comfortable weight so you have an easy time using it as they tend to be on the heavier side. 

12. Metal

Any broom that has a metal handle on it is usually very easy to use and lightweight. This is an ideal type of broom to have on hand if you are going to clean a larger area if you need to sweep quickly before customers or guests come into the space. Picking a metal handle for your broom ensures that you won’t get fatigued as you use it, and that it’s also easy to use. 

The metal is usually strong enough that it won’t break, even when you toss it back into your storage. You should make sure to pick a metal broom handle that is very ergonomic and comfortable to hold. You should also look for one with a strong connection to the bristles so the head of the broom doesn’t fall off when you’re using it. 

3 Colorful Brooms
Metal brooms are very popular for industrial applications, but it’s rare that you’ll find them used around the house in smaller spaces. Coloured brooms for witches in colour by Davon Cengija / CC0 1.0

13. Palmyra

The bristles on this type of broom are very tough, and this allows them to stand up to a huge amount of big debris and hard work without damage. Softer bristles might not be able to sweep up stones, rubber, or big chunks of sticks or dirt, palmyra fibers can take on these jobs without a problem. They’re not great for fine cleaning projects around your business or home, but they’re great for project site cleaning and moving washed-out gravel from your paths or walkways. 

14. Plastic

Plastic brooms are some of the lightest types of brooms on the market, so this means that they’re also some of the easiest to break on accident. This is a tradeoff that most people are willing to have though since they’re very easy to use, can be brought out to use and stored quickly, and they’re light enough for smaller kids to use to learn how to sweep. 

When you leave this type of broom in very cold temperatures, the handle can get very brittle and break prematurely. This is why it’s best to leave this type of broom inside when you’re not using it because it prevents it from accidentally cracking or breaking. If the handle does break, you’ll want to get a new one straight away because the edges are sharp and can accidentally hurt someone. 

15. Poly

This is a very sturdy material to use with your bristles, and it does a wonderful job of cleaning harder surfaces like garages, outdoor walkways, porches, or basements. The soft and stiff bristle combination can catch most items that you want to sweep up. It has soft fibers on the outside of the broom head and stiff fibers on the inside. So, you can use it to sweep up bigger items like twigs or clods of dirt and smaller things like sawdust and dust. 

16. Polypropylene

The fibers are softer and they usually come with split tips when you buy this type of broom to ensure that it does a nice job with fine sweeping projects. They’re not nearly as coarse as other synthetic bristle materials. Due to the construction of these bristles, the brooms work very well on smooth interior flooring to ensure that you leave nothing behind to be a fall or trip hazard. 

17. Push Broom

The push type of broom comes with very sturdy bristles that make it very easy to use them to clean up bigger areas at one time. Instead of getting a smaller broom and having to use it several times in one area, a push broom allows you to cover a decent amount of ground or floor in one pass. They’re very good at moving debris and bigger pieces aside, but smaller debris or dust may slip through the bristles and stay behind. 

You often see this type of broom used in supermarkets or shops because it takes a few passes to lean the aisle or entrance area while decreasing the possibility of someone falling or tripping on any items left on the floor. The bristles on this broom are usually a plastic material, and it’s strong enough to withstand years of heavy use without showing wear and tear. 

4 Push Broom
Push brooms tend to be much larger and heavier than traditional brooms, and this allows you to quickly cover big spaces to catch the majority of the debris, including larger pieces. Broom [FlickrFriday] by Alvin Trusty / CC BY-NC 2.0

18. Replacement Head

Depending on how often you plan to use your type of broom and what surface you mainly use it on, you’ll eventually want to replace the broom head. This can be frustrating if you’re attached to your current broom, so you want to pick one that allows you to keep your handle and replace the head as it wears out, especially if it’s a fiberglass handle. 

These types of brooms usually have a head that screws onto the handle to make it easy to remove older heads and replace them with new. You should look for heads that have a very sturdy and durable appearance that will stand up to hard use. You don’t want to have to replace it right away if it starts to break down too quickly. This can get expensive. 

19. Scented Brooms

Most types of brooms serve a functional use, but there are some that you buy purely for the way they smell and look. It’s common to see cinnamon brooms in houses, and these work as a decoration while giving the room a nice scent. These brooms used to be very difficult to find, but they’re now widespread as the popularity grows. 

You can use these types of brooms to clean, but they’re usually smaller and much more fragile than traditional brooms. This makes them a better choice for decorations and their scent over a functional use. 

20. Soft Broom

As the name suggests, this type of broom features bristles that have many materials mixed in, and the one you pick is entirely up to your preferences. They all come with the same fan shape to them. Even though they’re called soft brooms, the bristles are usually strong enough to stand up to regular sweeping, and they won’t bend as much as brooms with grass bristles. It’s very common to find these brooms made out of corn husks because this gives the broom head enough flexibility and strength. 

These brooms can last for many years, but some people will find them very hard to work with at first. The bristles on this broom are so strong that they hold their shape very well. However, over time they will start to bend whichever direction you bend the broom. This makes it easier to get into tight spaces, and there are several rows of tight stitching along these brooms on the top of the bristles to keep them in place to prevent wiggling. 

21. Upright Broom

Instead of pushing this type of broom along the ground at an angle, upright brooms have bristles that fall in line with the handle. This makes them easy for most people to use and lets them get into tight spaces with ease. They usually cover a much smaller surface area than you can with a push broom, but they can work just as well. It will take a longer amount of time though due to the space. The longer handle on this type of broom can be difficult for shorter adults or kids to use, but it can make cleaning the room much quicker if it’s a good fit. 

22. Washable Head

Industrial brooms tend to get very dirty with repeated use, and you don’t want to push chemicals and debris around on your clean floor. The best thing you can do is get a type of broom that allows you to wash the broom head. Doing so will prevent you from getting the floors dirty when you try to clean. 

While it’s possible to wash down most types of rboom, especially those with synthetic bristles, removing the head makes it much easier to clean the broom without causing any damage to the handle. They also allow you to soak the head to clean it faster and easier without worrying about the handle rotting with water exposure. 

23. Wedding Brooms

In several areas around the world, there is a tradition of jumping over the broom at a wedding. It’s very easy to buy types of brooms that are made specifically for this purpose, and they’re usually orante enough to serve as a nice decoration that you can take home after the wedding ceremony. 

When the happy couple is searching for a broom to use, it’s normal to want one that has designs or more decoration on it to make it fit with the event. Buying one that is specially made for this purpose will ensure that it showcases how the couple feels. 

5 Wedding Broom

Wedding brooms are usually decorated and much more ornate than other types of brooms, and this makes it a nice memento for the bride and groom. Flickr Friday – #broom by Cocoabiscuit / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

24. Whisk Broom

Generally, this type of broom is a lot smaller than most brooms. It’s very similar to a traditional hand broom, but you get a much larger handle. The bristles are another large difference. They feature natural fibers, and this gives the broom a much more organic look and feel that appeals to people. 

Unfortunately, this type of broom usually doesn’t come with a dustpan to snap onto the handle, so you’ll need to get one. They’re great for smaller projects like picking up fallen crumbs in the kitchen or for dusting your computer’s keyboard. The stiff natural bristles can get in between the keys and make sure everything comes out. 

25. Wood

Finally, wooden types of broom handles are going to be very easy to use, sturdy, and comfortable. When you purchase a broom with a wooden handle on it, you won’t have to worry about breaking or cracking it when you use it. Any handle you pick out should be very smooth and not have any imperfections because you don’t want to worry about splinters when you sweep. 

Some wooden broom handles get left with the natural wood grain showing, but others get a coat of paint to make it more aesthetically pleasing and to ensure that splinters don’t form. If you’re going to purchase a more decorative type of broom, the handle is usually natural wood that hasn’t been smoothed or turned. This adds charm to the broom and gives it character. 

Bottom Line

We’ve outlined 25 types of brooms you can use to sweep any area of your home or shop, and you can use the list to decide which ones are going to work best for your needs. You may even want to get more than one for different cleaning projects. 
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