Buying guide for Best push brooms
If you have a large area to keep clean, one of the best brooms to own is a push broom. With a large head and a number of possible bristle thicknesses, push brooms can be used to clean a wide range of indoor or outdoor surfaces.
Push brooms are unique for several reasons. While the majority of brooms are designed to pull debris toward you, push brooms push debris away. They can effectively handle larger pieces of debris as well as smaller particles, providing a lot of versatility. The wide head and long handle make cleanup a fast process, and if you need a broom to use on concrete, a push broom is an exceptionally adept tool.
Key considerations
Durability
Push brooms are often used in garages, warehouses, and other settings where they take a beating. As such, any push broom you buy should be durable, particularly if it will see steady use. Strong bristles, a reliable handle, and support brackets at the head-handle junction all contribute to a push broom’s durability and longevity.
Size
As mentioned, the head of a push broom is typically much larger than the heads of other types of brooms. The larger the head, the faster you can clean an area. Push broom head width ranges form 18 inches to 30 inches; the majority sit in the 24-inch range.
Broom handle length can vary, but the standard length is 60 inches. You might choose a push broom with a telescopic broom shaft so you can adjust the length as needed.
Debris
A push broom may be designed to eradicate dust and fine dirt, or it may be designed to move food scraps, leaves, and other large pieces. Some push brooms can handle both types of debris, offering the best of both worlds. It all depends on the bristles. A broom with coarse and thick bristles can handle larger particles, whereas a broom with soft and thin bristles can handle dust and other fine particles.
Indoor vs. outdoor
Maybe you’re looking for a push broom for your deck and driveway. Maybe you’re looking for a push broom for your garage or kitchen. Many push brooms are designed for outdoor use with thicker bristles that can move debris across rough surfaces. Push brooms designed for indoor use are more likely to have softer bristles. Our advice is to read the product description carefully to make sure you are ordering the broom most suitable for your needs.
Some brush heads are cut on an angle. These brooms are better for sweeping out corners and reaching under furniture.
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Features
Handle
Push broom handles come in a variety of materials including wood, plastic, and steel.
Wood: Wooden broom handles, once the go-to material for all broom handles, are less common today. Wood has a decent feel and good weight in the hands, but it can easily break and degrade if exposed to weather.
Plastic: Plastic handles tend to be lightweight, and some plastic handles feel flimsy. Of all handle materials, plastic is the least durable but also the least expensive choice.
Steel: If your primary concern is durability, opt for a push broom with a handle made of stainless steel. Note that you may pay up a bit for a steel handle, and the broom may be on the heavy side.
Grips
Foam or rubber handle grips provide extra comfort to your hands as you hold the broom. If you sweep frequently, this is an important ergonomic factor. Some push brooms go the extra mile with dual grips positioned on the handle to create an ideal sweeping angle.
Brush head
The brush head consists of a cap and bristles. As mentioned, the larger the head, the quicker you will be able to clean a large area. Brush heads typically attach to the handle at an angle for easier sweeping. Some include a support bracket to reinforce what is usually the greatest stress point on a broom: the point where the head and handle meet.
Bristles
The quality of a broom’s performance — and the types of jobs you can do with it — largely depend on its bristles. Bristles can be made from natural materials like palmyra fiber, but they are often made of a synthetic material like Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET). While some consumers prefer eco-friendly natural materials, synthetic bristles can better handle harsh chemicals and oils.
Bristles hardness can help you determine how a broom is best used.
Soft bristles: Soft, thin bristles are best for sweeping fine debris, dirt, and dust from dry surfaces.
Medium bristles: Medium bristles are effective on both dry and wet surfaces. A medium-bristle broom effectively sweeps light to medium-size debris.
Coarse bristles: Best for hard surfaces such as concrete, coarse bristles can handle medium-size debris and caked-on dirt. For the toughest jobs and largest debris, you might choose extra-coarse bristles.
Some bristles feature a wire center, which is effective on both medium-sized debris and caked-on dirt.
DID YOU KNOW?
The bristles of push brooms used in commercial settings, such as docks and warehouses, are often made of polypropylene. The lightweight bristles can better handle oils, detergents, and acids.
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Push broom prices
Push brooms range in price from under $20 to $30 or more. The majority of push brooms are priced in the $20 to $30 range.
Inexpensive
For under $20, expect to find simple push brooms with less-durable builds. These push brooms tend to have smaller brush heads and incorporate more plastic in their designs, including plastic handles. Push brooms in this price range are best for people with minimal sweeping needs.
Mid-range
In the $20 to $30 range, you will find the greatest assortment of push brooms. These tend to be more durable than inexpensive brooms and have larger brush heads. Bristles range from soft to coarse, and some brooms with stainless steel handles can be found here. If you have moderate indoor/outdoor sweeping needs, this is a good place to begin your search.
Expensive
If you’ve got a lot of heavy sweeping to do, concentrate on brooms that cost $30 or more. In this price range, durability is high, and steel handles are common. These commercial-grade brooms feature large brush heads and often boast a variety of bristle types for multi-surface use. Multi-broom packs and brooms with multiple exchangeable heads are also found in this price range.
Whereas brooms were once primarily made with natural bristles, synthetic bristles are more common today due to their durability and low cost.
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Tips
- If you plan to move water with your broom, opt for one with thick, dense bristles. The bristles will act like a wall, pushing water and other liquids.
- Some brooms have a variety of bristle types, from fine to coarse, on the same head. These are particularly effective if your cleanup jobs involve both small and large debris.
- If you perform a variety of different sweeping jobs (for example, a kitchen floor and a restaurant seating area), use a different broom for each area. This helps keep germs from spreading between the different areas.
- Push brooms are typically too large to use with dustpans, but there are some solutions to this problem. One potential solution is the Brovel, which attaches to a push broom and acts as a built-in dustpan.
FAQ
Q. What is the difference between flagged and unflagged bristles?
A. Flagged bristles, also known as feathered bristles, have split ends that create a frayed sweeping surface. Brooms with flagged bristles work best on dry surfaces to sweep up fine dirt and dust.
Unflagged bristles are not split, which helps keep the bristles from clogging and matting together. These types of brooms are great for rough or wet surfaces with heavier debris, such as garages and kitchens.
Q. Do I need to clean my push broom?
A. Dirt and dust can build up over time on a broom. Periodically cleaning the bristles will help maintain the broom and keep it effective. You can easily clean a broom head by soaking it in a solution of mild soap and warm water, then gently rinsing it off with a hose or kitchen sprayer. Wipe down the handle with a disinfectant spray for a full clean.
Q. Can a push broom handle be replaced?
A. This varies. With some brooms, the handle has standard threading on the end so you can easily swap it out for a replacement. Other push brooms feature handles that are molded, riveted, or otherwise fixed directly to the broom head.
