How to Clean a Broom

Most of the time a broom is only thought of as an instrument for cleaning and the owner don't even think about the broom needing to be cleaned itself. How do you even clean a broom? Since a lot of homeowners haven't even thought of cleaning their broom it is not common knowledge how to do it. Fortunately a broom can be cleaned in a few easy steps.

Just like most items a broom can be washed with water and some form of cleaning detergent but before you was the broom the first step to cleaning a broom is to get rid of the loose dirt and dust. This can be done by using a vacuum. If there is not a handheld vacuum handy then just beat any loose dirt and dust off with your hand. The reason for doing this is because the broom is going to soak in water so getting rid of as much dirt as possible at the beginning will make it less likely that the broom sits in dirty water.

The next step to cleaning a broom is to find a bucket that is large enough for the bristles of the broom to fit in. Fill the bucket with warm water. It is important to make sure the water is warm and not hot because hot water could damage the broom. After the bucket is filled with warm water it is time to add the detergent.

If the broom is vinyl then use a household cleaner or bleach. If the broom is made out of straw then a dish soap will work fine. Once the detergent has been added place the broom, bristles first, into the bucket of warm water and detergent. Let the broom soak in the warm water and detergent for about two hours.

The next step to cleaning a broom is to dry it. The best place to dry a broom is to hang it outside. The broom will air dry and the sun will help to kill any bacteria on the broom. The broom should dry for several hours so if you don't want to leave it outside then it is fine to hang it up and dry it in side. If you do dry it inside then it is best to hang it up overnight to ensure it gets completely dry.

The final step to cleaning a broom is to trim the ends of the bristles. If the broom has gotten a lot of work, which I'm assuming it has if it is dirty, then the ends of the bristles are probably going to be frayed. By trimming off the frayed bristles the broom will function a lot better next time there is something to sweep.

There are a few tips to follow to assure the broom stays clean for a longer period of time. When the broom is stored is it simply placed somewhere with the bristles touching the ground? If so, the broom is just going to get dirty quicker. Find a place to hang the broom or at least place it on the ground handle first so the bristles are not touching the ground. It is also a good idea to get a separate outdoor broom for sweeping the porch or deck. Often homeowners will sweep the deck or porch with a regular broom but the hard surface could damage the broom. Also, it is much dirtier outside so the broom will get dirty a lot faster.

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