Swivel Sweeper G2 or Original, Which is Better?

I'm a big fan of Swivel Sweepers. I've been using Swivel Sweepers since 2006. After seeing an As Seen on TV ad for the G2, I wondered if the new features of the G2 Swivel Sweeper would be worth upgrading from the Original Swivel Sweeper.

I decided to purchase both an Original Swivel Sweeper and a G2 Swivel Sweeper. That way I could compare the newest Original Swivel Sweeper model to the G2 Swivel Sweeper. I also have an older Swivel Sweeper model for comparison.

According to the boxes, both the Original Swivel Sweeper and the G2 are lightweight - only 2 pounds. They both have heads which can swivel 360 degrees, and are "powerful" with 7.2 volts. Both models are cordless and rechargeable (claiming to run 45 minutes on a single charge.)

The Original and G2 model both have four quad-brush technology to pick up dirt on all four sides, a touchless dirt tray (not available on older Original models), magnetic storage latches (not available on older Original models), and a non-slip rubber tip (also not available on older Original models).

The only unique feature that I could see was that the G2 Swivel Sweeper has a back saver elbow joint.

I didn't find the elbow joint on the G2 to be very useful. To use the elbow joint, I have to bend down and pull up a lever. The pole then bends at an awkward angle so I can sweep underneath objects. I really didn't like vacuuming with the pole at this angle. It was awkward and the pole felt weaker. I found it to be much quicker and easier just to lower the pole and vacuum underneath things.

One thing I wondered about was whether or not the batteries would be interchangeable. I tried using batteries from an older Original Swivel Sweeper and the newer Original Swivel Sweeper and they both were compatible with the G2 Swivel Sweeper.

The touchless dirt tray can be handy compared to the older versions of the Swivel Sweeper. I wouldn't exactly call it "touchless" because you still have to close the tray after emptying it which can get your hands dirty. But at least the dirt tray doesn't fall into the garbage like it did with the older models.

The brushes are still a pain to clean. Anyone with pets or people with long hair will need to clean the brushes quite often. This can be an unpleasant process, even with the supplied "seam ripper" cleaning tool.

I wouldn't exactly call the red color of the G2 an improvement. I like to have my cleaning supplies blend in, not stand out with a bright red color.

Overall, if you have a relatively new Original Swivel Sweeper I don't feel it would be worth it to upgrade to the G2 just for the elbow joint and red color. If you have an older model, you may enjoy the touchless dirt tray, the magnetic storage latch and the non-slip rubber grip.

One of the biggest drawbacks of all Swivel Sweepers is they tend to be short-lived. Either the battery pack will stop holding a charge, the motor will die, or the pole will break. I have gone through many Swivel Sweepers since 2006 because of these issues. But for me, the convenience of using the Swivel Sweeper is what keeps me buying more. I can't imagine going back to using a broom or dragging out my heavy vacuum on a daily basis.

The As Seen on TV infomercial may seem like a good deal with their 2 for 1 offers, but chances are their shipping and handling charges will be as much or more than the cost of the Swivel Sweeper. Therefore, I urge you to buy your Swivel Sweeper from a reputable store. Many chain stores are now carrying the Swivel Sweeper both in stores and online.

To find out more about the benefits of using a Swivel Sweeper, please see my original Swivel Sweeper review here.