The best broom isn't necessarily the one with the stiffest bristles or the biggest head. The right broom depends on what you're sweeping, the surface you're sweeping, and the type of debris you need to collect.

Choosing a broom may seem like a simple task, but the wrong bristle can make sweeping harder than it needs to be, different types of floor cleaning require different types of brooms. From soft natural coco and soft PVC bristles to stiff bassine and stiff PVC for tougher jobs.

So…how do you know which broom is right for your floor? 

🛋️ Think of your floor, not the broom

First, consider the floor you’re sweeping. Is it a smooth, hard floor, or a rough, uneven floor? I ask because the flooring you plan on sweeping is so important when deciding which broom you should use. If you are sweeping up a smooth flooring - then you should definitely be looking at a softer bristle, a Natural Coco bristle or a soft PVC. The softer bristles will help collect fine dust and debris more effectively, whilst providing a gentler sweeping action. However, if you’re looking to sweep stone/slabbed flooring or uneven, rougher flooring - then a stiff bristle is absolutely the better option for you. The stiffness of the bristles helps shift those more stubborn bits between the flooring and almost act like a scrub on the stone to really lift off any dust/dirt! 

I’ll give you a real-life experience with broom types too. I have painted decking at home and, with the leaves starting to fall, it’s been getting covered! I use a soft coco broom to sweep the leaves away, and it does a great job while being gentle on the painted surface of my decking. 

Surface areas

You also need to think about how large the area you are sweeping is. The size of your broom can make a big difference. A wider broom head will cover more ground with each sweep, helping you get through larger spaces quicker, while a smaller broom can be easier to control in tighter areas. We stock broom heads and complete brooms in sizes from 9" to 36", so you can choose a size that suits the area you’re cleaning.

Different broom types

Rubber brooms - If hair is your main problem, then a traditional broom isn’t necessarily the first thing to reach for, the rubber brooms are a unique broom that help pull out any pet hair, dust and dirt that a hoover might not get, they work especially well on carpets where pet hair might have seeped deep into the carpeting. But they are not just useful for carpeted flooring, they are great for hard, smooth flooring too, you can gather debris easily without getting stuck in the bristles and gather it into a pile instead of just simply brushing it along. 

Soft coco brooms - A soft coco bristle is a natural bristle type made from natural coir (coconut fibres) which comes from the outer husk of a coconut palm. Soft coco is more flexible than a stiff bristle, making it a better option for lighter sweeping. This bristle type is a particularly good option for general inside dirt, especially on smooth flooring, you can compile it into a pile and sweep it into a dustpan effortlessly, and it works a treat on laminate, vinyl and even hardwood floorings. It’s a softer, more flexible natural bristle that works best for indoor cleaning. But it’s definitely not the broom for you if you’re shifting heavier, more stubborn debris from rougher or outdoor areas. 

Stiff bassine brooms - A stiff bassine bristle is a natural bristle type made from the leaves of the palmyra palm. Unlike soft coco, bassine is much stiffer and more rigid, making it a better option for heavier sweeping and more stubborn dirt. This bristle type is particularly useful for rougher flooring and outdoor areas, where you need a bit more force to shift dirt, dust and debris from uneven surfaces. The stiffness of the bristles helps get into gaps and uneven areas, making it a great choice for patios, stone and other rough flooring. But if you’re mainly sweeping smooth indoor flooring and dealing with lighter dust and dirt, a softer bristle like coco is probably the better option. 

Synthetic pvc bristles - If you’re looking for a synthetic alternative to natural bristles, PVC is a great option, and you can choose between soft or stiff depending on what you’re sweeping. Soft PVC is better suited to lighter indoor cleaning, particularly on smooth floors where you’re mainly dealing with everyday dust and dirt. Stiff PVC, on the other hand, is better for tougher sweeping jobs, helping to shift heavier dirt and debris from rougher surfaces and outdoor areas. So if you want a softer synthetic broom for everyday indoor cleaning, go for soft PVC. If you need something stiffer for tougher jobs, stiff PVC is the better choice. 

Bassine & Cane - If you’re looking for something a bit more serious for outdoor sweeping, a Bassine & Cane broom is a great option. The combination of bassine and cane bristles gives you a firm, stiff sweep that’s well suited to rougher outdoor areas, helping you shift stubborn dirt, mud, soil, straw and general farmyard waste. They’re particularly useful for jobs around stables, farms and yards where a softer broom just isn’t going to cut it. 

💭 So which broom is right for you? 

Ultimately, choosing the right broom comes down to the job in front of you. Think about the surface you’re sweeping, the type of dirt you need to collect and whether you need a softer or stiffer bristle. Once you know those three things, choosing the right broom becomes much easier.