A Few Things To Consider When Choosing A Broom For Laminate Floors
Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2022 4:05 am
Laminate floors can look a lot like stone, tile, or wood. After all, this is how they are designed and also one of their biggest selling points. That said, this doesn't mean you can just treat laminate floors like real wood or stone.
Cleaning and maintaining these floors need less water and a more focused effort than you might think, including the broom used to clean up dirt and debris. All brooms on the market are designed to help people clean their floors. But there is a wide range of designs and options, which may make some more efficient than others on laminate.
For instance, bristle material plays a huge role in how your broom can handle certain tasks. We know most people aren't aware of this when choosing a broom for laminate floors. That is why we have compiled all the important basic basics below.
Bristle Stiffness
On the bristle stiffness spectrum, both ends have plenty of broom models. There are also plenty of brooms that have more than one bristle type.
As far as stiffness is concerned, the rule of thumb is that softer bristles do a better job of getting rid of fine dust. While stiffer models can help you with large debris, they can leave a lot of scratches on bare floors like laminate.
Bristle Style
On top of that, you can also put broom bristles into several categories: unflagged, flagged, rubber, and cloth/mop.
Unflagged bristles feature straight ends that can remove big or wet debris. You can find this type of bristles on products for bathrooms or kitchens and outdoor brooms. Unflagged bristles are too stiff for delicate floor materials like laminate. Even if some of them use slightly softer materials, using them still carries a big risk of scratches.
On the other hand, flagged bristles use splintered ends to increase the surface area of the broom, making them a better tool for sweeping, trapping, and collecting small dust and dirt particles. A lot of great brooms for laminate floors use flagged bristles as they have an easier time holding on to fine dust - the kind of debris we usually see on bare floors.
Mop or cloth brooms come with microfiber bristles. They can help you collect dirt and dust when pushing or sweeping them. They are an ideal choice for removing debris and fine dust from laminate floors. Want to get one of them?. They should work fine on laminate floors as well.
Rubber bristles don't have the same design as other regular bristle types. They look like rubber fingers, which help pull and push pet hair out of carpeted and bare floors. You can then wash the broom head with water and soap to get rid of the remaining hair.
Keep in mind that while rubber bristles excel at removing hair and fur, they aren't effective with common debris and dust on laminate floors. They are a specialized tool that you can keep in addition to your regular broom.
Besides the style and stiffness, you should also pay attention to the angle of your broom's bristles. If they are angled, bristles can reach under furniture or into corners easily. Both unflagged and flagged bristles have angled and straight cuts.
Overall, you should pick a best broom for laminate floors. If you have plenty of baseboards or corners to deal with, go for an angled model.
Bristle Material
The materials of the bristles and handle play a huge role in how much a broom weighs, what kinds of debris it can sweep, and where it can work best on. Manufacturers have used several materials to make them, but we can put them into two big categories: synthetic and natural.
Thanks to the environmental movement, more and more people prefer natural materials for their products. Some of them just outright hate any kind of synthetic fibers in their house and want to steer clear of them.
If you are one of these people, the broom market has plenty of offers for you, from stiff straw to softer horsehair. There are also palmyra, yucca, Tampico, and broomcorn to boot. A lot of brooms don't use a single but a mix of natural materials.
For instance, broomcorn and yucca can be found together in a lot of brooms. These products combine fine dust and large debris removal capabilities in one product.
If synthetic materials are fine with you, there are even more options to choose from, from PET, microfiber, polypropylene, to PVC. Like their natural counterparts, synthetic bristles have both thick and stiff flagged as well as softer options.
Handle Material
When it comes to broom handles, wood, metal, and plastic are the most popular materials.
Metal and plastic can resist moisture and heat better than wood. If your laminate floors are installed in an environment with humidity or temperature extremes, they are a better choice. All of those materials can make lightweight handles, which are more stable and help you apply pressure on the handle without flexing it.
Handle Design
Handles of brooms vary in design, thickness, and length. Long handles allow you to stand upright and have better leverage for sweeping as well as prevent problems like back pain.
If your household has more than one person required to use the broom, have a look at models with an adjustable handle. Some use a telescoping handle, while others come with one or multiple extension pieces. Everyone in your house can alter the handle according to their height with those handles.
The weakest point of an adjustable broom is the joint. It can flex, bend, or even break. Choose thick joints made from sturdy materials that have a locking mechanism to prevent the handle from breaking or bending.
Weight
Lightweight models are a great choice if you are worried about fatigue when sweeping a big room. Synthetic materials like plastic can reduce the weight of a broom, while lightweight metals like aluminum are excellent alternatives if you prefer something more durable.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are several factors you should mull over when shopping for a broom for laminate floors. Manufacturers have come up with many designs, mechanisms, and materials. Some of them are better at cleaning bare floors like laminate than others.
You can have a look at recommendations in this guide Best Broom for Laminate Floors: Top Choices for Delicate Surface to get a great broom for yourself. Remember that this type of floor is similar to vinyl flooring on many fronts. That is why you can get one of the suggested products on this guide “Best Mop for Vinyl Plank Floors: Buying Guide and TOP Suggestions” to help clean your laminate flooring.
Cleaning and maintaining these floors need less water and a more focused effort than you might think, including the broom used to clean up dirt and debris. All brooms on the market are designed to help people clean their floors. But there is a wide range of designs and options, which may make some more efficient than others on laminate.
For instance, bristle material plays a huge role in how your broom can handle certain tasks. We know most people aren't aware of this when choosing a broom for laminate floors. That is why we have compiled all the important basic basics below.
Bristle Stiffness
On the bristle stiffness spectrum, both ends have plenty of broom models. There are also plenty of brooms that have more than one bristle type.
As far as stiffness is concerned, the rule of thumb is that softer bristles do a better job of getting rid of fine dust. While stiffer models can help you with large debris, they can leave a lot of scratches on bare floors like laminate.
Bristle Style
On top of that, you can also put broom bristles into several categories: unflagged, flagged, rubber, and cloth/mop.
Unflagged bristles feature straight ends that can remove big or wet debris. You can find this type of bristles on products for bathrooms or kitchens and outdoor brooms. Unflagged bristles are too stiff for delicate floor materials like laminate. Even if some of them use slightly softer materials, using them still carries a big risk of scratches.
On the other hand, flagged bristles use splintered ends to increase the surface area of the broom, making them a better tool for sweeping, trapping, and collecting small dust and dirt particles. A lot of great brooms for laminate floors use flagged bristles as they have an easier time holding on to fine dust - the kind of debris we usually see on bare floors.
Mop or cloth brooms come with microfiber bristles. They can help you collect dirt and dust when pushing or sweeping them. They are an ideal choice for removing debris and fine dust from laminate floors. Want to get one of them?. They should work fine on laminate floors as well.
Rubber bristles don't have the same design as other regular bristle types. They look like rubber fingers, which help pull and push pet hair out of carpeted and bare floors. You can then wash the broom head with water and soap to get rid of the remaining hair.
Keep in mind that while rubber bristles excel at removing hair and fur, they aren't effective with common debris and dust on laminate floors. They are a specialized tool that you can keep in addition to your regular broom.
Besides the style and stiffness, you should also pay attention to the angle of your broom's bristles. If they are angled, bristles can reach under furniture or into corners easily. Both unflagged and flagged bristles have angled and straight cuts.
Overall, you should pick a best broom for laminate floors. If you have plenty of baseboards or corners to deal with, go for an angled model.
Bristle Material
The materials of the bristles and handle play a huge role in how much a broom weighs, what kinds of debris it can sweep, and where it can work best on. Manufacturers have used several materials to make them, but we can put them into two big categories: synthetic and natural.
Thanks to the environmental movement, more and more people prefer natural materials for their products. Some of them just outright hate any kind of synthetic fibers in their house and want to steer clear of them.
If you are one of these people, the broom market has plenty of offers for you, from stiff straw to softer horsehair. There are also palmyra, yucca, Tampico, and broomcorn to boot. A lot of brooms don't use a single but a mix of natural materials.
For instance, broomcorn and yucca can be found together in a lot of brooms. These products combine fine dust and large debris removal capabilities in one product.
If synthetic materials are fine with you, there are even more options to choose from, from PET, microfiber, polypropylene, to PVC. Like their natural counterparts, synthetic bristles have both thick and stiff flagged as well as softer options.
Handle Material
When it comes to broom handles, wood, metal, and plastic are the most popular materials.
Metal and plastic can resist moisture and heat better than wood. If your laminate floors are installed in an environment with humidity or temperature extremes, they are a better choice. All of those materials can make lightweight handles, which are more stable and help you apply pressure on the handle without flexing it.
Handle Design
Handles of brooms vary in design, thickness, and length. Long handles allow you to stand upright and have better leverage for sweeping as well as prevent problems like back pain.
If your household has more than one person required to use the broom, have a look at models with an adjustable handle. Some use a telescoping handle, while others come with one or multiple extension pieces. Everyone in your house can alter the handle according to their height with those handles.
The weakest point of an adjustable broom is the joint. It can flex, bend, or even break. Choose thick joints made from sturdy materials that have a locking mechanism to prevent the handle from breaking or bending.
Weight
Lightweight models are a great choice if you are worried about fatigue when sweeping a big room. Synthetic materials like plastic can reduce the weight of a broom, while lightweight metals like aluminum are excellent alternatives if you prefer something more durable.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are several factors you should mull over when shopping for a broom for laminate floors. Manufacturers have come up with many designs, mechanisms, and materials. Some of them are better at cleaning bare floors like laminate than others.
You can have a look at recommendations in this guide Best Broom for Laminate Floors: Top Choices for Delicate Surface to get a great broom for yourself. Remember that this type of floor is similar to vinyl flooring on many fronts. That is why you can get one of the suggested products on this guide “Best Mop for Vinyl Plank Floors: Buying Guide and TOP Suggestions” to help clean your laminate flooring.