You’ve Been Sweeping Wrong This Whole Time (Try These Hacks Instead)
Sweeping is a chore that should be easy but always ends up being annoying. The dust doesn’t all go in the pan, the pet hair flies away, and somehow the floor looks the same as when you started. If you’ve ever felt that way, you’re not alone. But there are smarter, simpler ways to get a clean floor. Here are eight unusual but easy sweeping hacks that actually make the chore faster and a little less frustrating.
Rub A Dryer Sheet On Your Broom First
Before you start sweeping, run a dryer sheet along the bristles of your broom. It reduces static, which means dust, hair, and crumbs stick to the broom instead of floating off or clinging to the floor. Plus, it leaves a subtle fresh scent behind wherever you sweep. It’s a small trick, but it makes sweeping go smoother and helps you collect more in fewer passes.
Sprinkle Baking Soda Or Cornstarch First
If your floors are slightly sticky or coated in fine dust, lightly sprinkling baking soda or cornstarch helps loosen grime and gives your broom something to grab onto. It’s especially handy in the kitchen, where grease can settle on tile. After sweeping, just vacuum or mop up the residue. It’s like giving your broom extra traction for a cleaner sweep.
Wrap Your Dustpan Edge With Painter’s Tape
You know that tiny line of dust that, no matter how hard you try, never makes it into the pan? That’s because most dustpans don’t sit flush with the floor. Stick a strip of painter’s tape along the front edge to create a flexible seal that works like a ramp for getting dirt into the dustpan. When you’re done, peel off the tape and toss it. It’s weirdly satisfying and saves a lot of bending and re-sweeping.
Use A Vacuum First, But Just On The Edges
If you dread chasing dust away from corners and baseboards, try running your vacuum nozzle along the edges before sweeping the main floor. It removes the stubborn buildup that always escapes the broom and gets stuck in corners. You’ll spend less time chasing dirt across the room and more time actually getting your floors clean. Think of it as pre-sweeping: half the effort, twice the payoff.
Turn Your Broom Into A Pet-Hair Magnet
Pet hair has a mind of its own. To catch it faster, lightly mist your broom bristles with water or wrap a microfiber cloth around the broom head. The moisture (or fabric) helps grab hair that dry bristles just push around. You can do a quick pass before your regular sweep and skip the extra vacuuming later. Bonus: it’s way better for getting pet hair off furniture, too.
Use A Pillowcase For Dusting Baseboards As You Sweep
If you’re sweeping along walls, slip an old pillowcase over your hand and wipe baseboards as you go. The pillowcase works because it traps dust without spreading it back into the air. When you’re done, just toss it in the wash. It’s a simple two-for-one trick so you can clean two surfaces at once without any extra effort. It also keeps you from having to bend over and clean the same areas with a rag again later.
Keep A Handheld Brush And Dustpan In Every Room
You don’t have to treat sweeping like a big hassle and you don’t have to sweep your entire house in the same go. Keep a small broom-and-pan set tucked in the kitchen, bathroom, and entryway. Quick, frequent mini-sweeps mean you never have to do one exhausting deep clean. It’s like brushing your teeth or any other tiny habit that keeps mess from building up. You’ll spend less time cleaning overall and you’ll have everything you need close by to tackle dirty floors right when you notice them.
Finish With A Quick Fabric-Softener “Floor Wipe”
After sweeping, attach a used dryer sheet or a damp microfiber cloth to the bottom of your broom and give the floor a final pass. It picks up leftover dust and gives the surface a light polish. It’s just that small finishing touch that makes everything look cleaner and feel smoother underfoot. You can even save the dryer sheet you rubbed on your broom (see hack #1), and reuse it for a final pass on your floor.
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Most of us sweep the same way we always have, even if it doesn’t work that well. These little hacks don’t take extra time or energy, they actually save it. Whether it’s a strip of tape, a sprinkle of baking soda, or a damp cloth trick, it’s all about making this small chore feel a bit easier. Try a few of these next time you grab the broom, and you’ll never go back to sweeping the old way again.
Bliss Donahue-Power
