Tidy Home

Vacuum Or Broom

Everyone has his or her preferred methods of cleaning hard floors, but what is the most efficient and effective technique? Generally, most people naturally reach for the broom when it's to clean their tile or hardwood floors. But there are advocates for vacuum cleaning out there, and they have arguments that everyone needs to consider before they simply commit to using a broom.

This leads us to the inevitable question: Are you Team Broom or Team Vacuum?

If you want to learn the best way to clean your non-carpeted flooring and the pros and cons of vacuuming and sweeping the floor, look no further. We’re here to settle the debate of broom vs. vacuum.

Ready? Let’s go!

Sweeping the Floor

There are probably very few households that don’t have a broom and dustpan on hand. In fact, little kids often have miniature versions that they play with growing up. The broom is just a part of life for most people. But is it as effective a cleaning tool as we think? Let's take a closer look at the positive attributes of this handy and inexpensive tool.

Advantage Team Broom

Team Broom takes the lead in the following ways:

Can clean up immediately, without having to search for attachments
Quiet, so you can use any time of day or night
Never have to worry about your broom needing a new bag or belt
Inexpensive and requires little to no upkeep
No special attachments needed
Takes up less closet space
Doesn’t rely on electricity
Can easily fit into hard-to-reach places, as needed for chores like cleaning the gap between the stove and the countertops
Won’t be damaged by large pieces of debris like you would see during post-construction cleaning
Less likely to leave scratches or scuff marks on floors
Easy and quick for small messes

Vacuuming the Floor

Many people are under the assumption that sweeping is not only the best way to clean hardwood floors, but that it’s the only way. This simply isn’t the case anymore. In fact, many vacuum cleaners have soft-bristled hardwood floor attachments.

Advantage Team Vacuum

Team Vacuum brings the heat in these areas:

Vacuuming can be less labor intensive, depending on the model you own
This method is much faster
You don’t have to bend over to constantly empty dustpans
Comes with attachments for all sorts of household scenarios, such as different flooring types or tight spaces
Less likely to kick dust up into the air, which can be beneficial when cleaning for allergy sufferers
More effective at eliminating dirt and debris, especially fine dust (Keep in mind this is the case for the more modern bagless models that are equipped with HEPA filtering. Vintage models with bags can still kick up a good bit of dust.)
Can be used in other parts of the home, including drapes and blinds
Makes for a more effective transition when cleaning area rugs along with wood floors
Provides a deeper cleaning that can increase the lifespan of your hardwood floors
Great at extracting dirt from cracks and corners, whereas brooms can actually pack it in further

So, what are the best cleaning tools for your floors? As you can see, whether you should be sweeping the floor or vacuuming really depends on your preferences and what exactly you need to accomplish. For example, if you’re tidying up after renovations to your home, you might need to tag team the area with a broom and vacuum. (For a big mess, you may want to hire out post renovation cleaning services).

However, when it comes to the best way to clean hardwood floors on a daily basis, we’re Team Vacuum over Team Broom, all the way.

Ways to Avoid Scratches with Vacuuming Hardwood Floors

Many people are often concerned that vacuuming might cause scratches on their hardwood. A couple main risks to hardwood getting scratched by a vacuum would be [1] the wheels pressing down on the wood from the weight of the vacuum and [2] the bristles on the vacuum brush being too stiff and harsh.

To avoid the first problem of weight, you can look into a vacuum with rubber wheels or you can buy a lighter vacuum like a stick (bagless) vacuum or a canister vacuum that doesn't carry the weight over the suction area.

For the second problem of harsh bristles, you can make sure your cannister vacuum has a soft bristle attachment or you can look into vacuums with alternatives to standard bristles like flexible silicone or Microfiber brush rolls.

More Floor Cleaning Recommendations

Looking for more floor housekeeping tips? Find out how to vacuum the right way, then learn how to clean safely while you’re keeping those floors in good shape.

And if you’re just so busy that washing the floors is at the bottom of your household priority list, give us a call! Your local Merry Maids is here to lend a helping hand, so you can enjoy your day without worrying what needs to be cleaned next.