2020 Sweeper Challenge

When it comes time to sweep, I have a variety of choices.  I have a lightweight Riccar Upright , an old-fashioned broom and dustpan, a microfiber mop and a Kenmore cordless stick vacuum.  You would think with all these toys, that a spotless floor is an obsession of mine.  Quite the contrary.  I am always looking for an easier, quicker solution.

When the carpet in our home started to show wear, I decided to go with laminate.  The carpet had a nice feel.  But Brian and I aren't the type to take our shoes off in the house.  We also had an elderly cat that created challenges.  When the time came to replace some of the carpet, I went big and replaced all the carpet.  Now the whole house has hard surfaces (tile and laminate), except for a couple rugs.  After nearly 2 years, I stand by my choice.

From Carpet:

To Laminate:

I have a love/hate relationship with cleaning all these hard surfaces.  I love how easy it is to sweep.  But the area is pretty big.  I have a habit of sweeping dirt into a pile against the wall as I move from area to area.  The challenge is to remember where all the little dirt piles are.  Of course, I miss one or two...to find another day.

Back to my sweeper collection.  Recently I wondered which is the most effective tool in my arsenal.

• My practical side thinks the old-fashioned broom is good enough.

• My adventurous side thinks the cordless stick vacuum is right for the job.

• My mechanical side says the Riccar has the most power (Tim Taylor...Argh Argh).

• My scientific side says the microfiber mop with the latest fiber technology will be the best.

So I came up with a test to find the BEST SWEEPER.  I created a test area of four collections of flour.  Which sweeper do YOU think did the best?

CONTESTANT #1

Broom and Dustpan.  It took 2 sweeps to gather up all the flour.  And there were small strips left where I put the broom down.  I couldn't get up all the flour into the dustpan...no matter how many times I tried.   Conclusion:  There was film of flour on the floor as well as stripes from the dustpan.

CONTESTANT #2

Microfiber Mop.  The flour swept up with one swipe.  But flour stayed in the small cracks.  Like, the broom, it was difficult to sweep up the flour into a dustpan.  Conclusion:  Flour left in cracks, problems with using the dustpan.

CONTESTANT #3

Riccar Upright Vacuum.  I was SHOCKED that it took 3 swipes with the Riccar vacuum to get up all the flour.  One the positive side, there were no issues with a dust pan.  I realize that the Riccar is made for carpet not a hard surface.  Conclusion:  With a large area, having to cover the area 3 times takes a lot of time.

CONTESTANT #4

Kenmore Cordless Stick Vacuum.  I have the model designed for hard surfaces.  It was no surprise that it picked up ALL the flour in ONE swipe.  Nothing left in the cracks or on the surface.  Conclusion:  It is the BIG WINNER.

I still like all four tools.  They each have a specialized use.  The broom is handy for quick jobs.  The microfiber mop is best for using with a spray on tough spots.  The Riccar is great for my area rugs.  But I can't stop singing the praises of my latest toy...Kenmore Cordless Stick vacuum.  It hangs conveniently in my office, no pesky cords to deal with and it is easy to dump.