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We found the best options for the worst messes. level monofilament for broom brush
A broom is a must-have cleaning tool for kitchen messes as well as any dust and debris from just about anywhere, indoors or out. With so many options available, choosing one that meets your needs may seem daunting, but the best broom can make this chore quicker and more efficient. The best brooms are comfortable in the hand and easy to maneuver with firm, flexible bristles that gather dust and debris.
We chose 21 broom models to test on different surfaces indoors and outdoors, so if you’re considering buying a new or replacement model, you should read on for our top picks. They'll make sweeping a delight.
The dual-bristle design traps dirt and debris easily, and the included dustpan with cleaning combs is a nice bonus.
The metal handle makes this broom heavier than other models we tested.
Whether you’re sweeping up kitchen spills, pet hair, or everyday debris, this broom from O-Cedar handles it all. It features two types of bristles: firm black ones for larger bits and softer grey ones for dust and dirt. The included dustpan is designed to be stepped on to hold it in place while you use its built-in cleaning combs to remove hair (human or pet) without having to touch the bristles with your hands. The metal handle is 46 inches long and is easily assembled by screwing the ends into place.
In our tests, we found the O-Cedar to be extremely effective, picking up debris with minimal passes. Finer items like sawdust and flour took a little more effort, but the flexibility of the grey bristles made it fairly easy to trap dirt. We liked the durability of the bristles of this broom, as they seemed to keep their shape well after use. We also found the handle very comfortable to hold, even though its metal construction made it heavier than some of the other models we tested. Overall, this broom was a perfect combination of value and performance, earning our highest rating in every category.
Weight: 2 pounds | Handle Length: 46 inches | Bristle Width: 13 inches
Lightweight with a telescoping handle, this broom and standing dustpan are easy to use without bending over.
It's pretty expensive for a broom, and its narrow head doesn't cover as much area with each swipe.
While we associate OXO with high-quality inexpensive kitchen tools, the brand’s ergonomic focus is evident with this broom and dustpan set. During testing, we liked the lightweight maneuverability of this broom. Its telescoping handle adjusts for a person of any height, and the dustpan sits flat and securely on the ground. The dustpan features teeth to scrape hair and debris from the broom's bristles, and there's lots of room to hold dust and transport it to the trash. Thanks to the long handles on both broom and dustpan, you'll never have to bend over while using this set.
This broom is narrow compared to the others we tested, so it will take more passes to cover the same amount of space. It's also one of the pricier models, but we think the durability, comfort, and solid performance are worth some extra investment.
Weight: 2.2 pounds | Handle Length: 39 to 53 inches | Bristle Width: 9 inches
This inexpensive, heavy-duty broom works for indoor or outdoor messes.
The firm bristles don’t work as well on fine-textured debris, and hair has to be removed by hand.
If you like the look of an old-fashioned all-natural broom, the corn fibers of this Rubbermaid stand up well to both indoor and outdoor sweeping jobs. The 57-inch wooden handle is great for a range of heights, and we liked its comfortable weight and grip, as it offered good control when sweeping. Its 12-inch wide brush head covers a generous surface area in one stroke. We found that the firm bristles were effective at moving larger pieces of debris, like spilled pasta, but not as great for moving finer dust. We’d recommend it for rougher sweeping jobs where getting every last bit isn’t expected. The bristles stayed firm and didn’t fray during our tests; though they may soften over time, they should withstand years of use.
Weight: 2 pounds | Handle Length: 57 inches | Bristle Width: 12 inches
Firm bristles helped sweep up debris and dust, leaving a visibly crisp and clean line in our tests.
The handle length and grip placement aren't adjustable.
Shopping for a broom you can use everywhere? Yocada designed this heavy-duty broom to stand up to regular use in commercial spaces like lobbies and building courtyards, both inside and outside. Equipped with three layers of angled synthetic bristles, it has a 13-inch brush head to cover a wide section with each pass. The 54-inch handle provides good reach, and the broom is light but sturdy. In our tests, the Yocada offered great maneuverability and effectively moved debris with almost nothing left behind. The bristles on this broom are firm yet flexible, leaving behind a crisp, clean line as we swept debris of all sizes off the floor, even around and under furniture.
Our one complaint is that the soft, comfy grips are set at fixed locations on the fixed-length handle. There's no way to adjust anything to fit how you like to hold your broom.
Weight: 2.3 pounds | Handle Length: 54 inches | Bristle Width: 13 inches
This broom covers a wide area and has an adjustable grip for maximum comfort.
It's hard to sweep debris into a standard dustpan with this extra-wide broom.
This sturdy Yocada push broom may be the best choice for extra-large sweeping jobs. With a 45-degree angled head and telescoping handle, it clears a 24-inch-wide path with each stroke. It's comfortable to hold while standing, and the extra-firm bristles are ideal for moving large debris — or even scrubbing stains off the floor when wet, like a spray mop. It can clean tile floors, garages, patios, driveways, and sidewalks.
In our tests, we found this broom to be easy to use and effective at sweeping up most debris, including leaves and sand, though it did leave behind some finer dust particles. We like the adjustable grip for comfort, too. We didn't like that this extra-wide broom is hard to maneuver in tight spaces. It's also hard to get every last bit of dust into a standard dustpan; you might need a second smaller broom to finish the job.
Weight: 3 pounds | Handle Length: 50 to 65 inches | Bristle Width: 24 inches
Whatever the mess, the O-Cedar Pet Pro Broom and Step-on Dustpan can take it on with its combination of firm and soft bristles, plus a step-on dustpan that helps get everything off the bristles. It's durable and more versatile than its name lets on, and we recommend it even for homes without pets. Oh, and it's inexpensive, too.
We chose 21 top-rated manual brooms and sets to test side-by-side for this story. We assembled each one and rated it on general design, durability, size, and weight before putting them through a series of more specific tests.
After completing our performance tests, we revealed the retail prices of the brooms to consider value. At the time of testing, the brooms ranged from $15 to $70, with an average cost of $31.
Food & Wine / Dera Burreson
When it comes to manual brooms, there are three basic types:
Most brooms today have bristles made of plastic in different textures. Firm bristles are good for sweeping up large bits efficiently but can miss powdery flour and dust. On the other hand, soft bristles can get every last bit of dirt, at the cost of needing more swipes to pick it all up. Some brooms use multiple kinds of bristles in the same head. The natural fibers used in corn brooms are stiff and thick, making them more durable but less effective with tiny dust particles.
Food & Wine / Dera Burreson
When choosing a broom, you’ll want to pick one with a comfortable handle. Handles come in different lengths, which are better for people of varying heights. There are also models with adjustable telescoping handles, though some have fixed padded "grips" that can't move around. The handle can also add weight to the broom, especially if it's solid wood. This is helpful for heavy-duty sweeping but adds to fatigue if you've got a large area to clear.
Food & Wine / Dera Burreson
A broom collects the dust and dirt on your floor, but you still need to pick up and dispose of the mess, and that's where a dustpan comes in. Many brooms include one, which ensures that it's the right width, and included dustpans often snap onto the broom handle to ensure you won't lose them. A helpful feature for a dustpan is a set of combs: This lets you pull the bristles through to clear away hair or other tangled items without touching them. Another possibility — especially if you have back or knee problems — is a stand-up dustpan with a long handle. This sits flat on the floor so you don't have to bend over to hold or pick it up.
Food & Wine / Dera Burreson
As a general guideline, you should sweep at least once a week. If you live in a household with pets that shed (or a long-haired human), you may want to sweep daily to keep hair under control. And of course, you’ll want to sweep anytime there’s visible dust or debris on the floor.
Most brooms can be cleaned by gently washing the bristles in warm, soapy water. Always default to the manufacturer’s instructions to be sure you’re cleaning your broom correctly.
If you start to notice the bristles are worn or splaying out, or if gaps develop between them, it may be time for a new broom. Keep in mind, though, that you can sometimes replace just the broom head and screw it onto the old handle to save a little money.
Food & Wine / Dera Burreson
Casabella Basics 2-Piece Angled Broom and Dustpan Cleaning Set ($15 at Amazon)
Affordable and compact to store, this set is lightweight and perfect for smaller sweeping jobs, like studio apartments or any household that doesn’t have a lot of tile or hardwood flooring. It did a nice job in our tests collecting dust, dry pasta, and hair, and we found the dustpan to be functional, albeit small.
Libman 211 Extra Large Precision Angle Broom ($20 at Amazon)
This extra-wide broom boasts a 15-inch brush head for maximum coverage when you sweep. The 55-inch handle proved comfortable in our tests and the flexible, firm bristles are angled to get into hard-to-reach crevices and corners. It's effective and long-lasting and just missed out on one of our top spots.
Broombi Original All-Surface Silicone Broom ($35 at Amazon)
This non-traditional gadget boasts a silicone edge that can wipe up dust from bare floors, pull pet hair out of carpets, or squeegee off windows and tile. We liked the adjustable height of the handle, but we were most impressed with how effectively it swept everything we threw at it. It just costs twice as much as many perfectly good brooms.
None of the brooms we tested utterly failed at sweeping up debris, but the ones that finished toward the bottom did so less effectively, in various ways. Small broom heads, overly thick handles, and unnecessarily high prices are why we demoted some brooms to the bottom of our list.
We also tested one electric broom, a Black+Decker, as a potential solution for users with limited mobility. It takes less effort than a traditional broom but isn't as effective as a vacuum cleaner (or even a robot vacuum), which you can get for not too much more money.
palmyra broom Bernadette Machard de Gramont is a Los Angeles-based writer specializing in food, wine, cookware, and other kitchen and home products. After a two-year stint at Williams Sonoma headquarters in San Francisco, she now researches and tests a variety of cookware, bakeware, and wine tools, and interviews field experts for their insight.