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There are several factors that go into selecting the right broom:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Bristle stiffness<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Flagged vs Unflagged<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Type of bristles<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Bristle Stiffness<\/h2>\n\n\n\nBristle stiffness is one of the main attributes of a broom you need to understand to select the right broom for your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Fine <\/strong>or soft bristles tend to be longer and thinner which make them good for sweeping small, fine particles such as flour or dust.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Medium <\/strong>bristles – Used for sweeping larger particles such as wood shavings. Used in wet and dry applications.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Coarse<\/strong> or stiff bristles are short and thicker which gives them more strength for sweeping away large particles or for scrubbing. Use them wet with a cleaning agent to scrub the most difficult dirt away.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Flagged Bristles vs. Unflagged<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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- Flagged<\/strong> bristles – frayed at the ends which help the bristles collect small particles more easily.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Unflagged<\/strong> bristles – straight and stiff which help with collecting larger particles and debris and also for your scrubbing applications.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Types of Bristles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There are many different types of bristles available but we\u2019ll be focusing this article on just three:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Tampico<\/strong> \u2013 Made from the stem of the Mexican agave plant and have a medium texture and are ideal for dry sweeping on semi-smooth surfaces. They are also resistant to heat, alkali, and acids.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Horsehair<\/strong> \u2013 As the name implies, these bristles come from the manes and tails of horses. They are softer and more gentle on floors yet durable for long-lasting use. The material used in most Fine bristle brooms is Horsehair but Horsehair is also combined with other types of bristle material to make combination bristles for other applications.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Synthetic<\/strong> \u2013 Very durable man-made bristles that are highly resistant to acids and oils. These bristles are flexible and won\u2019t scratch floor surfaces and are used in wet or dry applications.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
With a good understanding of how you will be using a broom combined with the the knowledge of what are the different types of broom materials, bristle types, and whether you need flagged or unflagged, you can select the right broom for your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Horsehair<\/strong> \u2013 As the name implies, these bristles come from the manes and tails of horses. They are softer and more gentle on floors yet durable for long-lasting use. The material used in most Fine bristle brooms is Horsehair but Horsehair is also combined with other types of bristle material to make combination bristles for other applications.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Unflagged<\/strong> bristles – straight and stiff which help with collecting larger particles and debris and also for your scrubbing applications.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Medium <\/strong>bristles – Used for sweeping larger particles such as wood shavings. Used in wet and dry applications.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Fine <\/strong>or soft bristles tend to be longer and thinner which make them good for sweeping small, fine particles such as flour or dust.<\/li>\n\n\n\n