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Sweep Through The History of Brooms

Date: 12-10-2023

Cleaning & Hygiene

The humble, low-tech broom has long been taken for granted, but when and where did people start using the world’s first cleaning device?

Everyone around the world knows what a broom is: a cleaning tool made of stiff fibres attached to a cylindrical handle. In less technical terms, a broom is a brush with a long handle that is usually used in combination with a pan for collecting waste.

When were Brooms Invented?

There is no exact date that marks the invention of the broom. The initial origin of bundles of twigs tied together and attached to a stick dates back to ancient times when brooms were first used to sweep up ash and embers around fireplaces.

How do Brooms Continue to Evolve?

Like all the best, simple product designs, they haven’t, and don’t really need to evolve much. Brooms have been used to sweep everywhere through history, from caves to castles.

Brooms through history

Since its ancient origin, the amount of types of brooms has broadened to cover a wider range of uses. A tubular stick with a bundle of twigs tied up at the bottom is what started the trade. Small dusters (whisk brooms) were soon to follow, but these were not ideal for all types of sweeping.

Modern broom-making did not start until 1797. A humble farmer in Massachusetts had the idea to make his wife a broom as a gift to clean their house with. So Kind - What a legend! By the 1800’s the farmer and his son were selling hundreds of brooms each year, and everybody wanted one.

Flat brooms were invented in the early 19th century in the United States. By 1839, the United States had 303 broom factories and 1,039 by 1919. Unfortunately, there was a huge decline in the industry during the Great Depression and only a small handful of broom manufacturers survived.

Benefits of Using Brooms

Easy to use - no licence required!
Can clean small spaces and corners
Very low in cost
Various types to choose from
Economical — doesn’t use fuel, batteries, etc.
Small and easy to store
Durable

What Came Before Brooms?

Brooms are one of the oldest inventions of humans. They were likely the first cleaning tool ever invented. There is even a reference to brooms in ancient history. There are not a not lot of items still used today that date back far enough that cavemen also used them – no Password or WIFI connection required!

Here at DEJ's we stock a wide range of Brooms for a variety of applications- from the classic hard wearing tradies Brush to 'old school' Tie Millet brooms, and many many more cleaning items for your business.

See our full range of Brooms here