Pet hair, dust bunnies, the fine gray powder that slips through the bristles: sweeping often moves dirt around more than it removes it. A simple habit is spreading in homes everywhere, and it costs nothing: slipping a plastic bag over the broom before sweeping.
What the bag is for
The bag changes the way the broom collects dirt. Plastic rubbing against the floor builds up a little static electricity, and static attracts exactly what bristles struggle with: hair, lint, crumbs and fine dust. Instead of flicking into the air or getting tangled in the bristles, they cling to the bag.
The second benefit is cleanliness. Bristles that are clogged with hair and dust are a pain to clean, and they spread yesterday’s dirt on today’s floor. With a bag over them, the broom stays clean, and the dirt goes straight in the trash.
How to do it
- Choose a thin, clean plastic bag, such as a grocery bag, big enough to cover the head of the broom.
- Slip it over the bristles and tie the handles firmly around the broom handle so it does not slide.
- Sweep as usual, with short strokes. You will see the hair and dust gather on the plastic.
- Finish by turning the bag inside out as you take it off, so the dirt stays trapped inside, and throw it away or reuse it if it is still clean.
The trick works best on hard floors, tile, laminate and wood, and is especially useful in homes with pets, in the bathroom where hair collects, and under furniture.
Fall makes it particularly handy. Dry leaves, grass clippings and dust come in on shoes every day, and heating season dries the air, which increases static and makes hair and dust cling even more. In other words, the trick works best exactly when floors get dirtiest.
Other ways to use it
It also saves the broom itself. Bristles that stay clean keep their shape longer, and you no longer need to pick hair out of them by hand after each use.
The same bagged broom is handy for reaching cobwebs in ceiling corners and dusting high shelves without getting the bristles dirty. Some people slightly dampen the bag for kitchen floors, so it catches fine flour and crumbs instead of pushing them around.
The limits
A plastic bag does not replace a vacuum for carpets and rugs, and it will not pick up sticky spills or heavy debris like gravel. For large debris, sweep first with the bare broom, then go over the area with the bagged one. And if you want to avoid single-use plastic, a reusable microfiber cover does the same job and goes in the washing machine.
For the rest of the routine, check the dirtiest place in your kitchen, and why some people spray vinegar at the front door. On laundry day, the two holes in your clothespins have a use few people know.
One grocery bag, tied tight, turned inside out at the end. That’s the trick.
