While the full sized
upright,
power team and
canister vacuum cleaners do the bulk of the cleaning in the home,
there are often voids which can be filled by the lightweight electric
broom. These include the need to frequently clean the kitchen or bathroom
floor as well as to quickly and easily pickup those unexpected little
spills.
Electric brooms come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. The
typical electric broom is somewhat tubular in shape with a long handle
extending from its top so it can be easily pushed around the floor to
clean it. The cleaning nozzle is typically attached directly to the bottom
and often incorporates wheels to aid in its movement. This category can be
subdivided into two basic types, the corded ones and the battery operated
ones. Each type has its special place in helping you with your house
cleaning chores.
Battery Operation Aspects
The battery operated electric broom offers the convenience of being
easily removed from its holder/charger unit and carried quickly to the
location of the spill for quick and easy clean up. It's also convenient
for giving the kitchen or bath the quick, daily touch up. The batteries
usually are the rechargeable nickel cadmium (NiCads) type which are
trickle charged by the holder/charger unit whenever the unit is
not in use. While older NiCads functioned better if discharged
significantly before being recharged, development of newer ones has
greatly reduced this "memory" effect so they can be recharged after each
use with minimal effect on their usefulness. Vacuum cleaner motors require
a large amount of electrical power to develop effective, strong suction so
battery operation is limited to short periods of use and limited in the
amount of mechanical power the motors can produce.
Corded Operation Aspects
Corded electric brooms can be much more effective in the removal of
dirt due to the better suction produced by their more powerful motors.
More extensive cleaning can also be done since run time is not limited by
their power source. Electric broom motors typically draw about 2 to 6
amps of current compared to about 10 to 12
amps drawn by most full sized uprights and canisters. The effectiveness of
the electric broom is enhanced by the use of short air passages to increase
the air flow velocity. The air flow
velocity, along with the amount of carpet
agitation by the revolving brush, determines how well a vacuum cleaner
will pick up the dirt.
Summary
An electric broom will enable you to perform some types of cleaning
tasks quicker and easier than when using most full sized vacuum cleaners.
Cordless electric brooms are convenient for cleaning your kitchen, bath or
those unexpected little spills very quickly and easily but are not
intended for extended use. The next time you drag your full sized vacuum
cleaner out of the closet to quickly clean your kitchen or bath, stop a
moment to consider whether an electric broom would clean them quicker and
easier.
Next Vacuum Cleaner Type: Wet/Dry Utility Vacuum Cleaner