If you need to sweep everyday...

I had a roomba, one of the cheap $120 ones. I adored it!  Unfortunately, it died recently (after two years, still under store warrantee) and instead of fixing it, the store gave us a refund.  But we can't find another entry level roomba, so I am currently using the Rubba Sweepa and a tall dustpan.

*IF* you have to sweep daily.  We sweep constantly around here.  We use a standard Libman broom with a fancy dustpan that has a long handle like the "professional" models.  Then we have a little stick vacuum and every few days we just bring out the shop vac to get all the bits the broom misses.

With two dogs, one of which is a SHELTIE, and three kids I succumb to having to vacuum at least once per day.... with my dyson. 

Our vacuum stays plugged in all the time unless someone is coming over, it does a great job sweeping. It's used anywhere from 1-4x/day. DD1 and DS1 can both use it when the handle is not extended. It's a miele neptune with a parquet twister attachment.

Sarah2106 wrote: Christine - I really want to get a basic Shark. I had one years ago and it was perfect for quick clean ups. I need to just get one I really dislike having to sweep and swiffers don't seem to do anything.

both boys can do the kitchen floor (which isn't that big) with the swiffer vac and do a pretty decent job. 

I just vacuum. My MIL actually asked me where my broom was the other day and I said "Um...... we only have one outside! Lol"  I use the dyson w/ the brushes off on all the floors and random rugs, then I do a quick once-over the big area rug w/ the brushes on. However, in the past w/ my crappy vac I use to vacuum, then sweep w/ a broom, then swiffer!!! before I could mop. I hate dusty grainy dirty hardwood!

I looooooove the shark floor sweeper.  As long as you have realistic expectations, it is an ingenious little gadget.  It has only a brush (no suction), so it is very quiet.  Still, it picks up surprisingly well.  Plus, it picks up damp (not soggy) food.  I've been happy w/ battery life--probably once or twice a week to charge.

Best of all, S looooves it.  His is the $20 model.  He uses it as often as possible, and cries when it is charging.  I ended up bending the handle by accident, and since it really isn't quite strong enough for my needs, I went ahead and bought the better model that is pricier, but has the edger--a must, and a stronger motor.

He used to run it w/ the handle clicked into the upright position, as he is doing here.  It now sports very cool construction stickers .

There are some cons.  It is not going to satisfy a clean freak.  It is particularly bad on edges and corners.  There is a small edge brush that pushes things better into the path, but it's not foolproof.  Still I think it's ideal for daily use, when you likely weren't going to have time to do a deep cleaning in the first place.  Also, they really aren't all that durable.  I usually get 1.5yrs out of them--sometimes due to rough handling, and sometimes due to random things like the switch breaking.

The dirt devil one's awesome because it actually has sucking power...I've found other hand vacs to be pathetic....nope you're not the only one.  Hey even when I'm not pregnant I do the sweeping and the kids do the dust pan or vac.  Now I just have to get them to sweep!

I totally need to buy brooms for each floor ... I have missing broom syndrome often here although the reason is mostly my 3 year old son using it for imaginary play

I sweep at least twice a day...way too preggo to bend for the dust pan.  I sweep up all the mess into a corner and have my kids suck it up with my dirt devil hand vac.  Even my 1 1/2 year vacs up the mess for me.  I would love to find a vacuum specifically for hard wood floors...rather vacuum mess up than sweep.

I use a dirt devil stick vacuum downstairs on hard floors and a broom and dustpan lives in my upstairs bathroom. I use a Kirby on my carpets. We have two dogs and 5 children right now so yes I sweep every day!

While I should sweep every day it usually only happens a couple times a week.  I have a swiffer sweeper vac.  Mine works great and gets up good size chunks.   A regular broom and dust pan doesn't work for me and drives me crazy.  Just pushed the dog hair all over the place.    Between the dog hair and other crumbs it works great.  If I am vacuuming the living room I will use the regular vac. on the kithchen floor too.

I used a dustpan and broom too.  I should probably do it daily, but it is more like 3x a week.  On the weekends though, I find the best thing for picking up fine dust off the hardwood is a microfiber towel.  We put the towel on the bottom of the swiffer sweeper handle - it has 4 rubber holes for sticking the towel in and it holds it quite well (I agree the swiffer was a total waste of money otherwise!).  It is amazing how much a microfiber towel will pick up right after you sweep. 

I also use a wet microfiber towel and hand wash under the table every night.  I think our dogs are too well fed, they wont eat many fruit and veggies anymore and DS1 is in a very messy stage right now.

yup, dust pan and broom.  i have one on each of 3 floors- way easier than trying to find it when i need it!

Bectoria wrote: so if you have multiple floors, do you have a broom/dustpan on each floor?  Like for bathrooms and stuff?  Our bathroom floors were small in our old house so it wasn't much effort to sweep w/ just a handbroom thingy.  our new master bath is one of those big ones now.  and it's a total hair magnet.

I have one in the basement and one upstairs. It would never fail I would take it down and forget to bring it back up, then I would be too lazy to go get it (there's a reason we built a ranch style home ). It was just easier to spend a few extra dollars on a second one to not have to deal with it .