Don't Toss Your Broom! Try These Long-Lasting Hacks To Keep It Clean

No matter how much you scrub and tidy up, your home is only as clean as its cleaning supplies. So, when you've had a broom for a while, it makes sense that you might want to swap it out for a new one. And when the broom starts to show obvious signs of wear and tear, such as broken bristles or seemingly impossible-to-remove dust bunnies, it's a sign you might want to replace it. But the truth is, you may not actually need to buy a new one to get an upgrade. With proper care, occasional cleanings, and a few smart tips, your broom may have more life in it than you think, making it worth holding onto.

The type of broom — i.e., whether the bristles are made of natural fibers or synthetic materials — does matter for some of these hacks. For example, giving your broom a little haircut (yes, really!) is an important maintenance tip, but only for brooms with natural bristles. But regardless of the type, cleaning your broom in some form, such as occasional soaks in dish soap or disinfecting with bleach, can help you get more life out of it. In the long term, that can help you save a bit of money on a constant stream of new brooms and is better for the environment by keeping more plastic handles and bristles out of the trash. So, for a long-lasting, cleaner broom, give these simple hacks a try.

Even your broom needs to take a nice, long bath sometimes to clear it of built-up grime and keep it working efficiently. After clearing the bristles of any large debris like hair and dust bunnies, allow them to soak in a bucket of water mixed with dish soap. Let plastic brooms soak for about 30 minutes, and remove natural fiber brooms a bit sooner. When you're through, rinse the bristles thoroughly. Repeat this every few months to keep your broom in tip-top shape.

For extra-dirty broom bristles — especially those used to sweep up germy spots like bathrooms — a more intense disinfecting bath soak may be necessary. Allowing the bristles to sit in bleach for a long time can be too harsh and may cause damage, especially to broom bristles made of natural fibers. Instead, try mixing a little bleach with water, and dip the bristles into the solution. Use a scrub brush or tooth brush to rub away any gunk before rinsing with clean water.

One unexpected cleaning solution is to use salt to cleanse and extend the life of your broom. Salt works wonders as a natural scrub and cleaner that can draw odors, stains, and dirt out of everything from cookware to clothes, and you can channel its cleaning powers to freshen up your broom's bristles. Soak the bristles in a combination of warm water and table salt — adding some vinegar to the mix as well, if you wish, for an extra-good clean. Let the bristles sit in the solution for at least 30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

If you have a sweeper made of natural fibers, trimming the bristles is a simple hack to extend the life of your broom. Doing so evens out the bottom of your broom, where bristles get bent or broken off, allowing for a more even, efficient sweep. To give your broom a proper haircut, simply use a pair of scissors to make tiny trims just above the frayed edges, taking care not to chop off too much.

Many of us use our brooms outside, where they come in handy for sweeping up the porch or front stoop, but be sure to take your broom back inside when you're through. Leaving your broom's bristles exposed to the elements can weaken them, reducing longevity, and exposure to moisture can encourage mold and mildew to fester, making bristles even harder to clean. So instead of leaving it by the back door, keep your broom indoors in a cool, dry spot to get the most mileage out of it.

It can be tempting to just throw your broom in a closet or corner when you're done with it, but taking a little care in how you store it helps it last longer. Hang up your broom, or leave it standing by the handle with the bristles in the air. Never let the broom rest on its bristles, as this causes them to get all warped and bent out of whack, making them less effective sweepers. Plus, leaving the bristles on the floor allows them to accumulate more dust and dirt while in storage.

Vinegar is an incredibly versatile and popular home remedy for its ability not only to disinfect but also neutralize odors. Harness its freshening powers for smelly brooms that have accumulated too many stenches while on cleaning duty by dipping the bristles in equal parts white vinegar and water, then scrubbing with a scrub brush or toothbrush before rinsing. You'll have a cleaner broom that also smells fresh!

Although the bristles get the most attention when it comes to cleaning and longevity hacks, don't forget to show your broom's handle some love, too. It is the backbone of your broom, after all. Cleaning wooden handles with a little warm water and vinegar, followed by a bit of mineral oil to moisturize, can help keep them in good condition for longer. For plastic broom handles, wipe them down with a disinfectant wipe or wash them with a bit of soap and water.