How to Choose a Broom
Marko
brooms are made of the finest quality materials so they
last under heavy use. Choose your bristle and put them
to the test! Keep in mind the type of material you sweep
the most and be sure to pick the bristle type to suit
your purpose.
Why so many fibers to choose from?
Stiffness, liquid retention, durability and cost are
just a few of the characteristics that make certain
fibers better for certain jobs. And since brushes are
used for so many different jobs-from dusting to applying
wall paper paste-there has to be a wide variety, as
shown below:
ACRYLIC is a resilient synthetic fiber that has a moderate heat tolerance, excellent bend recovery and can be autoclaved. It is available in flagged soft bristles that remove fine dust and can replace dust mops. Not recommended for use with oil-based sweeping compounds or on oily surfaces, acrylic fiber brooms work great with wax based sweeping compounds and coated floors. Resists acid and most solvents. Bristle trim length is normally 3 inches.
POLYPROPYLENE is a synthetic fiber
that is available crimped or straight in a variety of
colors. It has a very long life and high resistance to acid
and most solvents. For the ultimate "wet area" broom, choose
mounted in a plastic block. Tampico is not good for oily
floors, but polypropylene will do the job. These bristles
are also good for debris of sand and finer. Available in
straight and crimped bristles. Crimped bristles hold
moisture and are excellent for pushing wet, coarse material.
Street brooms are a good example. Bristles strengths range
from soft to stiff. Use this fiber for wet or oily areas.
BLACK TAMPICO is a synthetic fiber that is
available crimped or straight in a variety of colors. It has
a very long life and high resistance to acid and most
solvents. This is considered a medium sweep bristle, general
purpose fiber. May be used in wet areas. Good with oil based
sweeping compounds.
STIFF POLYPRO is a synthetic fiber that is available crimped or straight in a variety of colors. It has a very long life and high resistance to acid and most solvents. For the ultimate "wet area" broom, choose mounted in a plastic block. These bristles are also good for heavy debris of gravel and sand. Crimped bristles hold moisture and are excellent for pushing wet, coarse material. Use this fiber for wet or oily areas. Makes a great street broom.
CORN is a natural fiber
derived from the maze (corn) stalk. Yellow-green in color,
it has a long life and high resistance to most solvents.
Oils will cause the bristle to soften over time. Corn is
used in stick brooms, not push brooms. Have you ever
wondered what the designation of poundage means when
purchasing a natural fiber stick broom? For instance, 28,
32, or 36 lb. broom? It's quite simple. The number
represents the shipping weight of one dozen brooms. It is a
great way to determine the quality of the broom. Marko only
carries the best quality in the most popular two types of
corn brooms!
What does "flagged" mean?
Many brushes have "flagged" (also known as "feathered")
bristles. Flagged bristles contain split ends which
decrease stiffness and add liquid and dust retention
properties. This soft, synthetic fiber is ideal for
dusting, fine sweeping of smooth surfaces and washing
vehicles without scratching.
Blocks
Fibers are set into either structural foam or wood blocks, both of which come in a variety of styles and sizes. More and more end-users are choosing structural foam due to its obvious advantages-durability, water resistance and its non-warping, non-splintering characteristics. Nevertheless, many end-users still prefer traditional wood.
Push It
There are several different types of floor brushes (or
push brooms) available: Floor Sweeps, for indoor
surfaces; Garage Sweeps, for concrete and outdoor use;
and Street Brooms, for sweeping heavy debris on rough
surfaces. In addition, each of these categories contain
a variety of styles and sizes. For larger sweeps, our
Handle Braces provide added support and keep the sweep
from twisting.
Scrub It
Just as there are many different surfaces to clean, there are many different brooms to accommodate these different needs. What to look for: appropriate fiber stiffness for the job; block or handle ergonomics; and surface coverage. To give synthetic fibers better liquid retention while retaining their superior strength, specify "crimped" fibers.
