Best Angle Brooms

Buying guide for Best angle brooms

Written by Erica van Blommestein

Updated March 2023

Do you ever get the impression that your trusty old broom is cutting corners on the job? Well, you're probably right. Many brooms simply aren't designed to reach into tight spaces. If you desire a cleaner sweep in corners and around furniture, it might be time to invest in an angle broom.

Angle brooms are carefully shaped to fit in hard-to-reach areas, making it that much easier to clean along walls, next to fridges, and under or around furniture. While most achieve this with a simple slant of the bristles, some also have specialized head designs to further improve reach or help keep dust contained while you sweep. And just like other brooms, angle brooms come with different bristle types for different jobs. Handle length, grip comfort, and accessories often vary as well, making it all too easy to get swept up in a swirl of options.

Angle brooms with generous, densely packed bristles tend to be the most effective at picking up and containing fine dirt particles.

Key considerations

Head

Angle brooms typically fit into one of two categories: those with regular heads and those with specialty heads. Let's take a quick look.

Regular head: These angle brooms closely resemble traditional upright brooms but have bristles that are set at an angle rather than straight across. This design allows the bristles to access tight spaces and sweep away small particles that accumulate in nooks and crannies.

Specialty head: These angle brooms have innovative head designs to assist with different cleaning tasks. While some simply incorporate a hinge between the head and the handle for improved reach at various angles, others have unique head shapes. For instance, certain models may have "wings" on the ends to help contain flyaway particles, while others feature a triangular head for clearing away cobwebs and dust from ceiling corners.

Bristles

The bristles on an angle broom can be soft, stiff, or a combination of both. Because different sweeping tasks require different bristle thicknesses, it’s worth paying close attention to this step of the selection process.

Soft: Soft bristles are ideal for picking up smaller particles and usually work best on hard, smooth floors. They're also gentle on surfaces, making them the preferred choice for hardwood flooring.

Flagged bristles are usually soft bristles that are split at the ends to trap even the finest bits of dirt and dust. These can be ideal in kitchens where flour and sugar sometimes end up on the floor.

Stiff: Stiff bristles are thicker and harder, allowing you to sweep away larger pieces of debris with minimal effort. Although stiff-bristled brooms are often reserved for outdoor use, they can also be used for carpets on those days when you just don't feel like wrestling with the vacuum cleaner.

Combination: Brooms that incorporate a combination of bristle types offer the best of both worlds with stiff bristles to tackle stubborn dirt and lift debris and soft bristles to sweep up fine particles.

Handle

Angle broom handles are commonly made of wood, plastic, metal, or fiberglass. The handle material has a direct impact on durability and, in some cases, handling comfort as well. This is how:

Wood: Despite being strong and sturdy, wood handles can be prone to splintering over time. It's also worth noting that wood handles tend to be a tad heavier than others, which may pose a problem for older individuals or people with dexterity or strength issues.

Plastic: Brooms with plastic handles are generally lightweight, easy to maneuver, and more affordable than most others. They can also be reasonably durable, provided you choose a model with a thick and sturdy plastic handle.

Metal: Metal broom handles are usually tough, sturdy, and durable while still being light enough to handle comfortably. However, not all metal broom handles are created equal, and those made of a lightweight metal like aluminum can bend surprisingly easily.

Fiberglass. Lightweight, durable, and weatherproof, fiberglass is an excellent choice for any broom handle, but it also tends to be more expensive than other materials, a point worth keeping in mind if you're on a tight budget.

Features

Convenience

Telescoping handle: Some angle brooms have a telescoping handle. This design conveniently allows users to adjust the handle length to suit different purposes. For instance, you could extend the handle to its full length to clear cobwebs away from ceiling corners and collapse it to a more compact size for storage.

Ergonomic grip: If you sweep often or have a large area to clean, a comfortable grip can make the job a little easier. A textured handle can help prevent slipping while a soft-touch foam or rubber handle cover will go a long way toward saving your hands from splinters, blisters, or chafing.

Dustpan

Angle broom and dustpan sets take care of all your sweeping needs in one purchase. More often than not, the included dustpan will also clip directly onto the broom for fuss-free storage.

Accessories

Dustpan: Fuller Brush Dustpan
The right dustpan can make picking up dirt so much easier. If you like the idea of a dustpan that will stay put while you sweep, a heavy-duty steel model like this 12-inch one is a solid choice and sure to serve you for years to come.

Broom holder: Command Broom and Mop Grippers
If you're short on storage space, a wall-mounted broom holder is an excellent solution. For a hassle-free installation, opt for a self-adhesive model like this one that can hold up to 4 pounds.

Angle broom prices

Inexpensive

Basic household angle brooms typically start at around $10 to $15. It's also possible to find broom and dustpan sets in this price bracket. 

Mid-range

Angle brooms with extra-wide heads, combination bristles, and heavy-duty outdoor models can cost anywhere from $15 to $25.

Expensive

Large outdoor angle brooms with ergonomic grips and models designed for commercial use can set you back anywhere from just under $30 to $70 and more.

Tips

• Choose the right broom for the job. Using the right-angle broom for your floors and the task at hand is vital to success. Stiff bristles and a sturdy handle work well on rough surfaces and large pieces of debris (on carpets or outdoors), while soft bristles are best suited to smooth, hard surfaces (tiles, laminate, or hardwood flooring).
• Color code your brooms. If you have multiple brooms for different areas and jobs (indoor and outdoor or carpet and hardwood, for example), purchasing them in different colors can help prevent mix-ups.
• Consider how you'll store your broom. If you have a utility cabinet, check your desired broom's length to make sure it will fit, or err on the side of caution and opt for a model with a telescoping handle. No storage space to spare? Consider hanging your mops and brooms on a wall-mounted bracket.
• Wash your broom every now and then. Regularly washing your broom's bristles and allowing them to dry will help keep the head free of dust, ensuring you achieve a clean sweep each time you use it.

Even if you vacuum religiously, an angle broom is bound to come in handy in the kitchen where crumbs, sugar, flour, and dust inevitably settle around baseboards.

FAQ

Q. Can I use my angle broom to wash floors or scrub carpets?

A. Yes, but you'll need to choose an appropriate option. When it comes to washing and scrubbing, you'll want a broom with a sturdy handle and stiff, unflagged bristles to lift and loosen dirt. It's also wise to stick with synthetic bristles because natural fibers can rot when exposed to moisture.

Q. Can I replace my angle broom's head?

A. Whether or not your broom head can be replaced depends entirely on the model. While some brands craft all their brooms with replaceable and, in some cases, interchangeable heads, others only do so for their commercial or outdoor brooms. If you like the idea of a replaceable head, be sure to check model specifications before you buy.
 

Q. Will sweeping cause scratches on hardwood, laminate, or marble floors?

A. No, sweeping shouldn't damage your floors as long as you use the right broom. Remember to always reach for a soft-bristled broom for wood, laminate, or marble flooring, because repeated sweeping with stiff bristles certainly can cause scratches on these surfaces.