Without a vaccum cleaner,how are you going to sweep up those bits from the carpet.On your hand & knees with dust pan & brush can be hard work especially if you have a family/large dog.

One answer from the '40's may be a carpet sweeper or carpet beater.A rotary brush on a long handle that you push along.No bags or filters either to replace.We can still buy them over here in the UK.What about the States?

-- Chris (griffen@globalnet.co.uk), June 03, 1999

Answers

Hello Chris....yes, we can still buy them. I solved the problem by having all carpeting torn out and ceramic tile put in. Has helped with the allergies and just sweep and mop. But my GI friend just bought one of those carpet sweepers. Taz

-- Taz (Tassie @aol.com), June 03, 1999.

Dear Taz, One of the benefits of living in a warm climate.Oh the feeling of walking barefoot on cool tiles when your feet are aching after all that gardening!

-- Chris (griffen@globalnet.co.uk), June 03, 1999.

Bissel (they use them in resturants when you are messy with your crackers)

-- Mr. Carpet Cleaner (logorrhea@x.com), June 03, 1999.

Yup, have a Bissell too. Be sure and purchase a replacement brush--mine's lasted a very long time but I use it only for quick crumbing after meals, that's about all. If I swept this whole 1900 sf house with it, it'd wear out pretty fast. Am about ready to get a newer, more efficient one and will get the spare brush at the same time.

Love the idea of ceramic tile, but I'm a klutz and anything breakable dropped on ceramic is sure to be a goner! My fantasy is a ceramic-floored house, each room with a drain in the middle--just HOSE the damn thing! Even better, plastic furniture--FLUSH the damn thing!

-- Housework-hating Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), June 03, 1999.

Okay, where do you get a carpet sweeper? I've recently been looking for one, so far I've looked in Wal-Mart, Sears, Target, and Homeplace - nothing. Have been looking for the Bissell in particular, since my mom has one and loves it (she got it a long time ago) but so far I can't find any brand. I still have K-Mart to try in this area, after that I just don't know.

Any suggestions?

-- Rory (Rrory@yahoo.com), June 03, 1999.

* * * 19990603 Thursday

I bought two (2) Bissle's carpet sweepers for US$39.99 at a _small_ vacuum shop. Replacement brushes aren't availble for these modles. Technician said the sweepers are so inexpensive, they don't make replacements.

Works great, in a pinch!

Regards, Bob Mangus

* * *

-- Robert Mangus (rmangus@hotmail.com), June 03, 1999.

I found the Bissell at Target for around $25. So far I'm not thrilled with the performance but it will be better than nothing. I've only tried it on the kitchen floor though, maybe it doesn't do well on vinyl? only carpet?

Friend at work found a sweeper at Family Dollar for $14 and really likes it. FWIW

mb in NC

-- mb (mdbutler@coastalnet.com), June 03, 1999.

Try using a hard brissle broom, it helps

-- Brian (imager@home.com), June 03, 1999.

I got a Bissell at Real Goods in Ukiah, for about $40. They have a mail order catalog and a website. It's not a vacuum, but it works good enough. Hey, it's lighter than the vacuum and works better than those Dustbuster things!

-- fanchon (yurgsieg@pacbell.net), June 03, 1999.

We have a Bissell too. They ARE better than Dustbuster and quieter. I'm bummed tho that we might not be able to get replacement brush. Memo to self: call Bissell.

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), June 03, 1999.

From Real Goods' on-line catalogue:

http://www.realgoods.com/cgi-bin/reframe.pl?search=/products/cleaning/ 63-497.htm

Clean Your Floors In Peace And Quiet

Do you equate vacuuming with obnoxious noise, plus the never-ending hassles of over-flowing dust bags, clogged tubes, and broken fan belts? Who needs it? This updated professional carpet sweeper from Bissell cleans all types of floors and carpets. It's quiet. It requires no electricity. It saves you money. Heavy-duty construction, extra wide cleaning path, and large twin dirt pans make this sweeper a righteous cleaning pro. Six-wheel system automatically adjusts to changes in floor surfaces. Six brushes scoop up crumbs, dirt, and all the rest. Gets into corners and along baseboards, too. Because this sturdy sweeper is lightweight and easy to maneuver, you expend minimal energy. Saves on expensive vacuum replacement bags. Cleans like a quiet storm. Lifetime manufacturer's warranty. USA.

63-497 Bissell Carpet Sweeper $45.00

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), June 03, 1999.

I bought my Bissel (with the whole range of pricing & quality) from the maker www.bissel.com, arrived within a week. Also bought an antique pump vacuum used in 1911 at ebay. I also have brooms, dust pans. when using a sweeper it helps to sweep the carpet lightly to loosten deeper particles, they come to the top & the sweeper picks it right up. Not as good as a good ole hoover, but adequate given the conditions.

-- Sammie Davis (sammie0@hotmail.com), June 03, 1999.

Got mine at Wal-Mart for about $35. I'm with Taz, we put down tile and I have rugs on top. I'm not about to discover a flea problem with no chemicals available! Mine works great, even on the tile!

-- Will continue (farming@home.com), June 04, 1999.

The one big problem I have though is spiders.You won't be able to put on that nozzle & suck 'em up at a 6ft range.I can't squash anything..except a mosquito !

-- Chris (griffen@globalnet.co.uk), June 04, 1999.

Hi, just a suggestion on carpet sweepers... I'm going to ask the movie theater locally what they use... will post back if any good info comes out of it.

-- Mumsie (Poohma7@aol.com), June 05, 1999.