my mom had a zoom broom i think she bought it at family dollar.anyone use these instead of a vaccuum cleaner? i use hers occasionally and it does a pretty good job between vacuumings.

-- js (schlicker54@aol.com), January 13, 2002

Answers

We recently got a Bissell model 2600, from Wal-Mart.com. (They didn't have that model at the local store). It was about $35/with shipping included. We love it and use it all the time on carpeting and hard flooring. Would reccomend it to anybody.

Bissell makes many models, check it out at Walmart.com

Talk to you later.

-- Bob in WI (bjwick@hotmail.com), January 13, 2002.

Will that 2600 model pick up Cheerios? All I ever wanted was a carpet sweeper that will pick up cereal. I hate lugging around a full size vacuum every day to the same spot to tackle the day's crumbs-- and those Fruity Pebbles are a nighmare! Ever tried to srape dried Fruity Peebles off the sink? Jeez, they could lay brick using that stuff!

Windy

-- wendy godfrey (windyz@aol.com), January 13, 2002.

Windy,

Yes they pick up Cheerios from carpeting and hard floors,just tried it.

Talk to you later.

-- Bob in WI (bjwick@hotmail.com), January 13, 2002.

Bob,

Thanks for telling me about this sweeper, it sounds like something the kids can use to clean up THEIR mess! Our vacuum always gets clogged up and we have to take the hose off and "blow" it out--those new Hepa models can be a pain. I want an old Electrolux . . . . Windy

-- wendy godfrey (windyz@aol.com), January 13, 2002.

Funny you should mention old non-electric floor sweepers. My grandfather "was" the Aire Sweep Co. of Quincy, IL. From about 1920 to 1953, in his backyard woodshop, he manufactured several models of wooden sweepers, both floor and hand-held models. The vaccuum bellows were driven by a rubberized coating on the two drive wheels. His five children (my mother, aunts, and uncles) all remember helping him make the various parts. He sold them to people who didn't yet have electricity (mostly out west in Colorado and Wyoming). A couple of summers ago, my wife and I were "antiquing" in the Amana Colonies west of Iowa City and I came across one of those old Aire Sweeps in excellent condition. It still had an intact label on top. And it still worked. Needless to say I bought it and took it to our next family reunion. Everyone was tickled to see it. Of course, it prompted dozens of stories from the "old timers" (grandpa's workshop helpers). They even started arguing over who did what. Two of the oldest children have since past away so I'm particulary glad that I found this item and was able to spark all these memories before their siblings started passing on.

-- Steve in So. WI (Alpine1@prodigy.net), January 14, 2002.

I am thinking of getting one to pick up all the little pieces of wood around the fireplace--that stuff is hard on any vacuum after a while. Thanks for reminding me!

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 14, 2002.