The Best Brooms Are Ones You’ll Also Want to Leave Out on Display

Reading up on Domino’s shopping guides is like having your own personal product concierge. We do the tedious part—deep-dive research, hands-on testing, and tapping experts for advice—so all you have to do is hit “add to cart.” That’s why we call them Simply the Best.

In a world of robot vacuums and constant cleaning innovations, some tools have remained unchanged for hundreds of years because they just work. Our favorite utilitarian workhorse, the broom, is just one example. Sure, you can drag out your upright vacuum or wait for the Roomba to suck up the rice you spilled in the kitchen, but a broom is the swiftest and easiest way to sweep up small messes on hardwood, tile, vinyl, concrete, and more. Unlike their tech-driven counterparts, brooms will basically last forever with proper care and storage (and you never have to wait for them to fully charge before each use). Plus, when made with natural materials or available in classic colorways, they look darn good hanging from a peg rail or propped against a wall. Say goodbye to flimsy plastic and check out our picks for the best brooms, below. 

Our Favorites

• Best set: Iris Hantverk Long Handle Dustpan & Broom Set
• Best classic: Schoolhouse Ash Utility Broom 
• Best budget: Rubbermaid Commercial Heavy-Duty Corn Broom 
• Best handle: Redecker Tall Dustpan and Brush Set
• Best handcrafted: Berea College Multicolor Shakerbraid Broom
• Best utility: Full Circle Tag Team Compact Easy-Empty Sweep Set 
• Best outdoor: Terrain Garden Bristle Broom 
• Best push broom: Redecker Split Horse Hair Broom
• Best hand broom: Andrée Jardin Hand Brush & Dustpan

Best Set: Iris Hantverk Long Handle Dustpan & Broom Set

Handle: Oiled birchwood | Bristles: Horsehair | Dustpan included: Yes

Why we chose it: A set that serves all your sweeping needs and looks dang cute, too.  

Not to be dramatic, but the long-handle dustpan-and-broom set by Iris Hantverk is the answer to your dustpan and broom prayers. It comes in three goes-with-everything colors (creamy white, sage green, and a dusty blue); the handles are crafted from oiled birchwood; the bristles are tightly bound horsehair; and the dustpan is made from sturdy bio-polyethylene (aka renewable sugarcane). And because the dustpan handle is just as long as the broom’s, you’ll never have to awkwardly crouch or bend over to sweep up dog hair and coffee grounds. And sure, since it stands up straight, it will take up about a square foot of utility closet floor space, but when it looks this good, might we suggest you just leave it out?

Best Classic: Schoolhouse Ash Utility Broom 

Handle: Ash | Bristles: Broom corn | Dustpan included: No

Why we chose it: An update on the classic, with perfectly neutral bristles and an octagonal handle. 

From afar, this option might look like any other broom, but upon closer inspection (and feel in your hands) you’ll notice that it’s the lovely little details that make it unique. At the end of its octagonal handle, you may also notice a leather loop for hanging, making it an at-the-ready addition to your peg rail. And when you feel the wood start to become dry or brittle, all you need to do is slap on a new coat of mineral oil, the same as you would for a cutting board.

Best Budget: Rubbermaid Commercial Heavy-Duty Corn Broom 

Handle: Painted wood | Bristles: Broom corn | Dustpan included: No

Why we chose it: Classic corn broom purists (and those who want something affordable enough to be rough on): This one’s for you. 

If it ain’t broke…well, you know. We bet this Rubbermaid broom doesn’t stray too far from its centuries-old predecessor. It’s one of the most classic constructions you can find, and it tends to work just as well, if not better, than modern, synthetic models. Made with broom corn, a plant grown specifically for making brooms like this one, the stiff bristles won’t bend as you sweep. That means you don’t have to worry about projectile particles all over the room—i.e., the exact opposite of what you want. Bear in mind that you will need a separate dustpan to use in conjunction with this one, and it may lose a few stray pieces of grass when you first use it, but after that it should last for years to come.

Best Handle: Redecker Tall Dustpan and Brush Set

Handle: Oiled beechwood | Bristles: Horsehair | Dustpan included: Yes

Why we chose it: Metal meets wood in this architectural piece you can put on display. 

Did you ever think that a broom and a dustpan would be things you’d want to show off? Then say hello to this Redecker set. It mixes smooth edges (as in, mid-century–style tapered ends) with industrial steel, and it’ll look at home just about anywhere. As a standing dustpan, it will take up a bit of square footage, but that loss is worth it as soon as you imagine how casually cool it’ll look hanging out in the corner of your utility space. Our chief content officer, Kate Berry, owns this set and loves how the handle hole helps everything stay put.

Best Handcrafted: Berea College Multicolor Shakerbraid Broom  

Handle: Wood | Bristles: Braided broom corn | Dustpan included: No

Why we chose it: A traditional take, but in beautiful, vibrant colors and handmade by students. 

Believe it or not, these brooms are handmade by students in Kentucky, at the trailblazing Berea College. The school has been producing handmade brooms, based on traditional Appalachian methods, for more than a century through its broom craft workshop, selling roughly 5,000 a year. The broom corn is dyed in a range of vibrant colors and intricately braided to collect every speck of dust in its path. Be forewarned: They’re so beautifully crafted that you might want to hang one on the wall instead of using it to clean up spilled orzo.

Best Utility: Full Circle Tag Team Compact Easy-Empty Sweep Set 

Handle: Recycled aluminum | Bristles: Recycled plastic | Dustpan included: Yes

Why we chose it: If you hate pulling clumps of dust and pet hair from your broom with your fingers, this set will do it for you. 

A self-cleaning broom? This set comes close. Designed to eliminate the skeevy chore of plucking clumps of hair, dust, and dirt out of a broom’s bristles by hand, the dustpan acts like a comb, equipped with teeth that remove all of that for you. But that’s not even the best part. The dustpan pivots to keep dirt inside when you lift it off the floor, and the broom locks into it so they stand upright together on their own. It only comes in one colorway, but we tend to think the features are worth it.

Best Outdoor: Terrain Garden Bristle Broom 

Handle: Poplar | Bristles: Coconut ekel  | Dustpan included: No

Why we chose it: Keep your patio or porch just as neat and tidy as kitchen tile or living room hardwood. 

You can confidently take this multifunctional workhorse from Terrain outside. The bristles are constructed from renewable coconut palm and are extra-stiff for all the outdoor tasks that need doing, whether that’s on walkways or in garden beds—think: sweeping dirt, spreading mulch, and even removing light snow. Bear in mind that the broom will need to be stored in a cool, dry place, so be sure to save some room on the pegboard or in the shed.

Best Push Broom: Redecker Split Horse Hair Broom

Handle: Brazilian wood | Bristles: Split horsehair | Dustpan included: No

Why we chose it: For rooms with lots of square footage.

You’re most likely to see push brooms in more industrial settings like workshops, warehouses, kitchens, and so on (that’s because they evenly pick up debris, and quickly). But a beautiful one like this would be an asset to any home with large, open spaces. They’re not necessarily great for handling corners or baseboards, but they will make quick work of a loftlike area or open-format great room, since you can scoot it in front of you as fast as your heart desires. This one has split-horsehair bristles (which make the hairs even finer) that pick up every last speck of dirt, too.

Best Hand Broom: Andrée Jardin Hand Brush & Dustpan

Handle: Beechwood | Bristles: Synthetic and horsehair | Dustpan included: Yes

Why we chose it: Not all messes require a full-size broom, and this pint-size set is handy in a pinch. 

For the occasional spill on a table, counter, or floor, a hand brush and dustpan are the tools you’ll want on standby. This set’s petite profile is easy to stash under the sink or in a drawer so it’s always there when you need it. We love that the hand brush is made with horsehair, and the warm wood and natural tones contrast beautifully with the charcoal dustpan. It’s not the best tool for cleaning an entire floor (save your back!), but for all the in-between messes, this set will be your new BFF.

How We Chose These Products

There are a ton of brooms on the market, but most of them are made with plastic and other synthetic materials, and certainly aren’t always good-looking. When researching the best brooms, we decided to choose ones made from natural, high-quality materials like broom corn, solid wood, and horsehair, since these are time-tested to last for many years. We also reached out to Lindsay Johnson, business development director at June Home Supply, and Julien Saulnier, from long-standing French broom maker Andrée Jardin, to shed some light on the materials and methods for broom making that separate the subpar tools from the best ones. 

Our Shopping Checklist

Types of Brooms

There are three types to be aware of: push brooms, straight-bottom brooms, and brooms with dustpans. Push brooms are intended for large spaces since they’re wide and can glide across a surface, but they’re not the best for cramped corners. Straight-bottom brooms are best for everyday cleaning—sweeping up spilled granola or collecting some stray potting soil. Brooms with dust pans are the full package, as they not only collect dust and debris from your floors, but pick it up and offer a vessel to bring to the garbage can. 

Handles

Broom handles are generally made from wood, plastic, or metal, and sometimes with a rubber grip at the top. Most on our list feature either painted or oiled wood, though the latter will require some maintenance to keep it in tip-top shape. All you’ll need to do is give it a coat of mineral oil whenever it starts to feel dry or brittle, similar to a cutting board or wooden spoon. There’s also a broom on our list with a handle made from recycled aluminum, so it’s super-lightweight and won’t require any future maintenance. In terms of grip or hand-feel, we’d pick an oiled wood handle as our top choice, since it’s textured enough not to slide from your hands but also won’t make your palms sweat if you’re sweeping for an extended period.  

Bristles

We’re partial to brooms made with natural materials, which have been effectively cleaning for hundreds of years. If they are made from plastic, we prefer recycled plastic. Bristles can be made out of lots of natural, biodegradable materials like broom corn (as noted, above, and different from the corn we eat), coconut palm, and horsehair. Johnson prefers horsehair brooms, since they “pick up even the tiniest pieces of dust and debris and are safe to use on all kinds of surfaces, like wood, tile, terracotta, concrete, vinyl, and more,” she says. “You don’t have to worry about it scratching the surface of your flooring or missing any bits and pieces that you’re trying to clean up.”

Ask Domino

Q: Is there really a difference between a push broom and the more common angled broom? 

“Push brooms tend to be great for large spaces, as the broom head tends to be larger and the bristles sewn tightly together in a thick pattern,” explains Johnson. “This provides the strength to push large particles forward without losing any of the smaller pieces of debris on the job.” 

They’re also great for speed cleaning, since you can quickly maneuver behind it, but Johnson points out that “you lose the ability to manipulate the broom with ease.” And when it comes to ergonomics and smaller spaces, an angled broom provides flexibility and can make cleaning the likes of baseboards a smoother process. That said, Johnson still always recommends ”a classic, straight-angled broom” for household cleaning. 

Q: What is the benefit of buying a broom that’s made from natural materials?

The advantages of natural materials are relatively expected: They last a long time, they are more sustainable to make, and purchasing handmade items maintains traditional techniques honed by longtime craftspeople. They should also weather beautifully and, with proper care, can last a lifetime—this isn’t a product you have to worry about replacing year after year. 

“We might not save the world,” adds Saulnier, “but not using synthetic materials is a small gesture that means a lot to [our company].” 

Q: Are there any ways to preserve a broom? 

Preserving a broom is similar to caring for any quality tool, points out Saulnier, and you’ll need to “re-oil the wood, comb the bristles, and dry the broom well if it comes in contact with water.” Plus Johnson advises you should “always, always store your broom upside down! Otherwise the bristles bend and are not nearly as effective.” 

Another recommendation? Consider shampooing your horsehair brooms to increase longevity and effectiveness, and be sure to give its head a good shake prior to sweeping to keep the bristles clean, offers Johnson. And remember to try storing the broom in a dry place that doesn’t encounter a lot of direct sunlight—it can bleach the bristles and speed up the aging process.  

The Last Word

If you’re on the hunt for a high-quality, beautiful broom that works just as well as it looks, we’d recommend a natural bristle broom that comes with a standing dustpan, like the Iris Hantverk Long Handle Dustpan & Broom Set. It’s traditionally handmade, includes a long-handle dustpan so you won’t have to bend over to pick up dirt, and comes in three lovely colorways.