People today don't know how products (including carpet sweepers) used to be made--strong and long lasting. In the early 1980s I bought a Bissell manual carpet sweeper. It finally broke--in Feb 2009--having lasted almost 30 years. It had a steel body heavy enough to not get dented, two rollers with boar's head bristles, 2 heights--for carpet or floor; it picked up most dust and pet hair as well as larger trash. Unlike plastics, it was not a super dust magnet. I didn't have room for a full-sized vaccuum cleaner for my small apartment--but occasionally would borrow a friend's. (Six months ago I borrowed a 30-year-old Kirby which did a wonderful job.
As its owner says, "it really sucks!") I bought a replacement--no need to mention the brand. It's one of those modern "made to break" items like most of what's made today. It's smaller, made of flimsy plastic, with one roller of cheap nylon bristles, the mechanism to open the dust pans doesn't work and I don't dare force it since it's obviously it would break. It only picks up larger trash. I'm going to return it--and now what can I do? I urge "green manufacturers" to start building products like they used to be made--built for durability and of simple, functional design. ... View related article.
