I saw this tip in action recently, when I find a bristle broom at a garage sale I will try it myself. You can make a shoe cleaner using an old bristle broom. Just cut all the warn bristles off and most of the handle (leave a foot or so), then stick the remaining handle in the ground so that the bristle end of the broom is sticking up. You then can clean dirt out of your shoe treads on the broom.