Straw Broom

Introduction

It is impossible to survive without the very essentials in 2023: survival food, water supplies, a solid and sustainable shelter, let alone means of building fire. Having well-developed survival skills and the ability to solve various issues in different situations will be priceless, but when you have great quality and reliable survival gear, your survival chances magnify. What is also important is the way you keep your shelter tidy. All survivalists, preppers, and homesteaders should, of course, care about that, too. Let us elaborate more on that topic!

To the point

No matter how far the progress has come, it is always good to remember some good old things. For example, you can immediately notice the difference when you visit your family members or just go to the countryside farm. Apart from cities, the atmosphere of a farmhouse in a village is unique. But, of course, such uniqueness is achieved by old-fashioned design pieces and minor elements of everyday life.

Well, long story short, straw and other types of homemade brooms are one of those things. You can quickly do a little dusting and collect garbage with an ordinary broom to burn it afterward, for one.. It is an ideal tool for quick cleaning and does not take up much space.

Nowadays, brooms are made from both natural and synthetic materials. You can find it at any specialized store, but it is not the same as your own broom-making experience. The task only seems to be challenging, but this craft is as easy as a broom itself!

Moreover, we are sure you want to upgrade your survival skills. And what is a more efficient cleaning tool than a durable broom?

In this article, we will tell you exactly how you make brooms from different materials and also how to make them last longer. I hope our guide will help you with this task and good luck!

About Brooms

A broom now is considered the most straightforward household tool and the old-fashioned way to clean the floor. It is perfect for sweeping dirt, larger trash pieces, and debris unsuitable for vacuuming or washing with other modern devices.

A traditional broom consists of twigs or branches used to clean houses, porches, sheds, etc. Usually, twigs of shrubs or plant stems are the primary materials used to make a broom. They are simply fixed on a short or long broom handle using special bundles, twines, or wires. You can make this cleaning tool out of almost anything.

Broom Corn (Sorghum)

Most often, brooms are created from a particular plant called sorghum, also known as broom corn. Sorghum is a drought-resistant, heat-loving, and unpretentious plant. It has a sturdy stem, perfect for brooms making. The sorghum plant has three categories. First, it is worth using only high-quality broom corn for brooms because the durability and solidity of such cleaning tools depend on it.

To make brooms, people use ripe stem bundles. Sorghum is used not only for broom production, though. It is also used to produce starch and even paper, and the nutritional properties of this plant can be equated to sweet corn.

You can find broom-corn brooms in any store online. However, you can make a broom yourself. To do this, you need to find suitable plant categories or even grow your broom corn in the backyard.

DIY Straw Broom

It is relatively simple to create a broom from scratch. The only thing you should consider first is where you want to get the materials from:

• If you want the process to be quicker, it would be rational to get the broom straw in an online store or any nearest market.
• But if you want to learn something new or just enhance the experience, of course, you can grow your broom corn. The stalks grow the same way as sweet corn. So it is helpful for many purposes. Besides, you can always sell it and make some good money or make some brooms for friends.

So, whatever you have decided on where to get the straw, you still need to know how to make a broom out of it. So, here is a simple guide on creating a durable broom from straw or broom corn.

Step 1: Prepare the materials

To make a good, reliable broom-corn broom, you will need certain supplies. Make sure you have all of the necessary elements before you start:

• Broom straw
• Broom handle (use a stick of any size you like)
• Wire or twine to tie the parts
• Scissors to shape the final product

NOTE:

• The broom handle or stick should not be too long or too short. It will provide you with certain inconveniences, in addition to the fact that the unhandy broom wears out faster.

Step 2: Clean the straw

Remove all the seeds and other debris from the dry straw. Firstly, the seeds can still be helpful for planting, and secondly, if you leave them, the broom will leave residue and dust behind and not remove it.

Step 3: Form the broom straw

Divide the straw into the required number of bundles. Then, gather the straw into each separate bundle (The straw can tear a little during the process, and it is okay).

Form the broom’s base with thicker pieces, tightly wrap it with thinner ones, and use scissors to gently cut the excess length of the straw so that the edge is even. The thickness of the straw bundle should be comfortable for you to hold, so you want it to be flat.

Divide the bundle into several equal parts and tie each of them with twine. Then, finally, tie all the pieces together. The main thing is that the wire or twine is bound as tightly as possible since the durability of the broom depends on this.

If you want a broom handle to be smooth and convenient, you can use a straight stick. To create a handle yourself, you will also need wire or twine and thicker straw stalks. Wrap the wire tightly around the straw stalks in several places. It is best to secure the wire or twine with pliers afterward.

If you do not have access to the wire and twine, you can replace them with rope or duct tape as a last resort. There is no significant difference here. The main thing is that the broom does not fall apart.

Step 4: Assemble the parts

Sharpen one end of a stick with a knife so that it can be pushed easier into the collected broom corn bundle. Bind the base of the straw bundle and the stick tightly with wire or twine so that the broom is firmly attached to the pushed handle. Do not forget that wiring is crucial when assembling a broom; do it with special care.

If you decided to make the handle yourself and did not use additional elements such as a stick, then your broom was ready at the stage of forming the handle.

In both cases, double-check that the parts are fixed securely. Hold the broom in your hands and feel how tightly it is made. Pay attention to the wire or twine. It must be strong and, in no case, split.

DIY Birch Broom

Birch is also actively used as the broom material, mainly because more people have access to it. It differs significantly from traditional straw ones only by appearance. Nevertheless, such a broom is no less convenient to use and can be very helpful in terms of functionality. Here is how to make a birch broom most properly.

Step 1: Prepare the materials

Just like with a regular broom made from straw, you will need:

• Birch branch bundles
• A smooth stick of any size you like
• Twine to tie the parts
• Scissors or knives

Young birch branches are easier to use as they are more elastic. Please, do not gather the entire bundle from one birch. Pick several trees instead. This way, you do not seriously damage them.

Step 2: Prepare the branches

It is best to start your preparations the day before you schedule a birch broom creation. To keep the birch branches elastic enough, soak them in warm water overnight. In the morning, the birch branches will be ready for further use.

Step 3: Form the birch broom

Take the prepared handle stick and start laying the birch branches. Thick branches should be placed inside, and thinner ones should cover the base, wrapping it. Keep the branch bundle flat. This broom shape is more efficient.

Step 4: Tightly secure the broom

After you have gathered the required density and thickness bundle, tie birch branches and handle tightly with twine and make several rows. The last step is to cut off the excess branches from the broom and flatten the bottom. You can do it using scissors or a knife.

Making a broom with your own hands is available to everyone! This is also an exciting activity that you do not mind spending your time on with obvious economic benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What do you call a straw broom?

It is a broom made from a sorghum plant, fixed on a wooden handle, and is intended for household needs. Sorghum looks much like corn in appearance. Its stalks grow the same but without the cobs. This plant is excellent for making brooms and has been used for this purpose since ancient times.

What is a corn broom used for?

A broom made of sorghum and other materials is designed for cleaning and sweeping dirt in the house, on the farm, street, etc. In general, the field of its purpose is quite wide. Using such a broom, you can remove almost any natural, industrial, and household debris.

How do you care for a corn broom?

There are a couple of helpful methods to keep your cleaning tool durable:

• First, before use, do not soak the broom in hot water. Yes, it becomes soft and flexible, with a slight slope at the edge, making it easier to collect debris. But at the same time, it significantly reduces the service life.
• Do not keep the broom near radiators or heaters. High temperatures can make sorghum too dry and break off easily.
• Store it in a horizontal position. It is better to do this with the bundles part up, placing it on the handle. This storing position will help to avoid deterioration.

What are corn brooms good for?

Brooms made from combed bundles of sorghum are used mainly for sweeping floors. This plant is unpretentious and grows in areas unsuitable for other crops. Therefore, most often, farmers grow this helpful plant not only for making their brooms but also for sale. Also, a high-quality broom is an excellent DIY gift for friends or an interesting hand-made fall project for school.