Carpet beater

Last updated
A carpet beater Carpet beater.jpg
A carpet beater
"Household gymnastics" Huisvrouwengymnastiek.jpg
"Household gymnastics"

A carpet beater or carpetbeater (also referred to as a rug beater or rugbeater, carpet whip, rug whip, clothes-beater, dust beater or dustbeater, carpet duster, wicker slapper, rug duster, or pillow fluffer, and formerly also as a carpet cleaner or rug cleaner) is a housecleaning tool used to beat carpets in order to shake dust and dirt out of them. [1] It was in common use until the vacuum cleaner became widely affordable. [2]

Typically made of wood, rattan, cane, wicker, spring steel or coiled wire, antique rug beaters have become very collectible. Modern mass-production versions can also be in plastic or wire.

Operation

Carpets, rugs, clothes, cushions, and bedding were hung over a clothesline, railing, or a special carpet hanger, and the dust and dirt was beaten out of them. Some people preferred to beat carpets in winter on the snow. They laid the carpet face down and beat it. This method had some advantages: for instance, insects would freeze to death even if they were not expelled through beating, but it left a dirty and unpleasant-looking patch on the snow, and therefore some communities forbade beating on the snow for aesthetic reasons. Another way is to spread some snow over the carpet. In this way the dust is caught but the snow does not go up in the air. [ citation needed ]

Its use in cleaning has been largely replaced since the 1950s by the carpet sweeper and then the vacuum cleaner, although they are still sold in many household stores throughout Europe.

A carpet beater may also be used to beat the dust out of sofas, futons, etc. In this case the beaten furniture is covered by a wet rag to collect dust. [ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vacuum cleaner</span> Device that sucks up dirt from a surface

A vacuum cleaner, also known simply as a vacuum, is a device that uses suction, and often agitation, in order to remove dirt and other debris from carpets and hard floors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Hoover Company</span> American home appliance company

The Hoover Company is a home appliance company founded in Ohio, United States, in 1915. It also established a major base in the United Kingdom, where it dominated the electric vacuum cleaner industry during most of the 20th century, to the point where the Hoover brand name became synonymous with vacuum cleaners and vacuuming in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Hoover North America was once part of Maytag, but was sold by Maytag's new owners Whirlpool Corporation in 2007 to Hong Kong multinational manufacturing company Techtronic Industries for $107 million. Hoover International had already split from Hoover North America in 1993, and was acquired by Candy in 1995, which was acquired by Haier in 2019.

Beater may refer to:

Housekeeping is the management and routine support activities of running and maintaining an organized physical institution occupied or used by people, like a house, ship, hospital or factory, such as cleaning, tidying/organizing, cooking, shopping, and bill payment. These tasks may be performed by members of the household, or by persons hired for the purpose. This is a more broad role than a cleaner, who is focused only on the cleaning aspect. The term is also used to refer to the money allocated for such use. By extension, it may also refer to an office or a corporation, as well as the maintenance of computer storage systems.

Kirby Opco, LLC, doing business as The Kirby Company, is a manufacturer of vacuum cleaners, home cleaning products and accessories, located in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is a division of Right Lane Industries. Dealers, sales reps, service centers, and distributors are located in over 50 countries. Kirby Vacuums are sold via door-to-door or though arranged-scheduled in-home demonstrations via their website and the company is a member of the Direct Selling Association. The Kirby website can also take vacuum cleaner orders and ship directly to the customer as well, without having to arrange for a scheduled an in-home demonstration. All Kirby Vacuum Cleaners are built in both Edgewater, Cleveland, Ohio and Andrews, Texas, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swiffer</span> Procter & Gamble household cleaning product

Swiffer is an American brand of cleaning products that is made by Procter & Gamble. Introduced in 1999, the brand uses the "razor-and-blades" business model, whereby the consumer purchases the handle assembly at a low price, but must continue to purchase replacement refills and pads over the lifespan of the product. Swiffer has become a half-billion dollar brand in fifteen countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carpet sweeper</span> Type of mechanical device used to clean carpets in the home

A carpet sweeper is a mechanical device for the cleaning of carpets. They were popular before the introduction of the vacuum cleaner and have been largely superseded by them. However, they continue to be used in many home and commercial applications because they are lightweight and quiet, enabling users to quickly clean small messes up from the floor without disturbing patrons, patients, babies and pets, and because they do not require electricity to operate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carpet cleaning</span> Process of removing dirt and stains from carpets

Carpet cleaning is performed to remove stains, dirt, debris, and allergens from carpets. Common methods include hot water extraction, dry-cleaning, and vacuuming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clothes moth</span> Index of animals with the same common name

Clothes moth or clothing moth is the common name for several species of moth considered to be pests, whose larvae eat animal fibres (hairs), including clothing and other fabrics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleaner</span> Person who cleans

A cleaner, cleanser or cleaning operative is a type of industrial or domestic worker who is tasked with cleaning a space. A janitor, also known as a custodian, porter or caretaker, is a person who cleans and might also carry out maintenance and security duties. A similar position, but usually with more managerial duties and not including cleaning, is occupied by building superintendents in the United States and Canada and by site managers in schools in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hubert Cecil Booth</span> English engineer

Hubert Cecil Booth was an English engineer, best known for having invented one of the first powered vacuum cleaners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Conservation and restoration of textiles</span> Processes by which textiles are cared for and maintained to be preserved from future damage

The conservation and restoration of textiles refers to the processes by which textiles are cared for and maintained to be preserved from future damage. The field falls under the category of art conservation, heritage conservation as well as library preservation, depending on the type of collection. The concept of textile preservation applies to a wide range of artifacts, including tapestries, carpets, quilts, clothing, flags and curtains, as well as objects which "contain" textiles, such as upholstered furniture, dolls, and accessories such as fans, parasols, gloves and hats or bonnets. Many of these artifacts require specialized care, often by a professional conservator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vapor steam cleaner</span> Type of cleaning appliance

Vapor steam cleaners or steam vapor systems are cleaning appliances or devices that use steam to dry, clean, and sanitize surfaces. The steam is produced in a boiler that heats tap water to high temperatures to produce low-pressure, low moisture water vapor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Floor cleaning</span> Occupation

Floor cleaning is a major occupation throughout the world. The main job of most cleaners is to clean floors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James M. Spangler</span> American inventor (1848–1915)

James Murray Spangler was an American inventor, salesman, and janitor who invented the first commercially successful portable electric vacuum cleaner that revolutionized household carpet cleaning. His device was not the first vacuum cleaner, but it was the first that was practical for home use. It was the first to use both a cloth filter bag and cleaning attachments. Spangler improved this basic model and received a patent for it in 1908. He formed the Electric Suction Sweeper Company to manufacture his device. William H. Hoover was so impressed with the vacuum cleaner that he bought into Spangler's business and patents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central vacuum cleaner</span> Type of vacuum cleaner appliance

A central vacuum cleaner is a type of vacuum cleaner appliance installed into a building as a semi-permanent fixture. Central vacuum systems are designed to remove dirt and debris from homes and buildings by sending dirt particles through piping installed inside the walls to a collection container inside a remote utility space. The power unit is a permanent fixture, usually installed in a basement, garage, or storage room, along with the collection container. Inlets are installed in walls throughout the building that attach to power hoses and other central vacuum accessories to remove dust, particles, and small debris from interior rooms. Most power hoses have a power switch located on the handle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Computer maintenance</span> Keeping computer in good condition

Computer maintenance is the practice of keeping computers in a good state of repair. A computer containing accumulated dust and debris may not run properly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regina Company</span>

The Regina Company was a manufacturer of mechanical musical instruments before it became a major vacuum maker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carpet hanger</span> Outdoor stand used for cleaning carpets

The outdoor carpet hanger is a construction to hang carpets for cleaning with the help of carpet beaters. It is known in Germany, Poland, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden, Romania, Russia, and other countries.

References

  1. Institution, Smithsonian. "Carpet Beater". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
  2. "Carpet Beaters, Victorian, Original". Object Lessons. Retrieved 2024-09-10.