Threads 67: The old fashioned vacuum cleaner

Few,  if any of us, remember the day when a vacuum cleaner was not used to clean the carpet. In fact, the vacuum cleaner was only invented in 1901. 

Before that time the carpets were taken outside, hung on a line and beaten with a carpet beater in a cloud of dust. I don’t know what they did about wall-to-wall carpets, perhaps that wasn’t even invented in those days.

TO MAKE A CARPET BEATER

First, you need materials: 7 long, pliable fine willow rods at least 5 ft long. Also wrapping material, such as long, fine willows, raffia, or wire or string.

Second, the material must be pliable, so either soak the willows, or use fresh willow.

See the photograph below to establish the shape of the carpet beater.

1. Start with a single willow and form a circle approximately 9 inches in diameter.

2. Wrap the remaining 6 willow butts tightly together to form a handle (see photo 1).

3. Divide them into three groups of two and braid them together up to 18 inches from the base.

4. Divide into two groups of three and take them through the circle. (see photo 2).

5. Take the right hand group and curve it under the circle and wrap the tips around the circle to secure the ends. (see photo 3).

6. Take the left hand group of three rods and curve them over the circle.

7. The tips of each group are secured using the wrapping material

Photo 2: At the end of the braid, the entire group is pushed into the circle perimeter, then two groups are split from inside the circle.

Photo 3: Loops are formed by each of the two groups, and secured at the base of the circle and the top of the handle. 

There are many shapes of carpet beaters. See the styles in the photo below, or look on the internet at Etsy or Amazon.