DIY: Make cleanup a breeze by building your own air broom

What if I told you that you could construct your own compressed air broom that would turn workshop cleanup from boring to exciting?

I'm a stickler for clean workspaces. Whether it's my cubicle, my kitchen counters or my home workshop, I prefer spaces that are organized and, most importantly, clean. But, as any great DIYer will tell you, cleaning up stinks. It's much more fun to make messes rather than clean them up. But what if I told you that you could construct your own compressed air broom that would turn workshop cleanup from boring to exciting?

According to Popular Mechanics: There's nothing wrong with a broom and a dustpan, but this DIY air broom quickly pushes dust and debris of all sizes into manageable piles. Plus it's much more fun to use than any vacuum or broom.

To build this air broom you'll need 1/2-inch PVC pipe, end caps, T-joint, air-valve, and a coupler. Drill 1/16-inch sized holes into the shorter ends of the broom and angle them inward to keep the air from blowing everywhere.

About the Author

Alexis Gajewski

Alexis Gajewski

Senior Content Strategist

Alexis Gajewski is a manufacturing writer and editor with nearly 20 years of experience covering the people, practices, and technologies that keep industrial facilities running. For more than a decade, she served as Senior Content Strategist for Plant Services, creating content for plant managers, engineers, and maintenance professionals on a variety of industrial topics.

During her tenure, Alexis worked to develop the brand’s digital strategy and helped launch and produce Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast. She also created The Lighter Side of Manufacturing, a weekly blog that explored the inventive and sometimes humorous side of the industry. 

Alexis co-founded Influential Women in Manufacturing, a recognition program that honored 49 women in its first two years, earned an industry award for Best Product Launch, and received a proclamation from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and a commendation from U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth.

She also led newsroom operations and development at a large media company where she set editorial standards, developed training curriculum, and helped support AI adoption for more than 150 editors across 80+ brands spanning manufacturing, industrial processing, automation, and more.

Additionally, Alexis works as a freelance writer and editor, and her areas of interest include continuous improvement, the skilled workforce, and the role of emerging technology on the plant floor.

Connect with Alexis on LinkedIn

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