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The new plastic brushes just don't cut it like old horsehair did.

When I started sweeping in the 90s, we used stiff horsehair brushes that got into every nook. Now, everyone's swapping to plastic bristles that wear out fast and don't clean as well. I've seen chimneys with leftover creosote because these new tools skip spots. What do you think, are we sacrificing quality for convenience?
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4 Comments
cole728
cole7281mo ago
Honestly, it's not just you. I mean, I've seen the same thing with these new plastic brushes. They just don't have the same grip or reach as the old horsehair ones. Idk, maybe it's just me but it feels like everything is getting cheaper and doesn't work as well. I've had brushes wear out after a few uses, and you can tell they're missing spots. It really does seem like we're trading good work for something that's just easier to make.
3
caseythompson
Grandpa's horsehair brushes from the 70s still work perfect. I borrowed one to dust off an old fan motor, and it got into tight spots my new brush misses. @cole728, your comment about missing spots hit home. It's like with rubber seals on AC units now. They crack after one season when the old ones lasted years. What other items have you seen go downhill like this?
4
spencer400
spencer40026d ago
Actually horsehair brushes were usually goat or boar hair, not horse. The old ones were still way better though, they had more give to get into cracks. Plastic just snaps and leaves gaps.
3
gibson.morgan
Ugh, everything feels flimsier now.
2