The first carpet-cleaning piece of equipment in carpet sweeper history was a twig broom, which was originally used for dirt floors by cave inhabitants 2300 BC. These early home dwellers lined their dirt floors with animal skins, with the twigs made from brushes, shrubs, and trees. Later on, in the American history of carpet cleaner, the Americans made their own brooms to also sweep the floor, while also cleaning the fireplaces. This early carpet cleaner was made with straw, hay, fine twigs or cornhusks and attached to a stick or handle with strong linen twine. Not made well, they easily fell apart after short times.

After that, mops and brushes were used as the need arose in carpet cleaner history, with the carpet sweeper finally being developed in 1858. This early machine had no suction, only a rotating brush activated by wheels. The history of carpet cleaners has another story stating that in 1869, the first developed non-electric machine that used suction was known as the “Whirlwind.” This was known as the oldest vacuum cleaner in the world, and was invented in a Chicago basement by Ives W. McGaffey.

Following this, in 1907 a janitor who worked in a Canton, Ohio department store by the name of James Murray Spangler fooled around with an old fan motor, attaching it to a box that he attached to a broom handle as another major part of the carpet sweepers history. Using a pillowcase to collect the dust, he also attached this to the contraption, making the first portable electric vacuum cleaner. This eventually became the beginning of the Hoover Company for their history of carpet division, when his cousin purchased a later version of that was more developed and advanced. Even though the sales were initially slow, the Hoover Company offered a 10-day, free home trial, which helped the company grow to what it is today.

Carpet cleaner history has many stories like the above ones, with an emphasis on the Bissell Carpet Sweeper history cleaner which was originally used in the home, but later on developed also in the business carpet cleaning history. History shows that it is also well known as the first company with a woman, Anna Bissell, as the CEO of one of the largest manufacturing industries in the world, setting new landmarks in the business world. Anna and Melville Bissell were the developers of the Bissell Carpet Sweeper History line in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Other important historical developments arose from the above inventions, such as the history of carpet colors, Bergana carpets history, history of Persian carpets, carpet-cleaning history, carpet padding history, history of carpets, and carpet installation history—each with their own story to tell with just one word changed.