About a week before Christmas, when Mr. TheBoyandMe was completely and utterly sick of the sight of strands of tinsel all over the floor, he asked if we could get a swiffer. I gasped at him and told him that in no uncertain terms, we would not be getting such an antiquated, useless and unhygienic contraption, to just get the vacuum cleaner out and stop complaining! (He doesn't even do the vacuuming, so I have no idea what he's complaining about.)
My reticence at agreeing to one was based on traumatic flashbacks to my childhood in the early 1990s which involved one of these items:
My nan had one in '70s brown, and we had one in '70s blue and I hated them! They were noisy, awkward, dirty, didn't pick up the bits and, if you tipped it at a certain angle, they emptied the few bits that they had picked up all over your still dirty floor.
My husband slunk away having realised it was a no-go, and retrieved our cumbersome vaccum cleaner out of the understairs cupboard. Upon I realised the point he was making, but was determined not to back down!
Then I had an e-mail asking me if I'd like to review a cordless electric-powered floor cleaners. Curiosity sent me to the site, and I realised that the GTech SW20 was the 2012 version of what my mother had used, but with added extras. I giggled to myself at Mr. TBAM's reaction when I showed him and agreed to test it quite happily.
I did not realise just how clever this little device was going to be. The SW20 is a floor sweeper in the conventional sense, but with the added bonus of being electric and cordless. To charge the sweeper, it is placed onto the small, charging platform and left for up to five hours. From that, it gives an hour's worth of run time. That might not sound a lot, however I charged it three weeks ago and have used it every other day without recharging it once. It's designed so that you can leave it on the charging platform as it has an auto cut off device which allows you also to safely leave it on the stand to maintain full charge, however we didn't have a plug at the right height and out of the reach of The Boy.
"A conventional vacuum cleaner (2000 watt) used for 2 hours a week on a 0.30 tariff, will cost £300 over 5 years. Using a Gtech sweeper for the same period and tariff costs £7.80 and an energy saving of 55.5 KWh per year, per home."
So it's cheaper to use as well then?
As for my concerns about how unhygienic they are? Unfounded. The GTech SW20 has Germguard built into the handle and bin. Germguard action traps and kills over 99.9 of bacteria including MRSA, Salmomella, Listeria and E-Coli. It is also incredibly easy to clean; there's a pull out 'bin' which neatly collects all the dirt (and it gets up a lot) allowing for easy emptying and cleaning.
I did vacuum yesterday, I promise! And I had been wondering where that jigsaw piece had gone.
The other thing that I really like about the GTech is how easy it is to use. The extendable handle has a swivel motion when attached to the sweeper which allows for excellent manoeuvrability. It's so easy, even a two year old could use it:
At £69.95 it is slightly more expensive than the conventional carpet cleaner, but then there's nothing conventional about the GTech SW20 and I do think that with the money it saves, along with the time and effort, that it is worth it.
And thanks to the kind folk at GTech, I've got one for you to win!
Simply fill in the Rafflecopter form below:
I was given a GTech SW20 for the purpose of this review. My opinion is honest and unbiased.
Hi, What a fab review and an Amazing competition.
I am @v82chris.
It wouldn't let me add my tweet url so i'l put it here:
https://twitter.com/#!/V82CHRIS/status/160473352664911872
Thanks for the great competiton x
Oh, I so want one of these. We first saw them when we were in a playcentre and they used them to clean the carpet around the tables after all the kids have eaten. Genius!
I think you know my twitter id. 😉
fab comp i could with one of these – save me getting down on my knees with my hand held hoover thingy!
great comp btw x
A great review and they being back lots of memories on my nan clearing up behind us with one.
A great competition.
@onedad3girls
I so need one of these instead of dragging the vacuum into the lounge everyday to clean up after my 2 little ones.
I've entered.
twitter name: @star100x
Oh these look totally brilliant! I would LOVE to win :O)
@Mummy_loves xxx
Oh I definitely need one of them in my life. What a clever little invention
@caro_mad x
All done, I can't tell you how much I neeeed this! 🙂 @RedRoseMummy
I entered @anna8301
Great prize, I've done all the steps, I am Tink Lee Mse on Facebook and @snowted on Twitter.
Entered, brill prize @Baggio1018
I remember the old ones and was very interested to hear how they have changed
twitter id @RuthMarianna
This sounds absolutely brilliant – I would be able to take it away when we go on holiday in our motorhome.
Looks very light and nifty, would love to get my hands on this x
Liked on FB and tweeted, Twitter ID is J_Hughes712
Liked on FB and tweeted, Twitter – @debsjeav
Thanks I've entered to try and win this for my mum she been going on about these for a few weeks (it's likely she saw it somewhere like QVC) knowing my mum lol. Thanks for the competition @clairelouise82. x
I'm fairly certain I still have my aunties old sweeper somewhere in my attic
🙂
look good
forgot to put @joannebrownuk
Fab review, all steps completed @becky0020
I have entered. @anywayup35
you gave a great review on this. would really like to win one now. i love new gadgets for the home x tweeted as @melandtony
I've liked on FB and tweeted as @philibaldi – Have a great day
Tweeted as @VJeanBrown
Looks a great sweeper !
Thanks for the great review and giveaway! @tracyknixon
Entered – GeorgeBee69
I've entered and my twitter ID is @Munchkim it sounds great!
Entered @masikari
ooh Hubby will love one of these that way he can get the girls doing the hoovering
@tiredmummyoftwo
I have done all the above. @Jlnorris2010
A fab review and a brilliant looking product! On twitter I'm @mrsmcgregor23
What a coincidence: I was just looking at something to clean my floors with, fed up of sweeping & hoovering through the whole of our downstairs daily then having to mop up.
I love the idea of a light weight "USEFUL" sweeper !!
I too was put off these by the old fashioned versions, memories of my nan's heavy clumsy and near on useless push along sweeper.
Having m.e. it is difficult to do anything around the house – I see this as my option to finally get some of my independance back. As your young man showed in the video it is very easy to use, and if a toddler can use one – I can. With the help of your review, I have been able to see that this particular sweeper is a viable alternative to hoovering that I would be able to finally do.
Thank you for letting us all see how fab the modern version of the yacky old floor sweeper is!!!
@BexJones1976 (TWITTER)
Ade N Bex Jones (FACEBOOK)
entered @ 5122262
Hi! What a great prize this would be! I've done all the entrys, my twitter name is WrightyH! Thanks for the comp!
I have done all of the above 🙂
Good detailed review there hun, I have never seen this before but from the video, it looks like it works good 🙂
xx
@mum2alesha
x
looks great and would be a fantastic prize for MrR:-)
@twopointfourchi
I've entered.
twitter name: @compaddicted
entered by liking pages but couldnt do url thing. im @damcon1979
fab! would be great for the dog and cat hairs!
tweeted as @dickymint18
Looks fab I must say 🙂
Tweeted @nutunit7
I've entered. Sounds fab!
@cheekychicken24 xx
Have entered. Great prize @toffeefudge1
Hi my twitter is @philsharples
Ive entered.
Twitter: Karen2105
Twitter name: @VelvetGlove2000
They have come a long way since I was little! My mum had a bright yellow one.
Thanks for another great review!
I'm @figgygee on Twitter
I've entered. My twitter id is @muslimahi
Mum had the old one too, handy tool…cats hate a Dyson lol @TimothyBain
Entered! I'd love one of these – it's so much faff to hoover up all the time, so this'd be perfect!
@jamie_glew
I have entered using all the above entries, thanks. @pphil10
I would loe on of these it woud be ver usefull indeed @domsgran
This looks absolutely perfect for my Mum – she finds an ordinary cleaner too much work these days.
@happyfox
I had something similar to this a few years ago…and it could also be used as a handheld..I loved it..sadly it stopped holding its charge so it had to go….please enter me
@jessies_online
I'm in! @Bobbity666
Ive done it all, and tweeted as well @pooohbear2811. thanks for running
I have done all the above @bloomingfox
@FlossabelleCat
Have done all, yes please.
All entered, I think I messed up the tweet link 🙁
I stayed in a chalet with one if these last year. I nearly took it home it's so fab!
@averagemummy
Great competition! Entered with @mummyvwork
I've entered thank you!
@kellykoya
Ivr entered & I am @mummyconstant
All done, great prize
@littleboo_21
What a fab review and an Amazing competition.
I am @handbag2000
All entered @AimeeSwift1
What a cool idea, have entered
@budgetingmum
Lovely comp and a nice review, well done indeed. @dadcooking2nite
@kenai121
Love to win one of these xx
Great review – could really benefit from having one of these!! Rafflecopter wouldn't let me put in my tweet link, but have tweeted as @chelseamamma
http://twitter.com/#!/ChelseaMamma/status/161076475976617984
Could be a useful gadget – as it is cable free.
Just realised should have put my twitter name – @jennyp19
ooo this prize is great, it would be so handy with 4 kids and 2 dogs, ive done all the above requirements, twitter id @lovelylaurahaye
facebook: Valerie Sharp
twitter: @sharp_v
I'd soooo love one of these! @VeeJay78
Lovely prize – twitter: @heavenlyaction
I really need one of these, I have to drag my hoover out everyday, this would save a lot of hassle, my twitter is @tiawanawana
Have entered x @angiesandhu
Ive entered @carriecomp
God they've made a come back! My aunt had one & I used to think it was pointless as a child as it put more mess on the floor than it cleaned up.
I used to love using my Nan's carpet sweeper. Like everything else it's come full circle – just a bit updated lol.
This looks ideal for my household – with 4 people, a cat, dog, by a muddy lane and near the beach we really need a lightweight sweeper!
TY for the great comp. GL to every1. My Twitter is @pippens31
Yay more assistance for a clean house! I live in hope.
@MultipleMummy
I sooo need one of these to clean after my 2 Pugs!
Entered 🙂
@sam14no
This takes me back to my childhood, playing with my Nanna's sweeper at her house and making more mess as the bits fell out of it lol. x
It's not letting me tweet the comp but will as soon as it's stopped playing up.
@baggiesbabe69
Have entered 🙂
Would come in very handy now that my little man is here!
@milkpetal
I've done all you've asked.
Good review 🙂
@angeldaisy2002
I have completed all steps, what a brill prize!
@charliecsm
my twitter id is @jessws2011
Hi and thanks for the giveaway
Completed all the steps
@chocolateonemse
with the dirt that my boy and dog spread about, i'd LOVE one of these @mummylion
done everything. Looks fantastic – would love to win! x : ))))
twitter id is: @joannamoran3
have entered 🙂 @torialou78 another fab blog xx
I have entered @nataliemay29
This looks fantastic @susankmann x
I have entered. Thanks 🙂 @mrsvaughany
Wow thankyou for the awesome prize and competition! I'm @sweet_Kat30 on twitter!
Have entered @xhako
Thanks for a great competition
Great comp.
My twitter id is @P_E1
Love your competition prize, I remember my grandma having one of these in the 60s and I remember her having kittens if I tilted it the wrong way and shed the entire contents of the sweeper back up on the floor, ha ha
I've entered, my Twitter ID is @HolyMoly99
Thanks x
Hi, please enter me into your fab competition!!
My twitter id is @Iggy131313
Thanks xx
great competition
@kiki_725 on twitter!
I've been looking at these so your review was really helpful.
@Barnabysue
I def need this:) @kikicomp
Great comp – just entered @debwh142 on Twitter
All done 🙂 @smileysarahs
I have done all of the above (@rugbylovingmum)
great comp!! but dont have twitter 🙁
I've entered. @MummyBee81
I've tweeted and like both FB pages – @WeeWillieWilkie
My boyfriend so needs one of these and I might even use it too! @stephdoesrunnin
I have entered and I am @CharlieB243 on twitter
Have entered your fab giveaway
@emmav6
done all the relevant things for entry to your great comp heres my twitter id @spearcemse
I have entered. Fingers crossed
@HevWalsh
Great Giveaway!
@kimmer2111
Seems like a fab device!
@love_bryony
Great comp
@dasonia41
i have entered @kemo_2002
You never know, so here I am. Mine's old and needs replacing soooo…. Twilight_Deb x
I adore these, like you I always have visions of the ones my nan used to have when I was little…but my mother-in-law gave me her old a couple of years ago and they are fantastic! Sadly mine is broken thanks to the 7 year old getting a little rough with "helping" to vacuum! So I would love to win this for that reason I miss it!
Twitter name: @DawnCosten
Thank you 😀
I've entered @pipersky1 – would love one of these as the Henry lives on the second floor and it's SUCH a pain in the behind lugging it up and down stairs all the time! Fingers crossed 🙂
Have entered
@capodemonte
Great prize!
@tp_tasha
entered via all the instructions and tweeted as @SqueekyMango. Would love to win this as I love cleaning! with pets and a 10yr old and working part time any timesaving appliances like these are a godsend! Ellie x
Followed all the steps to enter thanks for great competition.
@jenneewren
I've followed all the instructions @Daphne01_mse
Great Comp 🙂
This looks amazing. I entered @ali991
Great prize, entered. @phyllgerry
All done
@cheekimunkie
These look fab 🙂
Have entered the giveaway
@wombleloulou
I've entered, thanks
@MrsHolding
I have entered, this would be fab!
@moolboots
I've done them all!
Facebook – SJ Wesley
Twitter – @samanthawesley
I've completed the steps but my twitter account is dormant!
Great giveaway – thanks x
Count me in!
x
And…worked out my Twitter password.
I soooooo need one of these with the dog that's not meant to moult, but moults more than any dog I've ever had!
So need this with a dog, a toddler and a messy hubby 🙂
@emmys_mummy
All done! @pandcands