One of the biggest problems I have when sewing is all of the threads that get strewn across my sewing room. A while back I showed you a quick and easy No-Vacuum Sewing Room Idea. It involved hands and knees but was easier that toting the vacuum upstairs.
Today, I have something to add to your collection of Cleaning Tips that works especially well in the sewing room. This piece of necessary sewing room equipment doesn’t involve a vacuum, instead it employs hands, but not knees. It costs around $3.00 and doesn’t require electricity.
Can you guess what it is?
The lowly toilet brush, destined to be hidden behind toilets everywhere can now step into the daylight and be placed out in the open ~ ready to perform a new task.
Friends, it doesn’t get much easier than this! Bend, swipe across the threads, pull off, and discard.
One walk around the room with my new thread picker-upper and I’m done. Easy, easy, easy.
I am officially re-christening this handy sewing room tool. It shall hereafter be known as the Thread Sceptor. Raise them high, ladies.
GabiP says
March 3, 2014 at 6:07 amYou crack me up! How funny…and so good to know! Thx!
Cindy B says
March 3, 2014 at 6:44 amKeep a vacuum upstairs so you won’t have to tote one when it’s time to do the floors. I kept a small vacuum in each of my kids closets. It seemed getting the vacuum from the laundry room to the bedroom was just an impossible chore. Problem solved. LOL
Judi says
March 3, 2014 at 8:42 amFirst of all, your sewing room is perfect! I especially love the Ikea storage cabinets. And all the space and light!!! The “thread scepter” is pure genius. I don’t like using my vacuum for thread because they get tangled around the power brush. Thanks!
Rachel says
March 15, 2014 at 11:25 amA seam ripper tool is perfect for removing those wrapped-around threads (as well as long hair) from the vacuum power brush.
Anne Rhodes says
March 3, 2014 at 8:52 amBrilliant!
Marianne says
March 3, 2014 at 11:57 amNow THIS is why we love your blog.
Envisioning how you came up with this brilliant idea is keeping me smiling.
As always I so enjoy all of your blog posts. Thanks so much.
Irene says
March 3, 2014 at 5:59 pmYou are so right Judi, I don’t like turning the vacuum on its side to pull all the threads out of the brushes. I love the idea of using the toilet brush. With the handle on it maybe it wouldn’t require bending down. It is hard for me to bend down for very long and hard to get on my hands and knees. The knees don’t take kindly to kneeling down anymore. Thanks for the good idea, Leslie.
Patricia Routt says
March 3, 2014 at 6:03 pmWhat a great idea, it sure beats having to sit on the floor and pull all those threads out of the vacuum brush. Thanks for such a useful tip, and for only a dollar at the dollar store, it sure beats buying another vacuum for upstairs, besides every time I pull the vacuum out to do just a quick little job I end up doing the whole house. I hate it when that happens.
Carolonder h says
March 3, 2014 at 10:03 pmGreat idea! It is easy, compact and doesn’t take up any room. I wonder how you thought about using this in the first place. Love your blog, Leslie. If you have an idea about picking up pins would like to hear about that one.
Lucia says
March 24, 2016 at 1:53 amA magnet s great for picking up pins.
Lois Gern says
March 4, 2014 at 6:24 pmWouldn’t this also be useful for cleaning the straggler threads on the back of quilt?
Alicia says
March 4, 2014 at 8:40 pmHOLY GENIUS! My sewing room is a huge thread and dust ball right now- and you’ve inspired me to get on it!
Thanks for the tip!
Leslie says
March 5, 2014 at 11:22 amWell, mine doesn’t look like those pictures anymore….but it easier to clean when everything has a place.
Kimberlee says
March 5, 2014 at 7:45 pmGreat clean up idea for the threads. I keep a little brown lunch sack taped next to my sewing machine so not too many get all over the floor. I currently have a couple of projects going so my problem is clutter – I hate to put everything away knowing I will be working on it again in the next day or two – but I think that is just the way it is when you are creative.
Leslie says
March 6, 2014 at 9:18 amI love the paper bag idea…running to Walmart to pick some up!
Lisa Curcio says
March 5, 2014 at 8:46 pmOh, wow! The toilet brush tip is AWESOME!!! Now to go buy one that hasn’t been USED! 😀 Thanks for sharing!
Jude says
March 5, 2014 at 8:50 pmJust wanted to say what a brilliant idea. Thank you for sharing.
Betsy {BPhotoArt.com} says
March 6, 2014 at 8:43 amGreat tips for cleaning up my sewing area. I need to do this 🙂
Alice @ Mums Make Lists says
March 7, 2014 at 6:01 pmThat’s fantastic – love it 😉
Jen @ de Jong Dream House says
March 7, 2014 at 10:37 pmThis.is.brilliant! And much cheaper than ripping out our carpet! I already bought mine and put it good use!
Cheri says
March 8, 2014 at 9:00 amGood idea. Another one is use masking tape…just roll in backwards a bit loosely around my hand and then, with hand inside, just roll it along the floor and it picks up everything. Although he didn’t have to say anything as i know not to vaccum all those threads and tiny pieces of fabric up in the vacuum cleaner…when he found out I was doing this…he was shocked and totally surprised that something so simple could satisfy his demand of “no thread in the vacuum!” rule!
Kristina & Millie says
March 8, 2014 at 5:31 pmWish you had told me this a couple weeks ago….right before hubby broke the vacuum after doing my craft room….I have a hard time hitting the trash can lol
Mindie Hilton says
March 9, 2014 at 8:09 amHow clever! I would love for you to share at Bacon Time, if you have not already. I have not sewed anything for a long time, but I am getting the itch, just bought some pretty ribbons yesterday.
Maria says
March 10, 2014 at 6:45 amI’m over from SMW. This is a brilliant idea and has come just in time as I’m doing the spring cleaning. I’m going out to buy myself one so I can start on my room at the end of the week. Thanks for sharing.
Deanna {sewmccool} says
March 10, 2014 at 6:54 amThat’s so creative! I also like to use duct tape — that seems to do the trick. But this might be easier and I can re-use it (not in the toilet of course, haha!)
Crystelle says
March 10, 2014 at 8:05 pmHey! that thread sceptor looks really handy! I need one of those!!!
Katy says
March 11, 2014 at 4:10 amThat’s a brilliant idea! Although how I’d explain to anyone who visited my sewing space why I had a loo-brush lying around, I don’t know!
Karen B says
March 14, 2014 at 7:00 amI use an empty oatmeal box by my sewing machine for theads and snips and bits of paper, etc. I have one at both machines.
Joyce says
March 17, 2014 at 7:34 amI am in awe at your ingenuity! What a brilliant idea, thank you – I shall be able to clear up my floor on a daily basis with this – no more walking threads through the house (a fave hate of my husband’s) I have a small vac for my sewing room – but hey there are so much more interesting things to do than vac the floor! Going to go look for a pretty one right now. I’m looking forward to the comments from my sewing class as to why I have a loo brush in the sewing room ……………… 🙂
Julie {CalleLillyCafe} says
March 17, 2014 at 4:03 pmLove this idea & the name!! Off to purchase a new one for craft room!
lone says
November 18, 2014 at 6:14 pmWhy not use a lint roller I do.
And it don’t look as bad as a toilet brush in the sewing room ;-);-);-)
Leslie says
November 18, 2014 at 8:58 pmI have used a lint roller, but you have to replace it too often. The toilet brush is self sustaining.
Monique says
November 21, 2014 at 5:21 pmThat is funny! I will now look at toiletbrushes in a whole new way 🙂
I have wooden floors in my sewing (ahem…dining) room but have the same problem with threads NOT going in the waste basket….instead I find them on the dog, who loves to keep me company and then wanders through the house depositing “quilt poop” everywhere!
Pam Jones says
August 12, 2015 at 8:49 pmThe toilet brush works well, but if you have a dog and have a Furminator for their coat, it works better than anything!
Linda Bee says
October 23, 2016 at 5:41 amThread Sceptor!! Too funny. ROFL
Adrienne says
March 3, 2017 at 11:13 amBrilliant! May I just add that you’ll want to go ahead and splurge on a new toilet brush rather than repurposing your old one? Ha!
Annette says
June 30, 2017 at 5:23 pmI purchased a small shop vac made by rigid. It has wheels small [ 2 gal ] but has a powerful 5 hp!! It picks up everything and no tangling around a beater bar. The down side…my husband discovered it and well it is not always where I left it.
denise HOSNER says
July 28, 2017 at 5:37 pmHi, I love seeing your sewing room! I wonder what the name of your sliding white Ikea table is. Also, are the legs adjustable and do you think it is large enough for a cutting table? I have a small apt. and have been breaking my back bending over a low coffee table. My cutting may is 24″ x 36″
Leslie says
July 29, 2017 at 7:48 amYou can read about it here: https://www.seasonedhomemaker.com/new-sewing-and-craft-table/
denise HOSNER says
July 29, 2017 at 1:36 pmHi, I was referring to your white sliding table that is under your pegboard. It has grey legs!