Anti-cord swallowing system and method for a floor cleaner

A floor cleaner that includes a rotatable brush having an elongate dowel is provided with an anti-cord swallowing system formed by a plurality of grooves formed about the periphery of the dowel and equally spaced along the length of the dowel. The anti-cord swallowing system also includes a plurality of equally spaced ribs extending from an under surface of a power head housing of the cleaner, each rib being aligned with and extending partially into one of the grooves. The clearance between each rib and its respective groove is such that free rotation of the brush is permitted while the possibility of even small diameter power cords being wrapped around the brush is minimized.