Ten Tips for Effective Vacuuming
American Vacuum Company is launching new Tips page. This is the first of what we hope will become a regular feature. With that said, here’s our first installment: Ten Tips for Effective Vacuuming
Minimize the mess. The less dirt that enters your home, the less your vacuum will have to pick up. Lay mats at entrances and implement a no-shoe policy to stop filth from being tracked indoors. Also, dust furniture, blinds, and windowsills before you vacuum, so the vacuum will pick up fallen particles.
Stick to a schedule. For most parts of the home, weekly vacuuming is adequate. Vacuum High-traffic areas more frequently. Daily vacuuming is recommended if case of owning heavy-shedding pets.
Choose the right attachment. Most vacuums come with a few basic tools that suffice for most cleaning jobs: a crevice tool for tight spots; a small upholstery brush, and a round brush. Pay attention to carpet-height adjustment, a feature which matches the height of the vacuum to a carpet’s pile height for easy movement and thorough cleaning. On canister vacuums, a power nozzle cleans carpets more thoroughly than a simple suction nozzle.
Make multiple passes. In our deep-clean carpet test, Consumer Reports testers make more than a dozen passes to see how well vacuums take up cat hair. You don’t have to go to that extreme, but a single sweep will likely leave behind embedded matter. Instead, make several passes before moving on to the next spot.
Steer clear of small objects. It can be difficult to resist sucking up pennies and paperclip, but this could lead to an expensive visit to the repair shop.
Don’t overfill bags. On many upright vacuums, the hose attaches to the bag about a quarter of the way from its top. Consequently, it is to your advantage to replace the bag after it’s one-half to two-thirds full.
Use special care with area rugs. To prevent frayed edges, vacuum from the center of the rug out towards the perimeter. You may also be able to machine-wash small rugs, and it’s a good idea to occasionally take larger ones outside and beat them with them with a broom.
Spot-treat spills. Speed is critical when treating stains. Blot spills with a clean cloth towel or paper towel. Use carpet-stain remover on stubborn spills.
Maintain the vacuum. Clean the filter and the rotating-brush supports. Worn brushes stiffen up. This can cause texture change to carpets. Inspect the cord periodically and, if its cover is damaged, replace it.
Go for an occasional deep clean. Carpet-cleaning machines are better than vacuums at eliminating dirt and oil. You can rent a carpet cleaner from the supermarket, hardware store, or home center for about $20 to $30 a day.
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