Are you sure that you vacuum your home the right way? Most homeowners know how to operate the machine but are unaware of the correct way of cleaning with it! Below are some tips to guide you on how to get the best out of your vacuum cleaner.
Use the right type of vacuum
Are you using the right vacuum for your particular flooring? For example, a vacuum head with a beater bar is the best choice for cleaning carpeting but, unfortunately, can damage hard surface floors. Therefore, before you purchase a vacuum cleaner, you should consider the type of accessories available, the flooring in your home, and your lifestyle!
Read the operating manual
Not every vacuum is the same, so you should carefully read the operating manual and learn everything about your device. Furthermore, you should master the use of the accessory tools of your appliance! Some examples include:
- Crevice tool: This tool has a small narrow opening that is used to clean the edges of a room. It is also helpful in cleaning under your sofa and chair cushions, narrow windowsills, corners of your room, or at the base of furniture that’s too heavy to move.
- Dust Brush: The dust brush is a soft-bristled, usually round vacuum attachment. So, you can use it to reduce suction strength, which makes it perfect for use on everything from hard furniture to lampshades and curtains.
- Upholstery brush: The upholstery brush is rectangular and soft-bristled with a flat head. Therefore, it is handy for capturing dust on upholstery, around furniture legs, drapes, and window blinds. Moreover, its shape increases suction, which is why it works well on softer surfaces like mattresses.
- Power-head: The power-head contains a beater bar and is attached to a vacuum hose. Since it is narrower, it is ideal for cleaning carpeted stairs and upholstery.
Start with a clean vacuum
Keep your vacuum clean because it will not work well when it is filled with dust and dirt. Also, always empty the dust bin into a trash can before you begin and never allow the disposable bag to get more than half full. Likewise, check that the beater bar or roller brush spins freely and that there are no strings, hair, or fur wrapped around them. Moreover, use your hand to feel for strong suction and check for blockages.
Get the room ready for vacuuming
I always prepare my rooms for vacuuming to save time and energy! If you want to do the same, then follow these tips:
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Dust your room, starting from the ceiling fans and then moving to the baseboards so that the dirt can be vacuumed away quickly.
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Remove clutter from your floors.
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Move your furniture away from walls so you can clean the floor underneath them, and then move them back as you vacuum.
How to vacuum a room with wall-to-wall carpet?
Start at one edge of the room
Begin vacuuming by using the crevice tool to clean the seam between the carpet and the baseboard, as this will remove trapped dust and prevent a dark line of soil from appearing.
Adjust the vacuum settings
Once the edges are clean, switch to the roller brush setting on the vacuum and adjust the vacuum head height to match the type of carpeting. It should also make contact with the surface of the carpet fibres.
Work slowly and in a grid
A vacuum needs time to both loosen and suction away the dirt. Therefore, work slowly in long, smooth strokes. Start along one wall and slowly move to the opposite wall. Then, overlap the next pass slightly until you have covered the entire area. For instance, if you have worked north to south, repeat the action for east to west walls. Hence, this will ensure that the entire carpet surface has been vacuumed twice, capturing more soil.
How to Vacuum Area Rugs?
Vacuuming your area rug
First, adjust the vacuum setting to fit the pile of your area rug, then vacuum it slowly following its length and then again along its width so that you’ve gone over the area twice.
Roll up your rug
Ideally, your rug should be rolled up and set aside to vacuum the flooring underneath. Likewise, for hard surface floors, vacuum to remove grit that has accumulated under the area rug, as doing so will protect your floor from scratches and damage.
How to vacuum hard surface flooring?
Use the right type of vacuum head
To prevent damage to your hard surface flooring, you should not use a vacuum with the beater bar engaged because it can scratch or even dent them. Also, the vacuum should have a fabric-covered roller or a flat floor head attachment without a spinning brush.
Follow a Pattern
Since hard surfaces don’t cling onto loose dirt as easily as carpet fibres, you only need to vacuum the surface once. However, it is still important to start along one edge of the room, vacuum slowly, and work in a grid pattern to make sure your entire room is cleaned. Also, use your vacuum cleaner attachments to clean corners and under your furniture.
Now that I know better how to use my vacuum cleaner for cleaning, I effortlessly get my desired clean home every time that I clean! Would you also try these time-saving tips? Please share your comments below!
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