Vacuuming is a healthy habit for keeping your home clean. In addition to keeping your carpets soft by picking up dirt and crumbs from the carpet, vacuuming also helps improve your home’s look! 
Is it possible that you own a vacuum but are not getting all that you could out of it? Absolutely. A lot of people don’t use their vacuum for what it’s worth. So let’s talk vacuuming – attachments, settings, and other tips and tricks!
Vacuum Attachments
For some people, vacuum attachments might as well be one of the seven wonders of the world. They don’t know what to use them for. Here are a few of the common attachments that you likely have on your vacuum: Crevice Tool – This is the thin, long attachment. Perfect for narrow areas and tough-to-reach corners. Dusting Brush – This attachment is ideal for surfaces that need a softer touch. Upholstery Nozzle: Perfect for vacuuming drapes, mattresses, and a variety of upholstered furniture. Radiator Brush – Great for vacuuming radiators and vents. All-Purpose Brush – Effective for vacuuming shelves and other flat surfaces.
Choose the Right Setting for the Right Surface
Your vacuum probably has the ability to adjust the pile height (usually a knob located at the front of the vacuum base). The pile height is essentially how long the carpet or rug fibers are. By adjusting the pile height, you adjust the height of the powered brush underneath the vacuum. You want the vacuum to make contact with the carpet, but still have enough space to allow airflow. You will get more out of your vacuum by adjusting the pile height for different surfaces. If you are vacuuming a wool/wool blend, high pile, or soft carpeting, use the high pile setting on your vacuum. For flat, commercial-type carpet, use the low pile setting. Your vacuum might have a bare floors setting. This setting lifts the powered brush up so it doesn’t make contact with the floor at all. This allows you to vacuum uncarpeted floors without scratching the floor.
Other Vacuuming Tips
You don’t want to be too fast using the vacuum, but you also don’t want to be too slow. The best is to use slow, back and forth motions in an overlapping pattern, and to gradually work your way to the left or right every 3-4 strokes. Vacuum your carpets AFTER you have dusted the blinds, furniture, and other surfaces. This will make sure you don’t just push dust back onto the carpet after vacuuming.
How Often Should I Vacuum?
For the BEST results, using a CRI Seal of Approval/Green Label vacuum cleaner, vacuum at least…
- Once a day in high-traffic areas where people spend lots of time.
- Twice a week in medium-traffic areas.
- Weekly in light traffic areas, using attachments to vacuum corners and edges.
Get the Most Out of Your Vacuum
You would hate to have to constantly replace or repair your vacuum cleaner. To preserve the life of your vacuum and get the most out of it, follow these tips:
- Don’t throw away the instructions for your specific vacuum so you can refer to them when needed.
- Unclog the vacuum hose and adjustments when needed.
- Avoid damaging your vacuuming by gripping the handle, not the hose, when cleaning.
- Check your vacuum bag and empty or replace it when it’s about half to two-thirds full.
- Make sure your vacuum doesn’t have any bent metal or rough edges that could potentially snag your carpet.
For superior carpet, rug, tile, and upholstery cleaning, Southside Chem-Dry is only a phone call away! We are committed to providing you with excellent and fast customer service, and a clean and healthy home. Schedule an appointment online today!