December 2020

What could be easier than using a vacuum? Plug it in, turn it on, and run it around your floors. Not so fast, friend. If you really want to keep your apartment clean – especially if you suffer from allergies – here are 5 tips for getting the most out of your vacuum.

Use a Clean Filter

Most vacuum cleaners come with specific instructions on how to clean or change the filters that are used to store the dirt, dust, and grime. Yet most times people forget or ignore the instructions and vacuum with a dirty filter. This will not only reduce the efficiency of your vacuum cleaner but will potentially also spread the same dust and dirt in your home that you’re trying to vacuum up.

Adjust the Vacuum Height

Here’s a function of your vacuum that you may not even know exists — adjustable height. Since carpets tend to be higher than your average hard surface, it’s important to adjust the height of your vacuum attachment for the surface you’re cleaning. Some vacuums do this automatically, but if yours doesn’t, make sure to take the time to make the proper adjustments. It will make a huge difference in the cleanliness of your home’s different surfaces.

Pretreat Stains

Your vacuum may be capable of sucking up dirt, but stains require pre-treatment before you vacuum over them. If you start with vacuuming instead, the stains are likely to become too set-in or stuck-on for your vacuum to handle. Even some light scrubbing or treatment to a stain early on can help break it down and allow your vacuum to help suck it up.

Vacuum in Specific Patterns

Vacuuming your floors and carpets in random directions won’t get them as clean as if you stick to a specific pattern. The best approach is to vacuum in one particular direction back-and-forth, moving across from one side of the room to the other. Once you’ve done that, turn 90 degrees and use the same approach. This will help ensure that the vacuum’s suction power will pick up dirt on all four sides of the carpet fibers.

Dust Before Vacuuming

If you dust after you vacuum, you’re quickly dirtying the floors you just cleaned. It’s easy to forget that above-the-floor dusting is not a perfect operation. Even with microfiber rags and other effective tools, at least some of the dust will be knocked from higher surfaces. This loose dust that falls to the floor is taken care of when vacuuming is done after dusting.