how to use a vacuum cleaner

Your Helpful Guide on How to Use a Vacuum Cleaner

Last Updated on February 24, 2023

Everyday chores can prove to be a pain even after performing them regularly. However, if you are to find an effective way to conduct these chores, it can significantly lighten the load. You have to make sure that you use all your appliances the right way to do this.

So, does this mean that you have been doing it wrong all this time? Maybe, many people use appliances the same way they saw their parents or guardians do, but that does not mean it is the right way. In this piece, we will focus on how to use a vacuum cleaner.

Let us dive right in!

Step-By-Step Process on How to Use a Vacuum Cleaner

Vacuums have proved to be one of the most convenient household tools nowadays. Cleaning a well-laid wall-to-wall carpet can be hectic or nearly impossible without vacuum cleaners.

If you look through history, you will realise that over the years, these cleaners have evolved from gigantic machines drawn by horse carts to simple portable machines that can fit in small spaces.

Make sure you have the appropriate tool for the job before you start vacuuming. If you are looking to purchase a vacuum cleaner, you will be spoilt for choice. There are thousands of vacuum cleaner options today; these range from industrial cleaners to mini portable vacuum cleaners.

Step 1

Firstly, you need to have a vacuum cleaner. If you plan to buy your first vacuum cleaner, you might be spoilt for choice. This is because of the number of vacuum cleaners available today.

The vacuum cleaner you plan to purchase will heavily depend on the surface you will use the vacuum cleaner. This is also coupled with other factors like the brand and its amount to influence your decision.

Step 2

Now that you have a new vacuum cleaner, you need to study what each part does and what goes. One of the most important parts of a vacuum cleaner is the bag. This is where all the dirt is collected when vacuuming. You need to know when it is full before you start vacuuming.

Many vacuum cleaners come with dirt trays or canisters. Another important thing to note about a vacuum cleaner is its length determines how far it will reach. The other is the nozzles, upholstery attachment, or vacuum cleaner attachments that the cleaner comes with.

These are meant for different surfaces, which come in handy when working with a vacuum cleaner.

Also, check if your vacuum comes with a length indicator. If it does, you should adjust it to the depth of your carpet.

Step 3

Before vacuuming, you should clear the area you intend to vacuum. Do this to get rid of any loose items. This is to protect your cleaner from damage and you from having to dig through the dirt to find items.

Step 4

Now that you are ready, turn on the vacuum cleaner and begin vacuuming. Start by pushing back and forth slowly in a short stroke. Moving the vacuum cleaner fast does not give it enough time to pick up dirt, dust, or dust mites.

Step 5

Remember to pay attention to the hard-to-reach areas. Do this using the attachments that come with the vacuum cleaner. This is because these are the areas where dirt and dust settle most.

Vacuum Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Where to Start

Before vacuuming, pick up after yourself, the kids, or your partner. Do this to ensure that you will not suck anything into the vacuum cleaner that will spoil it by clogging. Besides, this is also helpful to ensure you do not lose anything.

Small objects like toys, money, paper clips, and pencils, among other small items, should always be picked by hand.

Clear the Furniture

If you have furniture around the area that you need to vacuum, clear it out of the way. Also, make sure to dust it off. You should consider using a fur remover or a bagless vacuum cleaner if you have pets. Do this first before advancing to the floors.

Moving furniture before you start also allows you to vacuum under the furniture and where it sits.

Take Your Time

Vacuuming is relatively faster than using a broom. However, you should make the process of vacuuming in strides and not in a sprint. Also, slowly and gently pass the vacuum over the area you are working back and forth when vacuuming. Do this in the whole house and pay attention to the hot spots. Moreover, check if your vacuum is equipped to handle different floor materials before starting.

Repeat

Proper vacuuming does not happen in one pass. When you are done vacuuming, you need to repeat the process slowly and then go in the opposite direction. For a thorough clean, repeat the process at least thrice.

Empty the Full Bag

Now that you are done vacuuming your house or space, you need to empty the vag, canister, or tray. Failure to do this affects how much suction power the vacuum will have. This also increases the time you will take to vacuum.

Before stashing away your vacuum cleaner, empty it to avoid any build-up and regularly clean your bag. However, you can store it if it is not full, but it shouldn’t be more than three-quarters full.

Use the Proper Attachments

The majority of vacuum cleaners available today come with various hose attachments or nozzles. These attachments come in handy when vacuuming different surfaces. They are key in ensuring that you get to all areas, even the hard-to-reach ones, picking up dirt, dust, and debris.

The proper attachment used on the suitable surface also reduces or eliminates damage to the surface. There will likely be a dusting tool, a crevice tool, and maybe even an additional brush tool. All are designed to remove dust from different areas and make a huge difference to your vacuuming experience.

Frequent Vacuuming

tidying the bedroom floor using an electrical tool

Vacuuming is not a once in a while type of responsibility. How messy your home or space gets determines how many times you should vacuum. This is also affected by the material in the house or space.

You should vacuum your house at least three times a week. The more you vacuum, the lesser your chances of being affected by allergens or other respiratory illnesses.

Vacuuming also allows you to get rid of mould or any other irritants in the house, including pollen.

Use a Strategy

If and when you decide to vacuum, you need to do it strategically. This means you need to start by picking up after yourself, dusting the room, wiping down all the surfaces, and then vacuuming.

Doing this allows you to have an easier time vacuuming, and you will not have to go back and vacuum after wiping down surfaces.

Must-Dos

When vacuuming, you will be tempted to do it randomly and sometimes without thinking twice about it. But before you start, here are a few things you need to do.

  • Have a consistent vacuuming schedule
  • Always clean the area rugs before the carpet or the floors.
  • Spot treat stubborn stains with a stain remover.
  • Clean and maintain your vacuum clear after every use.

Places That Need Vacuuming More Often

We stated earlier that you need to vacuum as often as possible. This is for both hygiene and health reasons.

Blind and Curtains

Dust and dirt from the outside settle on the blinds and curtains before circulating. This can cause respiratory issues in healthy people or make it worse for those already suffering from them.

To avoid this, it would help to vacuum your blinds and curtains regularly before washing them.

Drawers

There’s a tendency to wipe down your draw surfaces when cleaning, but you hardly clean the inside. This is why you need to clean the inside of your drawer regularly. This is regardless of if they are being used or not. Do this to remove dust and dirt.

Furniture

Furniture is a good hiding place for dirt and dust. Even when you cannot see dirt on your furniture, especially padded furniture, ensure always to vacuum them. Vacuuming furniture also gets rid of pet hair and even your hair. The dust brush attachment works best for this.

Keyboard

Working and studying from home is a new norm. This means that more and more people spend their time on laptops or computers. While you shouldn’t eat near your computer, this is a vice that many of us are guilty of.

The food crumbs, dirt, and dust particles will leave your keyboard looking nasty and a breeding ground for bacteria. Using a vacuum cleaner on your computer keyboard eliminates all of this nastiness.

Mattresses

You always wash your bedsheets, bed covers, pillowcases, and blankets, but when was the last time you cleaned your mattress? Even when covered with bed sheets and mattress covers, Mattresses are not 100% clean. Even now and again, it would help if you cleaned your mattress. A quick way to do this is by vacuuming. A Hepa vacuum works best for mattresses when removing dirt and dust.

The Broom

The last thing you might think of vacuuming is the broom because brooms are what we use to keep clean when we are not vacuuming. However, unlike vacuum cleaners, brooms do not have a bag, tray, or canister to collect this dirt.

This means that lots of pet hair, dirt, dust, and debris are stuck within the broom. Vacuuming the broom allows you to get rid of all this, so when you go back to use it, you will not be transferring more dirt to the areas you are cleaning.

Under the Bed

Do you recall stuffing things under your bed when asked to clean your room as a kid? Once you get older, you no longer stuff randomly under your bed. Still, there lies a dust layer under your bed.

Regularly vacuuming your bed clears it of dust, dirt, mould, and debris. This reduces the chances of allergic reactions, flu, and even health issues like asthma.

Window Sills

Most people use a piece of cloth or sponge to clean their window sills. However, vacuuming gets rid of all the dust in the nooks and crannies. Doing this improves air circulation in the room and reduces allergies. You can do this using one of the vacuum’s brush attachments.

How to Clean a Vacuum Cleaner

Now that you are done using your vacuum cleaner, it is time to clean it before storing it away. Here is a simple step-by-step process of how to clean a vacuum cleaner.

  • Unplug the cleaner from the power outlet and remove the dirtbag, tray, or canister.
  • Empty the contents of the vacuum bag, tray, or canister. Wipe down the bag and tray with a dry microfiber towel or cloth to remove any residue.
  • Wash the dirtbag, tray, or canister with warm water and soapy water in the sink or washing machine. Disinfect if you have used it to vacuum mould.
  • Rinse it and place it to air dry.
  • Next, check on your filter. If the manufacturer states it is washable, then wash it.
  • If you are to wash your filter, gently remove it from the cleaner and tap it in a dust bin to remove dust and dirt.
  • Using soap and warm water, wash the filter. If the manufacturer gives washing instructions, follow them.
  • Place the filter out to air dry.
  • The base plate is the last thing you need to clean before storing your vacuum cleaner. You need to remove the plate to access the beater bar to do this.
  • Using a pair of scissors, cut away any hairs or carpet fibres that are stuck on the bar. Be careful not to damage the bristles.
  • Using a grout brush, gently scrub the beater bar to remove any stuck-on debris.
  • Using a microfiber cloth, wipe down the base plate.
  • Once you are done, wipe down the whole vacuum, not forgetting the vacuum hose, and store it.

Enjoy Using a Vacuum Cleaner!

Now that you know how to use a vacuum cleaner and clean it, you can now be on your way to using your vacuum cleaner.

Vacuuming is dirty work, but someone has to do it.

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