The Proper Way to Use a Vacuum Cleaner With the Sweep First

Your vacuum's brushroll sweeps up dirt which is then sucked into the dust receptacle.

The Hoover advertising slogan "beats as it sweeps as it cleans" refers to the way in which its upright vacuums remove dirt and dust from carpets and rugs. The cleaning heads on these machines incorporate a brushroll equipped with brushes and beater bars. As the brushroll revolves, the beater bars loosen dirt. The brushes sweep it off the surface, and the suction draws it into the vacuum's dust receptacle. Traditionally, canister cleaners have relied on suction only to clean carpets. However, some models now include powered cleaning heads which offer the same sweeping action as uprights.

Instructions

1. Clean all above floor surfaces before vacuuming carpets and rugs. This means any dust which escapes the suction and falls to the ground will be removed when you clean the floor. In the case of an upright, make the necessary adjustments to the controls for tool use. Attach the dusting brush to the extension wands and remove dust from ceiling areas, light fittings, picture frames, curtain rails and high shelving. Remove the extension wands, place the dusting attachment on the hose handle, and clean window ledges, furniture surfaces, lampshades and ornaments. Adjust the suction appropriately for each surface being cleaned. Use the upholstery attachment to clean sofas, chairs and curtains. Clean narrow gaps with the crevice nozzle. Re-attach the extension wands and dusting tool to clean the baseboards.

2. Return your upright vacuum's controls to their floor cleaning setting. Adjust the cleaning head's height to the most appropriate for the depth of pile being cleaned. In the case of a canister, attach the powered floor cleaning head to the extension wands. Vacuum the carpet carefully. Push the vacuum away from you slowly, and draw it back towards you, making sure you overlap the sections of floor being cleaned. Work your way across the room, passing the vacuum cleaner over each section four times.

3. Clean the carpet edges. In the case of an upright, return the controls to their attachment settings. Place the crevice nozzle on the extension wand, and pass it over all the edges which the main cleaning head may have missed. This prevents grime building up on the carpet. Use the crevice nozzle to suck dust and dirt out of narrow gaps between furniture.

Tips & Warnings

• Small nozzles with revolving brushes are also available for vacuums. They feature the same sweeping function as floor cleaning heads, and can be used on stairs and upholstery.

• Do not press down on the vacuum while cleaning carpets as this may flatten pile.

• Make sure the brushroll is off before cleaning hard floors. It is best to use a good quality hard floor tool on hard flooring.

References

• Carpet and Rug Institute: Vacuuming carpets
• John Lewis Department Store: Online magazine explaining vacuum cleaner workings