How to Vacuum Carpets and Floors

Maintain your carpet - and even your floors - by vacuuming regularly. Does this Spark an idea?

Things You'll Need

  • Cleaning Cloths
  • Crevice Tool Vacuum Attachments
  • Lightweight Vacuum Cleaners
  • Vacuum Bags
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Instructions

    • 1

      Inspect the area before you vacuum. Pick up objects that could cause a clog in your vacuum cleaner.

    • 2

      Check the vacuum bag to make sure it isn't already full. If it is, change it.

    • 3

      Vacuum forward instead of backward: you'll get the job done faster and you won't wear out your cord as quickly.

    • 4

      Overlap your strokes to ensure that you get all dirt and residue.

    • 5

      Change your vacuuming direction occasionally to reduce matting in your carpet.

    • 6

      Use a damp cloth on corners, or use a crevice tool attachment on your vacuum cleaner.

    • 7

      Get rid of dust particles by occasionally waving a vacuum wand under your bed.

Tips & Warnings

  • For litter on carpets and floors, use a lightweight vacuum cleaner; for cleaning deep into the carpet, use an upright vacuum and a power brush.

  • Consider purchasing a vacuum with a rotating brush or combination beater/brush bar, which loosens dirt in the carpet and then sucks it up.

  • Vacuuming isn't just for carpets: keeping floors free of loose dirt is one of the most effective ways to maintain them.

  • Straw, string and thread can trap debris in the vacuum hose and cause a clog.

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Comments

View all 21 Comments
  • totalvac Apr 02, 2009
    Make sure you replace your belts often. As the belt ages it gets looser and larger causing the brushroll to slow down or stop spinning.
  • totalvac Apr 02, 2009
    Make sure you replace your belts often. As the belt ages it gets looser and larger causing the brushroll to slow down or stop spinning.
  • thebeaddoodler Jan 13, 2009
    Check the height setting on your vacuum cleaner if it has a beater bar. You want it set high enough that dust beaten out of the carpet will be sucked into the vacuum cleaner. If you set it too low it will just beat the dust into the pad.
  • thebeaddoodler Jan 13, 2009
    Check the height setting on your vacuum cleaner if it has a beater bar. You want it set high enough that dust beaten out of the carpet will be sucked into the vacuum cleaner. If you set it too low it will just beat the dust into the pad.
  • OregonMarty Oct 19, 2008
    There was no mention of checking the vacuum filter, which many models have. Your vacuum won't work well or last very long if you don't keep this clean.

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