How to Vacuum Carpets and Floors

Maintain your carpet - and even your floors - by vacuuming regularly.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

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

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.

[totalvac]

on 4/2/2009 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.

[payless70]

on 1/26/2009 The professionals at Payless Carpet Cleaners provide information and tips in regards to carpet cleaning. Refer to http://www.payless-carpet-cleaners.com or if located in the South Florida region contact by telephone at [phone] or [phone].

[thebeaddoodler]

on 1/13/2009 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]

on 10/19/2008 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.

[Nyko]

on 6/8/2007 get rid of bugs - if you use the eucalyptus essentail oil you can get rid of bugs, spiders, and other unwanted pests.