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When we’re talking about vacuuming what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Well, if you’re me, which you aren’t (duh!), it’s power. If you don’t have powerful suction, you just can’t vacuum; it’s that simple. But does that mean you have to shell out thousands of dollars on an industrial-strength vacuum? Of course not!
So how do you maintain consistent suction through your vacuum nozzle? Make sure to clear debris from your nozzle regularly. Debris builds up overtime as you vacuum, clogging the path of the air flow. Possible sources of blockage include dust, hair, and pet fur. Low air flow means low suction. Would you try sipping soda through a straw filled with cotton? Of course you wouldn’t! If you keep your airway clear, you’ll be amazed at how much more efficiently you can vacuum your home.
Once you’ve got that covered, what’s next? Well, vacuuming the house is a lot like war. If you don’t have the right battle plan, you just won’t be successful. What do I mean by this? What I’m getting at is that there is a proper order in which your floors and carpets must be vacuumed. Just like you wouldn’t want to paint yourself into a corner when you’re changing the color of a room, you wouldn’t want to drag dust and dirt all over your house while you’re trying to clean it!
So what’s the best way to avoid that? Always vacuum behind you as you travel across the area to be cleaned. That way, any dust or dirt your feet pick up and spread around will get handled by your vacuum. Just make sure to vacuum every possible spot where you took a step and you’ll be fine. Keep in mind, socks are like magnets for filth. If you want to be sure you aren’t working against yourself, wear shoes while vacuuming, but make sure they’re clean!
Now you’re probably thinking, OK, I’ve learned a few things, but vacuuming is a simple enough task. There can’t be more to it. Well guess what? You’re wrong! Hose attachments! Hose attachments? Yeah, hose attachments. Think of these like the extra blades in your Swiss army knife. They turn a useful tool into a secret weapon in the war on dirt. How do you expect to vacuum an entire wall-to-wall carpet with the standard hose nozzle? How do you expect to get into those hard to reach areas with the wide-mouth nozzle?
The answer is you don’t. There’s a tool for every job, and your job is to know all your tools. Become familiar with the hose attachments your vacuum has to offer and learn the special purpose of each one. The wide-mouth, bristled nozzle is the standard for getting dust and hair out of carpets. The bristles get deep into the fibers and coax the filth out into the open, where the vacuum can do its job and take care of it.
Do you have shoes? Of course you do. Do you have a pet? Maybe. If you do, you know the horrors of finding dense patches of fur impacted into the soles of your shoes. This is where a narrow-opening nozzle really comes into its own. The narrow entryway for air flow increases the pressure, and therefore the power of the air stream, allowing it to suck up hair much more forcefully. But don’t take my word for it; try it yourself.
A final word on this subject… The more often you vacuum the house, the easier it will be. As dust settles and lingers in your home, it begins to adhere to surfaces. It also forms large dust bunnies that can clog your vacuum hose if you aren’t careful. The same can be said for hair. If you vacuum regularly, however, not only will it go more quickly each time, but you’ll also be able to clean more effectively. This turns a tedious chore that works against you into a fairly painless task that works for you, and in the war on dirt, you can’t beat turning an enemy into an ally.
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