Take a Vacuuming Master Class for a Spotless Home
Suck it up and learn the best techniques for removing dust and dirt from your floors and furniture
Jo Simmons
January 20, 2021
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several books on design and numerous features for glossy homes mags over the years. For Houzz, I cover decorating ideas and trends and interview designers and professionals for their insights. My favourite pieces to write, though, are Houzz Tours, as I love exploring and learning about real homes. Call me curious — or nosy!
Houzz UK Contributor. I have been an interiors journalist since 1995, writing several... More
Vacuuming is a super-efficient way to rid floors and upholstery of crumbs, dust, pet hair and debris. But even if you’ve splurged on the fanciest vacuum cleaner on the market, your technique and approach to vacuuming could be flawed. Here’s how to tackle the task effectively and get the best from your machine, so your home is hygienic and beautifully dust-free.
Head for the Edge
Vacuum the edges of the room first using the crevice tool on your machine. The drafts and airflow across a hard floor will blow light dust, hair, fluff and other debris into the corners and edges, so failing to vacuum these spots allows muck to gather there.
If you have carpet, gathered dust can, in time, become hard to remove and even discolor the carpet.
Vacuum the edges of the room first using the crevice tool on your machine. The drafts and airflow across a hard floor will blow light dust, hair, fluff and other debris into the corners and edges, so failing to vacuum these spots allows muck to gather there.
If you have carpet, gathered dust can, in time, become hard to remove and even discolor the carpet.
Avoid Going Just One Direction
Simply running the vacuum cleaner up and down a carpet or rug, repeating the same direction, won’t thoroughly clean. The machine won’t remove all of the dirt and dust because some of it will hide amid the carpet fibers. Vacuuming in both directions solves this. So go north-south across the whole space, then east-west to ensure a really deep clean.
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Simply running the vacuum cleaner up and down a carpet or rug, repeating the same direction, won’t thoroughly clean. The machine won’t remove all of the dirt and dust because some of it will hide amid the carpet fibers. Vacuuming in both directions solves this. So go north-south across the whole space, then east-west to ensure a really deep clean.
Shop for a vacuum cleaner on Houzz
Pay Attention to Pets
Hair from dogs and cats can quickly cover a carpet or roll into tumbleweed-style clumps at the edge of a hard floor. The dander that pets produce — the tiny flecks of skin they shed — can also cause allergies.
If you have pets, remember to vacuum the floor, but also any sofas or chairs they curl up on. Most vacuum cleaners come with a special upholstery attachment that can be used for the task.
Hair from dogs and cats can quickly cover a carpet or roll into tumbleweed-style clumps at the edge of a hard floor. The dander that pets produce — the tiny flecks of skin they shed — can also cause allergies.
If you have pets, remember to vacuum the floor, but also any sofas or chairs they curl up on. Most vacuum cleaners come with a special upholstery attachment that can be used for the task.
Plan Your Route
Approach vacuuming a room strategically. Don’t just start in the middle and go from there. Instead, begin at the corner farthest from the door and vacuum your way out of the room, leaving satisfying track marks in your carpet as you go.
Approach vacuuming a room strategically. Don’t just start in the middle and go from there. Instead, begin at the corner farthest from the door and vacuum your way out of the room, leaving satisfying track marks in your carpet as you go.
Factor in Different Surfaces
Many homes have a combination of hard flooring, rugs and carpet, so be mindful of these different surfaces as you vacuum. Be sure to adjust your cleaner’s height or the bristle depth on its head as you move across different types of flooring. This makes a big difference in your cleaner’s ability to suck up dirt.
Many homes have a combination of hard flooring, rugs and carpet, so be mindful of these different surfaces as you vacuum. Be sure to adjust your cleaner’s height or the bristle depth on its head as you move across different types of flooring. This makes a big difference in your cleaner’s ability to suck up dirt.
Freshen Up Underfoot
Make your own “green” carpet freshener. Try a simple recipe of two cups of baking soda and 10 to 20 drops of your favorite essential oil. Mix them together in a container (ideally with a perforated shaker lid), then sprinkle on your carpet and leave for 10 to 15 minutes so it can absorb odors. Then just vacuum it up.
Make your own “green” carpet freshener. Try a simple recipe of two cups of baking soda and 10 to 20 drops of your favorite essential oil. Mix them together in a container (ideally with a perforated shaker lid), then sprinkle on your carpet and leave for 10 to 15 minutes so it can absorb odors. Then just vacuum it up.
Slow Down
Zipping around at high speed with your vacuum cleaner may leave track marks in your carpet as evidence that you’ve been busy, but you won’t really get a decent cleaning this way. The trick is to slow down. This allows your machine to suck up more dirt and dust, getting your rugs and carpets much cleaner.
Slow vacuuming allows the brush to really move and agitate the pile in the carpet properly and suck up what emerges. On a hard floor, it gives time for even chunky pieces of debris to be sucked up.
Zipping around at high speed with your vacuum cleaner may leave track marks in your carpet as evidence that you’ve been busy, but you won’t really get a decent cleaning this way. The trick is to slow down. This allows your machine to suck up more dirt and dust, getting your rugs and carpets much cleaner.
Slow vacuuming allows the brush to really move and agitate the pile in the carpet properly and suck up what emerges. On a hard floor, it gives time for even chunky pieces of debris to be sucked up.
Sweeten Your Vacuum Cleaner
Vacuum cleaners have a nasty habit of belching out slightly stale air as they work. To help prevent this, put a few drops of your favorite essential oil on a cotton ball and drop it into the dust canister of the machine.
Vacuum cleaners have a nasty habit of belching out slightly stale air as they work. To help prevent this, put a few drops of your favorite essential oil on a cotton ball and drop it into the dust canister of the machine.
Empty Frequently
Your vacuum cleaner’s suction will be compromised if the canister or bag is full, so be sure to regularly throw away all the dust and fluff you’ve sucked up. This helps your cleaner work efficiently and reduces the risk of fluff being leaked back into the atmosphere.
Clean the filter frequently too, to cut down on odors and prevent dust being recycled.
Your vacuum cleaner’s suction will be compromised if the canister or bag is full, so be sure to regularly throw away all the dust and fluff you’ve sucked up. This helps your cleaner work efficiently and reduces the risk of fluff being leaked back into the atmosphere.
Clean the filter frequently too, to cut down on odors and prevent dust being recycled.
Be Thorough But Less Frequent
If you follow all these tips, you can afford to vacuum just once a week. In between, remove crumbs and debris with a dustpan and brush, then repeat your thorough vacuuming every seven days.
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If you follow all these tips, you can afford to vacuum just once a week. In between, remove crumbs and debris with a dustpan and brush, then repeat your thorough vacuuming every seven days.
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Best thing I ever did was put in a Hide a Hose system. highly suggested for anyone building/remodeling their home (can be done on existing home, but significantly more labor intensive behind sheet rock and under existing insulation). And if you can repair your own sprinkler lines you can install a central vacuum system and save a ton of money.
I actually don‘t mind vacuuming now: no motor noise, no more dust being blown around by a motor, just a few attachments in closet/laundry room, and empty debris twice/yr at most.
Have you ever pulled up wall-to-wall carpeting? I don't care how well you vacuum in all directions, the stuff that collects over the years in the fibers and under the rug is disgusting. Get rid of wall-to-wall carpets and install hardwood, LVP or other types of hard surface floors. They're so much easier to keep clean and free of allergy-triggering dust and other nasty stuff. I vacuum my house daily and having bare floors makes it easy.
We just pulled the carpet up in 2 large bedrooms and there was hardly any dust at all! I was surprised. Maybe the high quality of the carpet(thick backing?) or a good vacuum? I've pulled a lot of carpet in my time.
We've lived here 9 years and I am not a very regular cleaner..not hi on my priority list. Garden takes precedence! The dust bunnies are usually rabbits and procreating by the time I clean!
I read somewhere that vacuuming slowly(think meditating) is far superior when getting stuff out of the carpet...no more quick vac job here. Maybe that made the difference?