How to Vacuum Different Flooring Safely & Effectively

Do you know the proper way to vacuum the floor?

These tips for cleaning the floors actually work on hardwood and carpeted areas and can even work on tile. Since this more than likely covers most surfaces in your house, it's safe to say that these tips about vacuuming are about to make your house a much cleaner place.

You might even stress less about the 5-second rule in the house the next time that food gets dropped on the floor and eaten!

Is it better to vacuum or sweep the floor?

Yes, it is better to vacuum than to sweep. Using a vacuum to clean up all the dirt and debris is a better method of removing dirt completely. Sweeping is fine in a pinch, but a vacuum has a strong suction that can literally remove dirt from the floor and the air as well.

Should you vacuum the floor before mopping?

Absolutely. Since mopping is a combination of water and cleaning solutions, vacuuming before mopping hardwood floors and other hard flooring is a great way to get rid of any extra dirt or dust so that it doesn't get stuck in the mop.

And we all know that dirt and water also create mud, so removing it prior to mopping will eliminate that mess as well!

How many times a week should you vacuum your floors?

How often you should vacuum your carpets and floors will vary depending on the use of the room. Rooms that get heavy traffic will require more cleaning.

Rooms like bedrooms and living rooms could easily be vacuumed a couple of times per week, while rooms that aren't used very often may not need to be vacuumed more than once or twice per month.

A general rule of thumb is that you should vacuum your floor as many times as the number of people you have in your house (at least the common areas or high traffic areas). So if you have four people in your home, you really should vacuum four times a week.

Can you vacuum hardwood floors?

Yes, vacuums can be used on hardwood floors, but you will want to turn off the rotating brush so that you don't scratch the surface of the floors. Vacuuming hardwood floors works great because:

• Vacuums can get the dirt out of crevices and cracks
• Not using a cleaner on your hardwood floor all the time can help the shine last longer
• Vacuums grab more dirt quickly than sweeping or mopping

If you need to give the floors in your house a quick cleaning, your vacuum can be a great resource!

Top Tips To Vacuum The Carpet In Your House

Even though you might think that turning on the vacuum and running it on the carpet a few times per week is all that is needed, there are a few other vacuuming tips to keep in mind.

Empty the dirt canister or replace the bag

Make sure that you're emptying out the dirt canister from one cleaning to another. If you have too much dirt in the canister, it can affect the vacuum's ability to clean the carpet well. The same applies to vacuums with vacuum bags. Make sure you change them out once they get to the "full" line.

Pick up items in the room first

Never try to use the vacuum to move items that are on the floor, and don't try to have the vacuum push the objects out of the way to be able to vacuum. This is a great way to suck up something important and possibly break your vacuum in the process.

Level the vacuum brush head

Upright vacuums use rotating brushes. You'll want to make sure it's adjusted for the type of flooring you are cleaning. For carpet, you'll want it higher as it has thickness to it (carpet pile). The higher your pile, the higher you'll want the brush.

Next you'll make sure that the vacuum head is lowered to the proper height for your carpet. Too low and the brushes won't rotate and your carpet won't get cleaned. Too high and it won't have enough suction to do anything other than blow dirt and debris around the floor. Start all the way raise and then lower it until you hear a change in the noise of the vacuum.

Start in the Corner

Generally, it's best to start vacuuming from the corner of a room and work your way across and out to the opposite corner of the room. This is mostly because it's easier to keep track of where you have been!

Use a fluid motion to vacuum

When you are vacuuming the carpet, use the smooth back-and-forth, overlapping method for cleaning carpeted rooms. Speed is not the answer either! Go slow to ensure the vacuum suction and brushes have enough time in an area to loosen and suck away the dirt.

This ensures that you're able to go over the carpeted space and get as much dirt and grime out as possible. In fact, it's best to go over the same swatch of carpet multiple times, from multiple angles, to remove as much dirt and soiling as possible.

Don't miss the carpet edges!

Use the vacuum to clean along the edges of the carpet. This is where a lot of dirt will fall, and without using a tool, a regular vacuum won't be able to get it all out and could lead to black staining along carpet edges.

Carpet Cleaning Pros

There are times when a stained and worn carpet needs more attention and treatment than a regular vacuum can do, especially because vacuuming isn't enough.

This is where calling in the pros for professional carpet cleanings from Zerorez^® is the best possible solution.

Not only does the carpet cleaning pro Zerorez know the best solutions and options for cleaning tough stains, but they can do so without the use of harsh chemicals as well. That is the best way to keep your carpet and home free of additives and chemicals.

For more cleaning tips and advice, explore our other informative articles on carpet maintenance and home maintenance.