Personally for me I really dislike vacuuming, in fact I would put it in the same basket as ironing (pardon the pun), and yet whilst this particual chore is one of my most hated it is one of the easiest things we can do to give our home an instant lift. We have to admit that after we vacuum our home looks instantly better. Regular vacuuming helps carpets last longer and dramatically improves the health of carpet by reducing the airborne pollutants that can cause respiratory ailments.
I don’t really have a vacuuming style, and I am fortunate enough to have a husband who specializes in carpet cleaning. Housework is just that “work”, but regular vacuuming will help keep a cleaner and healthier home. Looking around the internet I found a list of handy hints about vacuuming that I thought I would share with you.
1. Empty the vacuum bag or filter regularly: Your vacuum pushes dirt from the carpet and air through the vacuum bag or filter. If the bag is full, then the air can’t pass through, severely affecting the suction on your vacuum. The same applies for filters on bag-less vacuums.
2. Clean the roller on your vacuum regularly: carpet fibers need to be agitated and shaken during vacuuming to loosen the dirt. If the roller brush is full of threads and hair, then it may be only semi effective, or possibly not be working at all.
3. Use Rugs: In high traffic areas, it’s a very good idea to use rugs that are easy to clean. These can be taken outside and shaken then hung in the sunshine. Rugs will keep your carpets looking good by reducing wear and tear and they’re more easily cleaned.
4. De-odorize: Carpets can get smelly due to the fact that they trap bacteria. There are plenty of carpet deodorizes on the market but one of the simplest methods I have discovered over the course of my reading, is to place a piece of citrus zest or a cotton wool ball soaked in citrus juice inside the bag. As you vacuum the smell will be transferred to the carpet.
5. Vacuum and Vacuum Again: Use a long extension cord so that you don’t have to keep stopping to move the cord into a new power socket, then vacuum all the edges of your room first using the attachments that come with your cleaner. Vacuum the whole room horizontally and then again vertically. This lifts the carpet fibers in both directions and gets the maximum amount of dirt and debris out of your carpet. If you vacuum like this, you should only need to do it once per week.
6. Wear Socks: Removing your shoes at the door will dramatically reduce the dirt and bacteria that ends up in your carpet. It’s important though to replace your shoes with socks or house slippers. Bare feet on carpet will release body oils which attracts bacteria and causes staining.
7. Call in the Professionals: Once a year it’s a good idea to have your carpets professionally cleaned to remove the dirt, dust mites and bacteria that you haven’t been able to remove and to return your carpet’s ph balance to its original state.
That’s all for now, apparently I need to clean my vacuum, find a lemon and put on a pair of socks!
