They say you should clean your carpet regularly. But did they ever tell how to clean so that it works? How to make sure there’s no dust and fine particles that are left behind in the threads of your fine carpet? How to make sure you ACTUALLY clean your carpet while vacuuming?
The truth is it’s tough to find this information. People rarely talk about it. And only a few know what works. I’m on a mission to make my carpets dust and bacteria free. One of the major contributing factors in my mission is “vacuuming”. Apparently, I required mastering the art of vacuuming to step closer to my goal.
If you want to understand what I did to make vacuuming work to clear off dust and fine particles from my carpet, keep reading.
A Quality vacuum is where you should begin with:
Did you buy your vacuum during that unbelievable sale and it’s from a brand which you don’t even know? Did you buy it just by checking the price? What’s important to check is how big the motor of the vacuum is. Is it big enough to clean that wall to wall carpet in your apartment? Is the suction powerful enough to catch those deeply settled dust particles?
Here are the top two choices of vacuum cleaners:
- Upright Vacuums: One of the best kinds of carpet cleaners, these are powerful machines that use a brush to beat out the dust from carpet and use suction to catch it. You have to push these tools in front of you on the carpet’s surface to make them work. However, these are not perfect for tall people as they would need to bend a lot and result in back ache. They can’t be used on Berber carpets (pull out the threads of such carpets) and in small areas and corners (the machine is too large). Due to the large size, it’s tough to carry them upstairs.
- Cylinder Vacuums: These are compact easy-to-use vacuum cleaners which follow behind you while you use the hose to clean the carpets. Due to their size, they can work very well in corners. They also cost much lesser than upright vacuums. However, their cleaning ability is much inferior to upright vacuums.
I would recommend you to analyze your budget and the area that needs to be cleaned. If you live in a tiny-sized apartment or are short on money, go for cylinder vacuums else invest in an upright one. Also, consider machines with specific features like HEPA filters (they work amazingly well to remove minute particles and reduce allergens from carpets), features to remove pet hair and bag-less filters.
Maintain your vacuum well
Tell me you’ve been through this situation. Your vacuum worked so well when you tried it for the first time and then it never actually worked the way it should. It wouldn’t. Unless you decide to clean and maintain your vacuum perfectly, you cannot get even near to perfect results from it.
The hose and suction port must be checked before every usage to see if there’s some blockage. Make sure the filter is clean before use. If the vacuum has brushes, they must be free from threads and lint. These often affect your vacuum’s performance. In the case of an upright vacuum, replace the bag when it’s half to one-third full. Overfilling the bags reduce the suction power of the vacuum.
Watch your technique
The best way to vacuum is to sweep from east to west and then north to south. Yes, you need to clean the same spot in two different ways. How many times you clean is also important and depends on how dirty the carpet is. It’s very rare that the vacuum picks up dust in just one sweep, so I suggest you go at least two to three times. Start from the farthest corner of your house/room and vacuum out towards the door.
Prepare before you vacuum
Make sure you dust the furniture, shelves, and upholstery before cleaning the carpet. All the dusting and cleaning work must be done before this task. This will help you avoid spilling dirt on your carpet just after you cleaned it. Remember that it’s much tougher to remove the dust that settles in the carpet fibers than what’s at the surface. So, removing the dust right after you spilled it on your carpet is best you can do.
Remove all the clutter from the floor. The dog toys or the stuff that belongs to your kids, or all those things that just piled up on the floor must be picked up and kept in their specific places. Try to make your room as empty as possible. Of course, this doesn’t apply to heavy furniture. You can skip removing heavy furniture during regular vacuuming.
It also pays off to carry a small garbage bin with you while vacuuming. You can quickly pick big particles that might not be picked by your vacuum. Don’t be lazy. That large clot of thread can, in fact, harm your vacuum. So, pick it up yourself and put it in the garbage bin.
Limit how dirty your house gets
The more work your vacuum has to do, the more it wears down. Moreover, your carpet stands the risk of breeding harmful micro-organisms. A carpet making you sick is a real thing. A lot of people, after years of treatment, realize that their allergies were just because of their carpet. Let it not be your case.
Understand that everything your shoes pick up during your outdoor commute ultimately gets deposited in your carpet. This happens because carpets act like storehouses for such particles. They absorb the dirt and bacteria. Thus, try to ban shoes on carpet. Use bedroom slippers inside the house.
Do you know that your carpet’s life can be extended through proper vacuuming? It’s because a good vacuum used with proper technique removes dirt from deep inside the fibers’. If this dirt stays in fibber’s, they act almost like glass pieces which cut and damage fibers’ every day.
There you have it! My entire secret how’s and why’s about vacuuming a carpet! I do all this to focus on making my home health-friendly and to save up some money on regular household cleaning tasks. I hope this post act as an active resource for you. Let me know if it does.
