The Home Maker's Guide to Proper Vacuuming

Vacuuming the home is up there with cleaning the toilet as one of my most hated jobs on the to-do list. But if I have to pick up the Hoover, I want the best results in the shortest amount of time. Luckily for me, I recently discovered five surefire tips to get the most out of my time with the vacuum cleaner.

Vacuum Like a Pro

Our technicians always vacuum before cleaning your carpets and while you may not have their industrial-strength equipment, we can give you a little insider knowledge.

1. Firstly, use a long extension cord so that you don’t have to keep stopping to move the cord into a new power socket.
2. Secondly, vacuum the whole room horizontally and then again vertically. This lifts the carpet fibres in both directions and gets the maximum amount of dirt and debris out of your carpet.

Seems simple enough, right? Vacuuming properly means you don’t have to do it as often – win!

Get Attached

Hands up, who bought their vacuum cleaner with its separate attachments before throwing all of those attachments into a cupboard, for them to never see the light of day? Time to pull those attachments out, blow the dust off and use them to attack the edges of the room and difficult places under lounges or beds.

Your upholstery could also do with a once-over while you’re at it – even once a month will help!

Empty the Vacuum Bag and Filter Regularly

You might be surprised how many people don’t, but you should be emptying your bag after every use. The reasons for this are simple. An overflowing bag won’t let air through so your suction will be severely affected, making the job take longer! Remember to clean the rollers, too. Your roller helps to agitate the dirt in your carpet fibres, loosening it so the vacuum can effectively pick up the mess.

Don't Forget to Deodorise

Carpets can get quite stinky because they trap bacteria – this is why vacuuming regularly is so important. The bacteria can also make your carpet smell pretty funky! While cleaning aisles are full of deodorisers that will work just fine, I like to place a cotton wool ball soaked in lemon juice into my vacuum bag. It makes the carpet smell amazing! Bi-Carb Soda is a great deodoriser as well. It won’t smell as nice as the lemon but Bi-Carb is a natural odour neutraliser. Sprinkle it on your carpet, let it sit for 15 minutes or so and vacuum it up.

Keep your Carpet Clean

A couple of pointers in this one. I highly recommend investing in a rug or two for your high-traffic areas. Rugs are easier to vacuum regularly, will protect your carpet, and are a great way to bring a bit of colour into your home.

Make sure you and the family wear socks on your carpet when you can. Contrary to popular belief, bare feet aren’t best for your floors. Bare feet release body oils into the carpet, which more easily attracts dirt and bacteria. Keep shoes off inside as much as possible, obviously, but it can help to have an abrasive mat at the front door to limit how much dirt is being brought inside.