The vacuum is synonymous with house cleaning, but if you aren’t following a set schedule, regularly cleaning out the bag and filter, or using the different attachments correctly, you’re probably not doing a very thorough job.

In this blog post, take a look at simple things you can do to ensure you’re removing dust, pollen, dander, and pet hair every single time, keeping your home clean and your floors looking nice for years to come.

Vacuum on a Regular Schedule

You don’t do laundry once a year, to stay on top of it you have to do it at least once a week. Likewise, you shouldn’t go months or weeks without vacuuming. The more you do it, the cleaner your floors will be, and in turn the air quality in your home.

To most effectively clean your floors, rugs, and carpets, it’s absolutely necessary to stick to a set schedule. Depending on your household, once a week or every other week, should be adequate, but if you have multiple pets that are shedding, messy children, or people tracking dirt in from the outdoors, regularly vacuuming is the only way to ensure stains don’t set, and your floors look tidy and new.

Choose a day of the week, or certain dates every month (IE: the 15th and 30th). Maintaining a schedule keeps vacuuming at the top of your mind, and makes regular house cleaning much easier.

Regularly Clean Filters and De-Hair the Agitator

Your vacuum is an amazing tool, but it doesn’t clean itself. To get the most out of house cleaning it’s absolutely necessary that you regularly clean your filters and remove any hair, dust, or debris that gets caught in the agitator.

To get your filter looking like new again, you’ll first need to remove the filter and shake off any excess dust, pollen, and pet hair. You can use your hands to get off the big clumps, but may want to step outside and beat it against the sidewalk or a brick wall in order to remove the particles that are deep within the walls. Once that’s finished, fill a container with warm water and liquid dish soap. Soak the filter in this solution for a few hours, and then let the filter air dry overnight.

Cleaning your vacuum’s agitator requires a little more elbow grease. Use your fingers to remove clumps of hair and dust bunnies, and then slowly rotate the agitator, removing all of the visible gunk. Finally, use a pair of scissors or pocket knife to cut through clumps and knotted balls of hair.

Remove Toys, Small Objects and Furniture

Before you vacuum, take the time to do a little bit of house cleaning. While it’s tempting to sweep up items like bobby pins, paper clips, and loose change, these objects can get stuck inside of your vacuum, leading to problems like overheating or inadequate suction. It’s not worth the risk. Clear the floor as much as possible before getting started. Learn How to Clean a Vacuum.

Use The Proper Attachments

Like anything else, house cleaning is far easier when using the right tools. Your vacuum has a number of components – are you using them correctly?

First, use the crevice tool to access hard-to-reach places, like behind the stove or on the sides of the refrigerator.

Next, use the combination brush attachment to clean vents, ceiling fans, or along the top of kitchen cabinets.

For carpets, use your freshly cleaned and de-haired agitator. Really, it’s that simple!

You might like reading How to Use Vacuum Attachments.

Go Over Areas Multiples Times

A once-over the living room carpet isn’t going to get the job done. It is especially true if you have kids or pets.

Thoroughly vacuum the entire area you want to clean. Then, empty the bag or filter. Next, go over the rug or carpet a second time. While it might seem like overkill, taking the extra time to repeat the process takes care of dust and dirt you missed the first time.

Schedule a Check-Up

Last but not least, schedule an appointment with your local vacuum specialist at least once a year. An annual tune up is a great way to restore components that are getting old, ensuring your vacuum stays functioning for years to come. Remember: The better it works, the cleaner your floors get.

Follow these simple tips to keep your carpets and floors looking nice and clean for years to come. You won’t need to rent expensive steam cleaners or utilizing toxic chemicals if you do. What’s not to like about that? Happy vacuuming!

Own a shop vacuum? Learn how to clean your shop vacuum here.