The vacuum cleaner changed the game for cleaning. I personally believe the inventor should get a Nobel prize! I am not exaggerating. After all, the topic of vacuuming and vacuum cleaners appears in a number of my Facebook cleaning groups. Professional cleaners from across the world asking each other for residential vacuum cleaning advice, guidance and feedback - it’s a topic that never has a “right” or “final” answer.

Truthfully, I know more about vacuums and vacuuming than I ever want too. Yet, it’s this information that ensures Clean Club Calgary’s customers receive the right cleaning for their home.

This month, let’s jump in and answer some of those more pressing questions about vacuuming your home!

WHAT TYPE OF VACUUM SHOULD YOU BUY?

From central vacuums to uprights; backpacks to wands; dry vacs to wet vacs; Shark to Kenmore to Jameson and everything in between all the way up to heavy-duty construction vacuums - there is literally a vacuum for every single job.

The problem? There is literally a vacuum for every single job meaning...

• Models are frequently discontinued, making it difficult to say, “this vacuum!”;

• New technology continues to improve, making old tech obsolete; and

• The MANY different powerheads and floor types create challenges for a simple answer to, “what vacuum should I buy?”

Next, a vacuum is an essential tool for cleaning. As such, it is a cleaning accessory one should invest in rather than simply “buy.”

A few considerations to help you decide which vacuum is for you include:

• Floor type: not all vacuums work on all floor materials. Tile, cork, shag carpet, typical showhome carpet grade, hardwood, laminate - each of these requires a different type of vacuum head. It’s also important to know that just because a vacuum is great on carpet, does not mean that it is great on other floorings.

• Powerhead: There are brands that are known for their superior suction power. I do think they are amazing, but only when used on the right material. Many of these high-end, market-leading vacuum cleaners have a powerhead that will actually damage low quality carpet, such as that in a showhome. While the, “best of the best, super suction power” is excellent in many homes, it is crucial that you understand the grade of your carpet before investing in these brands. To calculate the specific suction power you specifically need, read this article: https://easyhomeclean.com/suction-power-your-vacuum-cleaner/

• Frequency: How often will you vacuum? If you live by yourself in a one-bedroom apartment and have no allergies, chances are you’ll vacuum much less than a family of four who all have allergies, have two dogs and live in a 2-bedroom townhome. All these play a factor in your choice of vacuum, including whether or not you choose to go bag or bagless. If you vacuum regularly, it may be more cost-effective to invest in one that does not require bags. You will be replacing the bags more often, adding to the overall cost of your vacuum. If it is a bagless one, you will have to wash the canister, however, you will not have to worry about purchasing additional bags.

• Central vs upright vs canister: Each of these vacuum styles have their pros and cons. To know which works best for you, this involves understanding your home. A few questions for you:

  Do you have a lot of stairs? A canister or central vac may be best.

  Do you have to vacuum underneath your bed, couch, and other furniture? Again, a canister or central vac may be the solution.

  Do you have large, open areas that require a larger container for the dust/dirt? An upright or central vac could work.

  Do you have animals to clean up after (dirty teenagers do count!)? Then a central vac is my preferred one OR an upright brand name, such as Shark, so long as your floor material can handle the suction of the powerhead’s strength.

• Accessories to consider: There is no end to the accessories that can come with a vacuum. The soft dust brush heads to use on your walls, the plastic nozzle head to get into the teeny tiny corners, and upholstery attachments for your furniture. These are absolutely great items to use. However, one thing I also recommend that you consider over and above the “super cool - yet helpful - accessories” is where your plugins are. This will impact your decision about the length of power cord you need, as well as the length of hose (for canisters and central vacuums). If you cannot plug your vacuum into a power source, it’s a very ineffective vacuum.

Personally, I believe that the best vacuum cleaner for a residence is a central vacuum. It has the best suction power, provides the deepest clean without harming (most) floors, and is easy to clean. The one reason why most people do not like their central vacuum is that they simply forget - or don’t know how - to clean it. This then hinders its suction ability. To show you how easy it is to clean your central vacuum, watch this, video, courtesy of our friends at A Vacuum Store and Service: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64VpUw3U-cA  

If you do not have a central vacuum, watch this short video on a few of our personal favourite residential vacuum cleaners: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ5c6Lgg9zY.

HOW TO START EFFECTIVELY VACUUMING

Not all vacuum cleanings are effective. There are a couple of tricks to vacuuming which make it effective, ensuring the best clean.

First, do not simply wipe everything off counters onto the ground, thinking it’s easier to vacuum everything up. This inadvertently creates more mess, increasing the likelihood of transferring the dust and dirt to other rooms.

Before you vacuum, pick up items off the floor, such as screws, chunks of fur/hairballs, food, etc. Also, clear cobwebs away with a duster rather than vacuuming them. This will ensure you do not suck up something that can hurt the vacuum, impairing its suctioning ability while shortening its lifespan.

If you have floor rugs, do not just vacuum over the top of them. Floor rugs are ideal environments for dust mites and other germ critters to live in as they have dark, tightly woven spaces to hide. To ensure that your rug remains mite free, vacuum under AND the back of the rug. Simply fold half the rug over, vacuum, and fold back down. Then repeat on the other side.

A note of caution of hand woven floor rugs, particularly those with fringe: strong powerheads will damage these rugs. Be very careful when vacuuming these types of home accent pieces.

DON’T FORGET THESE SPOTS FOR A GREAT CLEAN

There are so many places dirt, hair, dust, and so many other things like to hide in. If you want a truly deep clean thanks to your vacuum, remember the following, easy to forget, spots.

• Air vents: hair, dust, fur - it all gets trapped in the vents. Use the nozzle accessory to easily suck up any floaters. 

• Walls: a little trick is to ensure you get your walls super sparkling -  clean and then let dry the head of the vacuum cleaner beforehand!

• Hidden spots: tight corners, in behind doors and stairs crooks where dirt gets pushed in and forgotten. Use the nozzle to get into these spaces.

• Underneath: your bed and other furniture as dust and hair tend to settle there.

• Closets: and the sliders they run on, including in behind hampers and in between pairs of shoes.

• Chairs: and other upholstered furniture using the furniture accessory.

And one of my all-time favourite tricks to a great floor clean is this sweet secret: vacuum your dry mop pad! This will remove any extra dirt, lint or hair that clung on while drying.

Vacuuming is a job that always has to be done. Know which vacuum cleaner makes the most sense for your home by understanding your property, your personal habits, and your preference for mobility. Curious about how Clean Club Calgary can support you with your vacuuming needs? Call today. We are here to share our skill and expertise!