Learn How To Vacuum Properly.
To maintain the look, feel, and appearance of your carpet you need to know how to vacuum properly and why to vacuum on a regular basis.
So, Let’s Look at How To Vacuum Properly:
If you are new to vacuuming, you’ll find the tips below that will help you when it comes to keeping your home clean.
Always remember, the faster you vacuum then the less effective your cleaning will be – FACT! I have dogs in my home and both shed at roughly the same time, nightmare, but when I vacuum the living room carpet then I always do it slowly because I know that it is more effective and I can see and smell the results. Little things like this help you to vacuum properly.
- Before you start, you should always inspect the area. Pick up any objects that could cause your vacuum cleaner to clog up. The smaller objects are fine, just as long as they will pass through the vacuum.
- You should check the vacuum bag to ensure that it isn’t full already. If it is full, you should go ahead and change it. A full bag isn’t going to suck up much dirt, as the power will be greatly reduced due to the bag taking up a great deal of storage and limiting the suction.
- You should always vacuum forwards instead of going backward. Going forwards will get the job done quicker and you won’t wear your cord out near as fast. When going backward, you also run the risk of running back over your cord, which is something you don’t want to do.
- Be sure that you overlap your strokes to ensure that you get out all of the dirt and the residue. You don’t want to miss any of the carpet, which is why it is important that you overlap your strokes.
- You should change your vacuuming direction on occasion to reduce any type of matting in your carpet. You can change direction without any problems. Doing this every time you make a sweep on the carpet or every other time you vacuum will be good.
- On corners, use a damp cloth or a crevice tool attachment that hooks up to your vacuum cleaner. This will ensure that you get the corners and tight areas good, and they don’t stand out from the rest of the carpet.
- You can get rid of dust particles and dirt by waving a vacuum wand under your bed. Doing so on occasion will ensure that your bedroom stays clean, and smells clean as well.
For kitty litter on carpets or floors, you should use a lightweight vacuum cleaner. To get deep into the fibers of the carpet, you should try an upright vacuum cleaner with a power brush. Kitty litter can be a pain in the neck if it gets crushed in the pile or embedded, which is why you should get it out as quickly as you can.
Give some thought to purchasing a vacuum cleaner with a rotating brush or combination beater and brush bar, which will loosen up the dirt in the carpet and then suck it out. This will beat the dirt from the fibers and even embedded dirt, which
will leave your carpet clean and smelling great.
Whenever you vacuum, you should always be on the lookout for straw, thread, and string as it can trap debris in the vacuum hose and result in a clog. These types of hazards are also bad for the agitators as well, as they can clog up the suction as well, or get tangled up in the agitators and cause more problems.
If you have pets, you should sprinkle some baking soda on the carpet before you vacuum. Let it sit for a little while, then vacuum. Baking soda is a lot cheaper than carpet fresheners and it does the same thing – only better.
Vacuuming is very easy to do, and it’s something that should be done on a regular basis. You don’t have to be an expert to vacuum, all you have to do is make an effort. Your carpet will look good all the time, and your house will stay smelling great – which is reason enough to grab the vacuum and take a trip through the house with it.
Get Out More Dirt
The most important part of carpet maintenance is removing and disposing of accumulated dry soil. The removal of dry soil will improve the air quality indoors, extend carpet life, and help to maintain the carpet. Keeping regular maintenance on your carpet is one thing, although being sure you have the right equipment on the job is another.
The Green Label
For vacuum cleaners, the CRI (Carpet and Rug Institute) has developed a Green Label testing program. The CRI developed the performance protocol with the goal of protecting indoor quality, keeping all surfaces as clean as possible, and all without
putting dust back into the air.
The Green Label program helps to identify vacuum cleaners that meet three different types of criteria:
- Removing soil.
- Keeping dust out of the air by containing it within the filtration bag and the machine itself.
- It doesn’t damage the carpet and helps to keep the appearance looking good.
The tests for determining the certification of a vacuum cleaner were developed by carpet and vacuum experts and reviewed by scientists with experience in maintenance and the quality of indoor air.
Soil removal
The soil removal protocol will require that the vacuum cleaner remove a specified quantity of soil from the test carpet in four passes.
Dust containment
The protocol for dust containment will dictate the total amount of dust particles that are released into the surrounding air by the action of the brush rolls, through the filtration bag, and any leaks that come from the vacuum system. with this test, the vacuum cleaner can’t release more than 100 micrograms of dust particles per cubic meter of air.
Ideally, you need to look for a model that has a HEPA filter that keeps all of the allergens and dust particles within the filter housing.
Carpet retention
The testing protocol for appearance retention will require that the vacuum cleaner not adversely affect the appearance of the carpet, based on a year of normal usage.
If a vacuum cleaner meets all three of the above requirements, the manufacturer may then display the official CRI Green Label on its brand of vacuum cleaner. The CRI tests canister and upright vacuums, wide area vacuums, and even walk-behind types as well.
Matching machines
Looking for that important Green Label is the first step to providing longer carpet life and cleaner air for your home or office. The next step is selecting the proper vacuum cleaner for a specific area. You can think of vacuum cleaners like screwdrivers, as you wouldn’t want to use a Phillips head screwdriver to remove a flathead screw.
In the bigger, more open areas, a wide are vacuum cleaner or sweeper can produce excellent results, as well as an increase in productivity. The average 14-inch upright vacuum can clean at a rate of 3,000 square feet per hour, while the average walk-behind can clean at a rate of 40,000 square feet per hour, and also lift the pile of carpet in high-traffic areas where the carpet fibers are subject to crushing and matting.
A two-motor upright vacuum cleaner is an excellent choice in areas such as executive offices, lobbies, conference rooms, and break areas. A two-motor upright can provide grooming of the fibers in the carpet and removal of the dry soil. Most uprights with two-motor setups will also have a removable hose and onboard accessories for cleaning other areas as well, such as vents and chairs.
Along with the type of area, you should also give some thought to the needs of the operator. If you are a manager, you should look for vacuums with ergonomic features, especially if the vacuum will be used for long periods of time.
If it isn’t ergonomically designed, it could result in injury to the operator. At the very least, the cleaning operator might want to avoid using vacuum cleaners which could result in injury.