In this blog entry, the professional New Jersey carpet cleaning experts here at Carpetline will detail some useful tips for vacuuming best practices.
Choosing the Right Vacuum
Take care to purchase the right vacuum for your rugs. Wool carpets should never be vacuumed with a device with a beater bar, but synthetic fiber carpets can be effectively cleaned with vacuum with beater bars. We recommend checking the website on the Carpet and Rug Institute for a list of tested vacuum cleaners recommended for carpet cleaning.
Vacuum Height Adjustment
Make sure you adjust your vacuum to the ideal height for your flooring type. This is likely in your vacuum a manual. If it isn’t, set your vacuum to the highest setting and lower it one notch at a time. When the vacuum is slightly pulling itself forward on your carpeting, this is an ideal height for typical vacuuming. If you’re vacuuming a very dirty area, drop the height setting one setting lower, but don’t do this too often as it can cause your carpet to wear out.
Move the Vacuum in Multiple Directions
Move your vacuum in multiple directions for best results. Move forward and backwards over the same area of your floor before moving to the next area – and always overlap these areas. When you have covered the entire carpet in this direction, shift the vacuum 9 degrees and repeat the process from this different angle. Moving both vertically and perpendicularly will help your vacuum pick up as much soil as possible.
Keeping Vacuums Clean
Always empty the vacuum canister and bags when it is 1/4th or 1/3rd full. Always clean vacuum bristles and brushes to keep them free of debris. A bit of baking soda can neutralize any vacuum odors. Check the vacuum filters as much as possible and clean them when necessary.
Using Special Vacuum Attachments
Use different vacuum attachments to get better suction power in hard to clean and reach areas. Crevice attachments can help you vacuum corners and edges of your carpet, while upholstery brush attachments provide better results when vacuuming furniture.