The Right Way to Vacuum, According to a Dyson Designer
You think you know how to vacuum, right? Do you just move the car back and forth a little, suck up the dirt and call it a day? Actually wrong. Just because you’re going through the motions doesn’t mean you’re cleaning your floors effectively—and, in fact, you’re probably going through too many “motions” in general.
Worried that I was wasting my time, I researched how to vacuum properly and asked a pro for advice: Ketan Patel, Senior Design Manager at Dyson.
Vacuum slower
When I vacuum, I use one of two machines: the Dyson V8 Plus or the Bissell CrossWave OmniForce . Both machines are powerful and admittedly expensive, so I usually expect them to do all the work for me. As a result, I rush to get work done. To be honest, I want to spend as little time vacuuming as possible and assume that the machine makes up for in power what I lack in focus and motivation. However, this is wrong. Patel says vacuuming too quickly is one of the biggest mistakes when vacuuming. Dust is made up of many components, including dust mites, allergens, bacteria and viruses, and they can sit quite deep in carpets. Slower cleaning gives the unit the time it needs to really suck it all out, especially if dirt and debris are ground in or hidden. So how fast should you go? Dyson recommends a speed of 20 inches per second.
Vacuum according to a specific pattern
Let me guess: when you vacuum, you move the machine in a sort of zigzag pattern: pushing it forward, pulling it back, and pushing it forward again, over and over again. Again – and I’m sorry to say this because that’s what I was taught and I know everyone in my adult life has vacuumed too – it’s wrong.
“We recommend vacuuming once in each direction,” says Patel. “According to our research, more passes over an area will give the machine a better chance of cleaning well, but more than two or three times in one direction produces minimal results.”
Move in straight lines. Look at how your rug lays: It will likely fold or pile in one direction, so if you vacuum along the grain, you’ll notice it fluffs up a bit. Try pressing down the grain in one long pass, wall to wall, and then go back along that strip to pick up all the dirt you missed on the first pass and level it out again. Returning to the starting position, move the vacuum cleaner and create another strip next to the first and repeat the process until the room is ready.
Use the right tools
No one expects you to have an arsenal of attachments or multiple vacuum cleaners, but if you have them, make sure you use them correctly. I’m guilty of taking the lazy route and sticking with the large standard vacuum attachment no matter what I’m cleaning, but in reality the small attachments my machines come with do have a function, and that function is to not sit aside. I’m still fiddling with the standard head. Here’s a quick guide from Patel on which attachments should be used on which surfaces and for what needs:
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Multipurpose tools or standard vacuum attachments are designed for comprehensive cleaning, especially carpets.
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Torque heads are more powerful and remove stubborn dirt even from deep-pile carpets.
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The fluffy heads clean hard floors and surfaces.
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Mini motor nozzles are designed for cleaning stairs, cars, mattresses or upholstery.
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Crevice tools—long, stiff tubes that fit onto the end of a vacuum hose—are designed for gaps and crevices or hard-to-reach areas.
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Soft dusters or small hose attachments with brushes at the end are designed for delicate furniture.
Keep your car in order
Finally, you know that you need to clean the machines that clean your things, whether it’s your washing machine , dishwasher , or, yes, vacuum cleaner . But are you doing this? I know that I will never have the time or energy for this, but I also know that it is a necessary evil. You can have the best cleaning speed, the best pattern, and the best tools, but if the machine is dirty, it simply won’t perform as well as it should.
“Proper vacuum maintenance is key to ensuring your vacuum cleaner performs at peak performance,” advises Patel, who notes that vacuum cleaners like the Dyson one are designed to trap microscopic particles that can build up in the filter over time. He says you should wash the filter once a month to maintain maximum suction, as well as clean out the trash can and wash your heads and accessories. If you’re unsure what to do, check the owner’s manual for your specific vacuum cleaner.