Always Connect the Vacuum Cleaner to the Place Where You Are Going to Finish
Cordless vacuums may be the wave of the future, but not all of us have made the jump to the trendy cordless model that the entire Lifehacker staff seem to adhere to. For us plebeians, we are stuck with a vacuum cleaner with a machine connected to the wall, the only constant drawback is the cord itself.
Now I prefer the plug-in vacuum model. Every battery-powered car I’ve ever owned has lost battery capacity after just a few months, and even in my small apartment it’s hard to keep anything battery powered, uh, sucking for the duration of a full cleaning. (And this despite the fact that every couple of years before the warranty expired, I had to get a new portable vacuum cleaner … which I think is another gimmick: if you tell the vacuum cleaner manufacturer that your vacuum cleaner just stopped working, they will often send your replacement model. Always be sure to register your product on the website as soon as you receive it. This is a public announcement.)
But back to the limitations of wired vacuums … If the cord doesn’t snag around the corner of a table or chair, it will fully extend before you reach the end of your route, causing a terrible kickback. Or, if you’re as clumsy as I am, you often don’t notice the cord dangling over the coffee table, knocking over vases, glasses, and plants.
Therefore, to avoid the danger of a stray cord, plug the vacuum cleaner into the nearest outlet you intend to find yourself in . With this method, the cord is already stretched with proper slack and there will be no fragile items on your route that could be knocked over. You simply start with the cord fully extended and then work your way up to the outlet – no constant adjustments, lengthening, or snagging around corners. (I’m pretty sure there’s a metaphor here somewhere about planning or setting goals.)
For some of our favorite vacuuming tips and tricks, watch the video below: