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5 mistakes to avoid for better vacuuming

5 mistakes to avoid for better vacuuming

When buying your vacuum cleaner, you probably imagined and assumed that your home would be sparkling clean, just as in the commercials. However, reality may have been a disappointment. You may not have been able to use the appliance to its fullest potential or might be making some mistakes while using it. To ensure you get the best for your buck, here are five common mistakes to avoid while using a vacuum cleaner:

Using the vacuum cleaner scarcely
Your vacuum cleaner can clean the tiniest speck of dirt, but it cannot prevent new dust from settling in. If cleaning is a weekend task for you, or you do it only when you have time, you may not be doing it right. Vacuuming your floors daily is essential as the dust and debris accumulating in one day can be quite high. If you cannot vacuum daily, you can sweep the floors instead. This will remove dust and debris like scraps of paper or hair that may accumulate around the house, under the carpet, furniture, and behind doors. Sweeping the floors daily, vacuuming the floor three to four times a week, and vacuuming the complete house once a week can keep your house sparkling clean.

Dusting after you complete vacuuming
Many individuals dust the house after vacuuming. The dust from the ceiling may settle on the desks, tables, and floors. While family members walk around the house, they may leave footprints or streaks on the floor. The right order of cleaning is to dust the furniture, desks, tables, windows, and doors first. The dust is likely to settle in 10 minutes. Wait for some time and run the vacuum on the floors so that it can remove every bit of dust and grime. Vacuuming right after dusting can unsettle the dust and send it back to higher surfaces.

Vacuuming in a hurry
Vacuum cleaners are efficient machines, provided you use them right away. You need to run the vacuum up and down more than once to remove the dust from it. It is particularly important to do this on carpets, under furniture, near doors and windows and in other high-footfall areas, where the dust is likely to be more. Running the vacuum only once or doing it quickly will not remove the dust, and you might end up with shoddy results. Take the time and vacuum slowly and steadily for the best results. When you vacuum in a hurry, you could miss crucial spots where debris tends to gather. For example, a hurried cleaning may not remove dust mites, pet dander, or fur that could be caught up in your upholstery, curtain, bedding or under the carpet.

Not doing the right prep work
Once you decide to vacuum, do you plug the machine and start immediately? If yes, then that is a mistake that you should avoid. It takes a few minutes, but you must do some prep work before vacuuming. The prep work allows you to finish cleaning at a stretch without frequent disruptions.

Know your vacuum attachments well and their purpose of getting the best result
Clear the space by picking up large pieces of debris in the space you want to clean.
Plug in the vacuum and start from the opposite end of the room. By doing this, you will finish near the socket and not have to tread on the cleaned floor to remove the plug.
Pick the right power setting based on the surface you are cleaning.
Always clean from top to bottom and choose the attachments and brushes accordingly.
The best way to vacuum is in the shape of a W. First, vacuum away from you in a straight line. Pull the vacuum back towards you at an angle, creating a V. Repeat the process so that it looks like a W or a chain of Vs.

Not knowing what should not be vacuumed
A vacuum cleaner commercial or salesperson may promise that the vacuum can clean anything and any surface. If you have read the manual, you may know that the appliance has limitations and cannot be used for some objects and surfaces. These products could clog the pipes, damage the dust bag, break the plastic in the machine, aid in mold and mildew inside the vacuum, or cause a scratch in the insides. The things and objects that should not be vacuumed are:

Glass pieces
Fine dust like construction residue
Pet poop
Liquids
Fireplace ash
Makeup
Coins
Small clips and other sharp objects
Used coffee grounds
Garden and plant debris
Electrical wires and cords
Soil
Hair clumps (strands of hair are safe)
Shredded paper.

Tips for maintaining a vacuum cleaner
Clean the appliance frequently to extract optimum performance and ensure that it is durable and gives you good value for money. Some useful tips for maintaining your vacuum cleaner in good condition are:

Clean the vent covers
Keep the filters clean
Remove hair, string, and yarn from the roller brushes after every cleaning
Replace the belt annually
Do not forget to replace the dust bag when it is about 80% full
Wipe the outsides with a mild detergent and cloth
Monitor the performance closely to foresee problems
Wipe or wash the brushes and dry them well before reuse

Previous Read

Avoid these 10 cleaning mistakes

It might sound surprising, but there are some wrong ways of cleaning your home. While your living spaces may look cleaner even with these ineffective methods, you might just help the breeding of bacteria or set yourself up for more cleaning! So, take a minute to think about your cleaning routine and how you can make it more effective. Avoid these cleaning mistakes to make your home look fresher and cleaner for a long time.Using too much laundry detergent or softenerUsing too much detergent doesn’t make your clothes cleaner. Instead, you may find traces of leftover detergent after the wash. It is also important to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for fabric softener, as too much softener may make the fabrics stiff and greasy.Overloading the dishwasherAdding too many utensils to your dishwasher may affect its ability to clean well. Remember to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations when loading the dishwasher.Using the same rag everywhereEven if your rag or cleaning cloth does not look old, it must be replaced regularly to avoid spreading dirt or germs across surfaces. You may switch to a microfiber towel in combination with a disinfectant spray.Not cleaning out the vacuumIt is important to regularly clean out the waste bag in your vacuum cleaner to effectively clean up a space. Otherwise, you will just end up pushing dirt around!Using furniture polish to dustAlthough furniture polish can make surfaces look clean and shiny, it must be used sporadically. It tends to have a higher concentration of oil, which can make fingerprints more prominent on smooth surfaces and make your home look unkempt. Instead, it is best to clean furniture with a barely damp cloth.Spraying cleaners directly on electronicsDirectly spraying cleaners onto devices like laptops, cell phones, or TVs may be damaging. Instead, spray the cleaner onto a clean microfiber cloth and then wipe the surface with it.Ignoring remote controlsThis is one of the most common cleaning mistakes to avoid. The remote controls around the house may be managed by multiple people a day. So, be sure to clean and sanitize them well.Using dish soap on wooden cutting boardsCutting boards need to be cleaned more carefully, as they may lead to cross-contamination, especially after chopping meats. Instead of relying on soap and warm water, soak the board in a bleach solution to clean it well.Scrubbing stains out of carpetsScrubbing a stain on upholstery can damage the fabric. So, avoid this cleaning mistake, and instead, blot as much of the spill as possible with a paper towel. Rinse it well and blot dry again. Use a carpet stain remover if required.Forgetting to take out the trashClearing out the trash regularly will help you maintain a clean home. But this isn’t enough; leaks or tears in the bag may cause spills inside the can. Remember to wipe down the trash can with a bleach cleaning solution to ward off any undesirable smells from your home. If you are using harsh chemicals in your cleaning routine, make sure you wear gloves during the process and don’t forget to ventilate the room once you are done cleaning. This can help you stay safe and not inhale any toxic fumes. So, avoid these cleaning mistakes to make sure your home remains healthy and hygienic.

Next Read

6 simple tips to make laundry chores less tiresome

Household chores are repetitive, period. And with a busy workday or errands to run, one or two of these chores, like laundry, might get ignored. There is no substitute for the sorting, presoak, washing, and drying tasks that must be done in that order. However, you can figure out neat ways to reduce the time and effort that goes into the laundry. Here are some simple ways you can make the task less stressful. Use a powerful odor eliminator When dirty laundry sits in the hamper for too long, the fabric collects bad odor, grime, and dust, making it a breeding ground for bacteria. The odor can be off-putting and unpleasant when picking up the laundry for a wash. Here is a simple solution; add a laundry odor eliminator into the presoak liquid before washing. You can choose from various liquid formulas, sprays, and pods available in different scents and concentrations. Top picks include OxiClean Odor Blasters, Arm & Hammer Clean Scentsations, Tide Odor Rescue, and Active Wear Laundry, among the top laundry odor eliminator to use daily.  Laundry bleach tablets help remove bad odor during the presoak stage. The bleach concentration helps neutralize bacteria and eliminates the odor. The formula also acts as an active stain remover when dissolved, making it suitable for heavily soiled and dirty clothes that require multiple washing cycles. Delegate the workload Laundry doesn't have to be done solely by one person alone. A smart way to make this chore less hassle is to delegate tasks equally to members. One member can collect all the laundry and start sorting while the other person can go ahead with the presoak. Sorting takes time, and it's important not to mix clothes, so ensure you hand over that task to someone responsible, or you'll be forced to throw out your whites because someone forgot to separate a pink scarf from the mix. Organize the laundry room Having everything you need within arm's reach can certainly lighten the workload. Keep the laundry hampers near the entrance, so everyone has quick and easy access. Clear off another area inside the laundry room for sorting. Have a cabinet or small storage rack built over the washer and dryer unit, so you don't have to chase the pods, fabric softeners, dryer sheets, and other essentials. Keeping things within reach saves time and effort. Also, organizing the laundry room will smoothen the operation. Find ways to stay distracted Let's face it, washing, drying, and folding sheets or clothes is tiresome and lengthy. So why not listen to your favorite playlist or watch a favorite episode while doing laundry? The distraction helps, and you won't even realize when the laundry gets folded, sorted, and neatly organized. Even a few loads of laundry take time to soak, wash, and dry. So, plan your day accordingly and keep some entertainment options ready. You can even use the time between tasks to make calls and catch up with friends and family. Spread out the loads It may sound counterproductive when you are trying to make the chore less monotonous. However, spreading out your loads makes it easier to manage smaller washer and dryer cycles. It's easier to get a few smaller loads done back to back rather than dealing with a mountain of clothes. Also, overloading the drum means some garments might not be washed thoroughly or have detergent stains. You'll eventually have to rewash them, so it is best to separate the loads to avoid these extra tasks. Ironing within the dryer cycle When you don't have time to iron, here's a neat little trick you can try to save time and get wrinkle-free clothes. Immediately after the wash cycle, shift the dresses that need ironing into the dryer and toss some ice cubes. The dryer cycle is designed to inject hot air while the drum spins. This heat causes the ice cubes to melt and create steam. The steam prevents the tumbling clothes from creasing and wrinkling up. Remember, this trick works well for a few clothes only when you put the dryer on a high-heat cycle. These simple laundry washing and drying hacks will save you time and effort. But it also helps if you can establish a routine and get laundry done as and when dirty clothes pile up in the hamper. You don't have to wait necessarily for the basket to fill before picking up the chore. Remember, the number of loads will increase depending on the number of people in the house. So plan and be prepared.

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