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7 common vacuum cleaner mistakes to avoid

7 common vacuum cleaner mistakes to avoid

Vacuum cleaners are the most used household appliances among other maintenance tools in your cleaning closet. There are various types of vacuums, including corded, cordless, and even robot vacuum cleaners. Today, technological innovations have made it possible for brands to manufacture smart cleaners that can be controlled with your smartphone. But no matter how fancy the gadget, you must still avoid the following common mistakes while using a vacuum cleaner:

Do not vacuum wet surfaces
Liquids coming in contact with electrical appliances is just a disaster in the making. Because water conducts electricity, you can damage the motors instantaneously or even experience minor electrocution. Regular vacuum cleaners are not designed to suction up liquids or other oddly shaped objects. There are, however, special wet-dry vacuum cleaners that are specifically designed to pick up water and other liquids. Commonly referred to as shop vacs, you can safely use these smaller-sized cleaners to clear up puddles and spills from most surfaces in and around the house.

Not using the proper attachments
Vacuum cleaners these days come with a ton of fancy attachments and accessories designed for specific tasks. For example, beater bars and roller bar accessories are ideal for cleaning heavy-duty carpets. The mechanism is designed to scrub off and suction the debris lodged between the carpet fabrics. Here, simply running a handheld cordless vacuum over carpets will not work, no matter how powerful the motor is. Similarly, special crevice tools can be used to suction out debris from tight corners behind furniture. Small cleaner heads can also pick up micro dust from upholstery and other furnishings around the house. You should always use the correct attachment to clean a particular area or surface.

Loss of power does not mean the appliance is broken
Motors heat up with prolonged use, and most modern vacuums have sensors that automatically shut down when the cleaner overheats. So, don’t chuck away the appliance when it stops working in the middle of a cleaning session. There are plenty of other reasons why the vacuum could have stalled. Try emptying a full dust bag, check the hose for clogs that prevent suction, check the connectors between various accessories, and manually remove anything that gets lodged in between to get the motor back up and running. If the appliance shuts down due to overheating, take a break before you attempt to start it up again.

Running over the cord
This is not a problem with cordless vacuum cleaners. However, if you are operating a slightly heavier vacuum appliance that needs a corded power connection, ensure you never run over the wire. Many attachments may come with a spinning brush designed to scrub and suction off dirt or debris from carpets. This suction tool is powerful enough to suck in the cord and cause it to break or expose the copper wiring, increasing the risk of electrocution. Also, it is impossible to replace damaged wires with most appliances as they are made from a certain quality and grade of materials that are not readily available.

Not emptying the dust bag
The smaller the appliance, the more frequently you’ll need to empty dust bags. It is never safe to run vacuum cleaners when the bag is full. The motors will be forced to work overtime to create more suction, as there isn’t enough room to collect dust properly. Optimal performance is affected, and you run the risk of seriously overheating the appliances. A full dust bag could also catch fire if the motors spark or overheat to compensate for the extra load. So, always take a few minutes to empty the dust bag and clear the collection bin of all dirt and debris before using the vacuum. Regular maintenance will improve the durability and use of electrical appliances.

Using the vacuum cleaner improperly
Vacuuming quickly is not helpful at all since you must apply some force and run the appliance repeatedly over a surface. The brush and motor assembly cannot suction all dirt and debris with a single sweep. You must be patient and run the cleaner a few times in the same spot before moving forward to get the best results. Also, most modern vacuum cleaners come with dedicated power control buttons and a fully functional digital display. You can adjust the speed of the cleaning brush, change the angle, and even customize cleaning functions for distinct types of surfaces. Premium high-end brands also offer additional smart control features that can be used to sync with smartphones. So read the manual to understand the features to make the most of these appliances.

Forgetting to charge cordless vacuum cleaners properly
Wireless battery-powered appliances can run for only a finite cycle before they require charging. It is never a good idea to run cordless vacuum cleaners on a low battery. There is no telling when the appliance will stop working, and that could be a really frustrating situation. So, don’t forget to plug in the cordless devices overnight to ensure they’re ready for the next cleaning round. Smart cleaners also come with a reminder feature on the digital console that shows battery use and discharge. You can plan the charging accordingly.

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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.

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6 popular vacuum cleaners for a spotless house

Vacuum cleaner brands have made optimum use of new technology, AI features, and the internet to create cord and cordless appliances that have made cleaning an easy and fun chore. We can find upgrades in the most popular vacuum cleaners, such as canister, upright, handheld, deep cleaners, stick vacuums, pet cleaners, and robotic vacuums. Here is a list of the popular vacuums in each category, so every house has a great option: Eureka NEC380 Stylus Eureka's Stylus has a powerful and efficient 350W motor with increased suction to clean hard floors and carpets efficiently. This vacuum cleaner can work for 45 minutes after a full charge with three modes that you can toggle between while cleaning. The Eureka NEC380 Stylus is lightweight, easy to lift, and has the ability to clean corners and narrow spaces. Since the dust cup is placed in front, you can lay it under your bed. It is also fitted with bright LED headlights that give visibility to dust and debris in unreachable corners. Eureka's Stylus zipped into popularity as it was much cheaper than other cordless and handheld stick vacuums on the market. Shark Navigator® Lift-Away® NV352 Despite being one of the oldest vacuum cleaners in the market, this model continues to be popular as it is an upright vacuum but convertible to a canister vacuum. Shark Navigator's NV352 weighs 12.5 pounds and has 1,200 watts of power, offering a strong suction for both bare and carpeted floors. You can tone down the suction when you clean delicate curtains or small rugs. A 25-feet-long cord ensures that you can plug it in one room and reach all the corners. This vacuum cleaner has multiple hose attachments for narrow spaces, crevices, curtains, and swivel heads for multidirectional cleaning. The HEPA filter and anti-allergy seal can completely remove pet hair. Dyson Ball Animal 2 All Dyson products have become popular as they are powerful, beautiful, and deliver high-quality performance, thanks to the best engineering techniques. Although they are slightly more expensive, they continue to sell well because of their unmatched efficiency and performance. You don't have to pass the same area twice, indicating that the vacuum picks up the minutest dust and debris in one pass. The dust bag is large, saving you the task of emptying it frequently. It has a 35-foot cord that is quite useful considering its weight of 17.4 pounds. Shark® APEX® DuoClean® If you have one or more pets and both hardwood and carpeted floors, the pet hair may settle under the carpet despite frequent and regular cleaning. It is a bagless model with 1,350 watts of power, weighs around 17 pounds, and has a cord length of 30 feet. The Shak Apex Duo clean has two rollers, with brushes for rugs and carpets and another brushless one for hard floors. You can use it both as a canister or an upright cleaner. You can safely store it under a bed or furniture. It has a motorized pet attachment that is most effective in cleaning pet hair that may lie under and on the furniture, on the mattresses, or under the carpet. Dyson V11 Torque Drive Despite being expensive, the V11 Torque Drive from Dyson is a certified best seller. It is fitted with cyclone technology with six layers of advanced whole machine filtration that removes 99.97% of particulate dust matter. It has a dynamic load sensing technology that checks the remaining battery time and the surface type and adjusts the power of the vacuum accordingly. It has an LCD screen that helps you choose three cleaning modes. It also alerts if there is a blockage in the vacuum and asks you to clear it. It also has an automatic adjusting brush roll. If you want a powerful and feature-rich vacuum at a higher cost, go for it. iRobot Roomba s9 The iRobot Roomba s9+ continues as the most loved robot vacuum despite cheaper variants and brands flooding the market. It is an intelligent vacuum as it has one of the best mapping features and can identify every corner of your home once you label your rooms and set boundaries. You can tell it where to go and where not to and prioritize the cleaning order. Its powerful sensors ensure they don't fall off stairs or bump into blind ends. Its cleaning performance is as impressive as it can pick up 100% debris and pet fur. It comes with a rechargeable battery and weighs 8.2 pounds. The important selection factors for choosing a vacuum cleaner are your floor type, budget, and home size. If you have more than one level, choose a lighter model or choose a stick vacuum so that it is easy to carry. If you want to dust before cleaning, buy a handheld vacuum. Choose a vacuum with HEPA filters if anyone in your family has allergies or asthma. Check how quiet or noisy the machine is, so it does not disturb too much. Always ask for a demo, or visit a store to see its performance in person before making the purchase. Apart from the vacuum cleaners mentioned above, you will come across many top-notch models by these brands.

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