Clever vacuum cleaner tips to make life easier

When it comes to keeping your house clean and tidy, floors make a big difference.  Using your vacuum cleaner to its full potential will save you time and guarantee you better cleaning results. Get the job done fast with our clever vacuum cleaner tips to make life easier.

Choose the right machine

Choose a vacuum cleaner that effective across all the floor types in your home – from hard floors to carpets. If your home has stairs, consider a machine that can tackle the task and is also lightweight to be carried upstairs. The right unit designed for your floor type will save you invaluable time.

Give your filter a good clean

When was the last time you gave your vacuum cleaner filter a good clean? Dirty filters allow excess allergens and particles back in the air, impact air quality and decrease your vacuum’s efficiency. Cleaning your filter regularly ensures that your vacuum has powerful suction and performs at its best. Cleaning your filter is easy and can be done in just a few steps.

For vacuums with disposable filters, they will need to be replaced regularly. You can purchase spare filters here.

Change your vacuum cleaner bag

A full vacuum cleaner bag will impact the performance of your vacuum cleaner and add extra cleaning time to your schedule. If your vacuum has lost suction or fails to pick up dirt and debris, give the bag a quick check to see if it full.  Many vacuum bags will recommend changing the bag at least every 3 months. Other signs that your vacuum bag needs changing:

• The indicator light comes on
• You notice a musty or unpleasant odour
• Suction power is low

Do you have a Miele vacuum cleaner? Replace your Miele vacuum cleaner dustbag and filter easily.  Check out our blog guide or watch our DIY video for step by step instructions.

Get to know your vacuum attachments

Learn about the different attachment heads that come with your vacuum cleaner and how to use them. They are designed to get different jobs done efficiently and quickly. Crevice cleaners are great for window tracks and tight corners, upholstery tools can efficiently pick up dust from mattresses and dusting brushes are perfect for dusting air vents and refrigerator coils.

Adjust the height

The brush head height on your floor nozzle can be adjusted according to your floor type. The lowest setting is best suited for bare floor or thin carpets. The highest setting is best for plush carpets and area rugs.

Declutter first

Save yourself time by decluttering before you start vacuuming. Get rid of any items off the floor and move light furniture out of the way.

Pick up the small stuff

Any small objects such as house plant leaves and Lego blocks should be picked up before you start vacuuming. This will avoid any items getting stuck in your vacuum cleaner.

Get rid of odours with bicarb soda

Deodorise your carpet naturally with bicarb soda. Just sprinkle liberally over the carpet and let it sit for a few hours. Lastly, vacuum your carpet as you normally would.

Remove dents with ice

Heavy furniture can leave dents in your carpet. To remove, add an ice cube on top of the dents and leave overnight.

Dust before you vacuum

Use your attachments first

Always use your attachments first. Tackle the corners of the room and base of heavy furniture with your crevice tool. Use your upholstery tool for couches, ottomans and soft furnishings.

Get your technique right

Start in the outer perimeter of your carpet. Push the vacuum forward in a straight line, then pull the vacuum back towards you to collect debris and dirt.  Go slowly – your vacuum needs time to suction up dirt. Continue to vacuum in rows in one direction. To get your carpet extra clean, turn your vacuum 90 degrees once complete and vacuum again in the other direction.

Be consistent!

Don’t let your carpet get too dirty as it will add excessive time to your cleaning schedule. Instead, focus on consistency. The frequency depends on your lifestyle and home environment. High traffic areas will need to be vacuumed more frequently.

Smart vacuum cleaner tips

• Use your vacuum cleaner to remove dust from refrigerator coils and condenser
• Vacuum crumbs from unplugged toasters and toaster ovens
• Using the crevice tool, remove lint build up within your dryer vent
• When vacuuming fringed rugs, vacuum towards the end of the fringe. This will avoid the fringes from being sucked up by your vacuum.
• Use the dusting brush attachment to clean your computer keyboard
• Clean your handbag or luggage with a vacuum cleaner
• Find small lost items such as an earring easily. Just place a piece of pantyhose over a the vacuum cleaner hose attachment and run it over the carpet
• Remove hair and debris from the roller brush by using a seam ripper to cut through the tangled mess

Things you should never vacuum

• Broken glass – Glass can get lodged in the hose or puncture the dust bag. Best to sweep with a broom instead
• Fine dust – Sanding residue, glitter or tiny particles can clog up your filter
• Wet food and spills – Use a paper towel instead
• Ashes – Ashes take a few days to cool down and contain tiny particles which can clog your machine
• Small items such as coins and paperclips – These can get stuck in your rotating brush or damage your vacuum

From time to time your vacuum cleaner may lose suction power. Check out our simple fixes on our YouTube channel and get your vacuum cleaner working at its best again.

If you like our vacuum cleaner tips, check out our time saving cleaning hacks for your home. We take the hard work out of cleaning so you can spend more time doing the things you enjoy.

Find your vacuum cleaner spare parts and accessories at Statewide Appliance Spares. We have Australia’s biggest range with the lowest prices guaranteed.