Tips on Vacuuming

Vacuuming is such a common place chore that little thought is given to how it should be done. The IICRC recommends:

1. With vacuuming – more is better. You cannot over vacuum a carpet. Today’s carpets are designed to hide soil, so soil may not always be visible. Studies conducted by Hoover Vacuum Cleaning Company show that one square foot of carpet can hold up to one pound of dirt and still appear clean.
2. Thorough vacuuming to remove the pile-damaging soil hidden deep in the carpet takes time. Don’t just groom the surface by removing the large, noticeable debris.
3. Adjust the beater bar or brush properly for each carpet height. The brush or beater bar should touch the carpet.
4. Empty or replace the bag often. When a bag is half full – the vacuum efficiency is reduced by 60 to 80%. For maximum efficiency replace bags when they are 2/3 full.
5. Overall vacuuming is needed, but knowing where to concentrate your efforts is more productive. The majority of soil in carpets is brought in from outside by foot traffic – therefore the highest concentration of dirt is at entrances and high traffic areas. Entry mats help control soil from entering the property.
6. Hand vacuum the dust and fine particulate soil that builds up around the edges and in the corners of rooms.

Successful vacuuming requires time, proper technique and effective equipment. However, even the most meticulous worker with the best vacuum cleaner cannot remove all the soil in a carpet. A small percentage of the soil is oil-based. This oily residue bonds the particulate soil left after vacuuming to the carpet fibers and causes the appearance of dirty traffic patterns. Vacuuming with consumer vacuum cleaners is ineffective against this oily buildup. Removal requires the periodic service of a certified professional carpet cleaner.

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