Vacuum cleaners are perfect for use on carpets and other surfaces made up of fabrics. Sweeping is incapable when washing carpets for the fibers. Special vacuum cleaners may even manage waters to help eliminate spills and stains. On the other hand, brooms are inefficient in removing liquid.
Some handle vacuums better while for others, sweeping is more effective. No matter which type of floor you have, make sure you clean other parts of the room first (saving the floor for last) and clear the space of any furniture. Then, you can break out the broom and vacuum cleaner.
When it comes to cleaning hard-surface floors, the knee-jerk reaction is usually to grab a mop. But according to many experts, a vacuum is just as good a choice.
However, the basic rule of thumb is that carpeted floors and rugs should be vacuumed at least twice weekly and hard surface floors like tile, hardwood, laminate, and vinyl should be vacuumed at least once per week.
Myth #1: Suction Completely Cleans Carpets
Many people believe their vacuum cleaner's magnificent level of suction is enough to fully clean their carpet. This is false. You might think moving back and forth over the same soiled spot on your carpet a few times gets the dirt out.
To keep your carpet looking and performing at its best, The Carpet and Rug Institute recommends having your carpet professionally deep-cleaned every 12 to 18 months. Bear in mind that this recommended frequency is a general guideline only and can vary based on your particular circumstances.
One annual home project that should be on everyone's list is deep cleaning carpet and area rugs throughout the home. Rug Doctor experts recommend deep cleaning your carpet at least once every 12 months.
If you don't vacuum your carpet the bad things that can happen include mold formation, the spread of pet dander, stains, and breeding of pests, dust mites, and bacteria.
When doing your thorough cleaning, dust the room before vacuuming so you can vacuum up the particles that float into the air as you work and settle on the floor.
Typically, vacuuming does not damage carpet and is actually a safe and effective tool for cleaning dirt and grime from carpets. Some may argue that vacuums are the best cleaning tools for carpets because they suck deeply embedded dirt and dust from carpets without fraying or damaging the material.
In the case of the Hardwood floor vacuum, you have to use a vacuum cleaner to clean hardwood floors. If you use a hard-bristled broom, it can damage the exterior of Hardwood floors. On the other hand, the vacuum creates less airborne dust and doesn't damage the surface of hardwood floors.
Don't Swiffer sweep without vacuuming first
The Swiffer Sweeper pads will do a better job picking up dirt on floors when the larger dust bunnies are out of the way, so a quick pick-up or vacuum job beforehand could help your duster pack a mightier punch.
When debris builds up on the floor over time, they accumulate and can cause tiny scratches in your floor, which might become permanent and eventually become an ugly blemish.
Why Vacuuming Is Better Than Sweeping
When you sweep some dust becomes airborne, while other bits of dirt fall into crevices and corners. If you mop after you sweep, the moisture can bind to the leftover dirt and essentially form mud.
Many people wonder do you mop or vacuum first? Should you sweep before mopping? Mopping isn't a one-stop shop for cleaning the floors. You should always sweep, dust mop or vacuum to remove large pieces of debris and stray hair.
Unless you bring in a lot of dirt or sand, live in a dusty area or have pets, you only need to vacuum your hard surface floors once a week. Dust, dander and other allergens, however, can work their way into the cracks between floorboards so you don't want to let it go longer unless it's a room you rarely use.
To vacuum like the professionals, you need to vacuum in rows. First, vacuum a row of carpet in one direction, wall-to-wall. This pass should be against the nap of the carpet to make it fluff up, making the deep dirt come up easier.
"We recommend dusting a home at least once per month for easy-to-reach areas and every three to six months for hard-to-reach areas such as ceilings, corners, door frames, and high shelves," says Jennifer Rodriguez, director of business development at Pro Housekeepers.
Vacuuming carpet is very similar to changing the oil in a car in that it is an integral part of regular maintenance and keeping it in tip-top shape. Regular vacuuming removes soil and dirt that can damage the carpet fiber and therefore reduce the useful life of the carpet.
A broom, dustpan, and a bit of elbow grease will remove dirt and debris from carpets. The broom must have stiff bristles like Libman's Precision Angle Broom to effectively loosen and lift away the dirt from the carpet pile. You can use a small dustpan or one with a handle to reduce the need to bend.
3 Types of Carpet Styles
Carpets are made of fibers that are cut, looped or cut and looped. Although there are several different subcategories of carpet styles, all fall within one of these three groups.
Carpeting is a poor choice in any room that frequently sees water, food remnants, or dirt. These elements will quickly damage carpet. These rooms include but are not limited to, kitchens, bathrooms, entryways, mudrooms, and laundry rooms. Kitchens are a poor choice to install carpeting because of food, dirt, and water.
The best rooms to carpet are bedrooms and playrooms. Family rooms, hallways and stairways can also benefit from carpeting but these high traffic areas will suffer more wear on the carpet over time. As a rule, entry rooms and rooms most likely to see high traffic or lots of messes should not be carpeted.