Of all the carpet cleaning equipment that is available, it is the vacuum cleaner that most people will be familiar with, and most likely have used.
Whilst professional carpet cleaners will have access to all kinds of high-spec and high-tech apparatus to clean the carpets of their clients, they too will also rely heavily on vacuum cleaners when serving those clients.
If you ask an experienced carpet cleaner for their professional opinion on vacuum cleaners they will tell you that not only is it essential for the well-being of carpets, they will likely go as far as to say it is the most important carpet cleaner equipment anyone can have.
The reason for that opinion is due in part to the fact that it is the vacuum cleaner that acts on the frontline of carpet cleaning and maintenance.
Not only does it help keep carpets clean by removing dirt and dust from their surface, but it also helps to maintain them by removing abrasive particles that can accelerate wear on a carpet’s fibres and thus mean they need replacing sooner.
So, if professional carpet cleaners think a vacuum cleaner is essential, then we hope you have one. If so, we also would expect you to use it regularly, and certainly no less than once a week.
If you are using your vacuum cleaner any less frequently, then you are not using it to its full potential, and not giving your carpets the care they require.
Beyond the effective use of your vacuum cleaner, the fact that it gets used regularly also means it also requires some care and attention to keep it in full working order and that, when it is switched on, it is effective in removing as much debris from your carpets as possible.
To further that cause, here are several steps you can take to maintain your vacuum cleaner for better results and to prolong its useful life.
Empty The Bag/Canister Often: One of the most basic, but sadly, most often ignored vacuum cleaner maintenance tasks is the emptying of the bag or canister.
Allowing it to fill to the very top, not only makes it more difficult to empty as much of the debris tries to escape, but it also compromises the suction power of the vacuum cleaner.
Clean The Filter Thoroughly: The filter is a key part of the vacuuming process as it removes many odours and catches a lot of the many micro-particles which enter the vacuum cleaner.
Most filters are usually the washable type, although you may have a vacuum cleaner that uses a replaceable filter, in which case you simply insert a new one.
Remove Any Clogs: We have not specified any location for looking for clogs, simply because they can occur anywhere.
The main places to look for them are on the brushes on the roller, around the beater bar, the hose, and occasionally deeper within the vacuum cleaner such as the entrance to the bag or canister.
Clean All The Attachments: The manufacturer and the model of your vacuum cleaner will determine how many and what type of attachments you have.
Whatever attachments you have must be kept in good order, and that starts with cleaning them regularly, or better still, immediately after they have been used. In most cases, some warm water and liquid soap will suffice.
Wash And Sanitise The Hose: Most vacuum cleaners have a hose that is used for reaching parts of your carpets that the vacuum cleaner cannot reach such as in the corners of rooms.
Its importance means you want it to be clean at all times so, as well as clearing clogs as already mentioned, you should also wash it and sanitise it to remove the bacteria which can build up inside it.
Wipe The Exterior With A Damp Cloth: This is not essential but highly recommended.
Giving your vacuum cleaner a quick wipe with a damp cloth after use will remove any debris which might have settled on it, and keeps it looking as good as new for longer.