For what is often classed as a simple task, there are several pitfalls when it comes to vacuuming. Cleaning experts have shared the most common mistakes you could be making with every clean.
When you've got one of the best vacuums on your side, cleaning can feel like a dream, making vacuuming feel effortless. And yet, it turns out there are multiple ways you can make mistakes when vacuuming your home.
Even if you know how often you should vacuum your home and fancy yourself a vacuuming pro, the chances are you've made one of these mistakes – we certainly have. Luckily, cleaning experts have shared how to avoid making them and offer alternative ways to achieve the perfect clean.
8 most common vacuuming mistakes
So what can you be doing wrong when you're vacuuming? Well, similarly to common dusting mistakes to avoid, there are a few small things that can negatively affect your cleaning results and even damage your carpets.
Here are the most common vacuuming mistakes we regularly make...
1. Neglecting your vacuum
Your vacuum is an essential gadget for getting rid of dust and removing pet hair. And whilst most models are very durable and can take a lot of use there is a certain amount of maintenance your vacuum needs to function effectively.
Speaking to Olivia Young, the cleaning expert at Astonish, she says, "Put simply, if your vacuum itself isn’t clean, how can you expect it to clean your home? It might sound simple and almost obvious, but this is generally one of the ways most of us are going wrong!"
She points out that not only will a dirty or clogged filter make for a sub-par clean but it could also be adding to the dirt, blowing it out in the air and back onto the carpets you're trying to clean. Ever wondered why your room smells when vacuuming? A dirty filter is the most likely cause.
"To avoid this, give your vacuum some TLC and make cleaning the device a regular thing. This includes replacing the filter and cleaning the attachments – a damp cloth will do the trick," she explains.
2. Vacuuming too fast
No one wants to spend all day vacuuming, especially when you consider how often you should clean your house; however, there is a risk of vacuuming too quickly.
"We’ve probably all said the phrase ‘I’ll just do a quick vacuum’ before – but this might not be as effective as you think. Unfortunately, no matter how powerful your appliance is, a speedy vacuum just won’t quite cut it to achieve a thorough clean," says Olivia.
If you vacuum too fast, you won't give your vacuum a chance to actually get under the carpet fibres and pick up all the dirt and debris.
Olivia continues, "A quick clean is just a surface-level clean and will more than likely lead to you needing to repeat the clean a few times. Slow and steady wins the race when it comes to vacuuming!"
3. Forgetting to move furniture
As much as rearranging furniture is the last thing you want to do, simply vacuuming around items in your room will not give you the deep clean you want.
"While this may seem like a time-saving technique when vacuuming, this prevents you from having a thorough clean," says Liam Cleverdon, flooring trends expert at Flooring King. "Not moving furnishings while vacuuming can cause you to miss areas that aren’t visible, leading to a build-up of dust and dirt."
When vacuuming to deep clean your house, then skirting around your sofa, rug, or lamp will not achieve the level of cleaning you're aiming for. Instead, Liam says to avoid this surface-level clean move furniture around as you vacuum your space and return them as soon as you're done with the area.
4. Not adjusting the attachment for different surfaces
When finding ways to reduce dust in your home and keep it as clean as possible, consider the various surfaces where dust collects. The way you tackle your curtains will be completely different to how you clean your countertops, and the same goes for the surfaces you vacuum.
"If you use the incorrect attachments for certain surfaces, your vacuuming technique could be ineffective or even damaging," says Dawn Hilton-Lito, manager at cleaning company One Less Thing. "Before vacuuming an area, you should double-check that you have the right attachment in place."
Consider this when vacuuming your mattress or cleaning a velvet sofa because both require an upholstery attachment.
5. Vacuuming in only one direction
Perhaps one of the most common vacuuming mistakes is only vacuuming your carpets in one direction, limiting how much dirt and debris you remove.
“Vacuuming in one direction is a common mistake that people make when cleaning floors. This technique may feel natural and efficient; however, this prevents thorough cleaning. Instead, vacuuming in multiple directions helps release dust and dirt from the carpet’s fibres. Varying directions instead of going back and forth with your vacuum can help ruffle the carpet piles, further accessing deeper dirt," says Liam.
Although it will add time to your deep clean, it's best to avoid spring cleaning mistakes so that the next time you tackle that area, it feels far less overwhelming.
6. Picking up things you shouldn't with your vacuum
As much as it's easier to vacuum large areas without inspecting them, there are certain objects and smaller pieces of debris you shouldn't be using your vacuum to get rid of.
"It’s important to note that the sole purpose of using a vacuum is to lift dust, dirt, and debris. Using this cleaning appliance to remove bigger pieces, such as coins, earrings, or large shards of glass, can damage the mechanism, resulting in repair or a new vacuum," explains Liam.
Similar to how many common radiator cleaning mistakes can damage your radiator, vacuuming these bits up will cost you money in the long run. To avoid any damage, Liam recommends scanning your floor for these larger pieces and picking them up manually to dispose of them.
7. Forgetting to clean your vacuum filters
Similar to the time frame on how often you should replace your carpets, your vacuum filter needs replacing, too. With all the impressive vacuum models on the market, most will work more efficiently with a clean, fresh filter.
Dawnn stresses the importance of this particular vacuum maintenance. She says, "By refusing to properly clean or replace filters, homeowners can end up compromising their indoor air quality." This could also be why your room smells after vacuuming.
Not paying attention to the condition of your vacuum filter will lead to low-quality cleaning and may add to the dust already in your home. Dawnn suggests consulting the manufacturer's instructions for guidance on how often you should clean or replace the filters and how to do it.
If you want to replace your filter altogether, then these Dyson-compatible filters from Amazon for £12.98 are perfect.
8. Only focussing on the floor
,It's not just your floor that can benefit from a good vacuum. But not taking full advantage of your vacuum for other surfaces around your home is a common mistake.
"When we think about vacuuming the home, many of us tend to think only of our floors, often neglecting other areas of the house which would benefit from a regular vacuum. Many surface areas are just as vacuumable as your hard floors and carpets, so it’s important to show these spots some attention when cleaning the home," explains Paul Bagwell, CEO and Founder of Halo Vacuums.
Paul says that the most common area that's missed is blinds, especially Venetian ones as the flat surfaces collect dust more than other types – ideal when cleaning blinds.
He says, "Most vacuums come with additional attachments for various areas of the home. Running a bristled brush head over your windows will stop dust from spreading around the home and create less cleaning work for you and your vacuum."
This also applies to soft furnishings too, using the upholstery tool on your vacuum is a great way to clean a fabric headboard or tackle your sofa.
Is there a wrong way to vacuum?
“Vacuuming is a relatively straightforward task; however, there are minor factors that can make a big change to the overall quality of the clean. Vacuuming with a full bag restricts fresh debris from being lifted, so always check the condition of the bag to see if it needs emptying," points out Liam.
"Not removing objects to reveal the clear surface can also lead to dust and dirt being missed due to being hidden by furnishings, so for an optimum clean, temporarily remove objects to allow the vacuum to access all areas," he continues.
As mentioned above, vacuuming in multiple directions is the best way to achieve a deep, thorough clean.
Is vacuuming every day bad?
Unlike how often you should mow your lawn, vacuuming is more of a personal choice and down to your household situation. There are a lot more variables to take into consideration, and unlike lawns, your carpet won't die from excessive vacuuming.
“While vacuuming every day won’t cause many issues and is an effective way of preventing any dust or dirt build-up, this should be avoided on certain types of flooring," begins Liam.
"A daily vacuum is safe on flooring such as carpets. However, hardwood flooring may experience damage to its boards, so once a week is the best practice when it comes to this type of flooring. Use a sweeping brush in between vacuuming for hard floors where there is high traffic," he recommends.
What should you not vacuum up?
In the same way you can make dusting mistakes, it's all too easy to accidentally vacuum things you shouldn't. Several things shouldn't be cleaned with your vacuum, as doing so could damage your machine.
"When considering what you should not vacuum up, it’s important to avoid anything hot, such as ashes, until it has fully cooled. You should also steer clear of vacuuming wet material unless your appliance is specifically designed to handle it, like the Halo Hot Spot," says Paul Bagwell, CEO and Founder of Halo Vacuums.
"Heat and moisture can both damage your vacuum and may reduce its performance or shorten its overall lifespan," he adds.
Vacuuming will never be the same again. Simply avoid making these common mistakes, and you will soon notice the difference in your home's health and cleanliness. And why not tackle different areas in your home? Your vacuum can handle it
