Whether you prefer the little-and-often cleaning technique or you opt for a deep, once-a-week clean, there’s no denying that a quality vacuum cleaner can make all the difference. However, even the top models on the market won't stop you from falling victim to some of the most common vacuuming mistakes.
In fact, while the best vacuum cleaners are designed to keep your home clean, what many people don’t realise is that poor technique, silly decisions, and a lack of attention can have the opposite effect and actually make your home dirtier. Because of this, knowing how to vacuum is key, but knowing which common errors to avoid is also crucial.
Luckily, I've spoken with cleaning experts to explain the most common vacuuming mistakes and how you can avoid them to help you break bad cleaning habits and ensure you protect your investment for longer.
1. Not emptying the vacuum bag regularly
This might sound like an obvious one, but admittedly, our laziness has probably left us leaving the bag or bin of our vacuum cleaners too full for longer than we'd like to admit. Unfortunately, overfilling your vacuum cleaner can kill your vacuum quicker than you can say ‘dust.’
This is echoed by Justin Davenport, Dyson Design Engineer for Floorcare, who advises, ‘Always pay attention to the max fill line on your vacuum’s dust canister.’
He adds, ‘Overfilling can restrict airflow, leading to reduced suction power and forcing the motor to work harder, which can cause overheating and shorten your vacuum’s lifespan. It also increases the risk of dust and debris clogging internal filters.’
Because of this, you need to empty your vacuum cleaner before it hits the ‘Max’ fill line, or replace the bag when you notice it’s full if you’ve opted for the latter in the bagless vs bagged vacuum cleaner debate. By doing this, your appliance will work as efficiently as possible, for as long as possible.
2. Vacuuming too fast and in the same direction
Which way do you vacuum? Well, it turns out there is a right and wrong way to vacuum. Olivia Young, cleaning expert and product development scientist at cleaning product retailer, Astonish, agrees. She says, ‘'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. By going too fast, you're not allowing the vacuum to do its job of getting under the carpet fibres and picking up all the dirt and debris.'
As well as vacuuming too fast, vacuuming only in one direction also isn't doing you any favours, especially when vacuuming and cleaning carpet.
Lucy (@cleanwithlucy) with the Clean and Tidy Home Show advises to 'vacuum in multiple directions to agitate and release the dust and dirt from the carpet fibres.' This is especially important if you want to clean wool carpets or thicker rugs, as it’s easy for debris to embed itself within the longer, deeper fibres.
3. Using it on things that shouldn't be vacuumed
Oftentimes, whenever we notice something unwanted on our floors, our gut instinct is to instantly reach for our vacuums. However, despite how versatile this cleaning appliance is, there are a handful of things you should never vacuum up. And doing so is one of the biggest vacuuming mistakes you can make.
'The only thing you should be using your vacuum for is to get rid of dust and debris. Anything bigger, such as a button or earring, could actually damage it,' warns Olivia.
Of course, it’s always worth knowing how to unclog a vacuum hose anyway, just in case you do accidentally suck up something you shouldn’t. But for the most part, avoidance is the best policy - unless you opt for one of the best vacuum mops that allow for multi-debris pickup.
And if you find yourself in a situation where you’ve dropped an earring or a small item on the floor and you don’t want to vacuum it up, make sure you give the sock vacuum cleaner hack a go. It’s ideal for finding small, lost items before losing them to the dust canister.
4. Using unsuitable attachments
Knowing what vacuum tool is right for each job can also make or break the effectiveness of a cleaning task, and using the wrong one is a vacuum cleaner mistake you don’t want to make.
'Understanding the purpose of each one and using the appropriate one for different surfaces and tasks, for example, a crevice tool for tight spaces and an upholstery attachment for furniture can make this part of house cleaning a lot easier and more effective,' explains Petya Holevich, house cleaning expert and supervisor at cleaning service, Fantastic Cleaners.
Normally, it’s pretty easy to know what these do, though. For example, the crevice tool is perfect for those smaller nooks and crannies, the upholstery tool is for cleaning your sofa or your curtains, and a pet hair tool is for, you guessed it, vacuuming pet hair. Your vacuum may even come with a dedicated mattress tool to vacuum your mattress, too.
If your full-size vacuum also pops out into a handheld, it’s worth understanding the many things you can use a handheld vacuum for around the house, so you can ensure vacuum success rather than vacuum mistakes.
5. Choosing the incorrect height setting
Multiple vacuum cleaner brands have a different number of height options on their appliances, and choosing the right one for you is the best way to avoid any vacuuming mistakes.
'A basic vacuum cleaner will typically have 2 or 3 height settings, which will help you navigate different types of carpeting more easily, while a multi-surface vacuum will have several ones to cover all types of surfaces, such as bare wood floors to plush carpets,' explains Petya.
It may be that your vacuum also comes with multiple floorheads, in which case you need to ensure you’re using the correct floorhead for your floor type. And Petya adds, ‘If you use them all correctly depending on what you're cleaning, such as dust, pet hair and food crumbs, it can make a big difference in the final cleaning results and the ease of performing the task.'
'Brushes out for a wood floor or hard floor, and brushes in for a carpeted floor,' advises Neil Spencer-Cook, group managing director at the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICs). This will ultimately make for a smoother cleaning experience.
The best vacuums to buy right now
Not only is this the best Dyson vacuum cleaner you can buy, but it also takes the crown as the 'best overall' vacuum we've tested... ever. It has up to 70 minutes of run time and is kitted out with all of the tech you'd want.
Looking for one of the best Henry vacuum cleaners? This is our favourite, and it's extremely affordable. It also has a 9-litre capacity, which means it's perfect for larger households and families.
The best Shark vacuums are constantly changing, but this one has been a bestseller for years now. It's ideal for homes with pets, it's affordable, and it even comes with Anti-Odour capsules.
FAQs
Is vacuuming everyday bad?
No, vacuuming every day isn't bad. How often you should vacuum is dependent on your lifestyle, and needs, and depends on the area of your home.
Higher-traffic areas such as living rooms and hallways should ideally be vacuumed 2-3 times a week while areas not used as often, like a spare bedroom, can be hoovered weekly.
So whether you choose to vacuum every day or not is completely your choice.
Should you dust first before vacuuming?
Yes, you should dust before vacuuming. That’s because the act of dusting dislodges the particles, often throwing them into the air. They then fall to the floor and onto surfaces, which is why it’s always a good thing to vacuum after dusting to pick up these dislodged particles.
This way, you can vacuum from top to bottom - which is what you should always do when you’re looking to efficiently clean your house.
Are you making any of these vacuuming mistakes?
