Everything You Wanted To Know About Vacuuming and Vacuum Cleaners . . . But Were Afraid to Ask What’s the First Thing I Should Do Before Plugging in the Vacuum Cleaner? First scan the area to be cleaned. Any large debris should be picked up. Look as well for things like paper clips, pins, coins and other small items. If working with a long cord, stretch the cord out completely so there are no loops or kinks. This looks more professional; is safer for the user and anyone walking by, helps organize the cord, and will help prevent the cord from becoming tangled up while vacuuming. How Do I Store the Cord After Vacuuming? When vacuuming is completed, grasp the plug and carefully pull it out of the wall outlet. If the vacuum cleaner has clasps or guides for rolling up the cord on the body of the machine, start with the bottom clasp/guide and wrap around the top clasp until the cord is completely rolled up. If there are no clasps or guides, wrap the cord up on the floor using a figure-eight motion and secure the cord to the machine. Never wind the cord around your elbows; this can pull and bind the cord. Where’s the Best Place to Start Vacuuming a Room? In most cases, the best place to start is in the most soiled areas. These typically include main pathways; transition areas from hard surface floors to carpets; and the areas directly inside entries, near elevators, or around workstations such as copy machine areas. Outlying areas are typically the last to be vacuumed. Should I Vacuum Every Carpeted Area Every Time I Vacuum? No. In fact, the best way to speed up vacuuming tasks is to “workload,” or section the room. This technique involves dividing the room according to how soiled the various areas are. Those parts of a room that are typically the most soiled must be vacuumed every time. But other areas that receive far less use or foot traffic can be cleaned once or twice per week. This improves worker productivity considerably. What Are the Benefits of Vacuuming Hard Surface Floors? The main benefit typically cited is that vacuuming a hard surface floor (versus sweeping or dust mopping) helps protect indoor air quality. This is certainly true if the cleaning technician is using a vacuum with a HEPA filtration system. However, there are other benefits as well. Many hard surface floors are porous. Soils build up in these pores and can actually become lodged there due to sweeping/dust mopping. Vacuuming can help remove these soils. Furthermore, one study found that compared to dust mopping, using a backpack vacuum cleaner can cut cleaning time almost in half. Can I Vacuum a Hard Surface Floor with an Upright Vacuum Cleaner? You can, but it is certainly not the most effective way to vacuum hard surface floors, and it may even damage the floor. That’s because the beater bar on upright models is designed to agitate the carpet in order to remove soils. When used on a hard surface floor, this function can possibly scratch the floor. Additionally, the opening on most uprights is so wide that it reduces the machine’s suction power when used on a hard surface floor. It is always best to use either a backpack or a canister model to vacuum hard surface floors. How Often Should HEPA Filters Be Changed? In a residential setting, HEPA filters can last two or three years before they need to be changed. However, in commercial settings where machines are used daily or very frequently, filters should be checked every few months. If a filter appears dark, it means that it has become heavily soiled and should be replaced. Additionally, if a musty odor is detected when the vacuum cleaner is used, the HEPA filter should be changed. Some professional vacuum cleaners also have a pre-filter designed to capture large particulates; these should be checked/changed every three to four months. Finally, How Long Should a Vacuum Cleaner Last? That depends on two things: the initial quality of the machine and how well it has been treated. A quality vacuum cleaner is not necessarily the one that is the most expensive or the one that has the most bells and whistles. In fact, over time, those machines can be the most problem-prone vacuum cleaners of all. To find a quality vacuum cleaner, first determine exactly what your needs are and how and where the machine will be used. Choose a machine from a reputable dealer and/or a well-known and respected manufacturer. Focus on the basics of the machine: Does it have a powerful motor? Is it lightweight? Does the construction appear strong and durable? Is it HEPA-filtered? As to how well the machine is treated, vacuum cleaners are the right hand of the cleaning professional—and they should be treated as such.
Posted on: Tue, 20 May 2014 13:00:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015