How Often Should We Vacuum?

There are a few factors that help us determine how often and how thoroughly a house or business needs to be vacuumed. The location, season, the number of occupants and visitors in the house or business, whether or not there are pets and how susceptible the house or business is to outside elements are all key considerations in the assessment of your vacuum cleaning regime. Obviously the amount of foot traffic in certain areas influences the dust collection at any given time. Entrances and thoroughfares are main dust collectors. A household consisting of one or two people versus 5 or 6 evidently doesn’t need as frequent a vacuum. Businesses with a lot of foot traffic would require daily vacuuming.

Vacuuming is important for a number of reasons. Aesthetically, a rug or carpet in a room looks better when vacuumed regularly. Sometimes dust and hair particles aren’t easily spotted but a good once over with a vacuum can quickly reveal what was lurking about unknowingly on the surface. Health risks and allergies can also be associated with too much dust particles or pet hair wallowing around.

WHAT IS DUST?

Dust consists of way more than we think. If we had to inspect it with a microscope, we would be quite alarmed to find what it actually consists of. Dead skin cells, human and pet hair, clothing fibres, bacteria, dust mites, specks of dead insects and their faecal matter, food debris, soil particles, pollen, microscopic specks of plastic and even trace amounts of lead, arsenic and DDT can all be a part of the smorgasbord that dust is comprised of. The finest dust particles pose the greatest health threat as these can more easily be absorbed into your lungs and bloodstream. Thus, regular vacuuming is of utmost importance to ensure the optimum health of your family members as well as the cleanliness of the household.

Home experts recommend vacuuming once or twice a week, depending on the foot traffic and above-mentioned factors. A household consisting of multiple pets may need daily vacuuming in order to ensure optimal living conditions. Carpeted bedrooms need vacuuming at least once a week and maybe twice during allergy season. Lesser-used rooms like spare rooms and fancy dining areas need vacuuming less frequently or perhaps right before guests are expected.

VACUUM CLEANER MAINTENANCE

Depending on the frequency with which you vacuum your vacuum cleaner will also need a corresponding regular cleaning. The vacuum filter needs to be emptied and shaken out by at most ¾ capacity in order to ensure optimal suction while cleaning and to help extend the health of your vacuum cleaner. Some vacuum cleaners are expensive and a worthwhile investment provided you maintain and clean them properly and regularly. Vacuumspot is Australia’s most reliable supplier of all vacuum cleaner accessories. From everyday items such as vacuum cleaner bags, filters and belts, to more technical and specialised vacuum cleaner parts like vacuum switches, motors and circuit boards, we are almost guaranteed to have what you need for all things vacuum. Anything you may not find on our website can be ordered by us from our wide network of suppliers so do let us know if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

Vacuum filters, vacuum cleaner bags and most parts can be purchased individually for most reputable vacuum cleaner brands, Dyson being our most popular. For the purpose of this blog, we will give you a brief how-to guide on replacing your Dyson vacuum cleaner filter. Particular brand and model specifications can be found with a quick google search.

REPLACING AND CLEANING YOUR DYSON FILTER

It is recommended you give your Dyson vacuum filter a proper cleaning at least once a month to keep your appliance working at maximum efficiency. This involves the following:

1. Make sure your vacuum cleaner is switched off and unplugged. Remove the filter from your machine. It is best to do this outdoors where it is well ventilated.

2. Tap and shake your filter lightly outside or into a bin to shake off excess dust and debris.
Gently rinse your filter with COLD water, massaging it lightly between your hands. Do not use any soap or detergent.
Fill your filter with warm water, hold it closed at the open end and give it a shake to loosen dirt. Repeat this action, pouring out the water until it runs clear. Shake off excess water.

3. Leave your filter to dry in a well-ventilated area for +-24 hours. Do not tumble dry or leave near an open flame. Be sure it is completely dry before putting it back into the machine as any moisture could damage the motor.

4. Having a spare vacuum filter handy to use while the other is drying is ideal in order to not interrupt the workflow. Contact VacuumSpot for the best deals in all vacuum cleaner accessories.

5. Some Dyson filters contain more than one filter and these should all be cleaned and treated accordingly. Your vacuum cleaner filter(s) need to be replaced every 6-12 months, depending on how often you use it and how well it’s been taken care of.

FIND A ROUTINE THAT WORKS FOR YOU

In summary, the frequency with which to vacuum a floor depends greatly on several factors. Once you’ve figured out how often your floor needs vacuuming, decide on specific day(s) of the week and stick to it. Once you’ve gotten used to the routine, the process of vacuuming will become more of a flow and less of a chore. And the ‘spic-and-spanness’ makes it so worth it!