Cleaning the house can feel like a tedious chore – and vacuuming is no exception. But while it might seem easy enough to do, if you’re not vacuuming the right way, you can find yourself spending a lot of time cleaning up the same area over and over again.

Luckily, there are ways to make vacuuming a little easier and tips to make the appliance work to your advantage.



For many of us, vacuuming is seen as a mundane chore, but there are some tricks and techniques we can be using to make our vacuum cleaner do the hard work for us!

But before we dive into the details, it’s important to remember that for every cleaning tip you hear, there is always a bad one, or at least just unnecessary, doing the rounds online.

So, to sort out which recommendations are good or bad, or figure out which ones actually work, Rob Roy, Godfreys National Training Manager and cleaning expert, revealed some things you need to know.


Question 1: Are there ways to maximise the effectiveness of a vacuum when using it?

People tend to do a quick job of cleaning by running their vacuum over the floors and calling it a day. While there’s nothing wrong with this setup, you’ll have to do a thorough job if you want to effectively remove dirt, hair, allergens, and pollutants in your home.

Mr Roy recommends removing any clutter from the room you’re vacuuming and, if possible, removing smaller pieces of furniture, such as chairs and tables, from the room or shifting them out of place so you can easily reach the corners. This method also makes for a quicker vacuum run.

It is also important that you regularly clean your vacuum. Otherwise, you could be just circulating the dirt around the room.

Question 2: I've read that vacuuming slowly gets better results, is this true?

Mr Roy said that this depends on the type of vacuum head you own or are currently using and the surface you’re cleaning. For instance, some use a vacuum head with a motorised spinning brush designed to deep clean carpets. In this case, moving them more slowly allows the brush time to work and remove dust and debris from the fabric.

On the other hand, if you’re vacuuming hard surfaces, it won’t make much of a difference.



Question 3: Is it worth going multiple directions over the floor (one way then the other) to pick up more dust?

According to Mr Roy, not even a high level of suction power can completely clean an area with a once-over. The best method to use is to start in the corner of a room and vacuum horizontally. This also lets you go over the same spots multiple times.

Question 4: Some people like to vacuum triangle patterns into their carpets. Is there any cleaning benefit, or is it just aesthetic?

‘There are no cleaning benefits, so anyone doing this would be purely for aesthetic reasons,’ Mr Roy shared.


Question 5: What vacuum parts are best used for different jobs?

Mr Roy said most vacuums come with a small range of tools and accessories. However, many skip these parts and use the same head for vacuuming. ‘Not only will this hinder the effectiveness and efficiency of your clean, but it can also damage your vacuum and reduce its lifespan,’ Mr Roy explained.

‘Accessories such as the vacuum crevice tool can reach those tight spots in nooks and around air vents, while the dusting brush will maintain your window sills and bookcases with ease,’ he added.

Mr Roy also shared that you can use a vacuum cleaner upholstery tool for any fabric furniture and a turbo brush for stairs or deep-cleaning areas such as the car interior.



Question 6: There have been a few TikTok videos of people 'raking' their carpet by using a squeegee to get hair out of the floor fibres. Should we be doing this before vacuuming?

Although it’s become viral online, Mr Roy said that ‘raking’ your carpets with a squeegee is an inefficient way of cleaning them.

‘Some vacuums have a stiff motorised brush that will loosen and suck up the hair as you are cleaning and will get the job done much faster and easier. If the normal floor tool on the vacuum was not getting the hair up then raking may help. But if the vacuum can manage it, it should be fine. Again, regularly cleaning your vacuum is important to help avoid build-up and prevent clogging and tangling,’ he claimed.

Question 7: What is your favourite vacuuming tip or trick?

‘Quickly freshen up your home by adding a few drops of essential oil, such as lavender, tree tea, or lemon, to the filter in your vacuum cleaner,’ Mr Roy shared.

He also said that you could soak a cotton wool ball with essential oils and place it in your vacuum cleaner bag. ‘The scent will spread as you clean and freshen the air in your home,’ he continued.
Are you guilty of any bad habits when it comes to vacuuming? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!