How to Vacuum Every Floor in Your House Like a Pro

Vacuuming your home is one of the best ways to remove dust, dirt, insect droppings, and pet dander especially if you use a vacuum with powerful suction and a HEPA filter.

Much more thorough at soil removable than sweeping with a broom, a vacuum can be used on hard-surface flooring like hardwood and LVT, carpet, and area rugs.

Learn how to vacuum every room in your home the right way and use your vacuum to its full potential.

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How to Vacuum Floors Correctly

Hard-Surface Floors

Whether you are vacuuming hardwood, laminate, tile, LVT, or stone floors, always disengage the rotating brush or beater bar. While it is essential to loosen soil in carpet, it can leave scratches and even dents on hard-surface floors.

Vacuums work better than a dust mop or wet mop at getting dirt out of crevices and should always be used to remove soil before wet mopping.

Area Rugs

Begin by adjusting the height of the vacuum’s cleaning head to one that is suitable for low or high (shag) pile. Work in a grid over the rug going slowly and overlapping each stroke.

Turn the rug over (if the rug is too big, fold it over a section at a time to access the bottom), and with the vacuum set to the lowest height vacuum the underside to trap embedded dirt. And, be sure to vacuum the flooring beneath the rug.

Wall to Wall Carpeting

Use a vacuum with a rotating brush and be sure it is engaged and the vacuum head height is set at the correct level.

Remove small items from the carpet. Start in a corner and vacuum in one direction of the room (east to west) and then repeat at a 90-degree angle (north to south). Move the vacuum several feet ahead of you and pull it back toward yourself following the same path then overlap the paths as you move to the next area.

Vacuum slowly to trap more soil. To clean the edges of the carpet along the wall, use the crevice tool to trap the soil and prevent possible black staining along the baseboards.

Carpeted Stairs

When it’s time to vacuum stairs, start at the top so you catch any dust that falls to the lower steps. Stairs are the easiest to vacuum using a handheld vacuum or one with a hose and attachments.

The crevice tool is a must for corners and edges—don’t forget to vacuum the carpeted risers using the small brush attachment.

How to Get the Best Vacuuming Results in Every Room

Clean Your Vacuum Regularly

No vacuum can perform at its best if it is filled with dust and dirt. The collection bag or dust cup should be emptied and washed after every use or if the house is really dirty, after every room.

Check that the roller brush or beater bar isn’t tangled with threads or matted hair and use small scissors (manicure) or a seam ripper to remove them. Vacuum filters should be cleaned at least once a month and replaced as recommended.

Use the Correct Attachments

If you’ve purchased a new vacuum, you may be confused about all the included attachments. But using the right tool for the right job will vacuuming much more productive.

• The upholstery brush is smaller than a floor brush and has short bristles. It does not have a rotating brush.
• Use the extension wand to reach cobwebs in corners and dust around doors and window frames.
• Use the round, circular brush for dusting air vents, refrigerator coils, chair and table legs, and crevices on cabinet doors.
• The crevice tool is used along baseboard edges, under appliances, window tracks, and under furniture cushions.

Add Some Baking Soda

When you’re vacuuming, sprinkle carpets, upholstery, and mattresses with baking soda to help remove odors. Sprinkle it on and let it work for at least an hour (overnight is better) to absorb odors before you vacuum it away.