by Jackie Curtis

Created on: August 19, 2008   Last Updated: February 08, 2009

Often overlooked and underused for many household cleaning tasks, vacuum cleaners are capable of doing a lot more than cleaning carpet. Vacuum cleaners are capable of catching dust, dirt, and debris from nearly all surfaces within living quarters translating into a savings of time and money when fully maximized for war on household chores.

Vacuum cleaners are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, and many possess accessory attachments for various tasks. Utilize these attachments, and the vacuum cleaner becomes a mean, lean, dirt-fighting machine.

Effective speed cleaning means cleaning smart within a short amount of time. Vacuum cleaners help reduce and even, in some cases, eliminate the need and/or frequency for household cleaning products. Grab a vacuum, plug it in, and get ready to dust bust the entire house.

Start at the top and work downward, tackling one room at a time.

CEILINGS - WALL VENTS

Utilize telescoping poles and soft bristle attachments to suck up dust and spiderwebs from ceilings and hard to reach spots. Vacuum away collected dust from heating and air conditioning vents.

WINDOWS

Attach a recommended soft bristle attachment to suck away the dust settled on window sills and glass. Remember to vacuum the molding framing windows, for this proves a great hiding spot for dust mites.

DRAPES - BLINDS - LIGHT FIXTURES - GLASS COVERED ART WORK AND HANGING MIRRORS

Dust collected on blinds and drapes easily disappears with the use of a vacuum cleaner. A soft bristled attachment leaves blinds dust free and unscratched. Starting at the top of the blinds, move side to side until reaching the bottom. Use a drapery attachment to clean drapes and/or curtains. Avoid vacuuming curtains if fabric is lightweight for it may tear easily.

FURNITURE

Pick a soft bristle attachment for household furniture, and suck away the dust and dirt on these surfaces. Small soft bristled brushes also pick up dust from many items displayed on furniture. Utilize the upholstery attachment to whisk away dust and dirt accumulated on sofas and chairs. Snap on a soft bristle attachment to pick up dirt, dust, food crumbs, and hair from kitchen and bathroom countertops as well as kitchen and dining room tables. Avoid using the vacuum to remove dust from sensitive computer and television screens - these items must be cleaned according to manufacturer directions.

FLOOR MOLDINGS - REFRIGERATOR VENTS

Dust accumulates on floor moldings and refrigerator vents. Attach the soft bristled brush attachment to the telescoping pole and run the brush along floor molding. Suck away dust and dirt accumulating on the refrigerator vent. Doing this will also lengthen the life of the refrigerator and help it run more effectively.

FLOORS - CARPET, LAMINATE, WOOD, CERAMIC

Using the proper attachments, start on one end of the room and move forward. This will prevent dust and dirt from being blown around from the "exhaust" end of the vacuum. Visualize the floor as a grid of small squares. Vacuum one square moving on to the next square after making sure each preceding square has been completely covered.

Always make sure the vacuum is clear of obstructions before vacuuming. Additionally, check the waste dispenser or bag to determine if plenty of space is available for more debris. An overfilled waste bag or container reduces the cleaning power and life of the vacuum cleaner.

While furniture still requires periodic waxing, floors need daily to weekly washings, and counters beg for disinfecting, vacuum cleaners are quite capable of claiming to be the ultimate dust busters in the household cleaning world.

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