Many people invest a lot of money in vacuum cleaners but do not know how to use them correctly. Vacuum cleaners come with multiple attachments like extension wands, dusting brushes, and crevice tools that facilitate the cleaning of different things. Not using them the right way reduces their cleaning efficiency. They can also malfunction and get damaged. Keeping this in mind, we have listed five mistakes to avoid when using vacuum cleaners:

Not emptying the dust bag on time
A vacuum cleaner collects dust, dirt, and other fine particles in a duct bag. Operating while the bag is full can cause its performance to drop significantly. The device will not be able to gather more dust and dirt. Further, it will interfere with and restrict the airflow, causing the motor to overheat. If this happens frequently, the life span of the appliance gets reduced. Hence, it is crucial to empty the dust bag on time. If you find opening the bag frequently cumbersome, consider purchasing a vacuum cleaner with a larger dust bag. Most come with replaceable ones; for others, you may have to empty the dirt into the bin and rinse the bag with warm water. A few smart vacuums in the market have an intelligent indicator that sends an alert when the dust bag has reached or is about to reach its capacity and requires emptying. However, these are usually expensive.

Trying to clean everything
This is one of the most common mistakes that cause severe damage to vacuum cleaners. Many people try to vacuum just about everything around the house without first reading the user manual, which generally lists the things that can and cannot be vacuumed. Most vacuum cleaners are designed to pick up everyday dust and dirt. But if you run it over hard and large objects that lie on the floor, such as a penny, a small piece of stone, or a screw, it can severely damage or even break the appliance. If you spot such objects on the floor, pick them up before running the vacuum over the surface. Also, do not draw water or suck other liquids using the machine. Doing so can cause severe damage to the motor and even trigger an electric shock. Many people ignore these factors over time or forget about them when in a hurry, losing precious time and effort. The best way to prevent damage is to go about the vacuuming process slowly, looking for tiny objects on the surface.

Deferring the maintenance of the vacuum cleaner
Like every appliance, it is essential to service a vacuum cleaner from time to time. This includes emptying the dirt container before it overflows, carefully cleaning the brush roll, and replacing or washing the filters. The filters, in particular, are prone to get clogged if you do not clean the fine dust particles that accumulate. Regular maintenance ensures all the parts work smoothly and efficiently for longer. Besides, these tasks are simple, and most user manuals explain what must be done. If not, you can visit the manufacturer’s website to learn more about your model’s maintenance details. The store you got the vacuum from will also help you with the correct information.

Not using the correct attachments
Vacuum cleaners come with high-quality dusting brushes, extension wands, crevice tools, and other sundry attachments. You can use a particular tool deepening on the kind of surface or region you want to clean. For instance, you will need a crevice tool to access remote areas of the room, like under the sofa, table, or the ceiling. It helps reach tight spots to remove particles of dust, hair, and even allergens that could get overlooked. Similarly, there are specific attachments for cleaning light fixtures, lamp shades, baseboards, and furniture upholstery. Using the right attachments enables you to secure impeccable cleaning results. But the wrong ones impede the machine’s functioning and prevent you from getting the desired effect. It is best to research the different types of attachments available and the surfaces they are suited for.

Cleaning surfaces previously scrubbed with baking soda
Before vacuuming, many use chemical compounds like baking soda to remove tough stains from carpets and upholstery. However, using vacuum cleaners over surfaces cleaned with chemical compounds can clog the filter. This makes the machine work harder and decreases its longevity. Further, the motor overheats when the brush roll gets entangled in the upholstery’s rough, chemically coated surface. It can cause the machine to shut off automatically to prevent a hazardous incident. When that happens, you might wrongly assume that there is some kind of fault in the device itself and head to the store to get it replaced. To prevent such inconvenience, it is vital to ensure that surfaces are not washed with chemicals before vacuuming.

Inappropriate usage of a vacuum cleaner interferes with its capacity to clean correctly. But the good news is that you can easily avoid most mistakes, regardless of the type of vacuum cleaner. Many smart vacuums these days automatically detect if the device is being misused and there is a risk of damage, making them popular in the market.