A vacuum cleaner being used.

Do I Need A Pricey Vacuum?

One of the most common questions that I get asked is about vacuum cleaners. What is the best vacuum? People ask this as if there is some magical vacuum out there that will keep their carpet clean forever.

The One You Use

The truth is, that the best vacuum is simply the one that you use.

One of the most neglected housekeeping chores is vacuuming. Even when it is performed, though, it is rushed and performed improperly. You wouldn’t think that there could be a wrong way to vacuum, but there is. Even worse, you are probably one of the ones doing it wrong.

Proper Vacuuming.

Improper vacuuming is nearly as bad as not doing it at all.

Here is what you need to keep in mind, the back stroke is the power stroke with vacuuming. When you move the vacuum forward, it is not as efficient. What this means is that you need to expose every portion of the carpet to the back stroke.

To do this, pull the vacuum back and then move it forward at an angle. Then, pull the vacuum back again, being sure to overlap the last pass by a few inches. Repeat this over the entire carpet.

When you are done, turn 90 degrees and vacuum the carpet again. To get maximum soil removal, you need to make two passes over your carpet using the proper technique.

The Right Vacuum

You do not have to spend a fortune on a vacuum cleaner to get a good machine. And quite often, that high dollar vacuum may be a poor choice. Just because the salesman has a British accent does not mean they make the worlds best vacuum.

In my Royse City carpet cleaning business, I usually suggest that you set your cap at 100 dollars. For this price, you can find a great vacuum that you will not mind using. Even better, if it breaks you can just buy another one.

Here is what you need to look for.

  • Manual Adjustable Beater Bar
    You want to be able to set the brush or beater bar depth. This will allow you to set it right at the carpet height so it does not dig into the fiber excessively. You DO NOT want an automatic adjuster as they tend to be too aggressive.
  • HEPA Filtration
    Obviously, you do not want to be going around contaminating the air, so look for a HEPA filter. Luckily, most models are HEPA these days.
  • Long Cord
    Compare cord length on different models. While a long cord can be tough to keep up with, it is a lot better than having to move plugs every few minutes.
  • Removable Dust Cup
    If you like bags, that is great but most people do not change their bags often enough and it hurts suction. Bags need to be changed when they are half full, not overflowing. A removable dust cup eliminates this problem and you do not have to worry about running out of bags.