Vacuuming is an essential and gratifying household chore. However, extracting the maximum amount of dirt and allergens from your carpets requires certain steps. Understanding some of these will help you improve your cleaning skills. If you want to learn how to better clean your home, here are some vacuuming tips from the pros.

3 Tips for Vacuuming Your Carpet & Rugs

1. Take a Few Laps

To extract dirt and dust from deep within the fibers of a rug, you’ll have to go over the same spots two to three times. This is because vacuums tend to only absorb the surface layer during a pass. Work in vertical strokes. That way, the vacuum brush can move the fibers back and forth to loosen dirt before the next round.

2. Clean Out the Vacuum

Even if cleaning the floors is your top priority, your vacuum won’t do much if it’s filled with dirt, dust bunnies, and allergens. These will block the filters and prevent debris from getting sucked in. If you have a transparent canister, look into it before vacuuming every time, emptying it before it’s ¾ of the way full to keep it working effectively. About every two weeks, clean the filter by washing it with water, which will dislodge particles stuck in the unit. Dry completely before use.

3. Be Careful With Area Rugs

Unlike wall-to-wall carpeting, there’s nothing securing the edges of an area rug in place. If you aren’t careful, your vacuum can suck up these corners, fraying the lining and damaging the carpet. To avoid this, start at the center of the surface, working slowly out to the edges. This will keep your rug pristine and undamaged.

For 35 years, residents of the Mat-Su, AK area, have turned to Carpet World of Alaska for their home flooring needs. The business's incredible flooring selection — including hardwood, vinyl, stone, and tile — means there's something for every homeowner's needs and tastes. Visit the flooring pros' website to browse some of their tile and stone options, or call them directly at (907) 745-3737.