Perhaps this has happened to you: You’ve lived with carpeting, and then for one reason or another you live with hardwood or some other type of hard surface flooring that shows up every little bit of dust and dirt. You can’t believe it! You can sweep or vacuum one day and by the next morning, the dust and dirt have returned.
Of course, we think that some new dirt-and-dust-producing thing has mysteriously descended on our living space, but the truth is it’s the same dust and dirt that has always been present, only now we can see it.
I cannot tell you how shocked I was to see what accumulated in such a short time on my wood floors. In my mind I multiplied by 7, 14, and even 21 days.
Am I the only one who doesn’t vacuum like every day of her life? Yeah, I admit it. Imagining what had accumulated in the carpeting almost made me wretch. Seriously.
Another surprise is how much dirt vacuums miss, especially when we use them on carpet. Because we cannot see the dirt, we assume a single pass will do it. The problem is that once dirt goes deep into the carpet (closer to the bottom than it is to the top of the pile), it doesn’t easily come out. It takes agitation and suction to coax it out and suck it up.
Keep it clean. The best defense is a good offense. That means you need to do all you can to keep the dirt from getting to the carpet in the first place. A shoes-off rule is ideal, but not always practical. Place sturdy doormats at all entrances. Vacuuming carpet frequently is the only way to keep dirt and grit from embedding into the weave of the carpet backing. It is critical to use a vacuum that is lightweight and easy to maneuver. It should glide effortlessly.
Know your passes. As you plan your vacuuming route, spend the most time on the areas where dirt collects. Memorize this routine, and count as you work: 12 passes of the vacuum within 4 feet of outside doors; 8 passes in high-traffic areas; 4 passes elsewhere. In the areas where carpet has not been regularly and thoroughly cleaned professionally in the last year, double the passes given above for three months. It will take that kind of effort to get all of the dirt, grit, dust and grime out of the pile and into the vacuum.
Area rugs. Because they are not stable, it is difficult to thoroughly clean area rugs at home. The best way to deep-clean area rugs is to have them rolled up and taken away to be washed in big tanks created just for this purpose. I have my wool area rugs cleaned this way once a year, and they turn out well. This is an investment I make in these rugs that were manufactured to last a lifetime.
Best vacuum. I’m nearly certain I have owned or used every major brand of vacuum ever produced. Call me a vacuum snob. It’s OK. In fact, I kind of like it. And I would be a worthless columnist if I did not share what I know. The best vacuum on the market is the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional (www.everydaycheapskate.com/sharkpro). It is bagless, easy to empty and lightweight, and it maneuvers like a dream and extracts the most amazingly disgusting stuff out of carpet that you could ever imagine—yes, even sand and pet hair. I love it so much I’ve owned three so far. I keep giving them away. (Remember when I got my first one?)
You can vacuum with your Dyson or Miele, Electrolux or Hoover. When you’re done, I'll vacuum the same area with Mr. Sharky Pro. Prepare to be amazed (if not a little embarrassed!) by what Sharky will find that the others left behind.
Here’s the best part: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional is cheap—way less expensive that its competitors, which for me is a fabulous bonus. While price is not my first consideration in vacuum cleaners, that it comes in cheapest just makes me smile.
