Why It’s Important to Vacuum the Rug
Over time, carpets become dirty and, without regular cleaning, gather food particles, dust, pet dander, hair and more. If you go too long between vacuuming your rug, you reduce the longevity of your carpet.
Also, the dirt in your carpet can be hazardous to the health of the people living in your home. Dust mites, for example, thrive inside carpet and are a common trigger for those suffering from asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). One of the best ways to keep your family safe is by regularly vacuuming your carpets.
How Often Should You Vacuum Carpets?
How often should you be vacuuming carpets in your home depends on several factors.
- Do you have pets?
- Do you have children?
- Does your lifestyle have you in and out of your home a lot, tracking in dirt from outside?
- Does anyone in the house suffer from asthma or allergies?
Depending on how you answer these questions, you’ll know what kind of carpet vacuuming routine is best for you.
How to Vacuum Carpet
If you have carpet, vacuuming is a must. Make it a weekly routine to enjoy your rugs for years to come.
Instructions for Vacuuming Carpet
Deep Cleaning for Carpets
Deep cleaning for carpeting goes further than weekly maintenance cleaning and depends on how much traffic your rugs get. Active homes with kids and pets might benefit from monthly deep cleans using a carpet cleaner machine, while homes with less traffic might only need a seasonal clean with a carpet cleaner or carpet shampooer. For a complete list of tools and steps, read our How to Deep Clean Carpet for all the details.
Find a Good Carpet Vacuum for Every Job
Learn about common vacuum types so you can choose the best vacuum cleaner for carpet or wood and tile, based on your personal taste and needs.
Stick Vacuums
Stick vacuums tend to weigh less than a traditional upright or canister vacuum and are available with or without a cord. With cordless units, there’s no need to switch between power outlets or gather up cords when moving to vacuum a new room. This feature makes it possible to clean where there aren’t outlets, like patio area rugs or the car mats in your automobile.
Stick vacuums do a great job of cleaning pet hair with a pet brush attachment, and they also do a fine job of removing large debris from low-pile carpeting. Stick vacuums often come with accessories, including a bare-floor nozzle, crevice tool, extension wand, pet brush and a motorized brush.
Canister Vacuums
Canister vacuums have their motor and collected dirt in a section that’s separate from the cleaning head, which is attached with a flexible hose. Because there’s more space to house a larger motor, canister vacuums usually have better suction power than upright or stick vacuums.
The cleaning head is easy to maneuver, even around and under furniture. Canister vacuums often come with accessories, including a bare-floor nozzle, crevice tool, extension wand, pet brush, motorized brush and edge cleaner.
Upright Vacuums
Upright vacuums are usually the best vacuums for carpet and large households. They have a turbo brush in the floor head that’s ideal for picking up debris. They’re easier to work with than canister vacuums and are typically easy to store and empty. Upright vacuums often come with several attachments, including a bare-floor nozzle, crevice tool, extension wand, pet brush, motorized brush and edge cleaner.
Robot Vacuums
Robot vacuums offer the latest in vacuum technology. Just set up the sensor boundaries, choose your settings and let your robot vacuum clean the floors for you. Cordless and compact, these vacuums clean with precision while saving you time.
They don’t offer the same deep clean as other models because they’re not as powerful, but the constant cleaning action offers ease and convenience. Robot vacuums do a fair job of cleaning low- and medium-pile carpet, but they’re best when used alongside other vacuums. Robot vacuums come with motorized brushes and edge cleaner attachments.