The Importance of Regularly Vacuuming

(Photo Credit: Jessica Spengler)

Most people I know find vacuuming to be a bothersome chore, and as such can find themselves avoiding it whenever they can.

However, it is extremely important to regularly and thoroughly vacuum your floors as dirty floors can be damaging to your families health, look unappealing, and can result in costly replacement expenses.

Aesthetic Reasons

One reason to regularly vacuum your floors is simply for aesthetics. Every floor type, carpet, tile, hardwood, and even floor rugs can look unappealing when dirty. This can affect the smell, and the overall presentation of your entire home.

Removing dust, dirt and pet hair from your home regularly can help to create a naturally clean scent throughout your home.

For those with carpeting, dust can settle into the base over time and result in dirty looking and smelly carpets, which will likely need to be completely replaced.

Damage Prevention Reasons

Regular vacuuming extends the life of your carpet and prevents irreversible damage to the fibres. Dirt particles left for too long can be abrasive to the carpet pile, leaving them looking flat, matted and be permanently damaged

There is a common belief that over vacuuming can damage your carpet but this is a myth. In fact, carpets today are designed for regular vacuuming and will only benefit from the process.

Owners of hardwood floors also need to regularly vacuum to prevent damage to their floors, as dirt particles can cause scratches and other problems. Just make sure to use an appropriate vacuum cleaner that won’t harm your hardwood.

Health Reasons

The cleanliness of your carpet directly affects the quality of air you and your family breathe.

Regular vacuuming removes dust and other allergens such as pollen and dust mites before they can build up in your home, causing havoc to the health of those with asthma or allergies.

Irregularly vacuumed carpets can harbor bacteria, dirt, and dust. Families with small children who regularly play on the carpet should always be vacuuming this area often to reduce a number of these health hazards.

Now that you understand a bit about the importance of regular vacuuming, the question that remains is how often should you be vacuuming?

That answer varies between households, but here are some simple tips to keep in mind. A good rule of thumb to determine how often you should be vacuuming:

• High traffic areas which see a lot of dirt such as kitchens, hallways and entrances should be vacuumed daily for most households. Smaller households with no children or pets can perhaps extend this to every other day.
• Areas of your household which see medium traffic, such as bedrooms and living areas should ideally be vacuumed twice per week, remembering to get into nooks and crannies such as corners and under beds, where dust can build up over time and are often neglected.
• Areas in your home which see low traffic, such as guestrooms can be left for a week between vacuuming.
• Pet owners who allow their pets free access around the house should be vacuuming the medium and low traffic areas more often, especially if your pet has long fur that sheds easily.