The Right Way To Use The Attachments On Your Vaccuum

The vacuum cleaner is one of the most useful and versatile tools you could have in your home cleaning arsenal. While mops and brooms do a wonderful job cleaning wood, laminate, and tile, the vacuum can tackle all three of those floorings, plus carpets and rugs. Not only that, but you can use vacuums to clean your couch, mattress, baseboards, and even your curtains.

That is, assuming you have the right kind of vacuum. Automatic robot vacuums and slim stick-style vacuums are certainly convenient in terms of being small and more affordable than heavier-duty appliances, but they lack some of the more important elements — attachments. The best vacuums have not only a detachable hose for harder-to-reach areas but additional attachments, each with a different purpose. That being said, it's not always clear what that purpose is. While some are intuitive, more intricate vacuums may come with attachments you aren't familiar with.

The most standard vacuum attachment is the multi-purpose extender wand. This is just a cylindrical hollow tube that attaches to the hose and can be used by itself or in conjunction with other attachments for vacuuming in hard-to-reach areas.

Another commonly used vacuum attachment is the upholstery tool, which is exactly what it sounds like. This attachment is flat and wide, usually with a microfiber strip inside, meant for cleaning upholstery and removing lint and debris. This can be attached to the hose and used to clean things like couches and chairs. It can also be used to clean your mattress or even give stairs a more thorough cleaning.

Another common attachment is the dusting brush, which is small and round with soft bristles on the end. This is meant for more gentle fabric cleaning, like lampshades, curtains, or window screens. It can also be used for heavier-duty cleaning projects like removing dust from your air vents, or even the back of your refrigerator, without being too abrasive or disruptive.

Another popular and commonly used vacuum attachment is called the crevice tool. The name is relatively self-explanatory — it features a long and hollow tube with a narrow and angled edge, which allows you to get into very small spaces. It's often used to clean between baseboards, vents, radiators, couches, chair cushions, and more. It can also be used in conjunction with the extender wand to get into high points of your ceiling where dust and cobwebs tend to gather.

There is also a range of attachments you can purchase for less common uses. Those with pets could benefit from a pet grooming attachment. This one from Amazon uses the vacuum's suction to gently but effectively remove shedding and pet hair before it makes a mess in your home. Or, if you have particularly high ceilings and light fixtures, you could use a ceiling fan attachment, which has an adjustable head to suck up the hard-to-reach dirt.