How Many Times A Week Do You Really Need To Vacuum?

If vacuuming your floors is high on your to-do list but low on your want-to-do list, we get it. Lugging around a heavy vacuum, tripping over the cords, and switching the plug from outlet to outlet all adds up to a labor- and time-intensive task.

But it's one we have to do anyhow. Especially if you have babies who are crawling all over your floors, you want them to be clean to prevent disease. Also, if you have kids and/or pets running around the house, they contribute to the dirt and germs that get tracked into your home.

Before you panic, know that your floors aren't the dirtiest part of your home. According to a Hygiene Council survey (via WebMD), your toilet bowls and bathtub drains contain the most bacteria per square inch, at 3.2 million and 119,468, respectively. However, there are some key floor areas that are bacterial hotspots, including the floor in front of your kitchen sink (830 bacteria per square inch) and in front of toilets (764 bacteria per square inch). In addition, the debris on your floors may contain dust mite excrement, pet dander, and dead human skin cells, per The Spruce.

So, back to the matter at hand: Do you feel a bit more inclined to vacuum your floors now? We thought so. Here's how many times a week you really need to vacuum.

Of course, how often you need to vacuum varies based on you and your lifestyle. A single individual living alone in an apartment with all tile flooring will need to vacuum much less often than a family of five in a large house with some carpeted floors, according to The Spruce. So keep that in mind.

In general, it's recommended to vacuum hard surfaces — like tile, hardwood, laminate, and vinyl — at least once per week, per The Spruce. As for carpeted floors and rugs, which tend to accumulate more dirt, dust, and debris, they should be vacuumed at least twice weekly. That's because, as debris sits in the carpet or rug fibers, it becomes ground down into the material, damaging the carpet or rug and making the debris harder to remove later.

However, if you live with four-legged friends, you'll need to vacuum high-traffic areas, like living spaces, kitchens, and entryways, much more frequently — ideally, daily. Hey, it's worth the cost of unconditional love, loyalty, and companionship dogs and cats provide, right?