Ways to get the most out of your vacuum

By Julie Short

Mansfield Record

Maybe I should write a book called “101 Ways to Use Your Vacuum Cleaner.” My vacuum cleaner is such an important tool in keeping the house looking good. Of course, I vacuum the carpets with it, but it also works great on tile and wood floors. When I hook up the hose, the cleaning possibilities are endless. It makes cleaning so easy I almost feel like I’m cheating. The hose extends to far reaching and has an attachment with a very slim end to get into cracks and crevices where no man has gone before.

Check out some of the ways I cheat:

Baseboards

Under cabinet edges

Under the cushions and between the seams

Counter tops

Stove top and into vent/filter area

Microwave – if it’s dry bits

Toaster – inside slots, crumb trays and underneath

Refrigerator – inside drawers and on shelves

Spice cabinet – where the salt and pepper may have fallen over, etc.

Vent covers

Inside cabinet drawers of kitchen and bathrooms

Window sill and blinds

Curtains and window treatments

Fake greenery

Shoe basket

Pantry shelves

On walls and in corners for cobwebs

Tops of door jambs

Tops of wall hangings and decorations, if possible, depending on size and style

My vacuum also has attachments for shampooing the carpets, painting a room or blowing leaves.

Start at one end of the house, at the farthest corner of the room and work your way backward across the carpet so that you do not leave our own footprints on your freshly cleaned floors. I have Berber carpet so it is not an issue for me.

No lovely lines in the carpet, but no footprints either.

Julie Short has been married to her husband, Stoney, since 1997. She is currently working on a series of books known as Julie’s Simple Solutions. She is a Mansfield resident, business owner and member of the Mansfield City Council.

Find her book “Cleaning Your House in Minutes a Day” at https://www.amazon.com/Cleaning-Your-House-Minutes-Day/dp/1949563103

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