Think your trusty vacuum cleaner can handle anything? Think again! While these cleaning machines are incredibly versatile, there are some household items that should never take a trip through your vacuum’s hose. Sucking up the wrong things can cause clogs, damage delicate components, or even pose a safety hazard. To keep your vacuum running smoothly and your home clean and tidy, make sure to avoid vacuuming these seven surprising items.
1. Liquids and Wet Messes
It might be tempting to vacuum up that spilled glass of juice or a soggy cereal mess, but resist the urge! Standard vacuums are not designed to handle liquids and wet substances. Attempting to vacuum these messes can lead to clogs, damage the motor and filters, and even create a dangerous electrical hazard.
For liquid spills, your best bet is to use absorbent materials like paper towels, cloths, or a mop to soak up as much of the mess as possible first. For larger quantities of water, a wet/dry shop vacuum is a safer choice than a regular household vacuum. These specialty vacs are designed to handle both liquids and solids without risking damage to the machine. Check out shop vacs on Amazon for some powerful options.
When it comes to wet messes like damp mud, thick food spills, or pet accidents, it’s also best to tackle these by hand first. Very moist materials are prone to clogging your vacuum’s hose and filter, leading to bad odors and potential bacterial growth if not cleaned out properly. Scoop up and dispose of any solids, then use the same blotting method with absorbent materials to handle the remaining moisture.
Once the area is mostly dry, you can go over it with your vacuum using a brush or upholstery attachment to collect any remaining residue. Just be sure to empty the canister or change the bag immediately afterwards and wipe out the vacuum’s interior to prevent mold and mildew from developing.
2. Fine Powders and Dusty Debris
You might assume that vacuums are perfect for cleaning up messes like spilled flour, crushed chalk, drywall dust, or fireplace ash. But think twice before diving in with your vacuum! Fine particles like these can easily clog up your machine’s filters, reducing suction power and potentially burning out the motor.
Worse still, the vacuum’s exhaust can actually expel some of those minute particles back into the air, contaminating your indoor air quality. This is especially concerning with substances like fireplace ash, which may contain harmful compounds you don’t want to breathe in.
The safest way to clean up fine, dusty messes is with a broom and dustpan, or a vacuum specifically designed for fine particles and allergens, like a HEPA vacuum. When sweeping up cold fireplace ashes, take care not to stir up too much dust by moving slowly and carefully – and always let the ashes cool completely before cleaning them!
For construction-related messes like drywall dust and sawdust, it’s best to let the professionals handle the cleanup. But if you need to tackle it yourself, make sure to wear a dust mask, ventilate the area well, and use a shop vacuum equipped with a drywall filter bag. Regular household vacuums simply aren’t up to the challenge of containing those superfine particles.
3. Small, Sharp, and Chunky Items
From stray bobby pins to spilled thumbtacks to crushed cereal, there are plenty of tiny objects that can spell big trouble for your vacuum. Hard, sharp items like glass shards, nails, paper clips, and plastic toy pieces can puncture your vacuum’s hose or bag, or damage the fan and other delicate interior components.
Vacuuming up chunky items like coins, pebbles, or dry pet food is also risky. These objects can bounce around inside the machine, causing scratches and dings that reduce your vacuum’s efficiency and lifespan. Plus, a stray penny stuck in the hose is sure to make an annoying rattling sound every time you clean!
The easiest way to prevent vacuuming up small, damaging items is to do a quick manual pickup before you start cleaning. Scan the floor for any visible objects and dispose of them by hand. For hard-to-see items in carpeting, put on a rubber glove and run your hand over the surface to feel for any lumps or bumps before vacuuming.
For delicate broken items like shattered ornaments or glassware, use a broom to gently sweep the pieces onto a dustpan – never try to vacuum glass! Attempting to vacuum sharp fragments will only spread them around and risk injuring yourself or damaging your floors and vacuum in the process.
4. Long Hair, String, and Cords
While most vacuums are designed to handle a small amount of hair and thread, large clumps can quickly become a tangled mess. Long human or pet hair, as well as string, yarn, or ribbon, can wrap around the vacuum’s brush roll and cause it to jam or overheat.
In extreme cases, the hair can even work its way into the motor, leading to costly repairs or a vacuum that conks out entirely. To make matters worse, all that tangled hair is a magnet for more dirt and debris, clogging up your vacuum’s interior and hindering its cleaning power.
To avoid hairy hassles, give carpets and upholstery a once-over before vacuuming to remove any visible clumps by hand. You can also use your vacuum’s upholstery attachment to clean hair-covered areas more easily than the main floor nozzle.
If your brush roll does end up with hair wrapped around it, resist the urge to yank! This can damage the delicate bristles. Instead, carefully snip through the hair with scissors and gently unwind it to remove. For stubborn tangles, you may need to detach the brush roll entirely for cleaning – consult your vacuum’s manual for instructions.
5. Sticky Substances and Spreadable Spills
From spilled maple syrup to dropped pieces of gum to exploded pens, sticky and spreadable messes are another vacuum no-no. Attempting to clean these spills with your machine is a recipe for a clogged hose, gummed-up brush roll, and an unpleasantly dirty interior.
Wet, viscous substances like glue, paint, and adhesives can quickly coat your vacuum’s internal components, leading to clogs and hindering airflow. Vacuuming sticky foods like honey, gum, or candy can have the same effect, with the added complication that food residue left inside the vacuum is a breeding ground for bacteria and bad smells.
When it comes to cleaning up sticky spills, your best tools are scrapers, rags, and some elbow grease. For carpet and upholstery, start by scraping up as much of the substance as you can with a spoon or butter knife. Use an old toothbrush to work out any residue stuck between fibers.
Next, blot the area with a damp cloth to remove any remaining residue. For stubborn stains, apply a carpet cleaning solution or stain remover and blot again. Once the mess is completely dry, you can safely vacuum up any leftover flecks of dried matter – but inspect the area carefully first to ensure nothing sticky remains.
6. Makeup and Self-Care Products
Dropped eyeshadow palette on the carpet? Spilled baby powder on the bathroom floor? As much as you may want to fire up the vacuum, don’t do it! Most cosmetics and personal care products contain ingredients that can seriously gunk up your machine.
Makeup products like pressed powder, blush, and eyeshadow often contain oils and waxes that are prone to melting under the heat of the vacuum motor. These sticky substances can then resolidify inside the hose and cause stubborn clogs. Pigmented cosmetics may also stain your vacuum’s interior or escape through the exhaust, leaving a trail of color behind.
Fine self-care powders like baby powder, loose face powder, and dry shampoo can also create headaches when vacuumed. Like other dusty substances, these powders can clog filters, escape into the air, and cause respiratory irritation if inhaled.
To safely clean up a makeup spill, start by using a dry paper towel to pick up as much of the loose product as possible. Then gently wipe the area with a damp cloth or makeup remover wipe to dissolve and lift away the remaining residue. For powder spills, carefully sweep up the product with a small broom and dustpan, taking care not to create a cloud of dust. A sticky lint roller can also help collect stray powder from carpets and fabrics.
7. Vacuum Bags and Filters
Here’s one last item to avoid putting in your vacuum – other vacuum cleaner bags and filters! While it’s important to dispose of full bags and dirty filters regularly, never try to “vacuum out” an old bag with a new one. Doing so can spread super concentrated amounts of fine dust and allergens into the air.
Those minuscule particles can escape from even the best vacuum filters and resettle on your floors and furniture, undoing your cleaning efforts. Inhaling that dust can also trigger coughing, sneezing, and more serious respiratory issues for sensitive individuals.
Instead, carefully seal full vacuum bags and remove them immediately for disposal. Empty bagless vacuum canisters directly into the trash, preferably outside to prevent spreading dust in your home. Most vacuum filters can be tapped clean over a trash can, but be sure to do it gently to avoid tearing the delicate material.
For the best protection against dust and allergens, consider upgrading to high-quality HEPA vacuum bags and filters. These are designed to trap even the finest particles for a deeper clean and healthier home air. Just remember to change them regularly for optimal filtration and suction power!
While vacuums are amazingly versatile tools, they do have their limits. Knowing what not to vacuum is just as important as using the right attachments and settings for different surfaces. By steering clear of these seven damaging and dangerous items, you can keep your vacuum working its best and your home cleaner and safer in the process. Your floors (and your vacuum!) will thank you.
