5 Places You Are Probably Forgetting to Vacuum

Vacuuming the house is one of my least favorite tasks and probably yours as well. The reason that I dislike this household chore so much is because of the prep work that needs to happen before we can actually can begin work. Vacuuming means moving furniture and electrical cords, finding outlets, and having to maneuver around bulky items and clutter, turning what should be a five minute task into one that takes an hour or so.

Because of our tendency to speed through the vacuuming, there are a lot of places people miss when cleaning. Here are 5 places you are probably forgetting to vacuum.

Under rugs. If you have hardwood floors covered with area rugs, vacuuming beneath the rugs should be happening at least once a month. The fine particles of sand and dirt that your vacuum can’t pick up will sift through the fibers of the rug to the floor, where they will destroy the finish. If your rug is too large to move, simply roll it up with the pad to reach the floors beneath.

Draperies and curtains. Draperies aren’t just dust collectors, they also attract spiders and other little critters who make their homes in the folds of the fabric. I use the round dust brush to vacuum my curtains, rods, rings, and valances once a season.

Under the seat cushions. This area is a real catchall for food particles, dust, pet fur, and nondescript crumbs. Since these particles can attract dust mites and wear away at the fibers in your furniture, vacuuming under the seat cushions (and the furniture itself) should be on your monthly cleaning schedule. To clean these areas, use the dust brush to the flat areas and the crevice wand to reach into the corners.

Grille covers for air vents and cold air returns. When the grille covers are obstructed, your HVAC system must work harder to move both cold and warm around around your home. I use the round dust brush to regularly vacuum all my vent covers, including the ones we tend to forget in the basement, laundry room, bathrooms, and little used storage rooms. For vent covers that are set in the floor, I’ll remove these to vacuum inside the duct work since they also seem to be catchalls for dirt and debris.

In back of the dryer. It is estimated that there are over 15,000 clothes dryer fires a year caused by a build up of lint around the vents. Even though my dryer doesn’t see a lot of use, I still vacuum behind the dryer and in the dryer cavity regularly to prevent a buildup of lint from igniting. The round dust brush will work for the large areas; the crevice brush makes it easy to get into those hard-to-reach places.

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