How to get the most from your vacuum attachments
by Janine, Jul 2020Your vacuum cleaner is probably the most useful device in your cleaning cupboard. However, are you using all the tools to your advantage?
When purchasing a new vacuum cleaner, they often come with multiple attachments and you can be sat wondering what on earth they all do! A recent survey we conducted over on our instagram account saw over 50% of you admit that you weren’t sure what every attachment did. So we decided it was time to share the knowledge!
What attachments are we talking about?
Let’s start with what attachments you may or may not have for your vacuum. Most standard cleaners will include these attachments.
- Extension Wand
- Crevice Tool
- Dusting Brush
- Upholstery Tool
- Power/Turbo Brush
- Mattress Attachment
- Floor Brush
- Blind and Ceiling Fan Attachments
- Large Rotating Floor Brush Tools
Now let’s have a look at each one and what exactly it does!
Extension Wand
This is probably the most well known, and well-used attachment for your vacuum cleaners – and in some ways, it’s the most handy! Due to it’s long and cylindrical shape, it’s the perfect tool for getting in hard to reach places such as behind appliances or up at the high ceilings.
How to use it
The extension wand is attached to the end of a vacuum’s hose. It can be used alone, or another tool can then be attached to the end of the extension wand!
Crevice Tool
Another well-known tool that most people when asked said they used regularly! Being so thin means this tool is perfect for dusty corners, cleaning between sofa cushions, along skirting boards, and a lot more too.
How to use it
The crevice tool is either attached directly to the end of a vacuum’s hose or to the extension wand above for longer reach.
Dusting Brush
A small, round brush with a circular end lined with soft bristles. This little guy is the perfect solution for vacuuming surfaces that you need to clean but don’t want to scratch. Think windowsills, bookshelves, electrical devices and painted surfaces etc.
How to use it
Similarly to the crevice tool, the dusting brush attaches to the end of the vacuum’s hose or as an addition to the extension wand.
Upholstery Tool
This is a small, flat and rectangular brush around 4 to 5 inches in length, with a removable row of short bristles. As the name suggests, it’s perfect for dislodging crumbs, dirt and debris from furniture so that the vacuum itself can then suck it up.
How to use it
Again, this attachment simply clicks onto the end of the vacuum’s hose or the extension tool.
Power/Turbo Brush
Whether your manufacturer refers to this attachment as a power brush, or a turbo brush – it effectively just means that its motorised so the bristles will rotate while it’s cleaning. This tool comes in handy when cleaning your car interior.
Be careful when using this tool not to use on delicate surfaces – as it’s name suggests, it’s pretty powerful!
How to use it
This attachment is generally used with canister vacuums as opposed to uprights. So you would place the tool at the end of the cleaning hose.
Mattress Attachment
This accessory will help eliminate dust and allergens from your mattresses. Cleaning your mattress regularly is something that we can all be guilty of forgetting to do! This tool makes it easier.
How to use it
This tool is popular with uprights and canister-vacs, so it just attaches to the hose.
Floor Brush
This is a large brush with a rectangular shape around 10 to 12 inches in length and with short bristles. It is specifically designed for cleaning tile and hardwood floors.
How to use it
Another tool that you can expect to get with all types of vacuum cleaner, that attaches simply to the hose.
Blind and Ceiling Fan Attachments
This one pretty much does what it says on the tin! It’s the perfect tool for getting rid of the dust from your fan blades and manoeuvring between blinds.
How to use it
This is an attachment that may not come ‘as standard’ with your vacuum and may be an additional purchase. But it’s super easy to use by simply attaching it to the vacuum hose.
Large Rotating Floor Brush Tools
This is the tool for you if you want to get your plush carpets thoroughly clean without hiring (and forking out for!) a professional carpet cleaner. It has a spinning brush that opens up the fibers of the carpet to permit cleaning at the very base.
How to use it
Similarly to the turbo brush, this attachment is most common with canister-vacs, attaching to the main hose and acting as an upright.
So, they’re all the attachments… what about the vacuum cleaner? We surveyed 50 of our best Well Polished cleaners from across the UK, and they rated the following three brands as the best for performance:
- Henry Hoover
- Miele
- Shark
You might be thinking that you’d prefer to leave the vacuuming to the experts, and we completely understand that. If you’d rather pass your vacuum (along with all its attachments) over to an experienced, professional Well Polished cleaner, just enter your postcode below and send an enquiry to your local office!