Most of us don’t vacuum every day, but we still vacuum regularly to keep the home fresh and clean.

Although vacuum cleaners keep our carpets tidy, some people say that vacuum cleaners damage carpet fibers. This is because the rotating bar or brush pulls, stretches and wears the carpet fibers.

While this is true, dirt often has a greater wear and tear effect on carpet than most vacuum cleaners. Read on to find out how often you should vacuum your carpet and floors and how to do it right.

How often to vacuum

The frequency of vacuuming depends on several factors such as the number of people in your household, whether it is a high-traffic home, and how many pets you have. At worst, you should vacuum once a month.

Carpets and rugs tend to be vacuumed more than hard surfaces because they pick up more soil and dust that can become harmful as it gets embedded deep into the fibers. Hard floors do not capture and retain dust and loose soil as easily as carpet. However, soil can accumulate in corners, grout lines, and cracks.

Here’s how often you vacuum different areas:

• High traffic rooms with carpets and rugs (entrances, living areas and kitchens): 2x per week
• Rooms with low traffic with carpets and rugs (guest rooms, formal dining rooms): 1x per week
• Floors with a hard surface (tiles, hardwood, laminate and vinyl): 1x per week

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How to vacuum properly

• Choose the right type: Choose the best type of vacuum cleaner for most floors in your home. Canister vacuums are usually more effective at picking up soil from hard surfaces, while rugs and carpets are better cleaned with an attachment or upright vacuum with a grinding bar to loosen the soil.
• Adjust settings: It is possible to overload your carpet. If your vacuum has multiple settings that allow you to adjust surfaces, you should not vacuum carpet on the bare floor setting. Instead, save it for bare floors as the vacuum instructions suggest.
• Check the height: Height can affect how well your vacuum cleans or carries carpet. If it is set too low, you can damage the carpet; if it is set too high, it will not pick up dirt very well. To set the correct height, turn it on to the highest setting, then lower it until you feel the vacuum pulling the carpet as you vacuum.
• Go slow: Vacuum slowly to trap more soil. Move the vacuum a few feet in front of you and pull it back toward you following the same path. As you move to a new section of floor, overlap the tracks. Work in one direction of the room, then repeat vertically.
• Adjust your head: Adjusting the height of the vacuum head on upright vacuums to match the type of floor will allow you to vacuum better and trap more soil.
• Prepare the whisk: Turn the impact bar on or off depending on the type of floor surface. Leaving the beater on while cleaning hard-surfaced floors can result in dents and scratches.

General rules for carpet cleaning

When it comes to vacuuming, three more general rules should be applied.

1. Consider what’s under your rugs: While rugs should be vacuumed twice a week, remember to remove them and vacuum the floor beneath them weekly. You should also periodically turn the carpet over and vacuum its backing with an upholstery attachment.
2. Opt for a machine with a HEPA filter: The HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter traps as much dust, dander, spores and bacteria as possible. A HEPA filter will collect many more particles than a regular vacuum cleaner and prevent them from re-depositing on floors and other surfaces.
3. Take care of your vacuum cleaner: Vacuum cleaners take a lot of abuse as they accidentally bump into walls and furniture. Be aware of other dos and don’ts when it comes to keeping your machine in good working order, such as avoiding vacuuming over hard or large objects. Also, don’t vacuum over the cord, don’t drag it over water, and don’t let the vacuum run with a full dustbin.

Why you should vacuum your home

Frequent vacuuming remains one of the best ways to keep your home clean. If you don’t vacuum your carpet, the dirt will break down the carpet fibers and create a breeding ground for dust mites and bacteria. Additionally, your home will begin to smell musty from dirt, dust mites, and other organisms that settle into the fibers.

If you see carpet lint in your vacuum cleaner’s dust bin, don’t panic and don’t stop vacuuming. Your vacuum cleaner does not destroy the fibers of your carpet. Carpets are intended to be vacuumed several times a week without damage.

Protecting your carpet

If you’re worried about ruining your carpet by vacuuming, consider purchasing an easy-to-apply carpet protection spray. Check if your carpet is under any warranty, as adding products to the carpet may void that warranty.