Vacuum cleaners may seem like magic, but they're not designed to do it all. Most standard vacuums excel at cleaning up everyday dirt including dust, cobwebs, and crumbs, but they struggle against bigger messes that could clog their critical inner workings.
If you break a blush compact, you could be tempted to break out the vacuum to quickly suction up the small pink fragments. Or when you drop a glass of orange juice, sending vibrant liquid across the kitchen floor, the vacuum in the corner looks awfully tempting. Don't do it.
There is a way to clean up these messes, but it's not your vacuum. Here are eight times you shouldn't use a vacuum to clean up household items—and what you should use instead.
Whether you've spilled a carton of milk or discovered a leaking pipe, resist the urge to try to suction the mess with a vacuum.
«Sucking up juice, water, or milk can damage the vacuum motor and pose electrical hazards,» says Angela Brown, host of the Ask a House Cleaner YouTube show.
She says that it can also get liquid into the vacuum filter, which will then clog with future dust and debris if it isn't able to dry out completely. This will then lead to motor damage, mold growth, and stale smells from the vacuum.
Need to clean a liquid mess? Use a shop vac instead of a vacuum when you want to suction up water. It will remove larger quantities of water far more efficiently than going through a roll of paper towels.
A fireplace may be cozy, but it can cause a mess. From embers to ashes, the clean-up job is extensive. But don't turn to a vacuum cleaner to pick up hot ashes or embers from a fireplace.
«The heat can damage the vacuum and create a fire hazard, and the ashes can clog the filters and stick to the inside of the
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