A vacuum cleaner is one of the most versatile home appliances worth investing in. Depending on the type you own, you can use it to vacuum the likes of dust, debris, crumbs and dirt. This makes your household chores easier and more convenient too. But as versatile as a vacuum is, there are a few things that can ruin the machine. Which brings us to the 7 Things You Shouldn’t Attempt To Vacuum.
1) Broken Glass
Whether it’s your naughty cat that knocked the glass off the table or an accident caused by yourself, you figure that using a vacuum would be the most convenient solution. And safer too. Experts’ opinions differ in terms of whether a vacuum is suitable for sucking broken glass. Some said it’s safe to do so while others largely disagree. Whatever the opinions are, vacuuming broken glass isn’t exactly a great idea. Here’s why: Glass shards are tough and sharp, which in turn, can damage the internal parts of your vacuum cleaner. Your best bet? Grab a broom and dustpan and sweep the glass. For the bigger pieces, you can also put on your garden or any heavy-duty gloves to pick them up. It may be a time-consuming process but it’s better than potentially ruining your vacuum.
2) Flour
So, this is the first time you decided to bake your own cake at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, something happens: You spill the flour. Big time. But before you use a vacuum to clean up the mess, let’s reconsider that. Unless you just vacuum a small amount, sucking the whole pack of spilt flour on the floor can potentially damage the machine. Filters might get blocked and the motors might get blocked as well. If that’s the case, you are better off using the scraping method to scoop up the flour using the likes of a bench or pastry scraper.
3) Clumps Of Long Hair
Sure, some highly-recommended vacuums such as the Dyson V11 Absolute are made versatile even for pet hairs. But let’s say you help your loved one cut her hair at home, whereby using a vacuum to pick up the trimmed hair on the floor would be a huge mistake. This is especially true if you try to vacuum up lots of hair at once. Doing so can easily clog up your vacuum and even potentially damage the machine. Just settle for the good old-fashioned and safer way by sweeping them up using a broom and dustpan.
4) Liquid
Unless you are using a wet and dry vacuum such as Karcher WD4, your standard variety won’t cut it. The reason is plain and simple: Vacuuming wet liquids regardless of spilt water, soda or wine can clog the machine. Not to mention it can block the filter and in a worst-case scenario, you might get electrocuted. Either invest in the aforementioned wet and dry variety or use a mop instead.
5) Soil
It might be tempting to reach for your vacuum to clean up the soil from the result of, say your kids’ shoes left across the living room. Not a bright move since soil, particularly if it’s wet and moist, can ruin the internal parts and even the motor of the vacuum. Best sweeping them up using a brush and dustpan.
6) Sawdust
While it’s true that a vacuum can be used for sucking up dust but sawdust is entirely a different story altogether. Sawdust belongs to the type of extremely-fine dust particles and your everyday vacuum isn’t the right fit for the job. Doing so can clog up your vacuum’s filter. Get a broom instead and put on a mask if you are prone to a nose allergy or invest in a utility vacuum such as the Kawa ZD1030L.
7) Cosmetic Products
Accidentally spill your makeup or perhaps other cosmetic products like nail polish, eyeshadow or foundation? Forget about using your vacuum to clean up the mess since these cosmetic products could melt inside the machine. This, in turn, would lead to a mechanical failure.
