Keeping your home clean is about finding the balance: minimum cleaning work for the maximum cleaning effect. Vacuuming is vital to this routine, as most of your home's dust, dirt, hair and other gunk eventually finds its way onto the floor. How often should you pull out your vacuum cleaner or set your robot vacuum to clean your floors? That depends on the floor's surface, size and any special cleaning needs your family has.
I've reviewed hundreds of vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, washing machines and other cleaning products and I've talked to many experts about how these devices work and how often to use them. In this article, I've picked the best bits of this wisdom to help you make cleaner decisions.
How often should you vacuum?
Our experts largely concurred on vacuuming frequency; weekly is enough for most people unless you have kids, pets or lots of carpet.
"Weekly vacuuming should be enough to keep most homes clean," said Forrest Webber, owner of Bear Brothers Cleaning in Huntsville, Alabama.
"The more people and pets in your space, the more often vacuuming should be done," said Ryan Knoll, owner of cleaning business Tidy Casa and carpet cleaning business CarpetMonkeys. Knoll gave us the guidance his own companies use when deciding how often to clean.
For low-traffic homes, which Knoll defines as one to two people and no pets, every two to three weeks should be fine. For families with kids or pets (dogs/cats), Knoll said at least once a week should cut it. For high-traffic homes (big families, multiple pets, allergy sufferers), Knoll recommends two to three times a week.
"If your socks start looking dingy after a day at home or you notice dust building up faster than usual, it's time to grab the vacuum," said Knoll.
Floor surface: Does carpet, hardwood or ceramic tile make a difference?
Flooring material makes a difference. Carpets, rugs and other floor fabrics are dust magnets. "Carpet and rugs are the biggest filters in your home. They trap dust, pet hair and all sorts of nasty," Knoll said.
A regular cleaning routine is vital to keeping carpets clean and healthy, although that alone may not be enough long-term. According to Knoll, "even with regular vacuuming, carpets and rugs still need a deep clean every 6-12 months to get rid of embedded dirt and allergens -- just like your floors, furniture and even mattresses need periodic [cleaning]." For that, you may want to pick up a carpet cleaner in addition to your vacuum.
That said, it's a common fallacy that wood and tile floors are cleaner than carpets. The amount of dust and dander on your floor doesn't change when you have a smooth-surfaced floor, but where it goes does.
Without the crumb-catching fibers of a carpet, dust and dirt get pushed and blown into corners or under furniture out of sight. That means you can get away with vacuuming less often: once a week is sufficient, but where to vacuum will change. You'll need to pay more attention to the spots where the dust will end up, such as around furniture, in corners and under tables.
Does floor space matter?
How much space you have doesn't directly affect the frequency of vacuuming; you should aim to vacuum all of your carpets twice a week and wood floors once a week. What it does affect, however, is how long it takes. If you have a larger home, break the cleaning into more minor passes by doing a couple of rooms in one day and the others in the next. This also helps create a routine that helps keep things clean.
Family needs: Allergies and health
If your family has allergies, immune conditions or other special health issues, you may need to up your cleaning frequency.
"Some of the reasons you would consider vacuuming your home more than once a week are pets that shed, if you have allergies, if you have messy kids (most kids are!) or if you have carpet" because debris gets easily trapped in them, said Webber. "In these cases, you should vacuum twice a week to keep it consistently clean."
You may also need to change how you clean. If you're worried about indoor air quality while vacuuming, choose a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA or better filter that can catch even tiny dust particles. You may also want to consider picking up an air purifier. Combine this with a wipe-down from a wet cloth or mop to trap anything the vacuum missed. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology has some excellent tips for healthy cleaning.
An air purifier can make a real difference in your home comfort, especially if anyone in your family has allergies.
Screenshot by Gael Fashingbauer Cooper/CNETWhat happens if you don't vacuum enough?
Besides the obvious signs (such as dust bunnies bigger than your cat in the corners), look for slight color changes in carpets or wood floors that look dull and matte. Try lifting a piece of furniture for a carpet and looking at the color in the hidden part: A well-cleaned carpet should not look much different from the exposed part. Wood floors also tend to accumulate dust and dirt in the small gaps between the planks or any dings and dents. If you can see dust in the cracks, it is time to up your cleaning frequency.
Cleaning recommendations
Should you vacuum every day?
No. Unless you are in pollen season, there is no need to vacuum every day and our experts didn't think it was necessary, even for large families.
How often should you vacuum wood, tile and other smooth flooring?
Wood floors need a good vacuum once weekly, followed by a rinse and wipe with a mop or cleaning wand. Because dust tends to move more across the wood and other smooth floor surfaces, you should pay particular attention to corners, under furniture and other out-of-the-way places.
How often should you clean rugs and other floor fabrics?
Rugs and other removable floor coverings have one significant advantage over carpets: they can be picked up and taken outside. This makes them much easier to deep clean, as a good shake outside can help lift stubborn dust. For an even easier cleanup, get rugs and floor mats that are safe to toss into a washing machine.
How often should pet owners vacuum?
Pets contribute to your home in many ways, including adding dust and hair. If you have long-haired pets, it makes sense to vacuum more often and ensure your vacuum does not get clogged by hair. We've tested the best vacuum cleaners for pet owners that can handle pet hair without problems. Don't forget to deal with the issue at the source. All pets enjoy being groomed, often done outside or in one room to control the shedding.
How to vacuum efficiently
More haste, less speed. The best technique for vacuuming carpets is a slow forward and then back motion to lift the carpet fibers and then suck up the revealed dust. Do this once slowly: you get more benefit from a slow vacuum pass than multiple fast ones.
Find a pattern. In our tests of robot vacuums, we look at how these computerized suckers map out and cover the space, making the most of their batteries to cover the space. You don't have batteries but you do have limited time, so create a cleaning pattern that covers your space quickly and efficiently.
Cover the corners. Even the best vacuum cleaners can't reach the corners of your rooms, so a quick final run around the floor edge and into the corners with the wand attachment will ensure you catch all the dust. And don't forget other hard-to-reach spots such as stair steps!
Declutter, then clean. "Declutter the area you're vacuuming before starting -- it cuts your flow state when you have to move something while vacuuming, making it less time-effective," Webber said.
Get a robovac: A robovac can save you time and energy on vacuuming, said Knoll. "Roombas and the like are great for doing light pick ups in between getting the heavy duty Shark vac out between cleans."
Conclusion
Vacuuming is vital to any cleaning routine to keep your home clean and healthy. That doesn't mean you must constantly dig out the Dyson, though. Our experts agree that a good run around with a decent vacuum cleaner once or twice a week is good enough for most users. Those with pets or who have breathing issues or allergies may want to bring out a vacuum cleaner a bit more often, though: Pet dander and dust can accumulate in corners and under furniture faster than you realize. The real key is to make it a regular and routine thing. A few minutes of dancing with a corded or cordless vacuum every few days can keep your home clean and healthy.
Vacuum FAQs
Should you mop or vacuum first?
Vacuuming comes first, according to Anthony Petruzzi, Senior Category Director at Casabella, who makes mops, brushes, and other cleaning products. "Always vacuum before mopping wood and tile floors. Vacuuming first clears the larger debris, making mopping more effective in tackling the finer dust and dirt." Forrest Webber of Bear Brothers Cleaning agrees. "Damp floors will also prevent the vacuum from working properly, as dust and dirt will stick to the floor."
Does vacuuming too frequently ruin carpets and flooring?
No. Flooring materials are tough and can withstand a bit of whooshing air and the wheels and rollers on vacuum heads are designed to work on both hard and soft surfaces. That said, you may want to inspect it for wear and tear if you start noticing scratches or other damage on your floor since that could be a sign of a protruding screw or broken piece.
Is it better to use a carpet cleaner than a vacuum?
A carpet cleaner is an addition to vacuuming, not a replacement. It uses liquid cleaners and brushes to remove stains and persistent dust from carpets. However, it takes longer to clean than a vacuum and is designed for occasional use, as this deep cleaning action can damage the fabric over time.
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