If you’re prone to racing around the house with a vacuum, you’ve likely been doing it wrong.
That’s according to experts, who say you should spend at least 30 seconds hoovering each square metre of your home.
Being this thorough will really help the machine suck up dirt and dust from your carpet, rather than a quick once–over which can leave debris behind.
And it’s especially important to spend this long in ‘high traffic’ areas such as the entrance hall or living room.
‘Vacuuming for around 30 seconds per square metre isn’t an arbitrary rule, it reflects how modern vacuums actually remove embedded dirt,’ Katie Lilywhite, floorcare expert at AO, told the Daily Mail.
‘Dust, hair and microscopic particles don’t just sit on the surface; they work their way deep into carpet fibres and textured flooring.
‘Effective cleaning needs a combination of strong airflow, agitation from the brush bar, and, crucially, time in contact with the surface.
‘Moving too quickly reduces that contact time, which means the vacuum can’t lift heavier debris or fine dust effectively.’
You should spend at least 30 seconds hoovering each square metre of your home, experts say (stock image)
Ms Lilywhite said that slower, more methodical passes allow a vacuum’s suction to fully engage, giving airflow enough time to dislodge and capture particles trapped within a carpet.
‘That’s why around 30 seconds per square metre is a useful benchmark for achieving a noticeably deeper clean, particularly in high–traffic areas or homes with pets,’ she explained.
‘It’s easy to underestimate how long you should spend vacuuming, but if you want the best results, it’s worth slowing down, overlapping your passes and vacuuming in multiple directions to help lift carpet fibres.
‘It’s all about working smarter, not harder, ensuring the vacuum operates at its designed and delivers a visibly deeper clean.’
She also suggested some other tips to get the best clean using a vacuum.
‘Most vacuums come with multiple attachments which can offer you versatility in cleaning tight spots, upholstery and brushes for dusty or delicate surfaces,’ she said.
‘Use them as much as possible as the correct attachment for what you’re cleaning can make a huge different to achieving a deep clean.
‘Be mindful of how full your vacuum is as you’re cleaning and be sure to empty the bag and filter regularly. Aim to empty the dust bag once its half full to prevent clogs and keeping your vacuum operating efficiently.’
People on social media have started to realise that vacuuming slowly is more effective. Taking your time allows the machine to pick up more dust and dirt
Ketan Patel, Dyson’s senior design manager, has previously revealed the best ways to vacuum your home.
‘We recommend vacuuming once in each direction,’ he told LifeHacker.
‘More passes over an area will give the machine the best chance of cleaning well, but any more than two or three times in one direction gives minimal increase, according to our research.’
He also suggested that people wash their vacuum filter once a month to maintain maximum suction power, plus properly cleaning out the dust compartment.
Experts at Which? have also previously revealed the items you should never hoover up.
‘If your vacuum is making a strained, desperate noise and the suction has dropped, it could be blocked because you’ve hoovered up something you shouldn’t have,’ they warned.
‘Poor suction and blocked filters are among the most common problems reported by corded and cordless vacuum owners.
‘It’s also worth remembering that some household spills, tempting as it is to suck them up, are like kryptonite to your vac – Dyson or otherwise.’
Things that people should avoid hoovering up include ash and sawdust, as it’s likely to jam up your filters and cause suction to drop.
Sharp objects, including glass, should also be avoided as tiny shards can get lodged in the hose and motor.
Soil and plant debris should be cleaned up using a dustpan and brush, as the force and weight of a vacuum can grind the dirt deeper into your carpet.
Meanwhile sucking up liquids into your hoover is also a safety risk and could cause an electrical fire, the experts warned.
