Tips on Buying a Vacuum Cleaner

There are three basic types of dirt to remove from a carpet:

• visible lint and surface litter
• dust not visible to the naked eye laying just below the surface
• heavy dirt and sand laying at the bottom of your carpet fiber

The purchase of a new vacuum cleaner is an important decision. The right vacuum and its proper use can double or triple your carpet's life expectancy, saving you thousands of dollars in carpet wear. Most people presume a vacuum is doing its job. You can't see the bottom of your carpet to know if your vacuum is removing the sand and grit responsible for carpet damage.

The overall appearance of your carpet depends on a good vacuum cleaner.

If the vacuum cleaner you purchase has enough air flow and suction to lift the carpet nap to the brushes, the vacuum will brush the nap and help it to stand up properly. The result will be newer looking and easier-to-clean carpeting

If your vacuum is performing poorly, the carpet nap will remain matted and packed down from foot traffic. Sand and grit cannot be pulled from flattened carpet fibers. Dark colored traffic trails begin to appear. As the sand and dirt build up, it acts like sandpaper, slowly wearing and cutting the carpet fibers as you walk across it.