Spring has arrived!! It's time for spring cleaning. How to best vacuum your home, using the attachments properly.

So it has been a long cold winter here in Montreal, and I am confident to say that spring has finally sprung. I have been holding off posting this series of articles to the blog as every time I have thought about posting it's either below zero or I can see snow flakes from my office desk. But now that winter finally looks over, I will share my spring cleaning tips on how to best use your vacuum cleaner. Here in Montreal we have quite the winter, and lots of salt is poured onto our streets causing some very dirty carpets and homes. I can not tell you how many times I see a 15 to 20 year old vacuum and the attachments are brand new because they are not being used! Often times it's because people have not been properly explained how to use each piece. So here is a rundown on how to use each piece for your vacuum cleaner.

Before I begin, I would suggest you take a look at Martha Stewart's printable checklist for a comprehensive list of spring cleaning tips.

Power Nozzle:  The carpets especially at your entrance are one of the first things you want to give a deep cleaning. May I suggest passing the power nozzle more thoroughly on the carpets (usually brushing backwards is best for deep cleaning). Make sure the brush roll in your vacuum is made of wood and not plastic or metal as these materials tend to create static when agitating carpet materials. Crevice Tool: Another tip I can offer is to make sure you use the crevice tool. This is the piece that is long and narrow. Use this attachment to clean all the crevices in your home. With all the rocks and sand that come into our homes dust buildup in the corners in inevitable and undesirable. Round-brush: One of the most important pieces on the vacuum cleaner to use. This round-brush can do 2 jobs. On the side with the bristles you can do all your dusting, and you no longer need to use aerosols like Pledge in your home (very important for people with breathing difficulties). Flip it over and now you can vacuum your drapes and other linen materials, as well as sofas and chairs. Floor-brush: With more and more homes choosing hard floor surfaces over carpets these days, this is a very important piece. This will clean all hard floor surfaces (do not use this piece on carpets!!). Make sure you choose a brush that has teeth in the front, the spacing allows dust to be suctioned off into the bag. Also look for a brush that has a bumper so you do not scratch furniture, walls or other items in your home. A good piece of advice is to invest in a high quality floor-brush as this is the piece most often used. Sidekick (Optional): This is not a attachment that comes with most vacuum cleaners. This little mini motorized power nozzle is best used to clean furniture. Use this piece to rid your home of the second leading cause of allergies (Dust mite Feces). Also will remove dead skin and bed bugs. This is the perfect piece to use for your spring cleaning as mattresses should be vacuumed ever 3-6 months.

If you thoroughly vacuum your home using all of these pieces properly I am certain your home will be on the right path to being as clean and healthy as possible. For people with allergies and asthma I would certainly suggest purchasing a vacuum with True Hepa filtration. Perhaps, I can recommend the Guardian Platinum from Aerus, or even a Central vacuum as dust is siphoned off to a canister often located in a garage or furnace room.

I'll be back later this week on cleaning tips to clean the air inside of your home. Happy Spring Cleaning.