9 Things We Don’t Recommend Using Your Vacuum Cleaner to Clean (and Many We Didn’t Even Suspect)

When we drop something on the floor, using the vacuum cleaner to pick it up seems to be the perfect solution, especially with the new cordless models, which in a few years will surely replace the broom. But, as we use the vacuum cleaner without proper care, the device starts to have an unpleasant smell, its power reduces significantly and it may even stop working properly. This is because, simply, not everything can be vacuumed with it.

O awesome.club gathered information on what waste we should not collect with the vacuum cleaner. And we already warned you in advance: it is extremely forbidden to use the device to aspirate liquid mercury from a broken thermometer. Follow up!

If you collect coffee grounds with a vacuum cleaner, a mold colony will quickly grow in the collection bag. Coffee grounds always stay wet, even if it doesn’t look like it. In addition, the particles quickly adhere to the interior of the vacuum cleaner, making them impossible to clean.

Coffee powder and cocoa are also dangerous for the life of the vacuum cleaner: their particles clog the filters very quickly and manage to penetrate the motor and damage it.

Did they step on the carpet with soiled feet? Of course, the first thing you think about is picking up the vacuum cleaner. But in that case, it’s best to brush the rug, as the dirt particles are very fine and sucked even deeper into the vacuum system — it will be very difficult to clean and repair afterwards.

If the ground is damp, it can cause engine problems. Dried flowers and plant leaves can easily clog the hose or flexible filters, as well as retaining moisture, which is harmful to vacuum parts.

It is impossible to prevent hair from entering the vacuum, but it is still worth trying to prevent large amounts of hair and pet hair from being vacuumed. They quickly clog the collection bag and filters. If this happens, the vacuum can lose a lot of power during cleaning.

Some robot vacuums are equipped with rotating brushes and hair can get caught in them, so you will have to disassemble the device or manually clean the brush.

Powder, eyeshadows, highlighter and other cosmetics that appear dry, but that contain various oils and substances in their composition that melt under the influence of hot air. For this reason, cosmetics are considered one of the most dangerous enemies of the vacuum cleaner — the greasy component of the cosmetic will melt inside the device and clog the mechanical parts and filters. Cleaning the filters when the cosmetic becomes a paste is almost impossible, and they end up having to be replaced.

Candy and candy wrappers clog the vacuum very quickly. The device overheats and the engine may start to misfire. And especially those made of aluminum foil. Under the influence of the hot air inside, the particles melt quickly, adhere to places that are difficult to clean and interfere with the functioning of the appliance.

Using the vacuum cleaner to clean electrical cables can seem like a very convenient solution. But, the nozzles and suction power can damage the cable and expose or tear small wires. This is not always visible and can result in short circuits or shock currents. Therefore, it is best to avoid cleaning the dirt from the wires in this way, especially if they are made up of cables of different thicknesses, such as in offices or in the kitchen.

Vacuuming a wet floor or wet food is dangerous and can cause an electric shock. There is also the danger of a short circuit. If the floor is a little damp, externally it will not cause any damage to the vacuum cleaner, but the dust, when entering, literally turns into a kind of cement in the nozzle and suction tube. The pressure generated ends up decreasing the suction, creating an unpleasant and rotten smell, and it is very difficult to clean.

The damage that large pieces of glass can do to the vacuum cleaner is pretty obvious. But many often use the device to clean small particles that were not possible to pick up with a broom. In most cases, after some of these cleanings, you will need to replace the hoses, filters, and the collection bag.

In case of minor damage, you may not even notice it, but the vacuum will not be able to keep the dust inside the compartment – ​​it will leak back into the environment.

Experts suggest that if you need to vacuum up any type of flour with the vacuum cleaner, pay attention to the amount. A small amount will not damage the device, but if the whole package falls to the ground, it is better to collect it manually.

Otherwise, you will damage any type of vacuum cleaner: the filters will clog and part of the flour that enters the motor can cause serious damage to the device.

We were surprised that the vacuum cleaner is not such a universal object. It is worth paying attention to these details so that your device continues to function properly in basic tasks.

Do you vacuum all types of waste or did you already know these limitations? Do you know any others? Tell us in the comments section.