You should absolutely not suck up these things with the vacuum cleaner

A vacuum cleaner is extremely useful for sucking up the worst dirt. However, there are also things that you should not vacuum up with the vacuum cleaner. We tell you why it is better to get the hand brush and dustpan out of the cupboard.

Usefulness of a vacuum cleaner

A vacuum cleaner is mainly there to remove dust, sand and crumbs. This way you remove the worst dirt from the floor and then, in the case of a floor that you can mop, clean the rest with a damp mop. However, it is not always wise to just run the vacuum cleaner over the floor. For example, sucking up certain things can cause danger or negatively affect the lifespan of the vacuum cleaner.

Soil breeds pests

Vacuuming soil or potting soil may seem harmless at first glance, but it can cause pests in your home. This soil often contains insects, larvae or insect eggs. The eggs hatch in the vacuum cleaner bag, multiply rapidly and can then spread throughout your house. That is why it is better to remove potting soil from the house with a broom or hand sweeper and dustpan. If you do suck up insects (eggs) with the vacuum cleaner, it is advisable to replace the vacuum cleaner bag afterwards and tie the old bag closed. Otherwise, there are plenty of insects that will leave the bag without any problems.

Fire hazard due to ash in vacuum cleaner

It is also better not to vacuum up ash residues, as this increases the risk of fire if there are still embers in the ash. There are special ash vacuum cleaners that you can use if you often have ash in your home. If it’s only incidental, it’s just as easy to just sweep it up with a broom and dustpan and throw it in the trash.

In an earlier article we mention more things that you should not suck up with the vacuum cleaner, such as coins, (long) hair and glass. Although it is not dangerous for these objects, it is bad for the lifespan of your vacuum cleaner. These objects reduce the thrust of the vacuum cleaner, which can ultimately lead to it breaking completely.

(Source: Libelle, pneuno.info, Margriet, id, Quest. Photo: Shutterstock)