PhotoThe invention of the wet and dry vacuum cleaner has been incredibly useful for not only homeowners, but those that work in workshops, garages and in practical trades. They are designed to allow you to clear up both dirt and wet spills, and are often more hardy than a traditional vacuum. As a result, they should also be able to clean up gravel and larger chunks of grime, as well as just dust.
If you own one, the chances are you’re already delighted with your purchase – here, we take a look at how to get the most out of your new machine.
Choose the correct filter for your needs
There are several different types of filters available on the market, and it’s important that you choose the right one for the task at hand. The filter is the part of your machine that collects the dirt and dust from the air that is sucked into the vacuum. Some vacuums have both a primary filter, which does this, and a secondary filter, which cleans the air to a higher degree, including a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter, which is useful for people with allergies.
A lot of wet and dry vacuums will use a dry paper cartridge filter for any dry hoovering, and then a foam filter to suck up the water. Some foam filters can be washed and reused, so make sure to check before just throwing it away after use. Some vacuums, however, only have one filter and instead differentiate between wet and dry by using a different attachment, so make sure to check your machine to see if you need to do any conversion before you buy any filters.
Make sure to clean it
It’s important to make sure that you regularly clean your vacuum and ensure that you empty both the dry bag and wet tank when you’re done, to avoid any nasty smells. Especially in a high traffic work environment, it’s vital that you avoid leaving any liquids inside the machine. When the tank is full, it won’t stop the vacuum working, but the motor will be under greater strain which can cause damage. You should also make sure to clean out the hose by running some clean water through it.
Make the most of the attachments
To get the most out of your wet and dry vacuum, it’s important to change the attachment depending on what type of mess you need to clear up. Wet spills should be cleaned with attachments that are flat to the surface, and you should save brushes for any dry messes in order to stop them soaking up any nasty smelling liquids. If the brushes do get wet, make sure to clean them before storing them.
You can get attachments that can buff a hardwood floor, act as a carpet cleaner and even ones that can be used as a blower for blasting leaves and snow away. If you think these attachments might be useful for you, make sure to check out the latest reviews, as plenty of well-known vacuum brands come with a variety of tools included.
