10 Vacuuming Mistakes That Might Actually Be Making Your Floors Dirtier

Are you spreading more dust, dirt, and debris than you're suctioning? If you're making these (fixable) errors, the answer could be yes.

When you spend considerable time vacuuming, dusting, and cleaning, the last thing you want to do is make a mistake that spreads the mess. And while vacuuming seems straightforward, there are actually multiple ways that you could be dispersing dust and debris throughout your home while you think you're suctioning it up.

From using the wrong type of machine on your floors and not realizing its lifespan to leaning too heavily on your robotic appliance, these are the 10 vacuuming mistakes people most often make—and what to do instead—according to Angela Brown, host of the Ask a House Cleaner Show, and Tonya Harris, blogger at Slightly Greener.

Related: How to Clean Your Carpet the Right Way

You're cleaning hard floors with an upright vacuum

If your vacuuming routine involves using one upright machine to go straight from carpet to rug to hardwood floor, you could be creating more of a mess than you're actually cleaning. "Upright vacuums with rotating brushes are designed primarily for carpets," Brown says. "When used on hard floors, the rotating brush can scatter debris rather than effectively pick it up, leading to inefficient cleaning."

If you don't have another option, double down on your efforts: Sweep or mop hard surface floors to clean them more efficiently and thoroughly.

You're using a stick vacuum on high-pile carpets

Meanwhile, you can also use the wrong vacuum on high-pile carpets. "Vacuuming with a stick vacuum on high-pile carpets can be less effective than an upright vacuum, which is better suited for hard floors and low-pile carpets," says Brown. Stick vacuums may not have enough power to penetrate deep into the fibers of a high-pile carpet, she adds.

The solution? Invest in a traditional upright vacuum to get the job done right.

Related: Your Complete Home Cleaning Schedule: What to Clean Weekly, Monthly, and Seasonally

You're not vacuuming in more than one direction

There are often dust and debris particles hiding in your carpet fibers that you'll never see with a naked eye, and they don't always easily detach from your carpet—which is why making several back-and-forth passes (focusing on both the push and pull motions) with your vacuum is important. "The best way to ensure most of these particles get vacuumed up is by vacuuming in more than one direction to agitate the fibers to pick up as much trapped dirt and dust as possible," says Harris.

Related: The Best Cordless Vacuums for Effortless Cleaning on All Types of Floors

You're dusting after you vacuum

There's a rhyme and reason to the order in which you should clean. Dust first—then vacuum. The reason why is pretty obvious: "Dusting after vacuuming drops dust back onto the floor, where it needs to be vacuumed up," says Harris. When cleaning, start at the top of a room (the ceiling fan and wall shelves) and work your way to the bottom (the floor!) so you don't have to clean one surface twice.

You're only vacuuming the floor

Running the vacuum along the floor is second nature, but if that's all you're doing, you're missing out on critical areas. "Couches and drapery should be vacuumed also, as they can also become dusty," Harris says. Use the right attachments to make sure you're cleaning these materials safely.

Related: How to Clean Upholstered Furniture the Right Way

You're relying on a robot vacuum for deep cleaning

A robot vacuum is a great supplementary cleaning tool. It's perfect for daily maintenance and sucking up all of the crumbs, dust, and debris that are part of everyday life—but you can't use these machines for deep cleaning. "Robot vacuums don't have the same suction power and, without beater bars, they don't have the same agitation as traditional vacuums," says Brown. "They shouldn't be relied on for deep cleaning."

You're not replacing your vacuum every few years

If you're using the same vacuum you got as a hand-me-down from your parents when you graduated college 10 years ago, it's probably no longer getting the job done. According to Harris, a vacuum should last between four to five years, and that's assuming you've cleaned them regularly and performed necessary maintenance, like replacing filters every three to six months. "If it starts losing suction, parts are hard to find, or it just smells weird no matter what you do to clean it, it's probably time to replace it so it can clean optimally," says Harris.

You're not switching out your nozzles

To maximize a vacuum's efficiency, you have to switch out the nozzles with each job. There's a different attachment for upholstery and hardwood or shag carpeting and a berber rug. "If the central vacuum's cleaning nozzle is not appropriate for the surface being cleaned—for example, using a hard floor attachment on carpets—it will not perform optimally, leaving dirt behind," says Brown.

You're vacuuming too fast

When you're short on time, it's tempting to quickly vacuum and call it a day, but Harris says vacuuming too fast can actually prevent the machine from doing its job. "Vacuuming slower allows for the appropriate amount of airflow and suction and lets the rolling brush head thoroughly reach [all] areas," says Harris.

If you're hoping to save time, up your vacuuming cadence: "Keeping up with a regular schedule cuts down on the amount of dirt and dust in the home, which cuts down on the time needed to vacuum effectively!" she says.

Related: 9 Things You Should Clean Every Day

You're not vacuuming enough

On that note—we have some bad news for the once-a-week vacuuming crew. "Ideally, vacuuming should be done twice a week. If you have allergies or other respiratory issues, aim to vacuum carpeted areas in high-traffic areas every couple of days," says Harris. Bedrooms, family rooms, and other areas where you spend a lot of time will collect the most dirt and dust, so that's where you should focus your efforts—and, yes, you can use a robot vacuum for this more regular cleaning schedule.