Is it an outdated, over loaded, work horse of a vacuum? Has it been around for a while? Does it have a HEPA Filter system? Is the soil collected in a bag or canister? How often does the vacuum get emptied? When was the last time you saw what came out of your carpets?
Dry vacuuming is one of the most important parts of soil removal and can be done on a regular basis at little expense to the end user. It does not have to be performed by trained professionals, yet some trained professionals usually know less about the importance of dry vacuuming than most homeowners.
According to the Carpet & Rug Institute’s “Carpet Cleaning Tips for Dummies” “Something as simple as regular vacuuming can also have the largest impact on the cleanliness of your home and the air you breath. Removing loose soil while it remains on the carpet surface prevents dirt from being tramped down into the carpet pile. Pile is the visible wear surface of carpet consisting of yarn tufts in loop and/or cut configuration. Pile crush occurs when those tufts become matted by foot traffic. You can prevent pile crush with proper vacuuming.”
So how can you know if you have an efficient vacuum or and outdated one? The Carpet & Rug Institute has developed a Seal of Approval/Green Label vacuum program in which manufacturers submit their vacuums for testing and are then awarded Gold, Silver, or Bronze ratings based on their performance. This program works using NASA enhanced X-Ray Fluorescence technology to determine the effectiveness of soil removal.
Look for the Green Label on your vacuum for peace of mind.