In this article, industry manufacturers answer common questions asked by building service contractors.

What are the benefits of vacuuming hard floors and vertical surfaces?


Dust mops and dusters may effectively clear soil off a surface, but they usually leave dust and allergens floating in the air, waiting to settle back down. These tools move soil, but they do not effectively contain it. A suction-only backpack vacuum with four levels of filtration captures and contains 99.9 percent of particulate matter down to 1 micron in size, improving cleanliness and indoor air quality (IAQ).
— Jacalyn High, director of marketing, ProTeam, Boise, Idaho


Most canister vacuums and some upright vacuums are designed to also be able to clean hard floors and above-the-floor vertical surfaces. These are multi-purpose machines with productivity and convenience benefits, and they usually come with accessory tools for such applications.
— Bob Abrams, product manager, Nilfisk-Advance, Plymouth, Minn.


Vacuums remove the soil much more completely and, assuming the filtration is in good working order, will trap and hold the particulate for disposal. This is a much better process for indoor air quality than dust mopping or dusting.
— Richard “Bo” Bodo, director of business development, Windsor Industries, Englewood, Colo.


Vacuums can capture dust instead of just moving it around the room. Using the right attachments can provide detail cleaning in tight spots or up high to help create better overall air quality.
— David Parkes, general manager, Sanitaire, Charlotte, N.C.


What is the best way to vacuum around fixed objects?


A backpack vacuum’s lightweight aluminum wand is ergonomically designed to maneuver around obstacles without causing strain to the user — even in crowded spaces full of desks and chairs. Besides the standard floor tool, I recommend a three-inch dust brush, five-inch upholstery tool, and 17-inch crevice tool as the perfect arsenal to attack any cleaning challenge.
— Jacalyn High, director of marketing, ProTeam, Boise, Idaho


When vacuuming an area with fixed objects and obstacles, it is advisable to work your way away from the plug, so that you can manage the cord. It is also advisable to choose a vacuum that has a more maneuverable vacuum head. Canister vacuums with a wand and floor tool are good at this. Also, some upright vacuums are designed for greater maneuverability.
— Bob Abrams, product manager, Nilfisk-Advance, Plymouth, Minn.


Although every situation is different, generally speaking it is best to use a wand or hand-tool for vacuuming around fixed objects.
— Richard “Bo” Bodo, director of business development, Windsor Industries, Englewood, Colo.


We recommend using attachments to get around objects and down in crevices, as dust can accumulate in hard-to-reach places.
— David Parkes, general manager, Sanitaire, Charlotte, N.C.

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POSTED ON: 8/9/2012