Queen Vacuum's mascot, Alice, is the go-to gal for all your vacuum-related questions!   

 

Q:  "Sue" from Allenhurst asked:

A:  I'm glad you thought to ask first, Sue. Our repair facility is all too familiar with the destruction caused by using the wrong vacuum on certain carpets! Vacuums have gotten very powerful in the past decade...insanely so in some cases. On top of that - one of the biggest mistakes folks make is trying to use a vacuum with a "power nozzle" (the electrically-powered rotating brush) on carpets with very long and/or delicate fibers.  Most all upright vacuums use such a powered brushroller. This is the feature that makes these vacuums so effective at deep cleaning regular carpeting; the rotating brushes wicking up fuzz and hair while separating the carpet fibers to allow the vacuum's suction to penetrate deep down. However, the delicate or long, shaggy fibers of specialty rugs can get literally chewed to smithereens by the aggressive suction and agitation of a typical vacuum cleaner.

Back in the "olden days," prior to the invention of vacuums, people had to take their rugs outdoors to beat them with a stick (quite a workout and a pretty dusty endeavor.)  If you currently had no other choice, you could of course try the old-fashioned method. But if you'd rather not spend the afternoon moving furniture and lugging the carpet outside, just be sure to use a more gently-set up vacuum. 

What you need is a vacuum cleaner that can be used in a "straight-suction" mode. Typically a canister-style unit is best. Canister vacuums (as opposed to uprights) can be bought in one of two forms:  "Straight-suction or as a "power-team. "  The most common of the two are power-team vacuums which offer the electrified "power nozzle" attachment I mentioned before (which is what makes it perform like an upright vacuum, when attached.)  This type costs a bit more, because they offer the performance of two vacuums in one. These offer the greatest amount of versatility, able to clean absolutely anything you throw at them. Use the power nozzle to deep-clean your regular rugs.

But in your case, Sue - you'll definitely want to take that power nozzle off to use the vacuum as "straight-suction."  For your oriental rug a gentle, brushless carpet attachment would work best on its delicate, smooth pile.  Alternately, a deeply-grooved rug tool would be best if it were thick, shaggy pile like a "flokati" rug or traditional shag.  While you're at it, you can use a different soft-bristled floor brush to dust your hard floors throughout the rest of the house.

The very best vacuums for this situation come equipped with variable suction control; a feature that allows you to can lower the suction power if one of your carpets is even more delicate than another.  We recommend high-quality vacuum brands like Miele and Sebo to properly care for your high-end flooring investments.

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or call Queen Vacuum for more information:
Red Bank: 732-747-5623   Neptune City: 732-775-7777 

The first time I came in, the gentleman behind the counter (John) was very friendly and took the time to explain to me about the Sebo brand vacuums. The second time I came in, Rachel was friendly as well [and assisted me in buying a new Sebo for my home!]
-  "Silvia"  (Middletown, NJ)