Vacuuming Secrets To Success

Gimme and "L"! There really is more to vacuuming than just plugging in the vacuum cleaner and giving your carpet the once over.

To suck up all the dirt and dust hidden among the fibers requires a full 20 seconds or so of going back and forth over each area of the carpet or rug with the vacuum cleaner.

Issue those instructions to your kid, and you'll receive a resounding, "Boooooring!"

Instead, ask your son or daughter to vacuum until Mom or Dad can see the letter of his or her first name in the carpet in a neat little pattern.

Here are the best ways to clean carpet fibers so you can get the dirty job done right - and teach the kids to do the same.

Use The Right Vacuum For The Job

Regular vacuuming is hands down the best way to clean carpet fibers and to increase the time between deep carpet cleanings in high traffic areas.

The best way to clean carpet is to use a vacuum cleaner with a rotating brush or beater bar at least twice a week, more frequently in high traffic areas. (Sorry!)

Pull the vacuum cleaner back and forth to get embedded dirt out of your carpet. Change the vacuum cleaner bag often and keep brushes clean.

Make Those Carpet Patterns Show

Here's how to teach the kids to leave those carpet or rug patterns - like the letter of his or her first name - that announces to the world: "I've just been cleaned!"

Pretend you're mowing the lawn. (This is an excellent job for the kids by the way. They love this stuff.) Divide the area into 3- or 4-foot visual strips, and tackle each piece with a back-and-forth motion.

Use the same technique for floors. (Although you won't, of course, get those pretty stripes that scream "I've just been cleaned!") This last step is purely for appearance's sake, however.