Lately I have been inundated with questions about how to best select the correct vacuum cleaner.  Specifically, I had an issue come up with my customer “Ms. D.”  Her new 40 ounce frieze carpet and her four year old Dyson Vacuum DC07 Target Red did not work together.  “Ms. D” found that her Dyson did not have a height adjustment feature.  The result was a vacuum that was digging into her new medium-weight frieze carpet.  This could possibly cause damage to the fiber. 

So I decided since I don’t sell vacuum cleaners that I would ask the pros at Shaw Industries. Shaw is one of the largest manufactures of carpet and fiber.   Remember, if these guidelines are not followed your warranties could be voided.  This info is worth sharing so that you are properly caring for your new carpet from day one. 

Choosing a Proper Vacuum from the pros at Shaw…

• Shaw recommends vacuums approved under the Carpet and Rug Institutes Green Label Seal of Approval Program. A good vacuum should have adjustments to be able to adjust to the proper height of the carpet being vacuumed. If the vacuum is set too high above the surface it is inefficient and does not remove the dirt.
• If the adjustment is too low, the beater bar or brushes may damage the surface of the carpet and leave it looking fuzzy. A requirement if you have shag carpet is the ability to not only adjust the height of the vacuum, but also to disengage the beater bar or brushes to allow for suction only. The use of beater bars or brushes on shag type carpet will result in voiding your warranty.
• Shaw also recommends vacuums that have paper filtration bags that fill from the top. These bags also help trap smaller particles and keep them from being re-introduced into the air. By filling from the top, you are using the force of gravity to fill the bag, thus, allowing the vacuum’s airflow to be more effective in removing dirt. In order to insure that your vacuum operates at optimal efficiency you should change your filter bag when it is one-half to two-thirds full.

Remember, one of the most important tips in selecting a vacuum for your carpet is to make sure that your vacuum has the feature of adjusting the height of the beater bar.  You do not want a vacuum digging into your new carpet and causing your carpet to fray or damage the fiber tips.   

Renee LeCroy is the Flooring Expert at Don’s Carpet One in Birmingham, AL.  For 18 years, she’s been the consumer’s in-store advocate, decoding the flooring industry and offering insider advice. Contact Renee via email