Cleaning Hacks: 6 Surprising Uses for Your Vacuum You Probably Haven't Tried Yet

Surprisingly, vacuum cleaners can do more than suck up dirt and dust from carpets and floors. Not sure what we mean exactly? Read on for some amazing things you can do with the vacuum cleaner that you probably haven't tried before.

1. Fix stubborn dents in your carpet

Moving a heavy piece of furniture that has sat on the carpet for ages will most likely leave ugly dents. However, there is a quick fix for this. All you need to do is put some ice cubes on the dent and wait for it to melt. If the nasty dent persists, don't worry. At that point, the carpet should be malleable enough. So, grab your vacuum and sucked up the moisture in the carpet. It should also fix the dent in seconds.

2. Inflate air mattress

Have a guest, and you need to inflate your air mattress, but your air pump suddenly does a disappearing act? No problem, as long as you have your vacuum handy.

First, spread out your mattress on a flat surface. Open the valve and connect the nozzle to the vacuum's hose - make sure that your vacuum is free of dust and other debris and that there is an airtight connection. Then set your vacuum in reverse mode before you turn it on. It would be best if you had a nicely inflated air mattress in seconds.

3. Recover lost small items

Searching for and retrieving small items such as a ring, bracelet, or earring on your sofa, carpet, and other hard to reach areas can be time-consuming. A simple trick using your vacuum should do the job.

Just put a stocking over the end of the vacuum's nozzle. Then secure the hose using an elastic band. Once it's nice and tight, turn the vacuum on and run it around, under, and behind the couch or other areas, you think your lost small item is located.

4. Groom your furry friend

Most pets love the sensation of vacuum gently rubbing their coat. If your pet is one of them, then go ahead and give him a gentle massage. Just make sure to set the machine to its lowest setting first. Vacuuming will also help remove your pet's loose fur.

5. Make your mattress smell fresher

Keeping your bed smelling fresh takes more than changing bed sheets regularly. It would help if you keep your mattress smelling fresh too. Now, it may sound not easy, but it is easy to do. All you need is baking soda and, of course, your vacuum.

First, remove the bedding and protective covers. Overstock also recommends opening the windows to allow the sunshine to kill mold and spores and dry moisture from the mattress. Then sprinkle some baking soda over the mattress and leave it on for about 10 minutes. That should be enough time for the baking soda to absorb odor and moisture.

After that, use your vacuum's brush attachment and clean the surface, seams, and sides of the mattress. Your mattress should be smelling fresh and clean in no time.

6. Prevent fire

Lint buildup from the dryer vent system is one of the common causes of house fires. As a preventive measure, you can remove the lint trap from the dryer as often as needed. Unplug the dryer and then use the crevice tool to suck up trapped lint in the vent area and under the machine.