20 Things You Should Vacuum Besides Your Floors

Your vacuum can do a lot more than clean your floors. With the right attachment, it can suck dust, crumbs, pet hair, lint, and debris out of places that are much harder to clean with a broom or dusting cloth.

Think sofas, mattresses, curtains, air vents, closet shelves, and even the crumb-filled spaces inside drawers. You may already be vacuuming some of these occasionally, but others may not have seen a vacuum attachment since you moved in. Grab your vacuum attachments and tackle some of these often-forgotten spots.

Key takeaways

• Use vacuum attachments to clean furniture, mattresses, curtains, vents, shelves, drawers, and other surfaces besides floors.
• A crevice tool can help reach crumbs, pet hair, and dust in narrow spaces.
• Upholstery and soft brush attachments can make cleaning fabric and delicate surfaces easier.
• Vacuum storage spaces such as closets, cabinets, and drawers while they’re empty.
• Always check manufacturer instructions before vacuuming appliances, electronics, delicate textiles, or specialty surfaces.
• Vacuuming before wiping can make deep cleaning easier because you’re removing loose dust and debris first.
• Don’t forget to clean your vacuum attachments periodically, especially after using them on particularly dirty surfaces.

1. Your mattress

Changing your sheets doesn’t remove everything that settles onto your mattress. Dust, hair, lint, and other debris can work their way through your bedding and collect on the surface and around seams.

Strip the bed, then use an upholstery attachment to vacuum the mattress. Pay particular attention to seams, piping, and crevices with the crevice tool. This is also a good opportunity to vacuum underneath the bed.

2. Sofas and chairs

Your sofa may be hiding an entire snack history underneath its cushions. Remove the cushions, then vacuum the seat, back, arms, and crevices with the upholstery and crevice attachments. Vacuum both sides of the cushions before putting them back. 

Don’t forget to vacuum upholstered chairs, recliners, dining chairs, and other fabric furniture that may collect dust and hair.

3. Curtains

Curtains can collect dust for months without looking particularly dirty. Use a soft brush or upholstery attachment to vacuum them between deeper cleanings. Start near the top and work downward, paying attention to folds where dust can settle.

4. Blinds and shades

Blinds can turn into rows of tiny dust shelves. A soft brush attachment may help remove loose dust from some types of blinds and shades. Close the blinds in one direction, vacuum gently, then reverse them if needed to reach the other side.

Be careful with delicate slats and fabric shades. Strong suction can bend or damage some window treatments, so check the cleaning instructions and use a lower suction setting if your vacuum has one.

5. Lampshades

Lampshades are another fabric surface that can quietly collect dust. A soft brush attachment can work on some sturdy fabric shades, particularly when a duster isn’t removing everything. Use gentle suction, and support the shade if needed so you aren’t pulling or bending it.

6. Baseboards

You can wipe every baseboard in your house by hand, but you don’t necessarily need to start there. Vacuuming first keeps you from turning a layer of dust into a muddy streak when you introduce a damp cloth.

Use a brush attachment to vacuum loose dust and pet hair from baseboards before wiping them. Pay extra attention to corners, the top ledge, and areas behind furniture.

7. Air vents and return grilles

Dust loves to hide in the little slats on air vents and return grilles. Use a brush attachment to vacuum loose dust from the exterior surfaces. Stick to accessible exterior surfaces, though. Don’t shove vacuum attachments deep into ductwork or dismantle HVAC components unless the manufacturer recommends it and you know how to do it safely.

8. Ceiling fan blades

You don’t have to send all the dust on your ceiling fan raining onto the furniture below. If your vacuum has an attachment and extension that lets you safely reach the fan, you may be able to vacuum loose dust from the blades. Make sure the fan is off before you start.

If you can’t comfortably reach it from the floor or another stable position, use another cleaning method rather than balancing precariously with a vacuum hose.

9. The tops of books

Bookshelves don’t just collect dust on the shelves themselves. Dust can settle across the tops of books, especially collections that haven’t moved in a while. A soft brush attachment can help remove loose dust from sturdy books. Work gently so you don’t damage covers, pages, or bindings.

10. Bookshelves

While you’re dealing with the books, vacuum the shelves, too. Remove a manageable section of books and decor rather than emptying the entire bookcase at once. Vacuum the shelf, corners, back, and top. 

11. Closet shelves

Closet shelves can accumulate dust, lint, hair, and fibers from clothing and linens. Remove boxes, handbags, folded clothes, or other belongings, then vacuum the shelves and corners. If you need to wipe the shelf afterward, removing the loose dust first makes the job easier.

Vacuum the tops of storage bins before returning them, too. Otherwise, you’re putting a dusty container right back onto your clean shelf.

12. Drawers

Take everything out of a drawer, and you may wonder where all those crumbs came from. Kitchen, bathroom, dresser, desk, and junk drawers can collect hair, lint, crumbs, pencil shavings, makeup residue, and tiny pieces of who knows what. Use a crevice tool or other small attachment to vacuum loose debris before wiping the inside.

13. Kitchen cabinets

Cabinet shelves can collect crumbs and food debris, particularly around baking supplies, snacks, spices, and pantry staples. Empty one cabinet at a time, then vacuum loose debris from the shelves and corners. Wipe the surface afterward if needed, let it dry, and put your food or dishes back.

You can use the same process for pantry shelves. Working one section at a time prevents your entire kitchen from ending up on the counter.

14. Underneath appliances

Crumbs, pet hair, dust, and food can disappear underneath your refrigerator, stove, washer, dryer, and other large appliances. Use a vacuum attachment to reach accessible areas without moving the appliance when possible. A long, narrow attachment can be especially handy for the small gap underneath or beside appliances.

If you need to move an appliance, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and don’t disturb gas lines, water lines, electrical connections, or vents.

15. Refrigerator coils or vents

Some refrigerators have accessible coils, vents, or other areas where dust can accumulate and where the manufacturer recommends periodic cleaning. Check your refrigerator manual to see what your model requires and whether it recommends vacuuming. Coil locations and cleaning instructions vary by refrigerator, so don’t assume the process you used on an old refrigerator applies to your current one.

If vacuuming is recommended, use the attachment specified in the instructions and follow any steps for safely turning off or accessing the appliance.

16. Dryer lint areas

You already clean the lint screen after using the dryer, right? It’s time to go a step farther. Lint can collect around areas near the lint screen and dryer opening.  Your dryer manufacturer may recommend vacuuming certain areas periodically. Follow the manual rather than poking a vacuum hose deep inside the appliance. Dryer vent systems also require maintenance, and some situations may call for professional cleaning rather than a quick pass with your household vacuum.

17. Window tracks

Open a window and take a close look at the track. You may find dirt, dead bugs, dust, leaves, and other debris. A crevice attachment can remove much of the loose material before you wipe or scrub the track. Get into corners and along the edges where larger vacuum attachments can’t reach.

18. Sliding door tracks

Sliding doors have the same problem on a larger scale. Debris can settle into the track and around the edges. Use a crevice attachment to vacuum loose debris before doing any additional cleaning.

19. Pet beds and pet furniture

Pet beds can become covered in hair long before they’re ready for a full wash. Vacuum loose hair, dirt, and debris between washings. Pay attention to seams and crevices, and vacuum removable cushions on both sides.

Don’t stop at the bed. Cat trees, pet stairs, window perches, upholstered crates, and other fabric-covered pet furniture can also collect an impressive amount of hair too.

20. Storage bins, baskets, and luggage

The things you use to store your belongings can get dirty, too. Vacuum fabric bins, baskets, suitcases, and other storage containers when the material allows it. Empty the container first, then clean the inside, seams, pockets, and corners. For luggage, a crevice tool can help get into those spots where sand, crumbs, hair, and dirt seem determined to live forever.

FAQ

What can you vacuum besides floors?

Depending on your vacuum and its attachments, you may be able to vacuum mattresses, sofas, chairs, curtains, blinds, lampshades, baseboards, vents, shelves, drawers, cabinets, window tracks, pet beds, and storage containers. Always check cleaning instructions first.

Can you vacuum a mattress?

Many mattresses can be vacuumed with an upholstery attachment, but check the manufacturer’s care instructions first. Pay attention to the surface, seams, piping, and other areas where dust and debris can collect.

Can you vacuum curtains?

Some curtains can be gently vacuumed using a soft brush or upholstery attachment. Use a low suction setting when possible, and check the care label first because delicate fabrics and specialty window treatments may require another cleaning method.

Should you vacuum before dusting?

It depends on what you’re cleaning. When cleaning shelves, drawers, tracks, or other areas with a lot of loose debris, vacuuming first can prevent a damp cloth from turning dust and crumbs into a mess. When cleaning an entire room, however, dusting higher surfaces before vacuuming the floor can help you pick up anything that falls.

Can you vacuum kitchen cabinets?

Yes, a vacuum can be useful for removing loose crumbs and debris from empty cabinet and pantry shelves. Remove the contents first, vacuum the shelf and corners, then wipe the surface if needed before putting everything back.

Should you vacuum your closet?

Yes. In addition to vacuuming the closet floor, you can use attachments to remove dust and lint from shelves, corners, baseboards, and some storage containers.

Can you use a vacuum to clean air vents?

You can generally use a brush attachment to remove loose dust from the accessible exterior of vent covers and return grilles. Avoid pushing tools deep into ductwork, and follow your HVAC system’s cleaning and maintenance instructions.

How often should you vacuum furniture?

There’s no single schedule for every household. Frequently used furniture, homes with pets, and households with kids may need more frequent vacuuming. Vacuum when you notice crumbs, hair, dust, or debris, and add deeper furniture vacuuming to your regular cleaning routine.