The vacuum cleaner is a staple in household cleaning appliances, a vast upgrade from the humble broom. Vacuums are among the most popular cleaning tools because of their powerful suction, which makes quick work of big messes. But how were they invented? How do they work? We’ll dive into this aspect of vacuums and other interesting or surprising facts below.
10 Vacuum Facts
1. Floors should be vacuumed weekly, but daily is probably unnecessary. (Source)
There will be a difference between hardwood floors and carpets. Hardwood shows a lot of dirt and debris that carpet disguises, but carpets can trap allergens, so weekly vacuuming is recommended, especially in high-traffic areas.
2. Delaware residents vacuum the most. (Source)
One hundred percent of survey respondents in Delaware reported vacuuming at least once a week. However, Wyoming is the cleanest state in the nation overall.
3. 98% of homes have a vacuum cleaner. (Source)
That popularity is nearly universal and especially impressive considering only 30% of homes had a vacuum in the 1930s. Part of this is due to vacuums becoming increasingly affordable over time.
4. There was a vacuum on the Space Shuttle Discovery. (Source)
This was a Dyson Root Cyclone used to clean the shuttle’s filters. The Root Cyclone is unique to Dyson, a patented technology that spins dirt so fast that it doesn’t touch any internal components.
5. The modern-day vacuum is descended from carpet sweepers. (Source)
Daniel Hess invented a mechanized carpet sweeper in 1860 that included a bellows used to generate suction, leading to today’s vacuum super suckers. It seems that the bellows had to be operated by a hand crank, making this a laborious tool.
6. Most vacuum cleaning is accomplished by the brush system. (Source)
The airflow is primarily used to transport dirt into the vacuum bag or containment chamber. The airflow also cools motors and keeps dirt on the correct path through the device. The suction does help remove dirt and debris, though.
7. The British call vacuuming “hoovering.” (Source)
The name derives from the popular vacuum brand, “Hoover.” Clever marketing led Hoover to dominate the British vacuum market. There was also a giant Hoover production factory in Britain near Wembley.
8. The modern vacuum cleaner is based on a design by James Murray Spangler. (Source)
Spangler patented the design but lacked the resources to mass-produce his vacuum cleaner. So, he sold his patent to William Henry Hoover, who founded the Electric Suction Sweeper Company. Spangler continued to work with Hoover for the rest of his life, helping him perfect the vacuum.
9. Vacuum cleaner noise is around 70 to 80 decibels. (Source)
This noise is comparable to a phone’s ringtone. Vacuums seem really loud to us since they run close to our bodies and continuously.
10. Vacuum sales surged in 2020. (Source)
The peak in vacuum sales may be due to many people staying home during the COVID-19 pandemic. People wanted a clean living space to spend all their time in, so they updated their household cleaning products and appliances.
Featured image photo credit: Cottonbro Studio
