Best way to vacuum carpeted stairs

[ralph123]

Just curious how other people vacuum stairs - upholstery tool, powered mini tool, canister with full size power nozzle, cordless vacuum, etc. What is the best method and best vacuum/tool for the job?

 

[louvac]

Don't know why....

but, on my hardwood floor steps, I prefer to use my canisters, OR Kirby (because of the longer hose) WITH the DUSING BRUSH. I guess it's a feeling that I have more control. And, I can clean the side molding along the side baseboard at the same time!

 

[fan-of-fans]

When I used to clean a friend's two story house with wooden stairs, I used the floor brush and wands and worked my way bottom to top.

On carpeted stairs though, I think something like a lightweight upright might work well. Think how the Hoover Elites had that stair cleaning handle. I have not found most turbo or even electric powered hand tools to work well on carpeting or upholstery. That's not to say they all are bad - I've heard good things about the Miele turbo tools for example.

An upholstery tool might work well too - I don't think stairs are a likely place that really needs a lot of deep down cleaning, unless you have a lot of people or pets with dirty feet going up and down them.

 

[suckolux]

Ironically, from the seventies onward Mom had a condo with open carpeted stairs. She also had an early Hoover elite 200 and that's what I used!

 

[lesinutah]

Various

Vacuums work. If you have a shark rocket use power head connected to top handle. It makes quick work and it cleans great and it gets done quickly.

 

[madman]

lol I use my straight suction Eureka model 10. The handle can be locked in the all the way down position, so it becomes rigid and easy to manage.

Now, that's probably not the *best* way...

 

[huskyvacs]

Tried and true method for 30 years. Never used anything else.

 

[vacuumman]

I've been using a Dyson V6 with the direct drive cleaner head, mostly because it matches the width of my stairs.

 

[blackheart]

For carpeted stairs

I prefer an electric mini nozzle. Unlike a turbine they don't rob power away from the surface. I think my favorites are either the Electrolux sidekick or the Stairpro

 

[thevacomaticiec]

For my stairs wooden i work my way from bottom to top with the shopvac lonnnng 2 0feet hose or the compact eelectra on the step side ways with the Dusting brush and my leg press o nthe body to keep it in place.

 

[lesinutah]

Here

Is a fact not many people know. The height of a staircase can't be over 12 feet. You can't have more than 20 steps. You have to have a landing of atleast 5'x 6'usually you find good examples in stadiums or colleges etc.
Just random info.

 

[beagledad]

The old style Dirt Devil/Royal hand vacuums definitely did a nice job on stairs. They should bring them bag with a HEPA bag.

 

[countryguy]

I use the electric mini nozzle that came with the Patriot. It is Patriot's version of the Wessel Werk HEB160. I also have the electric mini nozzle for the Guardian Platinum but I find the Wessel Werk is better and also quieter.

Gary

 

[panasonicvac]

This is how I normally would want to vacuum stairs.

 

[human]

When I had a place with stairs, I used my Electrolux 1205 with its PN1 because, well, it's all I had back then. If I had the tools I've got today, I'd probably still use one of my Lux canisters with a Sidekick. The brilliant thing about Electrolux canisters is they're exactly the right width to sit on a stair tread and not tip over. If I had to go back to having just one vacuum cleaner, an Electroux canister would be the one.

 

[briannc]

I use my central vacuum with the small motorized powernozzle and/or the full size powernozzle. Some of my Kenmore canisters have the powermate jr. and I've used that in the past.

I have hardwood stairs with carpet in the center...so I also use a dusting brush for the wood portions.

I always work my way from bottom to top when cleaning the stairs for safety reasons. For me going backwards top to bottom would most likely result in me falling...haha

My stairs are 8 up then a landing then 7 more up...so I get a break with the landing...I usually do a heavy detailed cleaning once a week but in between just use the main carpet attachment to keep the stairs clean daily or every 2 days.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

For thorough cleaning, I use the brush and

crevice tools on a Connie. A nice Hoover "Brushvac" does a nice grooming job, too.

 

[lesinutah]

Wait

Your full of it. You have a vacuum on every stair. I smell something fishy vacuuming a stairs with a vacuum on it with another vacuum.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

yes, busted!!!!

I take it, you've seen "that staircase" in previous photos, lol.
It's kinda like having 'central vac' in the house. Actually, it takes a while to thoroughly vacuum those stairs and the upstairs hall. One time, during the major restoration part of the house, I head a helper ask the carpenter, "What's with all the sweepers"?
But, a Constellation OR a nice Celebrity with the upholstery brush will really get all the creases in those steps.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

When there was thinner carpeting on them, I

used the attachments on a Handivac. Great for the car, too.

 

[vaclab]

What's Your Definition of Best?

Do you mean the easiest? What about the actual dirt pickup? Does that matter?

When I vacuum carpeted stairs, I primarily have one one goal: dirt removal. So the machine of choice must have reasonably high agitation and as much airflow as possible. Think 150 nozzle CFM. That would automatically knock out canisters, central vacs as well as hand held vacs.

If you haven't guessed it already, I use a newer Kirby in portable mode. If/When I develop some physical restriction, I may use something else.

Bill

 

[ralph123]

Have you tested the airflow in the portable configuration with the bag folded? I wonder if that restricts the air flow.

 

[suckolux]

Great post, by both of you last two. I have done it with a Kirby and I have wondered about airflow in handheld mode also Good question

 

[vaclab]

Here's My Portable Mode Airflow Loss Answer

Enjoy!