Why My Family Loves Our Central Vacuum

For kids, cleaning and fun go together like water and oil. Chore time is often met with groans of contempt, but that doesn’t mean our children shouldn’t feel a sense of responsibility when it comes to household duties. In fact, HOW we present housework is just as important as the actual jobs we’re asking our kids to do.

One way I get my kids motivated to pitch in around the house is to familiarize them with the tools of the trade. For younger kids especially, adding some magic can be an effective motivator (until it eventually wears off). I will use the example of my central vacuum because it has really become the centerpiece for cleaning my home. Is that a dust attachment? Nope, it’s a magnetic wand that makes tiny dirt disappear like magic. What about that hose slithering out of the wall?  Actually it’s a dirt eating snake that lives in the wall and feeds on crumbs, cat hair and shoe dirt.

By turning household tools into living things, my younger kids have embraced cleaning time more than if just presented with expected duties.

Of course, I understand that there’s going to be missed crumbs and undusted surfaces, but that’s OK, because it’s more important to familiarize them with the routine than to get perfect results.

In some households, cleaning is a game with rewards for effort, efficiency and best results. In other homes, it’s a coordinated effort set to music where everyone has a job and the family functions as a team. In all cases, it’s about teaching responsibility.

The Efficiency and Cleanliness of the Central Vac

The beauty of a central vacuum when it comes to kids is the convenience and simplicity. With tubing that comes right out of the wall and connects to various attachments, there’s no need to lug an unwieldy power unit around, which can be tough for small arms.

There’s also no frequent emptying of dirt bags or canisters so clean up time doesn’t involve complicated vacuum maintenance. Central vacuum systems like my Vacuflo with Hide-A-Hose are also great for quick isolated messes because the hose comes out of the wall, does its job, and retracts back with very little effort.

With three to five times more suction power, a central vacuum can remove more dirt, dander, dust mites, pet hair, and pollen from your home than any robot or lightweight lifestyle vacuum.

This results in improved indoor air quality and because there’s no exhaust, there’s no irritating “vacuum smell.” Air quality is critical for families whose members suffer from asthma or allergies. A central vacuum removes even microscopic debris from carpets, floors and walls, and captures them in the canister away from your general living space, or exhausts them outside.

I also like that Vacuflo central vacuum canisters and power units can be installed in a closet or basement. This reduces the amount of motor noise, which dogs are not a fan of.

Central vac systems definitely cost a bit more than a run-of-the-mill big box store vacuum, but I appreciate the convenience and health benefits it affords my family and that it adds resale value to my home.

Choosing a central vacuum system starts with installation basics; will this be installed in a new home or retrofitted into an older home? Both options allow for a quick install and can be best completed by a technician.

Central Vac Types

Next is deciding which type of central vacuum system is best for your lifestyle. The bag option requires changing one to two times a year and is good for homes that do not have outside venting.

Bag-less canisters with inverted filters let dirt funnel around the filter so it does not cling. This requires emptying every three to six months. Filtered Cyclonic canisters will filter small particles out and needs to be emptied every two months.

Finally, All Cyclonic lets dirt move freely so heavier particles fall to the bottom and smaller particles are vented outside. This requires emptying every three months depending on usage. Central vac pricing ranges from about $1,000.00 and up.

For convenient access to the vacuum, outlets for hoses are installed in the messiest rooms or the most centrally located. Children can simply pull the hose out of the wall and attach an accessory for on-the-spot cleaning without plugs or heavy equipment.

Kids can also stay in charge of grooming the family pet, cleaning up the hair from pet areas or sucking up unwanted guests like spiders and other creepy crawlers. With a central vac system, cleaning can be quick and efficient so families can get back to their busy lives. There are also central vacuum accessories designed exclusively for kitchens, bathrooms, garages, laundry rooms, and workshops.

Want to learn more on how to incorporate a central vacuum system into your home or accessories that that will make cleaning up daily messes simple and easy for children to get involved? Check out the Vacuflo and Hide-A-Hose website to learn more.