10 Unexpected Things to Clean with Vacuum Attachments

Clean those awkward, hard-to-reach spaces around your home by using your vacuum accessories.

Getty Images / MDV Edwards

Dust and dirt tend to collect in the most obscure spots. They’re often not easy to spot unless you get eye-level with them, like when you reach under the couch to fetch a dog toy or replace the bulb in your ceiling fan. A duster or a microfiber cloth can do the trick, but a vacuum attachment can be easier, faster, and make less of a mess in the process.

With the help of Brandon Pleshek, cleaning expert at Clean That Up, we’ve compiled a list of all the areas where you can—and should—use hose attachments. "When it comes to vacuum hoses, I use them just about everywhere I can," Pleshak says.

If your vacuum arrived with an assortment of attachment heads that you haven't taken advantage of, consider this your sign to finally benefit from all this handy household appliance has to offer.

While many of the things listed below can be cleaned with just the hose itself, consider adding on one of the following attachment heads for a more efficient or deeper clean. Note that depending on the manufacturer or the model, you may need to order some separately, as not all vacuum cleaners are sold with limited accessories.

Crevice or corner tool: This long attachment features a narrow, angled head designed to reach tight spaces. Some are available in a flexible version, which gives you more versatility when cleaning.

Dust brush: Short and (usually) round, this attachment is surrounded by soft bristles that won’t scratch delicate surfaces. You may also find a similar size and shape attachment called an angled or multi-angled brush that can be positioned in different directions.

Upholstery tool: Lined with microfiber, these are flat and wide, so you can run them along large pieces of fabric to pick up lint.

Radiator brush: This flat, stiff-bristled accessory is often designed to attach to a crevice tool and, despite its name, can be used to clean more than radiators. Wedge it between anywhere that you wish to trap dust, such as the slats in air vent covers.

Extension wand: This is a stiff tube that allows you to increase the hose's reach.

Many brands offer more niche attachments, like those for car detailing or pet hair removal, but you might find that the more common accessories are sufficient for your needs. An upholstery tool can be used to clean mattresses, but if dust mites are a prevalent problem, consider using a mattress refresher attachment with a built-in UV light to kill them more effectively. “A brush attachment for your vacuum is a must,” insists Pleshak, “It allows you to vacuum almost anything and everything while being gentle enough to avoid causing damage.”

Armed with a vacuum hose and its attachments, tackle these pesky places in and around your home.

Sure, there are plenty of methods for cleaning baseboards and crown molding, but vacuuming them is the least backbreaking. Use a dust brush attachment to protect molding, both high and low, and an extension wand to reach ceilings. If you have unused dryer sheets lying around, consider securing one over a crevice tool, as it’s been found to help reduce and repel future debris. In general, a vacuum hose can pick up dirt, dust, and hair in awkward spots where it accumulates the most, such as corners in the room, staircases, and around bathroom fixtures.

Dusting the blinds might be one of the most tedious tasks on any chore checklist. However, thanks to your vacuum attachments, it doesn’t have to be that way. Close the blinds in one direction so they lay flat, and run the dust brush attachment over the slats. Flip them to face the other way and repeat the process.

We already mentioned that a radiator brush is ideal for freeing dust between vent cover slats. A small dust brush can also work, especially if you don’t have the extra attachment. If you have any, it can also keep window AC units clean and running more efficiently. Don’t forget to vacuum your home’s air filters every month until it’s time to replace them.

Maintaining doors and windows in good working condition is crucial in case of an emergency. If you open and close them frequently, dirt can quickly build up and cause sliding doors and windows to get stuck over time. Cleaning tracks out with a crevice tool is one of the simplest ways to keep them free of debris. If you don’t have that attachment, try this hack using an empty toilet paper roll. Either way you do it, Pleshak offers a helpful tip: “Always use a brush to loosen up the dirt before vacuuming as sometimes it gets stuck in the cracks.”

Ceiling fixtures, particularly fan blades, tend to be neglected in most households because of how difficult they are to clean. As with blinds, you can cut the task in half by whipping out a few vacuum tools and letting them do the dirty work for you. Attach a dust brush to an extension wand to suck up collected dust on the underside of fan blades and lighting fixtures, including the bulbs (make sure they’re cooled completely before doing so). Use an angled or multi-angled dust brush attachment to take on the rest of each blade and the top of any lights. Note that this method is not recommended for very fragile fixtures like chandeliers.

You’ll gain the most by vacuuming your upholstered furniture, such as sofas, benches, and armchairs. An upholstery tool will remove pet hair and lint without disrupting the fabric. Meanwhile, a crevice tool is ideal for cleaning crumbs that fell between cushions, within seams or tufts, and underneath low-lying pieces. Mattresses should be vacuumed with an upholstery attachment or a mattress refresher. But for a more comprehensive clean, use a crevice tool along the edges and scatter baking soda or cornstarch onto the mattress (to soak up odors or oils) before vacuuming and use the crevice tool along the edges. (If you try that method with either product, sprinkle sparingly to avoid clogging your vacuum cleaner.)

Vacuuming your electronics is the most effective way to keep them dust-free, as long as you use a soft-bristled brush and low suction when doing so. Items like TVs, video game consoles, and computers are natural dust magnets, making them prone to overheating. Ensure devices are turned off, unplugged, and cooled first, and only focus on carefully vacuuming dust-covered vents and wires. Use a gentler method, such as a microfiber cloth, to clean screens.

Perhaps you’ve used your vacuum hose to eliminate dust in your dryer vent or under the refrigerator, but there’s so much more this appliance can do. Pleshak uses a vacuum as a way to pre-clean his oven. “All the burnt bits of food and crumbs are a pain to wipe up, and it’s best to remove them before you start spraying cleaners,” he says. Do the same with your toaster and stove top, particularly under the grates. As always, unplug or turn off any appliance and wait for them to cool before cleaning.

Keep the vacuum cleaner close when decluttering the kitchen, bathroom, or bedroom. As you empty the junk drawer, for example, you’ll likely find crumbs and debris at the bottom. Clear the inside of drawers in the blink of an eye with a crevice tool that will reach all four corners. The same can be said for cabinet or closet shelves, especially if they’re open and items are on display, collecting dust. A soft brush head will clean books and decor without disrupting their order.

Technically, tiny toys are high on the list of things you should never vacuum as they can clog the motor. However, Pleshak suggests a safer way to make clean-up a breeze: Placing a long sock along the inside of the vacuum hose (without any other attachment), you can suck up a plethora of Legos (or any other small items) from the carpet quickly. Rather than painstakingly picking up the small pieces by hand, they'll be safely contained in the sock and ready to be organized into their respective playroom baskets.