7 Things You Should Never Vacuum Up (And Why)

I rely pretty heavily on my vacuum when it comes to cleaning — I use it on all of our floors, including carpet, tile, and hardwood. But sometimes I rely on my vacuum a little too much and end up vacuuming things that I probably shouldn’t, because even modern vacuums with fancy features aren’t indestructible! Vacuums aren’t necessarily cheap either, so it’s important to keep them in good working order.

To help with that effort, today I’ll be sharing a list of things you should never vacuum up, or “things you shouldn’t feed your vacuum.” Much like a pet, your vacuum will eat almost anything without stopping to ponder the consequences, so it’s up to you as a responsible owner to prevent it from “eating” the following harmful items.

7 Things You Should Never Vacuum Up

1. Glass

When you’re cleaning up broken glass, resist the temptation to grab your vacuum. Bits of broken glass can easily damage your vacuum. For instance, if your vacuum has a bag, the glass could puncture the bag and create a massive mess. And even if your vacuum is bagless, bits of glass could scratch up the inner workings or even get lodged in the hose!

Instead, start by sweeping up the big pieces of glass. Then use a damp paper towel or a piece of bread to pick up any tiny pieces of glass that may still be lurking in the area. (I’ve used the bread trick several times, and it works like a charm!)

2. Water

Unless you’re using a Shop-Vac (or a similar wet dry vacuum), never vacuum up water or anything that’s wet. If moisture gets trapped inside your vacuum, it could lead to mildew growth. (Yuck!) Moisture in your vacuum can also lead to electrical failure, which could put your vacuum beyond repair.

Instead, clean up water and other sources of moisture with a microfiber cloth. They’re very absorbent, and are much better suited for the job than your vacuum!

3. Makeup

Makeup spills can be tragic, but attempting to vacuum up the mess could create more problems than it solves. There’s a very real possibility that the vacuum brush may smear the makeup further into the carpet. And even if the makeup does get successfully sucked up into your vacuum, eyeshadow and foundation may actually melt once they are inside. (Now there’s a mess that I would NOT enjoy having to clean up!)

Instead of reaching for your vacuum, just pick up as much of the makeup as you can. As for removing the rest of the spill or stain, check out my post below for tons of tips for cleaning carpets!

4. Long Hair

When I say that you shouldn’t vacuum up hair, I’m not referring to hair that ends up on the carpet or furniture—it’s part of what your vacuum is there for! I’m talking about using your vacuum to pick up a large amount of hair at once, like after an at-home haircut.

Large amounts of hair can quickly clog your vacuum, or else get wrapped around the brush and prevent it from working properly. Instead, grab your dustpan.

Need to remove a bunch of hair from your vacuum’s brush roll? Check out the link below for easy tips on clearing it out!

5. Ashes & Fine Dust

Normal household vacuums aren’t designed to handle particles as fine as fireplace ash or construction dust. They could end up coating the inside of your vacuum and clogging it up, or those fine particles could just get blown right back into the air!

Instead, just sweep up ash or dust. You may want to sprinkle a wet material like used coffee grounds over fine dust to avoid breathing it in while you work. Or just get an inexpensive Shop-Vac and use that instead! They’re designed to handle just about any mess.

6. Coins

Small, heavy items like coins are really hard on a vacuum’s motor. The may also damage small parts inside your vacuum. It’s also a rip hazard for vacuums that use bags.

Instead, check for larger items before you start vacuuming. Check the ground for coins, small plastic items, and anything that isn’t dust, dirt, or hair, and be sure to pick them up.

7. Cords

I think that everyone has accidentally run over a cord with their vacuum at some point, so to put it briefly: it doesn’t go well. Either you have to forcibly remove the cord from the vacuum, or it ends up as a shredded, tangled mess.

Before you start vacuuming a room, take a moment to look for any cords that might be in the way. Pick them up off the ground to make sure you won’t run over them. And make sure to keep your vacuum cord safely out of the way as well! Most vacuums have a handy cord clip that can help make it easier.

Do you have a horror story about vacuuming up something you shouldn’t have?