Vacuum cleaner

A Brief History of Vacuum Cleaners

The first person to patent a machine for cleaning was David Hess in the year 1860. Housewives all over America had turned to using rugs and carpets, a trait brought over by the waves of immigrants coming from Europe, to cover their bare wood floors and keep the dust and dirt to a minimum. When they were dirty, they had to be carried outside, suspended somehow in the air and then beaten with a metal rod or heavy wooden stick.

A bit later someone invented a small, tennis racket-looking device called a rug beater for precisely this purpose. Mr.

Hess soon realized that there was probably an easier way to clean rugs without all the fuss and mess and he invented the Carpet Sweeper which had a rotating brush combined with a bellows system that created suction. His amazing invention also used two water chambers to trap the dust and fine dirt. The only problem with Mr. Hess' machine is that there is no proof it was ever produced.

After Mr. Hess' invention, there came a period of wilder and weirder inventions that sought to accomplish the same thing.

In the late 1870's, Melville Bissell (sound familiar?) marketed a carpet sweeper that picked up the dirt and dropped it into a pan behind the rotating brush. In 1899, John Thurman invented a gasoline-powered vacuum cleaner that is credited as being the first motorized version. In 1901 Hubert Booth of London invented the electric vacuum, a device so large that it was parked outside the house and a 100-foot long hose snaked its way inside and did the dirty work.

The device was so popular that housewives all over London held vacuum parties to enjoy the event. It wasn't until 1908 when James Spangler, a janitor in Ohio, invented the first portable, suction cleaner -- the precursor to today's high tech machines.

He sold his patent to his cousin's husband, William Hoover (also familiar?) and the rest, as they say is history..



Flea Control for Pets

Flea control can be a very hard thing to do especially if you live in areas where fleas are largely populated. Weather has a lot to do with fleas and trying to keep them outdoors and off of your pets can be very changeling. You can try many of the products available to rid your pets of fleas and then find that you still have the problem. Fleas will lay their eggs in your carpet and on furniture and bedding that your pet happens to lie on. The first step in flea control is to rid your pet of these blood sucking pests.

Talk with your veterinarian to find out the best products available. You can have your pet dipped; buy flea collars, and other products that will eliminate the fleas from your pet. Now, that your pet is flea free, how do you get rid of the fleas inside your home? You should now vacuum your entire home including any furniture that your pet has laid on. Once you vacuumed, be sure to throw the vacuum cleaner bag out immediately. The bag is probably full of fleas and...

Flea Control for Pets
Vacuum cleaner > Flea Control for Pets

Vacuums - How to Narrow Your Search

When it's time to buy a new vacuum, the sheer number of features and options available may overwhelm you. It is going to take some time to find the vacuum that's exactly what you need, but you can cut down the time involved if you take some simple steps before you ever start your shopping.

Start by establishing your budget. You can eliminate lots of vacuums simply by deciding the maximum amount you're willing to pay for a vacuum cleaner and then sticking with it. If you need to find something that you can finance, make that number one on your search criteria. This can also eliminate some vacuums from the realm of possibility.

Vacuums all have those heavy, unsightly bags that you have to replace, right? Actually, many of the top names today offer bagless vacuums.

Take time to do a bit of research first, but you may decide that you prefer one over the other. This can also give you some definite parameters to help narrow your search.

If...

Vacuums - How to Narrow Your Search
Vacuum cleaner > Vacuums - How to Narrow Your Search