The GoVacuum Blog

Can’t figure out how to fix the broken belt on your 80′s model Eureka vacuum? Looking for a new vacuum with super filtration to help your allergies? Want your vacuum to stop making that weird noise that drives you crazy?

There are many questions to be asked about vacuum cleaners. Whether you are curious about your old machine or are interested in finding a modern alternative, we are here to answer your questions. Last week, we introduced a new section on our site called “Ask GoVacuum.” In this section, we display all the questions that have been submitted to us, and the appropriate answers. Our team of vacuum experts does their best to answer your question, no matter how obscure. Many of the answers include links to schematics for your machines or pictures and videos illustrating how to do that impossible repair.

At the bottom of the page, you are able to submit your own question. Most questions will be answered within 24 hours.

As more questions come in, we will begin to organize the Ask GoVacuum section by brand and theme. We hope this helps.

Ask GoVacuum today!

We are happy to announce that we have integrated a live chat and click-to-call program on our site, enabling you customers to chat live with one our qualified agents or even have us call you right away. All you have to do is click the appropriate button (chat or click to call), let us know briefly what your inquiry is about, and you will either be directed to a GoVacuum representative via chat or phone, your choice. Feel free to test it out right away!

In our highly popular “Ask GoVacuum” post about vacuuming your cat, we discussed the best vacuums available for cleaning your pet with a vacuum. Many pet owners who may wish to use a small vacuum to clean their pet may have a pet who is wildly afraid of vacuum cleaners.

I recently came across an article discussing how pet owners can help their pets overcome fears of loud noises. The example used as a training exercise, lucky for us, was training your pet not to be afraid of the vacuum cleaner. I will reprint the relevant part here. Enjoy!

For a noise you can control, like a vacuum cleaner, first put the unplugged vacuum cleaner in the middle of the floor and put a few treats around and on the vacuum cleaner. After your pet has eaten those treats, while you are next to the vacuum cleaner, call your pet to you, give her a treat for coming and give her a command and give her a treat when the command is performed.

Continue the command and treat process until you see that your pet is focused on you with the treats. For the next step, turn on the vacuum cleaner and continue issuing commands and giving treats to your pet as she is near the vacuum cleaner. If your pet does not come close to the vacuum cleaner after it is turned on you can gradually get her closer by simply calling her to you and giving her treats as you move closer to the vacuum cleaner. If your pet runs and hides when the vacuum cleaner is turned on, wait a few minutes and try again.

Vacuum cleaner belts are one of those items that no one really wants to change. They are not exactly the most exciting item to go shopping for either. However, a little care and attention towards something as seemingly insignificant as a belt may extend the life of your vacuum’s motor.

Vacuums belts are generally used to drive the brush roll on your vacuum cleaner. As they are part of the airflow system, they can often collect dust, debris and fibrous material like pet hair, cotton or carpet fibers. After periodic use, these belts often become stretched. When stretched, they limit the ability of the brush roll to spin at high speeds and effectively kill the vacuum’s ability to pick up dirt and debris. Point being, that even if your belt doesn’t look broken, the mere fact that its stretched could limit your vacuum’s ability to clean and over time can cause the motor to overheat.

Plan on replacing the belt on a vacuum at least every 6 months. For repair tips, check out the two videos we have created below:

If a belt does break, take the broken belt along with your vacuum cleaners make and model along to your nearest vacuum cleaner specialist center. They can help identify the most appropriate belt for your cleaner.

To replace the belt, follow the instructions in the vacuum cleaners handbook. If the task appears to daunting, take the unit to your vacuum cleaner repair center where they can quickly install the belt for you.

Govacuum.com have a wide range of belts available and can help you find the right belt for your cleaner. Vacuum cleaner belts play an important role in the operation of your cleaner so it is essential you obtain the right belt for your cleaner.

Since I just realized that not all of our blog readers are newsletter subscribers, I thought I might as well post a snippet of our latest newsletter that got a lot of positive feedback. If you’d like to subscribe to our monthly newsletter, please click here or email ShaliniGoVacuum@gmail.com.

Since the deep-cleaning and gift-buying season has now arrived, we’ve seen a sudden increase in the same kinds of questions around here. On the phone, through our website, and in our stores, everyone wants to know: What IS the best vacuum, really?. The simple answer? In canisters, we recommend Mieles. For uprights, the SEBOs. If you’re tired of messing around with a mediocre or downright frustrating vacuum, check out the Mieles or SEBOs, and finally experience what a REALLY clean home feels like.

Best Canisters		Best Uprights

— End Newsletter Snippet —

Of course, every home is different, every situation is different, everyone has different needs, and no one vacuum will suit everyone’s needs. But, when money is less of a concern and you want the easy answer, there it is. If you have specific questions, feel free to leave them in the comments, email me, or call one of our knowledgeable sales staff at 1-866-468-2288 (9am – 7pm, Monday – Saturday, EST or 9am – 6pm on Sunday, EST).

I would like to get a small vacuum to use on the cat. I have used my big vacuum with a long hose and a soft brush on the end on the cat and that was acceptable to the cat ;-) so I would like to get a small QUIET hand held one that wouldn’t freak the cat out. I tried a Shark? one that was advertised as quiet but it was everything except quiet! Obviously I only need one with fairly low suction, don’t want the cat stuck to it.. /Peter

Dear Peter,

Well, believe it or not, you probably already found the best handheld vacuum for your needs. There are a few quieter ones, but they are also somehow much stronger, and would probably only serve to anger your cat. As an alternative, I recommend something that is sort of an in-between option: the Sanitaire SC3683A. It’s not a full-sized vacuum, and is meant more for quick and easy kitchen clean-ups, in the car, etc. That means it won’t be as loud as a full-sized beast, nor will it be as strong. It has a very light touch, especially when used with the brush attachment. Plus, since it has a longer hose than comes with most standard uprights, you can place the machine on the ground away from the cat and bring just the hose and brush attachment near. That’s gotta be way less intimidating than even a small and quiet handvac (the loud motor is that much further away) and less suction and noise than a full-sized vacuum. Especially useful is the variable suction control — if kitty starts complaining, you can just turn it down a notch and keep cleaning. After you’re done, it’s actually useful as a regular vacuum for cleaning around the house, around the litter box, in the garage, in your cat’s car, etc. I hope that helps! Let me know how it goes with Princess.

And for the other readers out there who don’t believe Peter is actually vacuuming his cat, Peter was kind enough to send us a link to a video of Princess being vacuumed. Enjoy!