Vacuum cleaners - Merits, Demerits, Care

Vacuum Cleaner

Vacuum cleaners are the home care appliances that aid in maintaining high standards of cleanliness and sanitation. The three basic principles involved in vacuum cleaning are suction, sweeping and agitation.

The primary functions of an electric cleaner are

1.     To remove surface dirt from the walls, ceiling, floor and furniture.

2.     To remove the embedded dirt and grit from floor coverings such as rugs and carpets.

3.     The long flexible hosepipe and several attachments enable one to blow off the dirt and dust from the windows and spray water to clean the doors and window glasspanes.

De-Merits

1.     Vaccuum cleaners are not designed to pickup water because of electrical hazard. Therefore this should not be attempted.

2.     If the motor is for a longer time, it can be damaged from over heating. Overheating for a sufficient period of time will burn out the motor.

Care

1.     The vaccuum cleaner must be cared for efficient use and long life.

2.     Thread and hair may wrap round the cleaning brush. It is important to remove the items from the ends of the brush, so that they do not impair its freedom of movement.

3.     The bag must be emptied often to maintain its cleaning power. A fuller bag requires increased force to push air through it, so there is less suction for picking up dirt.

Labour Saving Devices

Changes in social and economic conditions in the last few years have resulted in changed responsibilities for both the gainfully employed and full time homemaker. Normally the homemakers spend much of their time in the kitchen. It will be helpful if they can save steps, energy, money and time in several ways in the kitchen. Labour saving devices both electrical and non-electrical are increasingly utilized by the homemaker at present. These tools and appliances have become part and parcel of the houses because of the comforts they yield. Adjusting the homemakers workload at home and outside the home necessitates the use of tools and appliances for carrying out the household activities.

Labour saving devices are the tools and appliances used to save both time and energy of the homemaker.