From Mrs Hinch to the Queen of Clean, cleaning influencers or ‘cleanfluencers’ have inspired many of us to find calm, peace and joy in cleaning and tidying our homes – and they’ve set a few cleaning trends along the way, too.
One huge social media trend amongst cleaning fans is using your vacuum cleaner to create visible ‘lines’ on your carpet after vacuuming, with over 12,000 posts on Instagram tagged #hooverlines. They can divide opinion, but if you’re a fan of fluffy carpet lines here are our top tips.
What are vacuum lines in carpet?
Carpet lines are simply the result of pushing your carpet pile in opposite directions with each stroke of your vacuum cleaner, just like lines in freshly mowed grass. Some people like to create straight lines along the length of the room, while you can also create triangular patterns if you prefer.
Do vacuum lines damage a carpet?
No, vacuuming should not damage your carpets. However, you should adjust your vacuum’s floor type and suction level settings to suit low pile or thick pile carpets, to avoid pulling the fibres.
Can you get vacuum lines in all types of carpet?
The fluffier your carpet, the better the lines. Thick pile carpets, particularly the sort you can see footprints in, will create visible lines easily. Tightly woven or low pile carpets may not have enough movement in the fibres.
How do I create carpet lines while hoovering?
- Firstly, select the appropriate vacuum cleaner settings for your carpet and vacuum the room as normal. Push the vacuum slowly to allow suction and the brush-roll to lift debris effectively.
- To create straight lines, start at the wall furthest from the door and pull the vacuum towards you. Move sideways and repeat, alternating directions for a striped effect.
- To create triangular patterns, vacuum diagonally back to the starting point after each pass to form overlapping shapes.
- Vacuum in socks to avoid leaving footprints on your freshly created lines.
What’s the best vacuum for creating carpet lines and patterns?
You can create carpet lines with any vacuum cleaner using the floorhead. Cordless vacuums can make the job easier, as there’s no cable to disrupt your pattern. Vacuums with motorised brush-rolls are particularly effective at lifting carpet fibres for visible results.