Top Health Benefits Of Vacuum Cleaning Your Home

The humble vacuum cleaner revolutionised the way we clean our homes. Not only in making the weekly cleaning faster but also in making the home cleaner. A sparkling clean home (not literally) not only looks great but comes with plenty of health benefits. 

At Briscoes, we have a large selection of vacuum cleaners. So, we’re always preaching the benefits of using one around the home. In this guide, we’ve collated what we think are the top health benefits of regularly vacuuming. It doesn’t matter if you use a vacuum cleaner that is cordless or a mop and vacuum in one, the benefits are the same. A vacuum cleaner is a fantastic way to remove germs and other nasties from surfaces. Let’s get started!

Why it’s important to prioritise your health at home

The average Kiwi spends a lot of their life at home. Especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people are also opting to work from home. Because of this, the home environment has a huge role to play in influencing overall health and well-being. Your home should feel like a safe haven or oasis in an ideal world. You should be able to relax and unwind without worrying about getting sick or having negative health implications. If you don’t prioritise a healthy home environment, it may impact your health and your relationships. 

How a vacuum cleaner works

To really appreciate the health benefits of vacuum cleaners, you first need to get an understanding of how they work. Although it changes from model to model, in most cases, a vacuum cleaner works by using a motor to spin a fan. As this fan spins, it then sucks in small dust and debris. This same fan then pushed this air and debris out into a bag or canister to create negative pressure. The mechanics are generally the same whether you have a vacuum cleaner that is bagless or one that has a bag. 

Health benefits of vacuum cleaning

There are many health benefits to regularly vacuuming. Some of these benefits you may have never considered before. It is worth noting that we are experts in vacuum cleaners and not healthcare professionals. Reach out to your medical professional if you’d like further information or clarification on anything mentioned in this blog. 

1. Exercise

We all live busy lives. So, it can be difficult to find time to get active. We’re definitely not saying that a vacuum cleaner is best for keeping fit or a replacement for visiting the gym. But using a vacuum cleaner is a great way to burn calories. In fact, Healthline says that just half an hour using a vacuum cleaner can burn around 80 calories for a 79kg person. Whether using a vacuum cleaner that’s cordless or not, you’ll be exercising areas of the body, including: 

• Upper body
• Core
• Legs
• Arm muscles

In most cases, vacuuming your home is classified as a moderate-intensity activity. We certainly think exercise is an added bonus to also having a nice clean space. 

2. Good for your hair

Dust is not good for your health in many ways, including the health of your hair. Believe it or not, dust particles can damage hair fibres over time. In effect, this can make hair fibres dry and rough. Over time, your hair can appear thinner and with less shine. Thankfully, regular vacuuming can help keep this harmful dust out of the air and off surfaces. 

3. Less interrupted sleep

If you’ve ever tossed and turned during the night and then had to go to work the following day, you’ll know how important sleep can be. If you don’t use a vacuum cleaner in your bedroom regularly, dust can negatively affect your sleep. Especially if you have allergies, dust can wake you up and interrupt during key parts of your sleep cycle. Sleep deprivation can have many roll on health effects on day-to-day life.

Top tip: If you’re not sleeping well, there could be plenty of other contributing factors, including: 

• Stress
• Too much caffeine 
• An uncomfortable bed

For more advice to do with bedding and how it can affect your sleep, read our guides, including our pillow buying guide and sheets buying guide. 

4. Better air quality

When you think of dust in the home, you’ll most likely think of dust settling on surfaces. However, dust can also be in the air. Especially if you’re opening doors, moving around, or a window is open, dust can easily become unsettled. Breathing in dust over the long term has negative health effects, including reduced lung function. Thankfully, vacuuming dander, dust and other nasties in the air can help remove dust before it’s flung into the air. 

Top tip: There are also many other ways you can improve air quality at home. Some other techniques include: 

• Controlling the humidity 
• Growing indoor houseplants
• Using your range hood when cooking

5. Improve mental health

Cleaning your home, in general, can be such a satisfying feeling. However, there is more to it than just feeling chuffed. Having a good clean, including using a vacuum cleaner, can significantly and positively impact your mental health. Unwanted clutter and mess can send signals to the brain that indicate a lack of completeness and unfinished business. In effect, this feeling can cause stress and lead to tension, confusion and even decreased focus. None of this is good. Gaining control of your environment can send signals to your brain that make you feel more in control. All of this from a spot of cleaning and vacuuming! 

6. Allergy relief

We’ve touched on how dust, dirt and dander can wake you up and break your sleep cycle. But it’s also worth noting that dust can have more serious health implications for those with allergies. Especially during spring, excess pollen in the air can wreak havoc for those with hay fever. As well as that, some people have specific allergies to dust mites and dander. Luckily, nearly all dust, dander and pollen can be sucked up with all good vacuum cleaners in NZ.

Top tip: Dander is small flakes of skin that drop off from an animal's hair or fur. If you have pets, dander can get everywhere without you even noticing.

7. Prevent mold

Mold is a four-letter word that can send shivers down the spine of homeowners. Some types of mold are worse than others. But, no mold is good to have in the home. Although vacuum cleaners aren’t a miracle trick to removing mold, using one can help. Regularly using a vacuum cleaner with a brush can help to reduce mold spore concentrations in your curtains and carpet. 

Using a vacuum cleaner is a great option to remove mold, as you’re not accidentally flicking spores around the house. Dustbusters and stick vacuums are also great for vacuuming curtains. If your curtains are beyond repair and you’re looking to buy new ones, read our curtains and blinds buying guide. 

The range of vacuum cleaners at Briscoes

If you’re sold on the health benefits of vacuum cleaners and don’t have one, don’t worry! At Briscoes, we have so many different makes and models of vacuum cleaners. We only supply world leading brands that you can rely on. All of these vacuums are up to the task to remove harmful dust and nasties from around the house. A robot vacuum cleaner can be great to set and forget if you're regularly away from home and travelling. If you want to vacuum curtains, a dust buster is ideal. For ease of use and general cleaning, view our range of regular vacuum cleaners, stick vacuum cleaners and cordless vacuum cleaners. 

You can view our whole range of electronics, including vacuum cleaners, online. Once you find a vacuum cleaner you’re after, you can get the item delivered right to your door with confidence. Or, if you’d like to see the items in person or want further advice, you can visit your local Briscoes store and talk with the friendly team. Our price promise also means that you know you’re getting the best value possible. For more buying advice, check out our guide on what to look for in a cordless vacuum. 

Strive for a healthier home life with Briscoes

For most Kiwis, a vacuum cleaner is an essential item to help make cleaning a breeze. However, many people don’t realise the health benefits of vacuuming and why it can be so important to vacuum regularly. Hopefully, now you have a greater understanding and appreciation of your vacuum. If you feel your current vacuum isn’t doing a good job, view our range of vacuum cleaners at Briscoes.

If you need to top up on vacuum bags or are looking for new vacuum accessories, we also have a wide variety available online or in-store. For other cleaning advice to help you keep your space looking spick and span, read our cleaning hot tips. Ever wondered how long a vacuum cleaner’s lifespan is? Read our blog that answers the question; how long do vacuums last?