The 1 Mess You Should Never Clean With a Vacuum—and What to Check First

Ash and fine particles

Fireplace ash can quickly clog a vacuum’s filters, says Noah Pinsonnault, a reviews analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Care & Cleaning Lab. For frequent ash cleanup, he suggests considering a specialized ash vacuum or a shop vacuum designed for the task.

Drywall dust, spilled flour and printer toner also pose risks. Ordinary household vacuums are not designed for large amounts of very fine particles, which may clog filters and potentially damage the motor.

Liquids need the right machine

Spilled drinks and pet accidents should not go into a regular dry vacuum unless it is built to handle wet messes. Wet/dry vacuums and some floor-cleaning machines are designed to pick up liquids, Pinsonnault says.

Check the manufacturer’s instructions before using any vacuum for a particular mess. The right tool depends on what the machine is designed to handle.

Take care with broken glass

Large or sharp glass pieces can damage a vacuum’s hose or other parts. Pinsonnault recommends picking up larger shards by hand with appropriate protection before vacuuming smaller fragments, but only if the manufacturer allows it. That caution matters because glass can harm the machine even when vacuuming seems safer than handling shards directly.

Clear objects before vacuuming

Coins and other hard objects may get lodged in a vacuum or damage its brush roll. Hair ties and cords can become tangled around the brush roll, Pinsonnault says.

The Good Housekeeping Institute often encounters tangles and blockages in testing. A quick pickup before vacuuming can help prevent those problems.