1. Clear the floor first.
Picking up toys and other obstacles before you vacuum is faster than picking them up or shoving them around while you vacuum.

2. Check the bag or filter.
A dirty filter or a bag that’s more than three-quarters full can cut suction power by more than 50 percent.

3. Set the height to match the carpet.
A too-high setting is ineffective; too low is bad for the carpet and the vacuum. To set the ideal height, raise the vacuum to its highest setting, turn it on and lower it until you can feel the vacuum trying to tug itself forward.

4. Open blinds and switch on all the lights.
Ample light lets you see which areas are clean and which spots need a second pass.

5. Plug in near your starting point,
not near the middle or end of the job.That way, the cord is always behind you instead of a constant obstacle in your path.

6. Extend your range with an extension cord.
Stopping to plug into another outlet wastes time. Use a 14-gauge-wire cord; lighter cords (16- and 18-gauge) can lower the voltage supply and shorten the life of your vacuum.

7. Run the cord over your shoulder
and around your back and hold it in your free hand. Do this, and you’ll never run over the cord.

8. Make one quick pass over areas that get no foot traffic.
In these spots, the vacuum only has to pick up surface dust.

9. Go over traffic paths at least twice.
Two slow passes removes ground-in soil more effectively than several fast passes.

10. Vacuum along baseboards with a nozzle attachment
every second or third time you vacuum.