Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to not have a vacuum?

26 replies

tryingtosortmylifeout · 05/12/2018 07:27

My Dyson finally went kaput at the start of this year after about 18 years of faithful service. I never got round to replacing it and have lived without a vacuum for the last 11 months. I have hard floors throughout the house (tiles and wood) and just use a brush to sweep the floors and then a dustpan to scoop up all the bits/pet hair etc.

AIBU?

OP posts:
AmyDowdensLeftLeftShoe · 05/12/2018 07:29

I hope you have a mop too - works a treat on tiles

hannah1992 · 05/12/2018 07:29

Nope you are not.

I don't Hoover downstairs because its all hard floors. I rub the brush over the skerting boards to get dust off too. It does just as good of a job. I wouldn't need a Hoover if all the floors were hard floor

budgiegirl · 05/12/2018 07:58

I have hardwood floors downstairs, but couldn’t do without my vacuum. Brushing just doesn’t do as good a job IME. Also, how do you do the cushions/back of the sofa etc, especially if you’ve got pets who shed ?

ZeroFuchsGiven · 05/12/2018 07:59

Surely if you have pets you need a vacuum?

Original poster
tryingtosortmylifeout · 05/12/2018 08:01

Why would I need a vacuum because I have pets? The floors are all hard so any fluff/fur just sits on top of it and gets brushed up.

OP posts:
Claw001 · 05/12/2018 08:03

I have all hard floors and a vacuum. I have pets though and use it to vacuum their bedding etc. Also places like under my bed, settee etc.

YANBU if it works for you,

Claw001 · 05/12/2018 08:08

Fleas can live in the smallest of crevices. I vacuum around skirting boards etc too.

MsMightyTitanAndHerTroubadours · 05/12/2018 08:08

I'd rather sweep than hoover, the noise drives me batty.

Original poster
tryingtosortmylifeout · 05/12/2018 08:18

Yikes Claw - I didn’t consider fleas Confused

OP posts:
Claw001 · 05/12/2018 08:38

If your pets are treated, I doubt you will have an infestation! Grin

AlaskanOilBaron · 05/12/2018 08:40

Eek. Frankly, that sounds a bit grim. You have a dog and no vacuum?

Original poster
tryingtosortmylifeout · 05/12/2018 09:01

Alaskan, I have a longhaired cat but no dog. Why is it grim exactly? I’d agree if the house was carpeted obviously, but surely a brush on a hard wood floor does exactly the same job as a hoover?

OP posts:
Claw001 · 05/12/2018 09:05

“Hard-surfaced floors are no protection, either; fleas can live in the cracks and around the edges of wood, laminate, or tile floors. They can also take refuge in furniture, bedding, and area rugs”

This is why I vacuum (shudder)

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 05/12/2018 09:08

Nope.

The first house dh & I lived in to together was all hard floors, with the exception of the stairs, we didn't have much money so used a hand held vaccum we picked up cheap on the stairs & the rest of the house just used a broom & mop.

If it's working for you I'd carry on.

BernardsarenotalwaysSaints · 05/12/2018 09:10

Should have added. We were there 14 months. I found it easier as I could sweep as soon as I saw something. Whereas now I can't always be bothered to get the vaccum out more than once a day.

Steelesauce · 05/12/2018 09:15

What about under your sofa cushions and mattresses? Surely they need a good hoover?

dudsville · 05/12/2018 09:16

Ha ha! I was scrolling through the titles in "active" wondering what thread to read... womb transplant, sen, friend is upset with me,...... hold the phone, lady doesn't have a vacuum? Gotta check this out!

Spudina · 05/12/2018 09:16

My vacuum has just died too. I am managing fine by sweeping and moping hard floors. I'm actually enjoying it! There's something very calming about sweeping. And, I'm actually doing it more as it's easier to have a quick brush round than get the hoover out. But alas we also have carpets so I get a hoover today. I think I will carry on brushing though. I think it's fine OP.

Sunisshining5346 · 05/12/2018 09:34

What about your mattresses?! Bed mites, dead skin etc..🤢

youwouldthink · 05/12/2018 10:21

I have wood floors through the house too, but need the hoover for the sofa, chairs and the matresses. Also often feel that sweeping often throws dust into the air which then settles back down, while the hoover takes it away.

Chouetted · 05/12/2018 10:25

I've never hoovered a mattress in my life. I only use the top bit, so I couldn't care less what's in the middle of it, so long as it doesn't rise in the middle of the night and attack me like a cheap horror film.

AlaskanOilBaron · 05/12/2018 10:27

I've never hoovered a mattress in my life. I only use the top bit, so I couldn't care less what's in the middle of it, so long as it doesn't rise in the middle of the night and attack me like a cheap horror film.

You're a slattern, now hang your head in shame. Wink

Winlinbin · 05/12/2018 10:39

all those people who think you need a vacuum to get rid of fleas are probably kidding themselves. Sucking flea eggs into a vacuum bag just moves them. It doesn’t destroy them. They will continue to hatch quite happily in the bag I would have thought and will then be spread through the house again when you next vacuum. It might be effective if you changed the bag every time and sprayed a flea killer inside the machine. Surely sweeping them up and disposing of the debris in an outside bin would be more effective, especially if combined with a liberal sprinkling of flea powder before you sweep. I am happy to be corrected though.

My much loved cats died last year and we have flea bombed and replaced all carpets. The joy of no longer having to be on constant flea alert Is indescribable.

Chouetted · 05/12/2018 15:22

@AlaskanOilBaron I do wash my underblanket, I have some standards you know ;)

Claw001 · 05/12/2018 16:02

win advice is to put a flea collar in vacuum bag or have a bag free and empty. Which I never do Grin so my advice is futile!