Vacuuming

I have been wanting to make an entry on this topic for awhile, but was avoiding it because it shows how lazy or down I have been. I went a long time before I started vacuuming regularly in my new apartment. It has only been the last 2 months where I felt like I had the energy to vacuum, so now I do it every week.

2 Saturdays ago, I noticed the vacuum wasn't working well, so I investigated. It was FILLED with fiber. The vacuum has an interesting design, lots of tubing. The entire vacuum, from the suction foot to the holding tank was completely full, tightly packed with fiber and grey dust. I bought the vacuum as a kit, so I took it apart, cleaned the entire thing out, and put it back together.

Yesterday was the first time using the vacuum since I cleaned it. When done, the holding tank was full of fiber and gery dust - but it wasn't tightly packed. The holding tank is a cylindrical drum that is 9 iunches across and 9 inches high. I made sure to choose the setting which is one above "bare floor", and I vacuumed slowly so that it would pick up as much as possible. I have been grooming Silly every day to eliminate her as a possible source of the fiber. I only have 3 small rooms. Where is all this fiber coming from?

I think it is a build up of rug fibers over the years. If previous tenants did not vacuum much, and did it quickly, a layer of silt builds up. In our first home, when we upgraded the carpets, I was shocked when we piulled up the old carpet. There was a layer of dust under the carpet that was a quarter of an inch thick. Our vacuum wasn't picking it up. Since then I have tried several vacuum types to see if I can control this better.

Since I cleaned out the vacuum, I have noticed a big improvement in the air quality in the apartment. I will keep this practice up until the amount of fiber and dust in the tank drops. I cannot believe that my 2 cats and I are creating that much junk on the floor. It has to be historical buildup.