Your vacuum isn’t just for picking up messes. It can be your secret weapon in the fight to reduce your electricity bill this spring. As the spring cleaning rituals begin, follow these tips to find out how you can vacuum your way to energy savings this month:
- Vacuum refrigerator coils twice a year to keep the appliance running efficiently. Unplug your refrigerator, and pull it away from the wall. The coils will be located either on the back (for older models) or on the bottom behind a panel. Using the long nozzle or brush attachment on your vacuum, clean out all the dust and debris lingering in the coils.
- Seek out all heating and cooling vents, and use the brush attachment to vacuum the vent plate (and behind it if possible). Removing dirt and dust will allow air to flow freely, preventing your system from working harder to push air through the house.
- To keep your dryer running efficiently, detach the exhaust hose and vacuum out built-up lint. While cleaning your lint trap after each load will help prevent lint buildup, over time the hose can become blocked, which can cause a fire hazard. Unplug the dryer, and detach the hose from the back of the dryer to clean it out.
