You vacuum might be the most versatile tool in your cleaning arsenal, but not everything can get sucked up without causing damage. Carolyn Forte, the director of the Good Housekeeping Research Institute Home Appliance and Cleaning Products department reminds us of a few items you'll need to clean up another way.1. Large pieces of glassBig pieces of broken glass are dangerous for your vacuum. They could puncture the bag, get lodged in the hose, or scratch up the interior, so use a broom instead. If you've recently remodeled, don't vacuum up sanding residue or other tiny particles — you'll need to use a more durable machine (like a shop vac) instead. "Fine dust will clog the filters or bag right away," says Forte, and then the machine might begin spewing dust back into the air.3. Wet food (or anything moist) Your average vacuum cleaner is not meant to pick up anything wet — be it soggy cereal, wet dog food, or even a spill. Use a paper towel instead (or get a wet/dry vacuum for big jobs).

RELATED: 11 Spots You're Forgetting to Vacuum » These ashes trap heat (and are also fine particles) so don't suck them up in a normal vacuum. Let the ashes cool for at least four days, then use a utility or a wet/dry vacuum to clean out the area.5. Coins, paperclips, or other small items It's tempting to simply roll over these with a vacuum when you see them lying on the floor, but they could get stuck in the rotating brush or break off plastic pieces inside the appliance.So what can you pick up with a vacuum? It's fine to do a weekly sweep of your pup's favorite spot on the couch, but make sure that hair isn't getting tangled up in the brush roll. While larger rocks aren't good for your appliance, small pieces of gravel can be picked up through the hose attachment. Snack foods — like cereal, chips, or other crumbs — are easy to go over with your vacuum cleaner.NEXT: The Better Way to Bust Dust »J.O. Spice increases efficiency and safety using Nilfisk CFM industrial vacuum cleaner for hard-to-reach areas.

Choose a vacuum that's up to the challenge.Download this FREE resource guide. Reduce the threat of contamination Powerful, advanced filtration helps protect your products from devastating recallsFind out more Prevent combustible dust explosions Even seemingly harmless substances like corn dust and flour can create serious hazardsFind out morevacuum cleaner belt chart About Vacuums for Food Safetythe genesis vacuum cleaner is your source for explosive dust and food safety hazard information. multi purpose vacuum cleaner indiaNilfisk Industrial Vacuums is a world leader in explosive dust control, and their industrial vacuums have been helping companies improve their level of safety from explosive dust and food safety hazards for more than 100 years.

Find an Industrial Vacuum Solution With two complete product lines to choose from, chances are Nilfisk Industrial Vacuums has the ideal industrial vacuum solution for your application. Click here to find an Industrial Vacuum SolutionNilfisk vacuums not only protect your food products from harmful bacteria, allergens, and insects…but they also protect your reputation. Our vacuum cleaners elevate your plant to the next level in cleanliness so your food products are safe. Consumers stay satisfied while your brand name shines. We've dedicated the past century to innovating advanced cleaning solutions that meet your specific food safety and quality demands – limiting cross contamination in production lines; increasing compliance with the Food & Drug Administration's GMPs and the HACCPs; and, preventing allergen-related product recalls. (Did you know the average cost of a food product recall is $540,000?)* Our vacuums stop the spread of dangerous pathogens otherwise distributed via brooms, mops, rags, compressed air, even inadequately filtered vacuums.

Today, our Nilfisk vacuums are integral to the production and packaging processes of major food-industry customers like Kraft, Hershey, and Nestle. *, October 2001, "Tracking Food Allergens" by Linda OhrNow, how can we help you?Did you know that food allergies result in 30,000 emergency room visits annually in the U.S.** Yet, in a recent FDA survey, less than 50% of candy, ice cream, and baked-goods manufacturers were employing procedures to control cross-contamination of foods with allergens.***The Department of Agriculture recommends that food companies adopt SSOPs and proper cleaning practices with careful vacuuming. Only Nilfisk's sophisticated vacuums provide the performance you need and the features you want to make the job easier.Rugged, heat-resistant accessories – high-temperature wands, nozzles, and Nomex" filters withstand extreme oven temperatures, allowing you to clean ovens without waiting for them to cool.Contaminant-free exhaust – HEPA and ULPA filters ensure a decontaminated exhaust stream to prevent allergens/bacteria from re-circulating for increased employee and food safety.

Explosion/static protection – reduce risk when cleaning explosion-prone liquids or pulverized powders such as flour or grain dust with our non-sparking, stainless steel vacuums, available in both electric and pneumatic models. Our anti-static hoses also protect operators from sparks caused by static electricity. Concerned about combustible dust? Visit our explosion-proof vacuum site, solely dedicated to combustible dust and explosion-proof vacuums! Easy-to-clean design – constructed modularly, our vacuum components are easy to access for fast cleaning in meat, beverage, and dry-food processing plants. Improved decontamination and sanitization – with corrosion-resistant, stainless-steel vacuums that can be quickly decontaminated with little-to-no trace of food residue. This is particularly important when preventing contamination from the 8 most common food allergens and bacteria. Simple waste disposal – many of our vacuums feature dropout collection containers, externally cleaned filters, paper bags, ABS collection tank inserts, and polyliners to make waste disposal safer and faster.