At The End of The Day

Vacuum cleaners and other floor machines that are well maintained and kept clean and serviced still need to be properly stored when not in use. Improper or careless storage of the best-kept cleaning tools can impact their effectiveness and useful life, and therefore your bottom line.

Be sure any equipment with a motor is shut down properly, per manufacturer’s specifications. This information is in the owner’s manual… which you should be sure to read and retain. Some machines may need idling time before being shut down completely. Whatever procedures are manufacturer-recommended for shutting down a piece of equipment should be followed.

Properly secure and store any cords, hoses, nozzles or other components for each machine as indicated by the manufacturer. Don’t toss these items on a shelf or in a box where they may be separated from the unit to which they belong. This is especially important if more than one person uses each unit, as the next person to use the unit may not be able to locate the pieces needed to properly operate the equipment.

Don’t shove your vacuums or floor machines into crowded closets or other cramped spaces. This can lead to other items being stacked against or on them, which can lead to damage — including dents and scratches, and worse — to the equipment. Tools that look neglected are more likely to be misused and neglected by the people who use them.

If you have outdoor storage units that are not heated, do not store power-operated machines in these spaces, especially in the winter. Machine components wear down more rapidly when started or operated in extreme cold conditions.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

Featured

  • Doerr School of Sustainability Accelerator

    From Concrete Warehouse to Innovation Hub: Accelerating Sustainability at Stanford

    The transformation of a once windowless, concrete publishing warehouse into a sun-drenched center for global innovation began with a single, fundamental challenge: how to turn an industrial storage shell into a space built for human connection.

  • Round Rock ISD Completes New Early College High School

    Round Rock ISD near Austin, Texas, recently announced that construction is complete on a new, 46,500-square-foot campus for Early College High School, according to a news release. The new facility will allow the school’s students and staff to move from portables into a permanent building and increase its enrollment to 500.

  • Girl Sitting at Library Desk, Using Laptop

    How Campus Design Shapes the Finals Week Experience

    Academic performance is not just about preparation. It is closely tied to how students manage stress, maintain their energy, and shift between work and recovery modes. Much of that is influenced, directly or indirectly, by design.

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.