Recycling Older Vacuum Attachments

While it can be said that new and improved is often better than the old, this is not necessarily so when it comes to vacuum attachments. Vacuum cleaners used to come with standard attachments such as a large floor brush, a small tool for upholstery, a dusting brush and a crevice tool. Depending on the model and type of vacuum, a handy powerhead or power nozzle was often included for carpets.

Vacuum attachments that have undergone a makeover of sorts are the tools for dusting and floor cleaning. While the floor tool bristle redesign has little effect on function, the difference in the dusting brush is much more noticable. No longer constructed with multi rows of soft hair bristles (as shown) that made it possible to dust even the most fragile of ornaments, this handy cleaning tool is now barely recognizable among new vacuum attachments.

The newer version is often combined with the non-bristle upholstery tool, in way of a bristled sleeve that slips over that tool. Dual or multifunction tools have become quite common as manufacturers look for ways to cut production costs and in most cases, a dual tool is cheaper to buy and easier to store.

However, it's the lack of adequate features that reduces the function of the new dusting brush tool. Gone are the soft hair bristles - they've been replaced by one or two rows of shorter, stiffer nylon fibers. Although this is still a handy tool, it's not as flexible and useful as its predecessor.

Another vacuum attachment that has changed, but which can be seen as an improvement, is the powerhead. The newer powerhead design is still as effective for deep carpet cleaning, but smaller and lighter to handle.

Attachment design varies with vacuum brands and models. It's also not unusual to find some vacuum models that have less than the standard amount of tools. It can be annoying to find that a once-standard crevice tool is not included with your new vacuum package. Buyers should be prudent to review the accessories that come with a vacuum before buying. It may be a simple matter of upgrading to a slightly higher-priced model to secure the tools you want.

With design changes in attachments and the lack of standard tools with some models, keeping older attachments (instead of discarding them) when upgrading to a same-brand vacuum, may be a wise choice for consumers. In many cases, older attachments will easily connect to newer vacuums, especially if they are friction-fit.

Read More About Vacuums:

Vacuum 101 - From Buying to FAQ's
Bag vs Bagless Vacuums
What You Can Clean With Your Vacuum
Benefits of Changing Filters
About Robot Vacuums

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