When you purchase a new upright, canister, or stick vacuum, it may come with a 2- or 3-piece set of cleaning attachments. One of the most common attachments found in such sets is a crevice tool.
A crevice tool is a long, slender tool that is used to vacuum debris from small, hard-to-reach spots. You would most likely use a crevice tool when vacuuming between cushions, car seats, and tight spaces like between bookshelves.
In this brief guide, we’ll explain in greater depth what a crevice tool is and how to use it.
Crevice Tool Basics
The moment you unbox your vacuum cleaner, odds are you’ll come across a plastic or cloth bag containing several cleaning attachments. One of the cleaning attachments most commonly found in new upright, canister, and even handheld vacuum cleaner kits is a crevice tool.
A crevice tool is the tool users will rely on for vacuuming tiny bits of debris out of tiny spaces. You can swap out your vacuum cleaner’s floorhead to get at debris residing in hard-to-reach or even hard-to-clean spots.
The precise measurements of a crevice tool may vary based on the type of vacuum cleaner and its model. For instance, handheld vacuum cleaners have stubbier crevice tools or even a flip-up crevice tool attached to the main nozzle. Upright and canister vacuum cleaners generally have 12- to 36-inch-long (30.4 to 91.4-centimeter) crevice tools.
How Do I Use a Crevice Tool?
Using a crevice tool—or any vacuum cleaner attachment, for that matter—is pretty straightforward.
To use the crevice tool, simply connect the tool to the end of a vacuum cleaner’s suction hose. If your upright vacuum doesn’t come with a suction hose, it will not come with any cleaning attachments.
So, when will you need to use a crevice tool? Here’s a quick list of what sort what applications a crevice tool is good for:
- 1. Cupboards. A crevice tool can come in handy in vacuuming cupboards and cabinets. The long, narrow nozzle allows it to poke into all corners and in between delicate objects.
- 2. Underneath furniture and kitchen appliances. A long, slender crevice tool is for getting rid of dust bunnies residing underneath couches, sofa chairs, around dining table legs, and even underneath refrigerators.
- 3. Windowsills and frames. If you don’t want to dust your windowsills and frames, you can get rid of dust from the nooks and crannies with a crevice tool.
- 4. Between furniture and car seat cushions. The narrow nozzle pokes effortlessly in between soft surfaces like couch cushions. In addition, car detailers will rely on crevice tools to get rid of crumbs and dirt from in between and underneath car seats.
- 5. Staircase risers and treads. Crevice tools are ideal for getting rid of dust in all of the tight corners on staircases and walls. Anywhere the vacuum’s floorhead won’t fit, the crevice tool will take care of it.
- 6. HVAC vents and ducts. Over time, dust will collect in the intake and exhaust grates of your home’s duct system. A brush tool or crevice tool is the right attachment for cleaning the tiny slits.
- 7. Lint trap. Leaving lint in your dyer’s lint trap can be a fire hazard. You can easily get rid of it by suctioning the surface of the trap with a crevice tool. A telescopic wand can help increase your reach if the vent grates are high off the ground.
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