How to use your vacuum cleaner accessories

For dirt and dried-mud that is hard to remove with a regular cleaner head, a stubborn dirt brush should be your go-to accessory. Stiff nylon bristles help to scrub dried dirt from high traffic areas and the tough, polypropylene design means you can put some elbow grease into cleaning, without damaging the attachment. Reach for a stubborn dirt brush when cleaning the footwells of a car or around door mats, where dirt and mud might be trodden into your floor surfaces.

To harness the benefits of a full-size cleaner head in a format suited to smaller spaces, look no further than a mini-motorised tool. Dyson’s Mini motorhead is designed with a motorised brush bar that spins at up to 3500rpm to remove ground-in dirt but at just 144mm wide, the tool is perfect for removing stubborn dirt from mattresses, upholstery, stairs and other small spaces around your home and car. The soleplate – the part that’s in contact with the surface being cleaned – is articulated, meaning that the tool maintains a strong suction seal, even when vacuuming at different angles on uneven surfaces like soft furnishings.

Soft dusting brushes are engineered with soft nylon bristles to gently capture dust from all surfaces. They’re perfect for dusting windowsills, bookshelves, lampshades and blinds, as well as framed art and computer keyboards. If you have variable suction on your vacuum cleaner, such as an Eco Mode, you can use the Soft Dusting brush for cleaning more delicate items too.

Your mattress might not seem like an obvious place to vacuum, but it can actually harbour millions of dust mites, whose faeces are the most important inducer of allergens worldwide[1]. The Dyson mattress tool is engineered with an aperture, or opening, that ensures that the tool doesn’t stick on the fabric and is extra wide so that it covers more mattress with each sweep. Mattress tools are also useful for deep cleaning sofas, armchairs and other upholstery.

Many of us wouldn’t want to admit to when we last cleaned on top of our kitchen cabinets or shelves but just because these spaces are out of sight, it doesn’t mean that invisible dust and allergens can’t thrive there. An up-top adaptor is one of the most effective ways of cleaning high up spaces easily. Dyson’s up-top adaptor bends up to 130° but also locks at 98°, 65° and 0° for flexible up-top cleaning.

To get to dust and debris that is particularly awkward to reach, a flexible crevice tool is a good option as it will extend and bend to get in tight gaps. For ultimate versatility, the Dyson Flexi crevice tool is engineered with a sliding brush, meaning its two tools in one, helping you protect delicate surfaces and loosed dried dirt and dust. The tool extends by an additional 19cm and is engineered to reach into spaces as narrow as 2.5cm, so is perfect for cleaning under the fridge or in and around car seats.

If you want to take your cleaning to extreme heights, an extension hose for your vacuum cleaner is a great solution. Dyson’s Extension hose is compatible with any Dyson tool to reach up to 61cm further, ideal for cleaning up high or down low in your home or car. The flexible wire helix springs back into position when it’s not in use and has been tested 2200 times for durability, meaning you can clean to the extreme with confidence.