Do I really need the parquet brush attachment on my hoover?
26.7.2018
Translation: machine translated
If you buy a vacuum cleaner these days, the brush for parquet flooring is often included. If not, it can at least be purchased as an optional accessory. But do you really need it?
I came across the discussion about the parquet brush by chance, which user Zoki11 had started. Although it would be wrong to speak of a lively exchange here. A question was asked, and about three weeks later an answer came back. Customer louise.theler.zbinden said that she now only vacuums carpets and stone floors with the attachment for parquet. "It's narrower and lighter," she explains. But: Is this attachment really necessary?
Safety first
I remembered that I also have a parquet floor at home as well as stone. It's an older model, but it's parquet. My previous tenant polished the floor to a high gloss before she moved out. As my hoover has a hard floor nozzle with the nice-sounding name "ParkettoPro", I naturally use it too as a responsible tenant.
I decided in favour of the Electrolux vacuum cleaner for two reasons: Firstly, I'm a rather lazy person and hate having to constantly buy and change new bags. Because if I'm already a lazy sod, I don't need another one in the vacuum cleaner. Secondly, I wanted a vacuum cleaner that wouldn't destroy the parquet flooring in my rented flat. I also didn't want it to be too loud - but as a stone and parquet floor dweller, I didn't really care how it vacuumed on carpet.
Lazy, but clean and dust-free
In the beginning, I dutifully changed the attachment for the two or three carpets in my own four walls. At some point - I think it happened after two or three weeks - it all became too much for me and I left the parquet brush on forever and ever. Because at the end of the day, I just want the dust, some dirt and other small items removed from the carpet and not a thorough deep clean. It doesn't matter what's attached to the front of the pipe. As long as it vacuums, I'm happy.
The big but
So far, so good. The only thing that gives me sleepless nights from time to time is the fact that the original brush (i.e. not the one for parquet and stone floors) looks much more professional, solid and better. Of course, with both stone and parquet there aren't too many gaps that require a special brush. But I'm still unsure at times whether the cleanliness doesn't suffer from the supposed protection of the floor.
Okay, the parquet brush hasn't left a single scratch yet. So far, it has fulfilled its purpose without exception. If I could even objectively determine this between all the existing marks on the ageing floor. I sometimes feel like a referee at the Roland Garros tennis tournament, desperately trying to assign the marks, scuffs and scratches to their respective perpetrators.
And yet I don't dare glide over my parquet or stone floor with the massive standard brush. Is the parquet attachment just sales-boosting mumbo jumbo or a necessary evil?
Parquet brush: there or not there?
If the brush is included in the scope of delivery, it is definitely worth using it. Be it because the original brush is usually a universal model in this case and does not clean immediately. Or because the other brushes supplied all fulfil a special function and are only suitable for their intended purpose. With the wrong brush, you would cause considerable damage even on an old, marked floor.
There are many vacuum cleaners that come with hard floor or even specific parquet brushes. Of course, you can find both bagless models and the bagged version, which include a corresponding attachment for hard floors such as parquet, laminate or stone.
Bagless hoover with parquet brush [[productlist:6515625]]
Vacuum cleaner with bag and parquet brush [[product:5965201,6212929,6515586]]
If you have an older model without a special brush, you don't have to buy a new hoover straight away. Although, depending on the age of your vacuum cleaner, it might be time to part with it and hand it over to a museum. Either way, all major manufacturers offer suitable parquet brushes for their respective models.
Saving in the wrong place
Although convenience often wins out for me, I still recognise when it is necessary to bend more than just one finger. Of course, you can also use the parquet and hard floor brush for large carpeted areas. But I wouldn't recommend it - because these special brushes are designed with long bristles, natural hair or felt-like material to prevent scratches caused by stones, grains or other foreign objects. However, because of these bristles, they often do not reach into the furthest crevices, especially on long-pile carpets. This is why you need the carpet brush or adjustable universal brush.
For the same reason, there are various attachments and brushes for different floors. In addition to the bristles, a fixed bristle ring, rubberised rollers and a tilt and swivel joint for easier operation are also important for the parquet brush.
The bristle ring
It ensures that the bristles stay where they should and do what they should - without dragging along unwanted objects that could damage the floor.
The rollers
Gentle natural hair or extra-soft bristles are of no use if the wheels of the brush scratch the parquet anyway. I therefore recommend rubber wheels. A little tip in passing: The wheels of the hoover itself should also be rubberised, otherwise they could damage the parquet.
The joint
Thanks to a swivel and tilt joint, the brush never loses contact with the floor. This minimises the risk of picking up foreign objects that could damage the floor. It also makes it easier to get into corners and other inaccessible places in your home.
Are you laughing up your sleeve and labelling this article as marketing gossip? Well, in the end, it's up to you to decide how and where to invest the extra 50 to 100 francs. Either in a brush attachment for your undamaged parquet, or in a new floor covering if you can no longer see the colour of the wooden floor because of all the scratches. The choice is yours.
Long story short
Is it really necessary to use the supplied parquet brush if you have a suitable floor at home? Yes. And: Do you have to buy a separate attachment if it is not included? Yes.
For the good of your floor in your own home, for the good of your deposit in a rented flat and against any kind of scratches on your hard floors, a suitable brush attachment is essential.
Header image: The matching brush attachment removes dirt even on parquet - but is it really necessary?
Raphael Knecht
Senior Editor
raphael.knecht@digitecgalaxus.chWhen I'm not stuffing my face with sweets, you'll catch me running around in the gym hall. I’m a passionate floorball player and coach. On rainy days, I tinker with my homebuilt PCs, robots or other gadgets. Music is always my trusted companion. I also enjoy tackling hilly terrain on my road bike and criss-crossing the country on my cross-country skis.
Home + Kitchen
Follow topics and stay updated on your areas of interest
2 comments
later