As an apartment dweller with primarily carpeted floors, I dread vacuuming. Sure, like any chore, it gets monotonous week after week, but I tend to have the kiss of death when it comes to vacuums — they enter my home and leave in terror. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve knelt before yet another model, trying to figure out what could have caused its demise. Aside from occasionally vacuuming small particles left over from my DIY projects, I found that the true culprit is actually hair.

I don’t have pets to place blame on, but rather, I have long hair that sheds, accumulating on my carpet and becoming a nemesis to vacuums. Thankfully, I discovered a game-changing solution: a carpet rake.

Rake Away

“The reason hair is particularly troublesome is that it tends to twist around the vacuum’s brush roll,” says Maria Anderson, cleaning and organizing expert at Henfield Storage. As hair continues to entangle in the brushes, the more they struggle to rotate as designed. “This alone could compromise the efficiency of the vacuum and also result in potential belt damage or motor strain.”

Instead of going right in with a vacuum, I started using a carpet rake first — specifically the GOSEDER from Amazon. It collects my hair and other trapped debris, so my carpets are cleaner and my vacuum isn’t running on fumes by the end of a cleaning session. “By removing these trapped particles, you are actually increasing the life of your carpet,” Anderson says. “It also helps in preventing build-up over time which reduces the need and cost of deep cleaning the carpets often.”

A carpet rake functions like a typical backyard rake does. You just pick a spot and start raking, and as it passes over your carpet, two sides of copper teeth collect hair and other debris.

Another feature I appreciate about this particular rake is the length of the pole. I’m 5’11”, and the last thing I want to worry about is stooping low while trying to manipulate a short rake handle. This one has an adjustable handle that goes from 19 inches — to clean smaller areas or to maneuver awkward spaces, like underneath a table or inside the car — to 47 inches, so it’s ergonomically friendly and easy for me to move around my apartment. 

All it took was one raking session on my carpet to change my cleaning routine. I was shocked by the sheer amount of hair and dust clumps this little rake collected. Plus, it picked up smaller objects too, like Lego pieces, forgotten bits of wire, and dropped pistachio shells that would only cause trouble for the vacuum. 

In addition to a carpet rake, Anderson also suggests regularly cleaning any tangles that may have formed on the vacuum brush to extend the life of your vacuum. Her helpful tip: keep scissors or a seam ripper in the same area that you store your vacuum, so that maintenance can be quick and part of your cleaning routine.  

Thankfully, with regular use of this carpet rake, I’ve experienced fewer hair entanglements in my vacuum entirely, making the entire experience less of a challenge. Raking my carpet is an extra step, but I appreciate avoiding pricey vacuum repairs or having to outright replace it frequently. Plus, I only have to gently wipe it clean after use, and it fits easily in my hallway closet. Whether you too have long hair that challenges your vacuum, or you just want cleaner carpets overall, try adding a rake. Your carpet and cleaning tools will thank you.

Featured Image Credit: BanksPhotos/ iStock

Nicole PylesWriter

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