A vacuum cleaner hose is a long cylindrical object which connects to a port on a vacuum. Once attached, the suction is pulled through the hose in order to remove dirt, dust, and debris from areas that may be hard to reach using the main section of the cleaner. Hoses come in various lengths and can generally be used with other attachments for added convenience.
The main purpose of a vacuum cleaner hose is to make cleaning certain areas of the home easier and less cumbersome. Curtains, sofa cushions, areas behind furniture, and blinds are all areas of the home which may benefit from a vacuum hose. Most cleaners come with additional attachment nozzles of varying shapes and sizes to further tailor the machine for a particular job. For instance, a brush attachment can be used to clean fabric while a small pointed one is ideal for cleaning corners and in the nooks and crannies of a sofa.
In most cases, a particular vacuum cleaner hose will be needed for each vacuum. Each has a specific connector at one or both ends and may not fit into cleaners designed by other manufacturers. The attachments should also be designed to fit into that particular hose, because ill-fitting parts can compromise suction capacity and effectiveness.
A vacuum cleaner hose may be made from one of several materials, although plastic is the most common. They can have a more rigid coiled wire or accordion shape, or they may be made from braided heavy duty fabric or fiberglass. Sometimes thin plastic is also twisted or braided together.
Hoses must be kept in good condition because bends, holes, or worn areas may reduce the suction and compromise the cleaning capability of that hose. A vacuum cleaner hose can also be easily clogged, so users should avoid trying to suck up large items or hair. Anything that can be picked up easily by hand should be tossed in a trash bin rather than cleaned with the vacuum cleaner.
Cleaners which come with hoses and attachments are often more expensive than more basic models, but most cleaners now have some sort of hose attached and some are offered at very reasonable prices. Virtually every manufacturer offers a cleaner with hose attachments. Damaged hoses may be able to be replaced by contacting the maker of the machine with the model number.