Sweep First

• It may sound like a duplication of work to sweep the floor first and then vacuum it, but in fact a broom and a vacuum cleaner clean in very different ways. A broom can pick up big clumps of dirt, dust and debris that vacuums might have trouble with, while a vacuum cleaner will pull up dust from the lines of the floor that a broom will only push down. Use a soft-bristle broom, and get in the corners and alongside the floor trim.
  
  

Choose the Right Vacuum

• There are vacuums that are made especially for hardwood floors, but it's not necessary to invest in a second vacuum if your first one has a few necessary elements. Check that it has plastic or rubber wheels, not metal ones, as they will scratch up your finish. It should have a height-adjustment feature, so you can get it close to the floor surface. Make sure the beater bar (that spinning brush under the vacuum) can be turned off, and that it has a hose-and-wand attachment with a soft-bristle brush at the end, to get into corners.
  
  

Vacuuming Process

• Start with your hose attachment and bristle brush. Begin in one corner, running the brush all along the top, front and bottom of the floor trim, then the edge where the trim meets the floor. Vacuuming the trim is important because it can catch dust and later release it onto the floor. For the rest of the floor, turn on the main vacuum, with the height set to the lowest level and the beater bar off so it doesn't scuff the finish. Vacuum with the direction of the floorboard, pulling the vacuum slowly backward and forward twice on each section of floor. Rememember that you're trying to pull up dust from within the cracks, so don't go too fast.