For too long, wet/dry vacuums have been relegated to the shop or lab, utilizing only a fraction of their capabilities. Here are seven ways a wet/dry vacuum or air mover can help protect and maintain facilities on a day-to-day basis.

1. Spot Cleaning

New advances in battery technology aren’t just for smart phones and backpack vacuums. Shorten your spill response time with a portable or cordless wet/dry vacuum like the ProGuard LI 3 cordless. For carpeting, vacuum the spot thoroughly before you apply cleaner to capture as much of the spill as possible. Then follow your usually spot cleaning steps, and vacuum thoroughly again. This will remove much more moisture than blotting, and set you up to protect the appearance of your carpet for the long run.

2. Entryways and Walk-Off Mats

Many facilities rely on dry-only upright or backpack vacuums to maintain entryways, which is risky considering how much moisture can accumulate in walk-off mats – even if it has not rained for days. Instead, consider pairing a mid-sized wet/dry vacuum like the ProGuard 10 with a Turbo Brush floor tool. The brush roll agitates the mat fibers, removing as much soil as possible, while the wet/dry captures soil and moisture with no risk of damaging the vacuum.

3. Large Messes or Floods

We don’t like to think about the worst case-scenarios – a water main bursts, a toilet overflows, the water heater breaks – but these things happen all the time. Whenever we’re dealing with moisture, a quick response-time can mean the difference between minor cleanup and major renovation. A wet/dry vacuum with a capacity between 10 and 20 gallons can capture a large enough volume to quickly contain a large mess or flood.

4. Extreme Weather Conditions

When extreme weather strikes, a facility should be prepared to tackle copious snow, rain, and wind. This is when it is helpful to have an air mover, like the ProBlitz XP AirMover, in addition to a wet/dry vacuum on hand. Since you cannot vacuum constantly to keep up with moisture during high traffic times, an air mover can quietly dry floors and subfloors without disturbing occupants until you are able to vacuum.

5. Floor Stripping

There never seems to be enough time for project cleaning. Create more time for other tasks by expediting your strip-and-wax process with a large, ergonomic wet/dry vacuum. The ProGuard 15/20 has an elbow-height push handle and large wheels for easy maneuvering. When the wheels are in the center configuration, it swivels on the spot with minimal effort, rather than taking a wide turn. This allows you to quickly vacuum sludge in tight rows without having to backtrack for missed spots.

6. Carpet Cleaning

Regular carpet cleaning is another crucial project that, too often, is postponed or reduced in frequency due to the inconvenience of having areas out-of-service for drying. An air mover placed every 200 feet can significantly reduce drying time, ideally allowing for more frequent cleanings and improved carpet appearance and longevity. A model like the ProBlitz XP AirMover has low amp draw and daisy-chain capabilities, allowing for several units to run on a single circuit to dry long hallways or a large areas.

7. Air Circulation

Once you have an air mover in your arsenal, new uses for it will keep appearing. Good air circulation helps control moisture and reduce stuffiness, so consider running an air mover in athletic facilities or during highly attended events when the air starts feeling less-than-fresh.

See the ProGuard Wet/Dry line in action.