Central Vacuum Attachments: Which Tool for Which Job

Most people use two of the tools that came with their system and leave the rest in a bag. That is usually the wrong two. Central vacuum attachments are cheap compared with the system itself, and choosing the right one for a job changes the result more than any amount of extra suction would.

Here is what each tool is for.

The combination rug and floor tool

This is the workhorse, and on most of our systems it is the X403. A lever switches between a brush strip for hard floors and a bare edge for carpet.

The mistake people make is leaving it on one setting permanently. On hard floors the brush should be down, or you push grit around instead of lifting it. On carpet the brush should be up, or the tool skates and the airflow never reaches the pile.

The bare floor brush

The X404 is a separate tool with soft horsehair, and it exists for surfaces that mark. Hardwood, polished stone, and vinyl all do better with it than with a combination tool.

It is worth noting these are two different tools rather than two names for the same one, because our own documentation has not always been clear on it. The CS line ships with the X403 and the GarageVac with the X404.

Carpet needs agitation, not just suction

Suction alone lifts surface debris. Grit worked into the pile needs mechanical agitation to release it, which is why a turbo brush outperforms a plain floor tool on carpet by a wide margin. Guidance from the Carpet and Rug Institute makes the same point about vacuuming technique generally.

The crevice tool

The most underrated tool in any kit. Skirting boards, the channel beside a stair tread, seat rails in a car, window tracks, and the gap between an appliance and a cabinet.

Use it slowly. A crevice tool works by concentrating airflow into a narrow opening, and the debris needs a moment to move. Dragging it quickly along a skirting board achieves almost nothing.

The dust brush

Soft bristles on a round head, for anything you would otherwise wipe with a cloth. Blinds, lampshades, keyboards, radiator fins, the tops of door frames, and the vents in a car dashboard.

The advantage over a cloth is that the dust goes into the machine instead of into the air, which matters if anyone in the house reacts to it.

The upholstery brush

A wide, flat tool with a short pile strip. It is for sofas, mattresses, headliners and car seats. On a mattress it does more than people expect, and it is worth a pass twice a year.

The turbo brush

An air-driven beater bar that spins on the airflow through the hose. This is the tool that makes a real difference on carpet and on pet hair, and it is the upgrade most owners should make first.

Our TK-108-TB kit adds one to the standard seven-piece set, and the TK-108-TBM adds a medium turbo brush and a dust mop as well. The kits are on our accessory kits page.

The 32mm question

Here is the part worth knowing before you buy anything. All our tools use a 32mm fitting, and they are not model-specific. A kit bought for an InterVac Pro works on a GarageVac, a RoadVac, or an RM without adaptation.

They also fit 32mm inlets from other brands, including Beam and Husky, which means our kits are an option even if your power unit is not ours. They do not fit 35mm systems from Shark, Dyson or Miele. Check the cuff diameter before ordering, not the brand.

What we would buy first

If you are starting from a bare system, buy in this order: combination floor tool, crevice tool, dust brush, upholstery brush, then a turbo brush if you have carpet or pets. A telescopic wand is worth having over a fixed one, because it saves bending on stairs.

Skip the specialist tools until you know you need them. Most households never use more than five.

Tool questions

How do I know if my system is 32mm or 35mm?

Measure the outside diameter of the hose cuff where it enters the inlet. Ours are 32mm, as are Beam and Husky. Shark, Dyson and Miele use 35mm and will not fit, whatever an adapter listing claims.

Is a telescopic wand worth the extra?

Yes, for almost everyone. It saves bending on stairs and lets one person set a comfortable working height rather than accepting a fixed one. It is the cheapest ergonomic improvement in the range.

Do turbo brushes need servicing?

Pull hair from the roller regularly. A jammed roller stops spinning and quietly becomes an ordinary floor tool, which is why people sometimes report that their turbo brush “stopped working” when nothing has actually failed.

What is the mesh bag for?

Storing the tools together near the inlet you use most. Tools kept in a distant cupboard get used far less than tools hanging beside the hose.

Which tools do people regret buying?

Specialist heads bought before they knew the need. Start with the core five, use the system for a season, and buy the sixth tool when you can name the job it is for.

Looking after them

Check brush strips for wear once a year and pull hair from the turbo brush roller regularly, since a jammed roller stops spinning and quietly becomes a plain floor tool. The hose deserves the same attention, and our hose care guide covers what actually kills them.