10 Weird Facts About the History of the Vacuum Cleaner

We’ve all got one somewhere at home, waiting to clean our carpets or scare our pets. But how much do we know about the history of the vacuum cleaner?

From vacuum cleaners so big they had to be pulled around by horses to robotic models that do the work for you, vacuum cleaners have certainly come a long way.

And they don’t just clean your house either. Vacuum cleaners have inspired medical machinery and could even pose a solution to environmental problems.

Here are 10 weird facts about vacuum cleaners that definitely don’t suck!

1. Human-Powered Vacuum Cleaners

Heading back in time to the humble beginnings of vacuum cleaner history, one of the first models was the ‘Whirlwind’, invented in 1868 by Ives W. McGaffey.

The cumbersome device worked with a belt-driven fan that the user had to crank by hand. As a result, it was awkward to operate and achieved limited success.

The Baby Daisy, from 1890, used bellows for suction and required two people to operate it. While one person stood on the base of the bellows and moved it back and forth, the other used the hose to clean the house.

2. A Horse-Drawn Vacuum Cleaner with Royal Approval

In 1901, British engineer Hubert Cecil Booth invented the first powered vacuum cleaner.

Booth’s invention, called the ‘Puffing Billy’, ran on gasoline and was so big it had to be transported by a horse-drawn cart.

Customers paid Booth a fee for his ‘Vacuum Cleaning’ services. This involved inserting tubes into the windows of homes or commercial buildings in order to clean the heavy carpets and rugs.

Booth services also had royal approval. In 1902, Booth was commissioned to clean Westminster Abbey before and after the coronations of Queen Alexandra and King Edward VII.

3. A Spangler In the Works

Although James Murray Spangler didn’t invent the vacuum, he definitely revolutionized it.

As a department store janitor, Spangler was responsible for cleaning the whole building each night. Not only was the task tedious but it aggravated his asthma.

Using a broom, a pillowcase, and an electric motor, Spangler devised the first vacuum cleaner that stood upright as a way to make his work easier. Although it was crude, the machine worked, sucking up dirt and blowing it into the pillowcase at the back.

Spangler quit his job and patented his design in 1907. Although he had a good idea on his hands, his attempts to mass produce and sell his design failed. As a result, he had to turn to his cousin, Susan Hoover for help. And the rest is vacuum cleaner history…

4. Hoovering Up

The name Hoover is synonymous with vacuum cleaners nowadays. In fact, in the US and Britain, it’s not uncommon to refer to the action of vacuum cleaning as ‘hoovering’.

But, back in 1908 when leather goods manufacturer William Hoover bought Spangler’s patent, he had misgivings about Spangler’s invention.

Despite this, Hoover poured money into research and development. He also invested in marketing and door-to-door salesmen to sell a perfected version of Spangler’s machine, turning it into a business success.

5. Suck and Blow Dry

In 1920, the first commercial hooded salon hair dryers went on sale. These models were inspired by evolving vacuum technology and also used heated coils. But, hooded hair dryers remained bulky until the 1950s.

Before this breakthrough in hair-dryer design, many women who owned early portable vacuums would attach extensions to the ‘wrong’ end of their vacuum cleaners. The suction-driven air that was expelled enabled them to dry their hair.

6. Pumping an Iron Lung

Vacuum cleaners also have their place in medical history. The first iron lung was powered by an electric motor with air pumps from two vacuum cleaners.

The air pumps changed the pressure inside an airtight metal box, pulling air in and out of the lungs to help polio patients breathe.

7. There’s a Vacuum Cleaner in (Almost) Every US Home

Unlike these weird inventions you probably haven’t heard of, vacuum cleaners are a key household appliance in most American homes.

In fact, according to the Vacuum Cleaner Manufactures Association, 98 percent of US households own a vacuum cleaner.

And, with a revenue of $4,137 million in 2018, the US is the biggest market for vacuum cleaner sales.

8. A Solution to Environmental Problems

Vacuum cleaners have been cleaning up our homes for decades now. They also present a key solution to large-scale environmental issues.

Industrial vacuums are already being used to clean up environmental spills. Vacuum-style pumps can reduce further contamination and also help to clean affected areas, which you can learn more about here.

And in future, vacuum cleaners could help improve air quality in polluted cities across the world. The Dutch artist Daan Roosegarde has proposed to clean up Beijing’s contaminated skies with his Smog system, one of many futuristic plans for the adaptable vacuum cleaner.

9. Robotic Vacuum Cleaner Turns Against Owner

Robotic vacuum cleaners might seem like the perfect solution to help with household chores. But for one South Korean woman, a nap on the floor turned into a nightmare when her robotic vacuum tried to suck up her hair.

Many see this as a glimpse into a dystopian future where robots turn against their owners.

Thankfully, the woman escaped without serious injury after paramedics freed her from the robot. But, we imagine she’s probably returned to using a standard vacuum cleaner since the incident.

10. The Vacuum Cleaner Workout

Not only is using a standard vacuum cleaner a lot safer than a robotic model, it also has the advantage of providing you with an effective workout.

If you thought these weird exercises were strange ways to burn calories, then check out this vacuum cleaner workout.

But, you don’t have to go to so much effort to see results while you clean your home. Half an hour of vacuuming burns 96 calories, which is the same as 10 minutes on the cross trainer.

Weird Facts About the History of The Vacuum Cleaner

Who knew vacuum cleaners had such a varied history? Or that they inspired salon hair dryers or were used to create the first iron lung?

These weird facts about the history of the vacuum cleaner sure surprised us! How about you?

And remember, if you’re into history, check out these weird industrial revolution facts you didn’t learn at school.

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