Your essential guide to what all the vacuum cleaner attachments do

Your vacuum cleaner will likely come with an array of attachments. The most common ones are crevice tools and dusting brushes, but newer vacuums have a much bigger selection for different, specific tasks around the house. 

If you have one of the best vacuum cleaners, like the Dyson V15 Detect, you might be looking at all these attachments and wondering what to do with them. Or, maybe you're hoping to get more use out of your vacuum by investing in some new attachments.

Either way, this guide aims to illuminate exactly what all those vacuum cleaner attachments do - and show you how you can make the most out of them.

1. Crevice tool

Invaluable for focused cleaning, the crevice tool can get into tight spots. Corners, baseboard edges, gaps between carpeting or wooden panels, under appliances, between stairs - the crevice tool is a necessary attachment for cleaning places that the usual brushroll can't reach.

It's also effective for small spot suction, like cleaning crumbs from the car seat or getting debris stuck under the oven.

2. Dust brush

Soft brushes help dislodge dust particles from windowsills, lampshades, picture frames – or any surface above the floor where dust can sit. They're great for more gentle cleaning, like cleaning TV screens or clearing the dust on delicate items.

3. Upholstery tool

Around 4 to 6 inches wide, this tool is designed to suck up any hairs and debris when you clean upholstery, and they'll often have strips specifically to draw out lint. They're also great on carpets, mattresses and cushions.

4. Extension wand

Extension wands are fantastic at reaching higher-up places, with many versions offering an extra 18 inches – perfect for reaching things like fan blades, door frames, and air vents. You can often attach a separate attachment to the end, making it the ideal long-reach dusting companion for high-up shelves.

5. Mattress tool

Similar to the upholstery tool, mattress attachments can suck up lint, dirt and debris from mattresses thanks to their flat, wide shape. Perfect for giving your mattress a well-needed refresh or spring cleaning a bed.

6. Pet hair tool

Designed for hands-on pet grooming, these attachments can often come up with a variety of combs, to brush loose pet hair into the vacuum cleaner. This avoids the hair falling onto carpets and furniture - but of course, make sure to be gentle with your furry friends.

7. Radiator brush

This brush is thin enough to fit between the radiator fins, making light work of a task that would otherwise require a lot more time. 

If you don't already have one, it might be worth considering upgrading to one of the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair. Or, to make cleaning as easy as it's ever been, one of the best robot vacuums will do most of the work for you.