Using the right attachments, a vacuum cleaner can be used to clean a lot more than just the floors in the home.

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Dust and dirt can lurk anywhere in our homes and we don't always manage to get rid of it effectively and efficiently.

Some hard-to-reach or hidden spots - such as the floor under the sofa - can accumulate a lot of dirt over time and cleaning these areas properly can be challenging.

So, can a vacuum cleaner help with these cleaning chores? Well, when you bought your vacuum cleaner it was probably equipped with a bunch of attachments and accessories - but how many times have you actually used these?

Below, we list a number of ways you can use your vacuum cleaner - and its attachments - to thoroughly clean your home.

1. Furnishing fabrics

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Mattresses, upholstery, carpets, sofas, armchairs and curtains can all be very difficult to clean, especially because most of these items are quite large and can't be easily be treated with cleaning liquids/water. That said, all of these items can be cleaned effectively using a vacuum cleaner with a narrow nozzle attachment (and without having to move them out of place).

2. Blinds and roller shutters

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When was the last time you cleaned your roller shutters or blinds? We all know that it's not that easy to clean these items due to their "irregular" shapes. Again, the narrow nozzle or brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner can be use effectively for this cleaning chore. Close the shutter/blind and vacuum it with either of these attachments.

3. The car

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While the services of a car wash will definitely get your car clean, to save money (or just because you like "DIYing") you can try cleaning your car yourself at home.

The interior of your car - especially the seats, upholstery and air vents - can be really tricky to clean. But if you have a sufficiently powerful vacuum cleaner, you can clean your car effectively in no time.

Use the narrow nozzle attachment on the hard-to-reach spots and the upholstery attachment (usually a brush) on the upholstery/fabrics.

4. Air vents, fans, radiators and filters

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Air vents, air conditioning units, fans and air filters function more efficiently if they are kept clean and free of dust. Even your radiators will heat up more quickly and perform more effectively if they are kept clean.

A vacuum cleaner help you do this cleaning effectively: many models now come special accessories/attachments suitable for precisely these purposes.

5. Door and window frames and tracking

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Doors and windows quickly pick up dirt and grime from the "outside world", and this grime also gets into their frames and tracking.

Whilst it may seem near-impossible to clean irregularly-shaped frames and tracking, you can easily overcome this problem using your vacuum cleaner (with the appropriate attachments).

6. Household appliances and electronic devices

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Various electrical appliances (like the dishwasher, for example) help us keep our homes clean - but who "cleans the cleaners"? Additionally, electronic devices (like TVs, PCs and tablets) provide us with hours of entertainment, but also need to be cleaned periodically.

You can use a vacuum cleaner to help clean these objects - just make sure they are turned off and unplugged before proceeding.

7. Ceiling fans and light fittings

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Ceiling fans and light fittings are usually too high up to be cleaned easily. That said, you can use the extension attachments and brushes of your vacuum cleaner to overcome this obstacle. Of course, you need to be careful whilst vacuuming delicate light fittings.

What other objects do you usually clean at home with your vacuum cleaner?