My vacuum cleaner almost made a balloon pop and now I want a gadget that prevents it

I was vacuuming my living room last Saturday when I accidentally sucked up a deflated birthday balloon that was hiding under the couch. The balloon got stuck in the hose and started making this awful screeching sound like it was about to burst. I panicked and shut off the vacuum, then spent 10 minutes trying to fish the balloon out with a wire hanger while keeping my face away from the hose. It got me thinking, why doesn't someone invent a vacuum attachment that can detect soft or weird objects before they get pulled in? Like a sensor that triggers a little door to close if it senses something like fabric or plastic that shouldn't be there. Has anyone else had a scare with their vacuum and random household stuff?

2 comments

2 Comments

rayc3816d ago

Nah, I see it differently. That would add a bunch of moving parts and electronics to something simple that already works. A sensor and a door would probably just break or get clogged after a few months. I've had plenty of close calls with my vacuum but honestly, just checking the floor before you start goes a long way. Maybe just keep an eye out for balloons next time.

masondixon16d ago

Ah, man, I hear you. It's frustrating when a simple solution gets overcomplicated with tech that's just gonna fail down the road, you know? I've been there with my own vacuum too, and you're right, a quick scan of the floor saves a lot of headaches.