Idea Exchange: An easy way to clean vacuum lines and hoses

To prevent clogs and debris from blocking the hoses and lines of our central vacuuming system, I take 5 lb of uncooked rice to the various vacuum ports and let the rice get sucked through the hoses. As the rice travels through the lines to the canister, it cleans out debris, residue, and blockages. I've repeated this process every six months for the past three years, and there has not been a blockage in our vacuuming system or a loss of suction in that time.

Ashley McNamee, administrative assistant

Sarasota, Fla.