For some reason, the tiny things we drop on the ground are never the ones we could stand to lose. Nope, it’s always the back to a favorite pair of earrings, your wedding band, or a pill you can’t afford to miss a dose of. The next time this happens, don’t panic—just grab some hosiery and your vacuum cleaner.
It’s pretty simple: slip a stocking over the business end of your vacuum, secure with a rubber band, and go hunting. The stocking keeps small, solid items from getting sucked up into the vacuum itself. This video from the Hartford shows it in action:
Since those small items always manage to roll into the tightest, smallest possible corner of a room, a hose attachment is the best tool for the job; handheld vacuums also work great. Whatever you do, don’t try this with a rotating brush attachment. The bristles can tear the stockings, creating holes for that earring to escape through—and a tangled mess for you to clean up.