I’ve been a loyal user of Shark vacuums for several years now. (Most of the OGT Team are Shark users as well! We are a passionate group when it comes to the value and quality of our cleaning tools.) I’ve always been incredibly satisfied with the performance of my vacuums, but I have always felt like something was missing when it comes to my vacuum attachments.
More Ideas You'll Love
Related: The Best Corded And Cordless Vacuums That Are Actually Affordable
My Shark vacuum did come with a crevice tool, but even this attachment isn’t as narrow or nimble as I would like it to be. (I don’t know if such an attachment even exists!) So I decided to do what all good DIYers do, and figure out how to make one myself!
I’m happy to report that I cracked the code, and found a way to make the narrow and flexible crevice tool I had been dreaming of. And the best part? I only needed one common household item to do it—a cardboard tube from a roll of paper towels! :-) And today I’ll be showing you how you can make your own easy crevice tool at home, along with some brilliant ways to put it to good use!
How To Make A Cardboard Tube Crevice Tool
Start by squishing and/or folding one end of a long cardboard tube so you can slide it into the end of your vacuum hose. (As long as you get it to fit snugly, there’s no need to tape it or secure it. Vacuum will do most of the work to hold it in place once you get it up and running!)
Once you have your tube attached to the hose, you can trim the tube to whatever length feels best for you. (You can also keep it long if you want!) Then simply flatten the other end of the tube to create a narrow opening. And voila, your crevice tool is ready to use!
4 Genius Ways To Use Your Crevice Tool
There are so many different ways that this tool can come in handy when you’re cleaning. Here are just a few of the places I’ve used mine so far:
1. Window Tracks
The flattened tube can fit into even the most narrow sections of your window track to suck out dirt and dust.
2. Drawers
More Ideas You'll Love
Drawers can quickly fill up with dust, dirt, hair, etc., and the cardboard tube crevice tool makes it easy to clean it all out fast!
3. Your Car’s Center Console
The slim opening makes it easy to clear out all the grime that collects in your gear shift, cup holders, and other nooks and crannies.
4. Vents
Use your DIY crevice tool to clear out dust and dirt from all kinds of vents around the house. It’s perfect for floor vents, exhaust fans, and even the vents in your car!
5. Baseboards
This crevice tool is also perfect for picking up the dust that settles on your baseboards! I normally hate dusting my baseboards, but this way is so much easier.
What would you clean with the help of a super narrow vacuum attachment?
Didn’t have have a toilet roll tube available, so just made a tube with a piece of scrap paper and used this on my little vacuum cleaner to get into the light shade of a floor lamp, where several flies had ended their lives. It was delicate enough to do no harm to the fragile light bulb.
Thank you! That’s a lovely idea altogether. Economic, ecological and probably ergonomic since I don’t have to go anywhere to buy/get it. Well done!
That’s pure genius! Makes me wonder why vacuums don’t come with flexible crevice tools to begin with.
Right?!
I have been doing that for years!!
me too, Laurie, misplaced mine one time and in desperation, made one. What’s even better are the cardboard rolls from parchment paper ..Have a great day.
Whoo that’s the best ever! You have the best ideas, I read your posts everyday & everyday I’m surprised . Thanks Jillee.
Susan O’
Thanks Susan!
What a great hack! I also love the fact that if there is something really dirty that needs to be cleaned, like the sliding-glass-door track, instead of having to clean my vacuum attachment when I’m done, I can just throw this one away.
I use similar trick to blow the water out of my CPAP tube after cleaning.
If I can get the paper roll to stop closing up. I bet that it would work well for all the stuff that accumulates in the cracks , in the refrigerator.
As long you gently squeeze the toilet paper tube in the opposite direction of the collapse, it should work just fine! I would also suggest using a paper towel roll instead of a toilet paper roll – they seem to be a bit stronger :-)
I’ve tried this several times through the years & my Shark sucks the end shut. I’m thinking maybe the suction is too strong on mine, so I wound up getting one of those Oxo Good Grips microfiber dusters that are designed for under appliances & under furniture. Thankfully the crevice tool that came on my Shark does most of what I need it to.
If you shorten the amount of exposed cardboard roll, it won’t close up.
Try a DUST DADDY. It looks like it is much easier to use than this. You don’t need to hold the carboard tube with your other hand. Even got into vents in car!