My vacuum model has a bright light on top of it to help me see when vacuuming under furniture. Handy, but since my eyes are very sensitive to light (I've been told I have "big cups"), it is way too bright for regular vacuuming. After burning my retina for a year, I decided to finally do something about it.

So for the three other people out there with this kind of vacuum and light sensitive eyes, here's a simple modification that you can make to protect your eyes and see what you're doing. This dampener is removable so you can still use the vacuum under furniture.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

- A vacuum with bright top lamp.
- A strip of white/light colored card stock, large enough to cover the lamp. (Mine is a pre-cut scrap from another project.)
- Flat sticky magnets (I cut up a "business card magnet with one sticky side; originally purchased to make my own magnetic poetry.)
- Scissors, a pencil, and something to smooth down the magnets, depending on the type you use.

Step 2: Prep Your Card Stock & Magnets

Check your card stock against the top of your vacuum and mark off any changes you want to make. My model has a pile adjuster on it, so I decided to cut out a quick half circle for it.

Mark with an X where you want to put the magnets.

If you need to cut apart your magnets, now is a good time to determine what size you want them and where to cut them. I simply quartered this business card-sized one.

Step 3: Cut

Cut out the shape of the dampener and cut apart your magnet (if necessary).

Be sure to check and make sure the magnet halves will stick to each other with the adhesive portions outward. If they don't, you won't be able to attach everything properly.

Step 4: Adhere the Magnet to the Card Stock

Remove the adhesive backing, and center your magnets on the X's you made on the card stock. Press down and smooth with a bone folder or similar item if necessary.

Place the other half of the magnets on the halves attached to the card stock. Now you are ready to attached the dampener to your vacuum.

Step 5: Attach the Dampener

Eyeball where you want the dampener to attach over the light and make sure the magnets will more or less fit where you want them too.

Remove the adhesive backing from the remaining magnets and attach them to the vacuum. Carefully trim them to fit with scissors. In my case, I didn't want magnet on my light, so I trimmed back the trailing edges.

Smooth the magnets down with a bone folder.

Step 6: Get Back to Vacuuming

Replace the dampener and turn on the vacuum. You're ready to go!

You can store the dampener on the cord, or some other convenient location when not in use. If your magnets are as weak as mine, you may wish to secure it with a paperclip.

I hope this was helpful. Feel free to comment.