Tips for cleaning a messy vacuum cleaner

Cleaning your vacuum cleaner is much less exciting than vacuuming itself. That is because all of the dust, pollen and allergens the vacuum cleaner picks up end inside the vacuum, frequently causing clogs and lost efficiency of the machine, which is not ideal. Not only will you have a lot of trouble with your messy vacuum cleaner, but also experience unpleasant smells from it. 

Before you begin cleaning the vacuum cleaner, remember these things: 

• Unplug the machine 
• Clean in a well-ventilated area, preferably open 
• Consult your manual for the task. If you don’t have it, search online. You want to know the locations of the filters and canisters, to address them properly. 

What you will need for the task:

• Dish soap 
• Water
• A toothbrush 
• Garbage bag 
• Scissors 
• Microfibre cloth 
• Gloves to keep your hands safe 

As to the process itself, here is what steps you should follow: 

Clean the filter first 

The very first thing you should do is clean the filter of your vacuum. The manual should tell you how many filters the vacuum has and where each of them is located. The filter is the first line of defence against all of the airborne particles that pass through the vacuum cleaner. It should be washable, but in case it is not, you will need to replace it entirely. If you are washing the filter, make sure to dry it thoroughly before putting it back on the vacuum cleaner. 

Clean the canister 

If you use a bagged vacuum, this step doesn’t apply. But if you are using a canister, you will want to clean it by carefully separating it from the vacuuming component. You can soak it in warm water and scrub with a stiff brush to get the worst off it. You need to ensure that it dries well before you put it back in the vacuum cleaner. While you are at it, check the interior of the machine. If there is any dust, use a damp cloth and a toothbrush to remove the mess. If you wish to be even more thorough, try using a can of compressed air inside for best result. Ensure that you are somewhere outside, as there might be quite a lot of dust flying from the machine. 

Clean the beater bar 

As you vacuum, the beater bar collects a ton of debris and hair, making it very difficult for the bristles to pull out of the carpet. Regardless of the roller is one that can pop out, you will be following the same cleaning process: take some scissors and trim the debris. At some point, you will be able to pull the remains. 

Clean the vacuum attachments 

This is the final and easiest part. Cleaning the attachments is done by putting them in a big enough container with warm soapy water. After some scrubbing, the attachments should come out looking as new. As with the other parts, you should rinse the components thoroughly and let them dry fully before putting them back in the vacuum cleaner. 

Remember, cleaning your vacuum cleaner often is an excellent way to keep dust from coming back to your room. It is a good idea to clean the filter once every three months, whereas the other components will generally show when they require some cleaning. A great benefit of cleaning the vacuum cleaner is that it will keep the machine running smoothly! 

© Carpet Cleaner Ltd