Do you know how to keep your vacuum cleaner in top condition, without breakdowns, or annoying sounds when using it? Is your vacuum cleaner not cleaning as it used to when you just purchased it?

Cleaning a vacuum cleaner isn’t really as complex as it actually is. Just having a couple of tools with 30 minutes of your time, and you’d have a clean vacuum like how it was when you just bought it. To achieve this new look and increased capability, you simply have to try the steps that would be explained below.

To get the most out of your vacuum cleaner it’s advisable you clean it monthly, this way you’d be extending the lifecycle of your vacuum cleaner.

But before you start…

There are certain cleaning tools you’d need so you can follow along

Things you’d need

• Waste bag
• Rubbing alcohol
• Old scissors
• Water
• A dry cloth or paper towels (for cleaning)
• Cotton buds
• Sack

Having these sets you for the cleaning task. Now they are certain steps you would follow in order to clean your vacuum cleaner properly.

Note: Always adhere to the instruction manual that comes with your vacuum cleaner, this post is only a guide to help you in the cleaning process.

Step 1: Empty the Waste Bag

One of the most common causes of loss of suction is blockages. This can make the machine slow to pick up debris and can quickly overheat. To keep this at bay, you’d never have to reuse a dust bag, as it’s part of the filtration system. Because if clogged with dust, it can lessen the cleaning capability and potency of the vacuum cleaner

Note: if you use a bagless vacuum cleaner, ensure to dispose of the dirt particles after each cleaning task. For bagged vacuum cleaners, when the indicator shows or always replace when it's one-third, you can manage to leave it till its two-thirds, but I recommend you replace it when it's one-third full!

Tip: you can also unblock your vacuum cleaner, by switching it off, then unplug. You then tease out any blockage in the tube, remove the hose from the machine, then check the entrance to see if you'd find further debris. If you do, clean it out with the dry cloth.

Step 2: Take Everything Apart

After you must have disposed of the dirt from the waste bag, to ensure you clean every part properly. Then get a sack where you’d be putting all the parts you removed.

Step 3: Check the Filters

Most vacuum cleaners come with one washable filter not all though. To clean this kind of filter, you first check where the vacuum filter is located, and then you take it out and gently tap it against the floor outside to remove any stiff debris or clumps of dust, ensure you do this outside, else you may have your surroundings cloaked with a dust cloud.

If you can wash it, put the filter under a water source and run it, then you allow it to dry thoroughly, for at least 24 hours, before you return it to your machine. Some additional filters in your vacuum cleaner may not be washable, so be sure to check the manufacturer’s manual. If they can be washed, just repeat the same process, else just tap the filter against a hard surface outside, and then return it to your vacuum

Step 4: Check the Brush Heads

Be sure to check the brush heads of hairs, and threads. If your brush head becomes jammed, use the old scissors to cut any hair or thread tangled around it, this may be the cause of it not rotating properly.

Note: Also when cutting the threads, and hair be careful not to cut the bristles.

Step 5: Clean and Disinfect your Vacuum Cleaner

After checking the basics and have done the above steps, you can use rubbing alcohol with a cotton bud and then apply on the cotton bud and rub the bottom of your vacuum cleaner to disinfect it. After doing this, the alcohol dries instantly while it disinfects your vacuum cleaner.

This may be a bit too harsh, but I can't stress how important it is to disinfect the bottom of your vacuum cleaner, because it moves all over your house and it's most likely the dirtiest part in your vacuum cleaner (close to what's in your waste bag).

If you still aren’t convinced, here’s an excerpt from a case study: A teacher had a student (and her entire family) that had stomach flu continuously every week. This persisted for over a month. After visiting the doctor several times, he finally figured out what was really happening. One of them had gotten sick earlier and it had been cleaned, but every time they used the vacuum cleaner on the same carpet, the germs got stirred up and it kept re-infecting them in cycles. This is why it’s very important to clean the bottom of your vacuum cleaner with rubbing alcohol or any disinfectant that would thoroughly clean your vacuum cleaner.

It can also cause a smelly vacuum if you fail to clean and disinfect it. Most times, smelly vacuums are normally the result of not emptying the dirt in your vacuum cleaner regularly. It’s best you first explore the dust bag, and empty the dirt before you give the outside a wipe.

If your vacuum is bagless, then you can wash the canister with a mixed soap and water solution after you must have emptied it completely, then you leave to dry before putting the components back together

Step 6: Wash and Wipe With Water

Wash and wipe the body dry, after having disinfected it with the disinfectant. Make sure the body and the components are completely dry before returning it to the vacuum cleaner. You can take time to wipe and clean the seals also.

Ensure you completely wipe down the entire vacuum cleaner with the dry cloth, you can make it damp by sprinkling water on it. You can also add a little spray of your favorite all-around cleaner to make the cleaning more effective

Step 7: Return the Filters

By now the filters must have dried. You can now return it to your vacuum cleaner. if you just put the filter back without allowing it dry, it may form molds, and this is something you don’t want in your vacuum’s filter

Bonus Tip

If you notice any scratch on your vacuum cleaner from your woodwork, you can wipe out the scratch marks by rubbing alcohol on a cotton bud, as you gently wipe the scratched area. This would make your vacuum look new.

This tip can also be applied on any surface, just apply rubbing alcohol on a cotton bud, and you’d see how the scratch disappears completely

In Conclusion

How did you see this cleaning guide? Did it help you set your vacuum cleaner for a good clean?

Cleaning your vacuum cleaner is a habit that I recommend you stick at least once a month, this way you won't be bothered of any part wearing out. If you maintain your vacuum cleaner properly, most times they stay the number of years stated by the manufacturer.

Do you have any question on how to clean your vacuum cleaner? Or do you have any suggestions? Please let us know in the comments! If you enjoyed this post, please share! Cheers! ~Remember sharing is caring~