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It's ironic how your home's vacuum cleaner can often be the dirtiest appliance in the house. By the time you've finished vacuuming, you might not feel inclined to give the vacuum cleaner itself a bit of love and care. But it's worth it: a clean and well-maintained vac will do a much better job of picking up dirt around your home and will last longer.
We'll explain how to clean the bin and the insides of the machine, change the filters, and sort out blockages, tangled hair and other problems.
Read more: 5 signs it's time for a new vacuum cleaner
Before doing any maintenance on your vacuum cleaner, read the instructions for your model. These will show how to access and replace the filters, which parts are safe to wash, plus other helpful advice.
Having the following items on hand will help you give your vacuum a thorough clean.
The timing for each of the maintenance tasks below is just a suggestion. Any time your vacuum cleaner loses suction, emits musty smells or simply looks like a mess, give it some attention.
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For bagless vacuum cleaners, empty the dust bin, and clean the cleaning head and brush rollers.
You can remove tangled hair and threads from the roller head with scissors.
CHOICE tip: For cleaning the head, a quick method is often to disconnect it and use the end of the wand to suck away any lint and dust. Alternatively, a second vacuum (such as a handheld vac) can make quick work of some of these tasks.
Check the hose for obstructions like Lego bricks, wads of paper, buttons and hair clips. You'll usually know straight away if anything gets stuck in the hose, but sometimes blockages can build up over time. To do this:
Read more: How to buy the best vacuum cleaner
Check the manual or manufacturer website for a guide on which filters can be removed and washed, and how to do it.
Remove and clean the filter, and replace it if necessary (something you'll usually need to do once a year).
Brush the accumulated dust off any washable filters (we recommend doing this outside) and wash them under a tap or in a sink of warm water if possible.
Wipe down exterior surfaces of the vacuum with a soft damp cloth.
For bagged models, replace the bag when it's about two-thirds full. Leaving it until it's completely full will affect the suction and your vacuum won't perform as well. Also, leaving dirt to sit for too long may encourage mould and germs to build up inside the bag.
While you're changing the bag, take the chance to clean stray dust from the bag compartment with a damp cloth (or use a second vacuum cleaner – a brush accessory is ideal). Make sure the bag compartment surfaces are dry before you put in the new bag and close the compartment.
Many vacuum cleaners are designed to come apart for thorough cleaning.
Replace the filters if needed. Check the manual for the recommended timing for this. If the filters look clean and you're not having any problems with suction power or with dust and smells escaping the vacuum cleaner, you probably don't need to do this yet.
To extend the life of your vacuum, you should replace any worn out parts such as the hose, roller drive belt and accessories. Check the part numbers in the instructions or on the manufacturer's website. You can usually order new parts directly from the manufacturer but you may also find them from other retailers.
Read more: HEPA filters for vacuum cleaners
The floor is where a lot of household dirt collects, and where there's dirt there are often germs. So it can be worthwhile to occasionally disinfect the underside of the cleaning head and inside the dust bin of a bagless vacuum. This is especially true if you have young children or pets in the house, who can come into contact with dirt and other nasties on the floor, and may be the ones tracking it around the house in the first place. Disinfection can also be important if there's anyone sick at home.
However, always check the manual first. Some manufacturers recommend against using detergents and other chemicals on the vacuum cleaner and say that only water or a slightly damp cloth should be used for cleaning the vacuum cleaner.
If it's OK to use a disinfectant, isopropyl alcohol is a good option as it's effective and quick drying, but any household disinfectant liquid or spray can be used. Be careful not to get any disinfectant into the motor compartment.
If it's not recommended to use a disinfectant or you're unsure, a thorough wipe with a cloth is still a good idea and will help remove any germs. Just make sure everything is dry before re-assembling and using the vacuum cleaner.
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