To clean a vacuum cleaner, unplug it, empty the bin or change the bag, rinse washable filters in cold water and let them dry for at least 24 hours, cut the hair off the brush roll, and check the hose for clogs. Do the filter about once a month. Most suction problems are a full bin, a clogged filter, or something stuck in the hose.
Go in that order. The quick checks come first, and most of the time the problem turns up in one of them.
How often to clean each part of a vacuum#
| Part |
How often |
| Bin |
Every use, or when it reaches the max line |
| Bag |
When the indicator says so, or it feels full |
| Washable filter |
Monthly, more often with fine dust or heavy use |
| Brush roll |
Weekly with pets or long hair, monthly otherwise |
| Hose and wand |
When suction drops or you hear rattling |
| Floor head wheels and underside |
Monthly |
| Whole-machine clean |
Every 3 months |
The filter interval is Dyson's: its vacuum filter care guide says cordless models prompt you about once a month, sooner with heavy use. Other brands vary, so check your manual, but monthly is a sensible default for any washable filter.
Start by emptying the bin or bag#
Switch it off and unplug it, or take the battery out of a cordless. Empty the bin into an outdoor trash can if you can, since the dust cloud goes everywhere indoors. Pull out any hair wrapped around the cyclone shroud or the bin's center with your fingers.
Don't fill a bin up to the brim. Suction starts dropping before the bin looks full, and a packed bin pushes fine dust into the filter.
For bagged vacuums, swap the bag when the indicator tells you to, or when the bag feels full and firm. Disposable bags aren't meant to be emptied and refitted; the paper tears easily and dust ends up past the bag.
How to clean a vacuum filter#
Find out what kind of filter you have before water goes anywhere near it. Many vacuums have a washable pre-filter and a non-washable HEPA filter, and the word "HEPA" doesn't tell you whether it's washable. The manual or the filter itself will say.
For a washable filter, Dyson's method is a good general guide:
- Tap the loose dust out over a bin.
- Rinse it under cold running water, squeezing gently, until the water runs clear. No detergent.
- Shake out the excess water.
- Leave it to air dry for at least 24 hours somewhere with good airflow.
Never put a filter back damp. Dyson warns a wet filter can damage the motor. Don't hurry it in a tumble dryer, oven, microwave, or near a heater either. Wash it at night after the last vacuum of the day, or keep a spare filter so the machine is never out of action.
Non-washable filters get tapped clean and replaced on the maker's schedule. If one is grey all the way through, it's time.
How to get hair off a vacuum brush roll#
Hair and thread wrapped around the brush roll stops it from agitating the carpet, and that looks like lost suction even when the motor is fine.
- Take the brush roll out if your model allows it. Most floor heads have a coin-slot lock or a release button on the side.
- Run scissors or a seam ripper along the groove between the bristles, cutting across the wrapped hair. Keep the blade pointing away from the bristles.
- Pull the cut hair off and clean the end caps. Hair winds into the bearings at each end, and that's the part people miss.
- Check the bristles. Worn-down bristles don't reach the carpet, so the roll needs replacing.
Some brush rolls can be rinsed, but the floor head they sit in has electrical contacts and usually can't. Check the manual before wetting anything.
How to unclog a vacuum hose#
Detach the hose and look through it toward a light. If you can't see light, something's stuck. Drop a coin through the wand to check it falls straight out. Push a blockage out gently with a broom handle from the clear end. Don't use anything sharp, which can puncture the hose.
Wipe down the bin, body, and attachments#
Wipe the bin, body, and attachments with a damp cloth. A clear bin can usually be rinsed in water, but some manufacturers say not to submerge the cyclone assembly. Let anything wet dry fully before reassembling. Check the wheels for wrapped hair and the underside of the floor head for packed dirt.
Why does my vacuum smell?#
A musty smell usually means something went in damp: a filter refitted too soon, or the vacuum picked up a wet spill. A dusty, stale smell comes from an old bag or a dirty filter. Clean or replace those first.
A burning smell is different. Switch off and unplug the vacuum. It often means a belt is slipping on a jammed brush roll or the motor is overheating from a blockage. Clear the blockage and check the belt. If the smell continues with nothing blocked, stop using it and contact the manufacturer or a repair shop.
Still no suction after all that?#
Put everything back and run it with no attachment. If suction at the hose is strong but weak at the floor head, the problem is in the head or the connection to it. If it's weak at the hose too, check for a crack in the hose, a bin not seated properly, or a seal missing. Noting exactly where suction drops gives customer support something useful to work with.
If you have pets, the brush roll is the job that matters most, and a robot vacuum running between your own cleans needs its own weekly routine. A clean vacuum also makes regular carpet cleaning less of a battle. Put the monthly filter wash in ChoreLists.com for the evening before a free day, so it has a full 24 hours to dry.