A vacuum cleaner, like any other home electronics, needs good care. If you do not clean the device from debris and dust, it will no longer perform its functions properly. Heavy contamination can lead to failure.
Expert opinion
Irina Kovtun
Modern technologies are at an advanced level; manufacturers of high-quality devices (in particular, vacuum cleaners Karcher, Thomas Bravo, Bosch, etc.) promise their long service life with the simplest and most convenient maintenance.
But for proper functionality of the equipment, it is important to know how to clean a vacuum cleaner, and to do it correctly.
Proper internal cleaning
First of all, regular cleaning of dust collectors and filters is important. When cleaning construction dust, ash, it is recommended to replace the bag immediately after work so that dirt does not damage the vacuum cleaner motor. If the device is used for regular home cleaning, the annual consumption of bags is about 5–10 pieces (depending on the frequency of use).
How often to clean and with what? Carry out a rough cleaning after each cleaning; frequent cleaning is also required for bagless devices. To do this, you can use a vacuum cleaner product, for example, “Mr. Proper Universal Lemon.”
How to clean a vacuum cleaner so it doesn't create dust and smells good.
Everyone wants their home to always be clean and smell good.
The best assistant in this matter is a regular vacuum cleaner. Using various attachments and accessories for vacuum cleaners, you can quickly and effectively achieve excellent results in tidying up your home. But few people are interested in how to care for a vacuum cleaner. A good vacuum cleaner is not cheap, and we really want the money to be well spent, and for the unit to serve for a long time and properly. To do this, you need to service it regularly.
Each vacuum cleaner model has several filters in addition to the dust collector. Their task is to catch dust particles that have slipped past the cyclone or bag. The structure of the filters is very similar to foam rubber. The pores of the filters become clogged with dust and reduce their throughput. Accordingly, the suction power of the vacuum cleaner decreases. The air from the vacuum cleaner acquires a very unpleasant odor. To prevent this from happening, filters must be washed regularly.
In order for the filters to retain their properties and work for a long time, they should not be washed in very hot water. The water temperature should be no higher than 40 degrees. They cannot be rubbed with brushes or different sponges. When friction occurs, the filter structure is destroyed and its service life is reduced. Various washing powders and soap solutions are not suitable for cleaning filters. Powders are not completely washed out of the filters and getting into the air during operation of the vacuum cleaner will not improve your health. Soap solutions clean only the top layer of the filter.
The best results for cleaning filters were shown by liquid floor cleaning products. It is enough to dilute a little of the drug in warm water and put the filter there. After 5 - 10 minutes, simply rinse it in running water. The product penetrates deep into the pores without disturbing the structure of the filter and washes it perfectly. After such washing, the filter will have a pleasant smell and will fill the room with a pleasant aroma when the vacuum cleaner is running.
In addition to the filters, it is necessary to clean the inside surface of the vacuum cleaner body at least once a year. Plastic accumulates static electricity and, like a magnet, attracts dust particles into the internal cavities of the case. If you do not clean them, then over time a very unpleasant odor will appear from the vacuum cleaner. But this will require complete disassembly of the unit. This can be done at a service center or it can be done by a handy man in your home. Rinse the body parts in a solution of floor cleaner and you will get perfectly clean parts with a pleasant smell.
Source
Cleaning different types of appliances
To properly clean a vacuum cleaner, you need to know its type. Main division of household devices:
- bag;
- cyclone;
- with a water filter (aquafilter);
- steam cleaner.
According to application possibilities:
- wired;
- wireless.
According to the package:
- central;
- robotic;
- with a semi-automatic mechanism.
Bag filter
Does the appliance produce an unpleasant odor when cleaning? This means it is time to replace or clean the bag. When overcrowded, not only does it consume more energy, but fine dust is returned into the air through miniature pores. Therefore, when cleaning regularly, change the bag (fabric or paper) at least once a month.
Industrial and some expensive models of vacuum cleaners (Dyson, Delta DL, LG 2000 W, etc.) have a built-in automatic filter cleaning function. But during active use of the device, it also becomes clogged, requiring manual cleaning methods.
Parts care
The parts of the device require a special approach; cleaning filters and brushes occurs in different ways.
Filters
The main difference between vacuum cleaners is the method of air filtration; there are several types of filters.
- Cloth or paper bag. Depending on the materials, they can be single-use or reusable; the purpose of the bag is to simply contain debris and dust. The paper filter cannot be reused, reusable ones can be shaken out and rinsed, you can blow them out, but this procedure involves a dust cloud around you, which is extremely unpleasant and unhygienic.
- Aqua filters are a container for large debris, over which a water filter is placed, penetrating into which the dust becomes wet and falls out in the form of sediment. They require careful and regular cleaning; due to the equipment with HEPA filters, they require washing and replacing the filter elements. We take out the container, rinse it, and put it back in place; you don’t have to throw away the disposable filters; you can rinse it a couple of times with cool water or blow it out.
- Coarse filters. Almost all old vacuum cleaners can be classified as such; this is a container for large debris, covered with a fabric membrane. Such a vacuum cleaner sometimes has to be cleaned several times during one cleaning.
- Cyclone filters trap debris and dust using centrifugal force. Heavy particles settle in the container, the smallest dust particles are retained on the filter element, convenient because there are no bags. Caring for the device is simple, just shake out the contents of the container into a garbage bag, rinse the filter plates and sponges, and after drying, put everything back in place.
- Fine filters. These are microfilters with electrostatic and HEPA filters that purify the air better than all others. Even pollen particles, fungal spores and micro mites are retained in filters of this type. Such filters are washed with cold water; disposable ones should be thrown away.
Hose
The vacuum cleaner hose can also accumulate dirt. Cleaning it is not difficult; in most cases, it is enough to rinse the hose with water pressure. If large objects are stuck in the pipe, it is enough to push them through with a long knitting needle or, in extreme cases, wire.
Brushes
There should be no problems with a regular brush, but the turbo brush will have to be disassembled.
- Remove the brush from the pipe.
- Remove the cap.
- Remove large stains with your hands.
- Hair and threads tangled on the bristles should be cut with scissors and removed with tweezers.
- Wipe with a damp sponge.
- Reassemble everything in reverse order.
Cleaning the vacuum cleaner inside
Vacuum cleaners with garbage collection bags are recommended to be shaken out as they are filled; special disposable bags are even made for this purpose.
If you have a small room and don’t collect much garbage, don’t forget that dust contains many germs and bacteria.
Also, the vacuum cleaner may contain larvae of various insects, for example, for bed mites, the vacuum cleaner is an ideal place for reproduction.
Elimination of unpleasant odor
If we are not talking about the smell of burning plastic, the equipment does not burn, then its reason is not a violation of functionality. First of all, it is advisable to replace the collection bag. Over the course of a series of cleanings, dust, hair, and germs accumulate in it. Warm air escapes from the vacuum cleaner through these contaminants, creating an unpleasant odor.
If replacing the bag does not eliminate the odor, clean or replace the filters. If they are clogged, dust can get into the engine and settle on its armature, which also creates an odor. Before purchasing replacement filters, determine which one you need - input or output (one is thinner, the other is denser).
Why does the vacuum cleaner get clogged?
Manufacturers of household equipment provide a warranty period for their products - at least 12 months.
During use, equipment may break down and the main reason for the malfunction of the device is blockages that arise due to untimely and improper maintenance. Any model is susceptible to contamination after cleaning, since the purpose of the device is to eliminate debris and dirt. In this case, dust and large particles, when used correctly, fall into a special compartment or bag, and other elements of equipment are subject to minor impact.
If negative factors are present, the device may stop functioning properly. For example, the suction level decreases, a loud sound occurs, the quality of cleaning decreases, the device overheats, and a complete stop of operation is possible.
If there are negative factors, the vacuum cleaner may not work well
The reasons for such situations are hidden in the following factors:
- High level of surface contamination, including the presence of metal components, hair accessories, food debris, etc. Employees of cleaning companies advise pre-cleaning the floor of medium and large particles, thereby preventing the formation of blockages;
- The dust collection container is of poor quality or is out of order. The functionality of the container is to collect dirt, and if this element does not fulfill its intended purpose, then solid parts and dust enter the engine, reducing the performance of the device;
- Cleaning floors and other surfaces after renovation work. In 95% of cases, repairs are associated with increased levels of pollution. Dust settling on equipment provokes not only clogging, but also equipment breakdown;
- Incorrect care. The bag and plastic containers should be cleaned after each use of the device. In the absence of such manipulations, debris falls on moving mechanical parts, leading to blockage and breakdowns;
- A bag returned to the equipment at the wrong time. This promotes the sedimentation of particles on the internal parts of the device;
- Poor quality or incorrect assembly of equipment. An incorrectly installed filter is a source of contamination of mechanisms and improper functioning of the device.
Please note: the main problem of blockages is threads, animal hair and hair stuck on the roller and wheels of the device.
If you find serious blockages in the structure, or, as mentioned earlier, the vacuum cleaner does not suck up debris well or hums and gets hot, then you should blame no one but yourself for this. What can cause severe blockage:
- Did you do a general cleaning after completing renovation work in your house or apartment? A lot of dust, small and large debris has probably collected on the surfaces, and this is too much of a load on the device. Most likely, you will have to clean the vacuum cleaner from construction dust several times directly during the cleaning process (at least empty the bag or wash the container).
- Do not be lazy to inspect the floor covering before cleaning for the presence of paper clips, buttons, hair clips and other small objects that could damage the dust collector. It is better to remove them before starting the device.
- It is not recommended to skimp on dust collectors, buy cheap bags, or try to wash disposable dust collectors. As a rule, they are of low quality, and debris found in the motor can damage it.
- Sometimes the cause of device clogging is simple forgetfulness - make sure that you install the bag in the device.
- Check whether the hose is firmly attached to the dust container structure. If there are any gaps, then dust will fall on the internal parts and you will have to clean the vacuum cleaner inside by disassembling its body and small parts.
Cleaning the turbo brush for a vacuum cleaner
Cleaning a vacuum cleaner means cleaning the turbo brush. For cleaning, prepare small scissors with pointed tips and tweezers.
Some types of devices have a function to remove the rotating turbo brush of the vacuum cleaner, making it easier to clean. If it is not possible to disassemble the brush, carry out cleaning on the pipe:
- Use scissors to cut through any accumulated hair and dirt along the spiral brushes.
- Remove dirt (with your fingers or a comb).
- Remove fine hair and other dirt with tweezers.
- Wipe the entire surface of the brush and the inside of the head.
- Make sure the rotor is spinning.
- Check and clean the air turbine.
- Wash the wheels with a damp cloth.
You can clean the robot vacuum cleaner in a similar way (without removing the brush). Be sure to clean the robot's sensors with a soft, lint-free cloth.
Cleaning the robot vacuum cleaner
To rinse the robot vacuum cleaner from dust and dirt, you need to press the lock button, then take out the container and clean it.
When the device is equipped with a reusable filter, it is washed in running warm water. If the vacuum cleaner is used every day, then the procedure should be performed once every two months.
Be sure to remove dirt and accumulated debris from the brushes. The side brushes and the rotating wheels need to be cleaned.
Regular cleaning of the vacuum cleaner and all parts from dust inside will help prevent the spread of unpleasant odors, as well as bacteria that negatively affect people's health.
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