Your vacuum is probably one of your most used home appliances, particularly if it’s an upright, cordless, robot or handheld model from a popular brand.
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it → use → brand
With that said, it might also be one of the least cleaned appliances in your home.
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it → say → home
Yes, your vacuum itself should be cleaned from time to time, and this means more than just emptying the dust bin.
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this → clean → bin
Depending on what type of vacuum it is, you may have to be more hands on with your cleaning methods.
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you → depend → methods
To learn more about how to clean a vacuum without disrupting how well it works, I spoke to a cleaning professional to get their guidance.
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I → learn → guidance
Below, I rounded up products based on their recommendations and also included popular cleaning tools and appliances that we have tested at NBC Selected.
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we → round → Selected
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The best products for cleaning a vacuum
All of the product recommendations below are based on our previous reporting and/or have at least a four-star average rating from 500 or more customers on Amazon.
This brush set includes one long (67-inch) nylon wire hose with wide bristles on one end, and small bristles on the other.
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set → want → other
It also comes with two short, 8-inch wire brushes with small bristles on the end, which are great for cleaning small holes and tubes.
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which → come → holes
The bendable wires help the brushes clear out debris from tubes that would otherwise be hard to reach, so they’re great for cleaning some parts of vacuums (like the hose or crevice tool), and they’re also ideal for cleaning parts of your fridge or filters for other home appliances.
Microfiber cloths are an essential when it comes to any form of cleaning around your home, including cleaning appliances like vacuums.
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it → help → vacuums
This set includes 12 reusable cloths that are 11.5 by 11.5 inches each, larger than a sheet of copy paper.
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that → include → paper
The cloths are available in more than 10 colors and you can get them in sets of five, eight, 24, 50 and 100.
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you → get → five
People who bought them say they believe they’re a great value for the price and that they hold up very well, even after months of cleaning and being washed.
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they → buy → months
Ryan Knoll, owner of home cleaning services company Tidy Casa, recommends using Dawn dish soap for cleaning a lot of surfaces around your home, including your vacuum.
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Knoll → recommend → vacuum
You can use a small amount of this foaming dish soap spray to coat the dust bin, filter and other parts of your vacuum, and then follow by rinsing and/or wiping cleaning with a microfiber cloth.
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It’s available in several scents, like apple and lemon, as well as an unscented version (though some versions are only available as a liquid not a foaming spray).
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versions → ’ → liquid
We can help you find
One important part of cleaning your vacuum will include cleaning and/or replacing your vacuum’s filter, as Knoll mentions.
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Knoll → help → filter
Many vacuums come with reusable filters, but if you’re due for a new filter and happen to have the Shark Navigator Lift Away, one of the most popular upright vacuums on the market, you should consider this filter replacement.
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you → come → replacement
The filter is compatible with more than 20 versions of the Shark Navigator Lift Away, so if you have one, chances are it is compatible.
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it → have → one
If you’re unsure, you can check the label on the side of your vacuum to make sure the model name matches the list of compatible filters.
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name → ’re → filters
It includes two HEPA filters, four foam filters and four felt filters which, combined, help sift out dust, pet dander and more, according to the brand.
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which → include → brand
Why do you have to clean a vacuum?
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you → have → vacuum
It’s important to clean your vacuum regularly because doing so will ultimately help it do its job effectively and for as long as possible.
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it → ’ → job
“A vacuum with things stuck in the hose or a dirty filter can really affect how well it works,” says Knoll, who says he and his team go through tons of vacuums.
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he → stick → vacuums
Cleaning your vacuum means more than emptying out the dust bin, too — for a thorough clean, you should also remove, if possible, the brush roll, nozzle, hose, filter, and attachments.
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you → clean → roll
How do you clean a vacuum?
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you → clean → vacuum
The steps for cleaning different types of vacuums may vary slightly depending on whether it is an upright, cordless or robot vacuum, but for the most part, many of them have some of the same parts: brush roll, filter, hose and crevice and/or upholstery attachments.
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many → clean → parts
Below are some of the most general steps you should take to clean your vacuum.
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you → take → vacuum
These are the main parts to clean.
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These → clean → ?
Some of them are easier to clean if you remove them, while others, like the brush roll, aren’t necessarily, so you don’t have to remove it to clean it, according to Knoll.
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you → clean → Knoll
- If possible, find and remove the filter, dust bin and attachments, says Knoll.
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Knoll → find → filter
“Most of these things come apart relatively easily,” he says.
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he → come → things
“For modern vacuums like Shark, Dyson, and Bissell, you’ll usually have clearly labeled tabs/switches, so you can flip them and remove the dust bin, brush roll, hoses, or filters.”
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you → have → filters
“It’s a little different for each, but for most dust bins, there are two locking clasps on the right and left sides of the bin that you need to flip to remove it,” says Knoll.
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Knoll → ’ → it
“The filter usually sits above or under the dust bin.
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filter → sit → bin
If it’s disposable, toss it and get a new one,” says Knoll.
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Knoll → ’ → one
“If it’s reusable (most are these days), add a little drop of mild Dawn dish soap and run some water through it.”
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most → ’ → it
It’s extremely important to allow the filter to dry completely before reattaching it and using the vacuum, because it can grow mildew and create odors, according to Knoll.
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it → ’ → Knoll
You don’t have to remove the brush roll to make it easier to clean, according to Knoll.
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it → have → Knoll
“If you turn the vacuum over, you’ll usually see hair wrapped around the brush roll,” says Knoll.
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Knoll → turn → roll
If you’re having trouble getting the hairs out, cut more, or grab an old hairbrush or a metal tool made for getting hair strands out of bristles, to pull them out.”
- To clean the hose and attachments, use an object to push out any lodged debris that may be inside.
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that → have → debris
…and 23 more, not listed.
The Aporia
