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When it comes to keeping your house clean, your vacuum is one of the most powerful tools at your disposal. In addition to removing dust, dirt, and hair from your carpets, many vacuums can also help with other tasks like cleaning hard floors, dusting surfaces, and clearing out crevices!
And while modern vacuums have come a long way since the bulky bagged behemoths of my youth, they aren’t yet capable of maintaining themselves! To keep your vacuum in tip-top shape, you should aim to give it a good cleaning and maintenance session every few months.
If you feel like you could use a few pointers on keeping your vacuum clean, you’re in luck! Because today I’ll be explaining exactly how to deep clean your vacuum in just 4 easy steps. :-)
How To Deep Clean Your Vacuum
Step 1 – Clean The Canister
Even if you empty your vacuum’s dust canister regularly, grime can still build up inside it over time. For a quick and easy way to clear out all that gunk, look no further than your dishwasher!
Start by emptying the canister, then set it in the bottom rack of your dishwasher with all of its doors open. Use some dishwasher-safe utensils to prop the doors open if necessary to prevent them from closing.
If your vacuum canister bumps into the top rack of the dishwasher, you may need to remove it. (We ran into this issue at the OGT Studio, but the top rack came out easily once we removed the caps at the end of the tracks!)
Add the normal amount of a powerful dishwasher detergent to the bottom of your dishwasher (not the detergent cup), then start a gentle or quick wash cycle. Once you hear the dishwasher start the wash cycle, set a timer for 3 minutes.
When the timer goes off, open the dishwasher and check on the canister. If it’s not quite clean at this point, turn the canister over and resume the wash cycle for one more minute. (Limiting the canister’s exposure to hot water will help protect its more delicate parts.)
Allow the canister to air dry completely before closing the doors and replacing it in your vacuum. It’ll be clean as a whistle and ready to collect more dirt!
Step 2 – Wash Or Replace The Filters
If your vacuum has washable foam filters, you can wash them in the dishwasher alongside the canister. Before putting it in the dishwasher, rinse it thoroughly to remove any loose dust and dirt.
Once the filter and canister come out of the dishwasher, rinse the filter again to remove any detergent and loosened grime. Let the foam filter dry completely before replacing it in your vacuum.
Many vacuums also have filters that can’t be washed, such as HEPA filters. These will need to be replaced eventually, so check your vacuum’s user manual for details about when and how to do it.
Step 3 – Clear Out The Hose
The vacuum hose has plenty of nooks and crannies for dirt and grime to get stuck in. Eventually, grime buildup may contribute to blockages, so performing a deep clean every few months is an easy way to keep the hose clear.
Remove the hose from the vacuum (consult the user manual if you don’t know how) and take it to the bathtub or sink. Run hot water through the hose to rinse out loose dirt.
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Next, sprinkle 1/2 cup of baking soda into one end of the hose, and give it a shake to coat the inside of the hose. Then slowly pour about 2 cups of white vinegar into the hose, and let it sit until it stops fizzing.
Rinse the hose well with hot water, then hang it up somewhere to dry completely. Once dry, replace the hose on your vacuum.
Step 4 – Check The Brush
Anyone with long hair is likely very familiar with the way hair can get wrapped around the vacuum brush! This can eventually prevent the brush from working effectively, so it’s important to remove any hair from it regularly.
Just lean your vacuum back to inspect the brush. If there’s any hair or threads wrapped around it, use a seam ripper to cut through them so you can remove it.
Bonus Step – Check The User Manual
While the steps above apply to most vacuums, each make and model is different. To make sure you’re not missing anything, review your vacuum’s user manual to find out if there are any other removable parts that require regular cleaning.
And remember to let all your vacuum parts dry completely before putting them back into place. Putting damp parts back on your vacuum can lead to mold and mildew growth or electrical problems, and you definitely don’t want to deal with either!
If you use the methods you learned in today’s post to deep clean your vacuum every few months, it is sure to keep serving you well for years to come.
What do you like or dislike about your current vacuum?
