One of the most common household appliances is the vacuum cleaner, and some vacuum cleaners have one or more filters that capture the smallest dust particles. By trapping dust in the filter, it is less likely to re-enter the room’s air and eventually settle on the surface.
You’re doing your weekly house cleaning and your vacuum cleaner isn’t as good as it used to be. There could be a number of reasons behind this, but the most likely reason is a dirty filter. It’s time to clean the vacuum filter
Read on to find out all the tips and tricks for keeping your vacuum cleaner in tip-top shape.
Why It’s Important to Clean a Vacuum Filter?
You need to make sure you clean the filter regularly, not just when you feel the vacuum’s performance is questionable.
Without proper maintenance, a vacuum cleaner will not work properly and will basically just move around dust and dirt. When the filters get clogged, the machine can overheat quickly and it can be slow to remove dirt from floors and carpets.
When the filter is clogged with dust, the machine loses most of its efficiency.
If you buy a vacuum to remove allergenic particulates or remove pet hair, it’s especially important to keep your filter clean.
In addition to the loss of efficiency, a clogged filter can eventually damage a vacuum cleaner by overheating. It’s important to avoid vacuuming certain things to make sure your vacuum cleaner filter doesn’t get clogged.
Avoid vacuuming soil and plant debris, as moisture may immediately clog the vacuum cleaner’s filter. Other things you shouldn’t vacuum into include sharp objects such as broken wine glasses, dust, various forms of liquids, and sticky substances such as glitter or glue.
Read More: How to Keep a Vacuum Cleaner Smelling Fresh In Simple Ways
How Often to Clean a Vacuum Filter?
For most homes, vacuum filters should be cleaned at least every three months. However, the cleaning frequency of a vacuum filter depends on how often the vacuum is used and how dirty the cleaning area is. If your filter is dirty, you’ll immediately notice a foul odor when you turn on the vacuum and reduce suction while you’re working. For high-flow areas, monthly filter cleaning may be required. If a vacuum cleaner has a filter that is not clean, you will need to replace it about once a year.
What Do You Need?
Before starting the cleaning process, you need to collect some supplies. It’s important to remember that cleaning a vacuum cleaner’s filter can get dirty, so it’s best to leave the vacuum outside if possible.
Before you get started, some of the tools you’ll need include screwdrivers that will help you remove the vacuum to reach the filter, a garbage bag to collect excess dust, and some tools to clean up all the dirt if you don’t clean on the grass.
How to Clean a Vacuum Filter?
How to Clean HEPA Vacuum Filter?
If your vacuum is equipped with a HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter, the general consensus is that HEPA filters should not be cleaned, but replaced. Most vacuum cleaner manufacturers recommend this, but if you do need to clean your HEPA filter, there are two ways to do it, depending on the type of filter you use.
1. Rinse with plain cold water to remove dust, but take extra care not to let the filter material come into contact with the water. The filter should be completely dried before putting it back into the vacuum, which means you may need to leave it outside to dry for 24 hours.
2. You can also extend the life of the HEPA filter by removing it from the vacuum and tapping it on the side of the trash can or outdoor handrail to remove some dust.
If your HEPA filter is marked unwashable, you can gently clean it with the help of another vacuum cleaner. This will suck up any debris and dust that passes over the surface of the filter, and it is vital that the water does not come into contact with these types of filters.
How to Clean Foam Vacuum Filters?
In a sink or small bowl, mix two drops of dishwashing liquid or an all-purpose cleaning solution over two cups of hot water.
Soak the filter and gently squeeze the cleaning solution through the pores of the foam. If the water turns black from too much dust, mix the fresh solution and continue squeezing.
Rinse the filter until soapy water is no longer present and the water is clear.
Gently roll the filter in a microfiber towel to absorb moisture.
Place the filter on a drying rack for air drying. It could take 24 hours. The foam filter should be allowed to dry completely before it is put back into the vacuum to avoid possible mildew and mildew.
Replace the filter. If the filter is still wet, do not replace the filter in a vacuum.
How to Clean Cartridge Vacuum Filter?
Just like HEPA and foam vacuum filters, you should not immerse cartridge filters in water. To clean it, remove it from the vacuum and brush it clean until all traces of dust and debris are removed.
These types of filters need to be replaced frequently, but can usually be extended by patting the dust and scrubbing it carefully before handling.
How to Wash Vacuum Filter?
Many vacuum cleaners have at least one washable filter, so you should first check the position of the filter and remove it. First, tap it lightly on a hard surface to remove any large pieces of dust. It’s always a good idea to do this outside so you don’t have to clean up the mess afterward.
Next, run a filter and warm water to make sure you don’t use any type of soap or detergent. Allow the filter to dry thoroughly for at least 24 hours before placing it back in the vacuum. Be sure to check the instructions for the vacuum cleaner before cleaning the filter.
How to Dry Vacuum Filter?
The best way to dry a vacuum filter is to allow it to dry naturally within 24 to 48 hours. However, if you need to use the vacuum cleaner faster, you can put the filter on a flat surface of an area and let it dry for 10 to 12 hours to speed things up.
If you really need to use a filter as soon as possible, you can also set the hair dryer to a low setting. Blow-dry the filter, holding 4 inches away from the blower and moving it back and forth to prevent scorching.
Final Thoughts
If you want to know how to clean a vacuum filter, this process is not difficult.
If you have a foam filter, you can run it underwater until all the dirt is gone. For HEPA and cartridge filters, it is best to gently shake them to remove excess dirt. If that doesn’t improve the vacuum’s suction, it might be time to change the filter