How To Clean Vacuum Cleaner Filter

Mastering the method of cleaning the filter screen is critical to maintaining machine performance. I will teach you how to clean the vacuum cleaner filter. First, check the instructions to confirm your filter type: washable (sponge/foam material) or non-washable HEPA filter. For the water-washable filter, remove it and rinse with warm water plus a little mild detergent until the water running out becomes clear. Here’s an important point: Before putting the machine back in, it must be allowed to dry naturally for at least 24 to 48 hours. If you encounter a non-washable or paper filter screen, don’t touch water. Tap directly on the edge of the garbage can to shake off the dust, dirt and debris inside, or use a soft brush to clean up along the folds. Never plug the filter screen that has not been completely dried back into the machine. Once the motor sucks in water, it will burn out immediately.

The above is just a quick question and answer. In order to ensure that everyone can complete this maintenance safely and effectively, we have to break up each step and see how to operate it and why.

Signal Of Serious Screen Clogging

Before you start cleaning, you need to know what the machine is struggling. When the filter is completely pasted by dust, there are usually very intuitive symptoms:

• Suction suddenly drops off a cliff: after the filter is blocked, the airflow cannot pass through the fuselage smoothly, and the ability of the vacuum cleaner to absorb garbage will naturally drop significantly.
• Abnormal overheating of the machine: poor airflow will force the vacuum cleaner motor to overload to exhaust air. This extra load will soon cause the fuselage to become severely hot.
• Odor: The accumulated dust, pet dander and dirt are stuck in the filter screen for a long 1, and the machine will exhaust the dirty air with musty and smelly smell back into your room.

Step1 : To Find Out The Filter Type

Before disassembling and washing, be sure to open the instructions and have a look. Vacuum cleaner filters are basically divided into two categories. If the processing methods are mixed up, the filters will be scrapped directly.

• Washable filter screen: This type is usually a high-density foam or sponge material, itself is designed to withstand washing.
• Non-washable filter screen: this type is mostly paper or HEPA (high efficiency air filter) filter screen. They have a dense pleated design, which will softly decompose once they touch water, or completely lose the ability to filter fine dust.

Step 2: How To Wash The Washable Filter

If the instructions confirm that the filter screen can be washed with water, follow my following procedure to force out the stubborn dirt hidden in the depths:

• Disassembly and preparation: Carefully remove the sponge screen from the main engine room.
• Warm water with detergent: Rinse the strainer with warm water and drop a few drops of mild detergent. Ordinary detergent is particularly effective against that slimy putty mixture without breaking down and damaging the sponge material.
• Rinse until the water is clear: gently rub the sponge as you rinse. There is a high probability that you will see dark muddy water flowing out. Don’t stop, continue to rinse and gently squeeze until the water is completely clear.

Step 3: 24 To 48 Hours Dry Rule

Washing filter must be thoroughly air-dried. Sometimes you touch the surface of the sponge as if it is dry, but the core of this high-density material often still contains water.

• Put the filter in a well-ventilated place.
• Wait at least 24 to 48 hours before you consider putting it back in the vacuum cleaner.
• Do not take a hair dryer or rely on the radiator to bake to accelerate drying, the external heat source is easy to deform the filter. Just let it dry naturally.

Step 4: Cleaning Method Of Non-Washable Filter Screen

• Beating method: take the filter screen and walk to the garbage can (it is strongly recommended to do it outdoors, otherwise the house will raise a burst of ash). Hold the side of the hard plastic frame of the strainer and tap steadily at the edge of the trash can. This physical vibration can shake out the dust, dirt and heavier debris stuck in the depths.
• Brush method: if some dirty things stuck in the gap can’t get out, find a soft brush. Gently sweep the dust away in the direction of the folds. It must be swept along the texture. If it is scraped sideways, it is easy to tear the fragile filter paper.

Never Put Back The Filter That Is Not Dry

In teaching people to do the daily maintenance of vacuum cleaners, I have to emphasize the biggest taboo again: never put the filter screen with moisture back into the machine.
Too many owners lose patience and put the filter back on when it’s still a little wet. As soon as the machine is turned on, moisture is sucked directly into the electrical compartment. This will cause the motor to burn out in an instant short circuit, the whole vacuum cleaner will be scrapped directly. Make sure that the filter screen is 100% dry before assembling it back.

Author: Mark Johnson
Hi, After years of working as a professional appliance repair technician, I’ve seen countless vacuum cleaners meet an early grave simply because of poorly maintained filters. I wrote this guide to share my hands-on repair experience and insider tips with you.