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Keep Bagless Vacuum Filters Clean

Bagless vacuums will eventually burn out unless you clean the filters regularly. Here's the easiest way to do it.

by Gary Wentz

From The Family Handyman

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“Bagless vacuums are good for business,” according to one vacuum repairman. The problem isn’t design or manufacturing but user negligence. Vacuum owners empty the dirt canister but often don’t clean the filters. Plugged filters lead to an overworked motor. And sooner or later, the motor burns out. Motor replacement costs at least $100.

People avoid cleaning filters because it’s a messy job. The typical method is to tap the filter against the inside of a trash can until most of the dust falls off. But this raises a thick cloud of dust and doesn’t get the filter completely clean. Here’s a faster, neater, more thorough approach: Take the vacuum out to the garage and clean the pleated filter with a shop vacuum. Some pleated filters have a special coating that you can damage, so be gentle with the shop vacuum nozzle. Clean prefilter screens and post-filters the same way.

From The Family Handyman - July/August 2006

• • Healthy Home
• • Housecleaning

• Repair An Upright Vacuum
• Tune up an upright vacuum and make it work better by cleaning off the roller and replacing the belt.
• 
• 101 Ingenious Cleaning Tricks
• 
• The Ultimate House Cleaning Calendar
• Here's the scoop on what to clean and how often.
•