Vacuum Cleaner Maintenance

By cleaning your vacuum regularly, you’ll keep your vacuum running smoothly for years. Most vacuum cleaners don’t need much attention but simple maintenance can prevent costly repairs and ultimately keep your vacuum from breaking down.
Below are six steps on how to maintain your vacuum cleaner:
Below are six steps on how to maintain your vacuum cleaner:

1- Empty Bagless Models Often

Empty the bin or tray on bagless models frequently. Most designs make it very easy to pop the bin out. Many bagless machines even have a marker indicating when to empty the receptacle. We would suggest you empty it after every use. Don’t let the dirt and debris settle within the unit. And depending on the type of bagless unit you have, you may even want to rinse out the receptacle with water to ensure all of the dirt has been removed.

2- Check & Replace Bag

Check the bag regularly and replace it when it is full. One of the quickest and easiest things you can do to maintain your vacuum cleaner is to replace the bag on a regular basis. A full vacuum cleaner bag means that the machine must work harder, or that it will not clean as well. A vacuum cleaner bag that is only 1/3 full may be too full to clean efficiently. The air must pass through all the collected dust and debris to sufficiently clean your floors.

3- Clean Brush Roll

The brush roll or also known as the beater bar is the spinning brush underneath that brushes dirt out of carpets. Look under the machine and locate the brush roll. Generally, it will be across the front of the bottom. If it is full of hair, thread, or other debris, it is time to clean it.

You can either remove these objects while the roll is in place, or you can remove it. We would only suggest removing the roll from the vacuum if you feel comfortable with doing so. You’ll be able to give it a deeper clean by removing it, but what’s the point of doing so if you can’t get it back on.

Once you’ve identified objects wrapped around the roll, you can remove them with your fingers or with scissors. Then gently pull these objects from the roll until they come completely off. You may even consider washing it off with soap and water, just to ensure that it’s as clean as possible.

4- Clean Filters

After emptying your bin, you’ll also want to clean the attached filter. Many newer model vacuums have filters on the exhaust air to catch particles that remain in it. Read your manual to find out if yours has these, and clean or replace them periodically if it does.

You can gently knock the filter against the garbage to loosen any clinging debris or tiny particles that may be trapped inside. Doing a general cleaning of the filter can help it work properly but it’s not necessary to remove every last bit of dust. If the filter is made out of foam or plastic, you may be able to rinse it clean.

Make sure it is thoroughly dry before replacing it in the vacuum cleaner. We can’t emphasize enough the importance of keeping your filter clean. This is especially true if you own a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter, as that filter is designed to help improve your indoor air quality.

5- Check & Replace Belt

As a general rule of thumb, most belts need to be replaced every 6 months to one year. This solely depends on the frequency of which you use your vacuum cleaner, not to mention the brand and model you’re using. If you don’t use your vacuum cleaner very often, let’s say once every two or three weeks, then you likely won’t need to replace the belt twice a year. However, if you use it every single day, then maybe you’ll need to replace the belt every few months. Check your vacuum’s belt to see if it’s stretched out, frayed or isn’t tight against the roll anymore. These are all signs of needing your belt replaced.

If you do replace the belt, you can do so by removing the roll, sliding the belt off, and then sliding the new belt on. It’s easy to do, and not something that you need to take to a special technician. In fact, in the Instruction Manual that came with your vacuum cleaner, there’s probably step-by-step instructions for replacing the belt.
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6- Bring Your Vacuum to Our Vacuum Service Center

If you’re noticing that your vacuum isn’t picking things up as thoroughly as it used to, we here at Kirkwood’s Sweeper Shop can replace parts based on what’s causing the problem. Depending on how old your vacuum cleaner is, fixing the problem may be the best route to take. Oftentimes, however, buying a new vacuum cleaner will be the easiest way to go. Especially with so many models and new technologies available.
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