How To Use And Maintain The Vacuum Cleaners In Your Home

How To Use And Maintain The Vacuum Cleaner In Your Home
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Owning a vacuum cleaner makes cleaning your home a much easier task that takes less time and requires less energy on your part.

To ensure that your vacuum cleaner does its job properly and prevents you from having to replace it within a few years, you need to maintain it well.

How long does a vacuum cleaner last? Generally, a vacuum cleaner can last for approximately eight years.

Looking after it and maintaining it regularly can help you to increase its lifespan. With that in mind, here’s how to use your vacuum cleaner properly and keep it clean. 

Contents

How To Use A Vacuum Cleaner Effectively To Increase Its Lifespan

How To Use A Vacuum Cleaner Effectively To Increase Its Lifespan

Using a vacuum cleaner effectively will help to increase its lifespan and keep your home much cleaner and more hygienic. Here are some important tips to follow to ensure you’re using your vacuum cleaner correctly. 

Before you start vacuuming your home, you should dust your home with a duster. This will enable you to vacuum the dust particles that are in the air, reducing allergens in the home.

Check the vacuum cleaner to use it at the right height. Most vacuums on the market will have an adjustable indicator for carpets of different lengths. If this is set too high the vacuum cleaner won’t have powerful suction, whereas setting it too low won’t enable it to have enough airflow.

Turn on your vacuum cleaner and gently push it forwards and backward over your carpet or floor. Your strokes should be slow and even so that you don’t miss any spots. This will also ensure that the vacuum cleaner can pick up debris and dust effectively.

Choose the right attachment for your vacuum cleaner. Many vacuum cleaners come with different attachments for different jobs, such as a crevice tool to get into hard-to-reach areas. For increased convenience, some vacuum cleaners will allow you to use them as a handheld device so you can clean upholstery.

Change its bag or empty its dust bin if it’s bagless when it starts to feel full. When the vacuum cleaner feels harder to move around, that’s a sign you have to replace its bag or empty its bin. If you ignore doing this, it will force your vacuum cleaner to put in more effort to clean which will increase its risk of premature wear and tear. 

How To Clean A Dust Bin:

If your vacuum cleaner has a dust bin inside it, empty it regularly. Rinse it out with some clean water. Let it air dry before you insert it back in the vacuum cleaner. You can also clean any lint buildup with a dry cloth or gentle brush. 

How To Clean Your Vacuum Cleaner 

Cleaning your vacuum cleaner regularly is super important to ensure that you can increase its lifespan. It also helps the vacuum cleaner to work properly so that the task of cleaning your home becomes easier.

Clean The Vacuum Cleaner’s Filters

Clean the vacuum cleaner’s filters

You should clean or replace your vacuum filters, but how regularly will vary from one type of vacuum cleaner to another. Many vacuum cleaners have reusable, washable filters.

These can be cleaned by tapping the filter on the edge of a bin until the debris falls off. You can also use compressed air to clean the filter.

Then, rinse the filter underneath a stream of cold water until the water is clear. Let the filter air dry for 24 hours.

Replace HEPA Filters 

If your vacuum cleaner has a HEPA filter on board, this will need to be replaced about twice a year. You will have to check the instruction manual of your vacuum cleaner for tips on how to change or clean its filters.

Remove Any Clogs 

If your vacuum cleaner has sucked up large debris, such as scraps of paper, this can cause it to get stuck in narrow areas of the machine, such as the intake channel located on the vacuum cleaner’s cleaning head.

To check for clogs, disconnect the cleaning head or hoses and look for any blockages. You might have to shine a flashlight to look deeper into the machine.

Use your hands or a pipe cleaner to remove any debris buildup.

How To Clean A Vacuum Cleaner Hose

  • Wipe the hose down with a microfiber cloth. 
  • Pull the hose straight and fasten it to the ground so you can inspect it for any damage or clogs. 
  • If there is a blockage in the hose, use a metal hanger to carefully dislodge it. Just be careful that you don’t accidentally puncture the hose. 

Clean The Brush Roll

Clean the brush roll

If you’ve used your vacuum cleaner to suck up long hair and pet fur, this can get tangled around the round brush of your vacuum cleaner. It can build up and prevent the brush from working effectively.

It might even stop the brush from spinning properly and this can damage the bearings or drive belt. 

Get some scissors and cut the tangle, or pull off some hair by hand. If the hair is really thick, slice through it with a rotary tool, being careful to avoid damaging the brush roll.

Check The Vacuum Cleaner Belt 

Your vacuum cleaner belt will have to be replaced after a while of regular use. You’ll know it’s time if your vacuum cleaner has become noisier than usual, it’s leaving behind a trail of dirt, and/or it doesn’t have enough suction power.

To replace a damaged belt, you’ll have to follow these steps.

  1. Unplug your vacuum and place it on the floor so that its underside is facing up. 
  2. Remove the bottom plate so you can see the belt. 
  3. Slide one end of the belt so that it comes off the brush roller and the other end off the motor shaft. 
  4. Hook an end of the new belt onto the motor shaft and the other end onto the brush roller. Lock the brush back into its housing before securing the bottom plate.

Replace The Bag

If you have a bagged vacuum cleaner, you can’t clean the bag but you need to replace it. Your vacuum cleaner might have a dust bag indicator that shows you when it’s about 80 percent full so you know that it needs to be replaced soon.

Check That The Bag Is Properly Attached

Check that the bag is properly attached 

The way you attach the dust bag will vary from one model to the next, but no matter what kind of vacuum cleaner you have, the general rule is that you have to ensure the opening of the bag is securely placed on the nozzle.

If the vacuum cleaner makes use of hooks or clips, these need to be attached to further secure the bag. 

Securing the bag is important because if it’s loose, dust and dirt won’t properly enter it. It will get sucked into the inside of the vacuum cleaner, which will cause a mess and it can also damage the vacuum cleaner’s parts.

Maintain The Vacuum Cleaner Exterior

You should wipe down the outside of your vacuum cleaner from time to time to remove dust and debris that can seep into any nooks and crannies and cause wear and tear over time.

Here are other things you should do to maintain the exterior of the vacuum cleaner:

Check The Power Cord

You should look for any exposed wires or cracks along the cord. This can happen after many months of usage. If the cord is showing signs of damage, you shouldn’t use it as it could cause an electric shock. Take it to a repair shop that can replace the cord.

Check All The Vacuum Cleaner Attachments

Disassemble the attachments and check them for any damage. Wipe dust and debris off the attachments. If any hair or pet fur is caught in the attachments, carefully remove it.

When Do You Need To Take Your Vacuum Cleaner To A Professional? 

When Do You Need To Take Your Vacuum Cleaner To A Professional? 

It’s good practice to take your vacuum cleaner to a repair shop or dealership every two or three years so that it can have a professional cleaning.

This will also ensure that any of the vacuum cleaner’s damaged parts can be replaced to increase the lifespan of the unit.  

When Should You Replace Your Vacuum Cleaner? 

When Should You Replace Your Vacuum Cleaner? 

A vacuum cleaner can last for approximately eight years, but there are some important signs to look out for that your vacuum cleaner needs to be replaced.

If your vacuum cleaner is showing a reduction in its performance, don’t replace it until you’ve tried to clean it, remove any blockages, and wash or replace its filters.

If doing those things has not improved the vacuum cleaner’s performance, you should consider replacing your vacuum cleaner. Here are other signs that your vacuum cleaner has to be replaced. 

Your Vacuum Cleaner Is Making Weird Noises

After using your vacuum cleaner for a while, you’ll know what sounds normal. If you can hear new, strange noises that aren’t going away with regular cleanups and maintenance tips, it could be a sign that the vacuum cleaner’s motor is dying. 

It Smells Like Something’s Burning

This is a red flag that your vacuum cleaner has to be replaced. It means that the unit is overheating, so you should replace it before it catches on fire.

It’s Moving Dust Around The Home

If your vacuum cleaner is scattering dust around the home, you will have to clean the filters. If that doesn’t work, it’s time to replace the vacuum cleaner instead of just its filter. 

You Can’t Get Replacement Parts For Your Vacuum Cleaner

If it’s becoming difficult to find spare parts for your unit, such as because your vacuum cleaner is very old, it’s time to make your life easier by purchasing a new vacuum cleaner. The bonus is that it will have new technology on board to make it easier to maintain and repair. 

Related Questions

Why Does Your Vacuum Cleaner Cut Out During Use?

If your vacuum cleaner shuts down during use, it could be getting too hot. Unplug it and wait a while before using it again. If this problem continues, there could be a fuse that’s blown. Consult your local vacuum cleaner repair shop that can help you. 

How Can You Clean The Head Of Your Vacuum Cleaner?

How can you clean the head of your vacuum cleaner?

A quick and easy way to clean the head is to use the end of the wand accessory to remove lint, debris, and dust. You could also use a handheld vacuum cleaner to do this.

Can You Disinfect Your Vacuum Cleaner?

Before you use a disinfectant on your vacuum cleaner, check its user manual. Some manufacturers state that only water can be used to clean their vacuum cleaners. If you can use a disinfectant, isopropyl alcohol is good because it dries quickly. 

Conclusion 

Quality vacuum cleaners can be expensive to purchase so you want to ensure yours will last you for several years.

In this article, we’ve looked at everything you need to know about how to look after your vacuum cleaner, such as by using it properly and cleaning its various parts regularly.

We’ve also looked at some signs to keep an eye out for so you know when it’s time to stop working hard on maintaining your vacuum cleaner and choose to replace it for a new model instead.