Too often, vacuum cleaner owners assume their machine is broken when in fact a simple cleaning will do. Manufacturers of bagless vacuum cleaners, including handheld ones, market their models based on the convenience of being bagless, but these appliances still require regular cleaning and maintenance, says James Brown, a vacuum cleaner service specialist and collector: “The reality is that the average person won’t clean them as often as they should, which will cause problems down the road.”
Our full article on how to clean a vacuum cleaner has information on cleaning all types of vacuum cleaners, but here are five ways to keep your handheld vacuum cleaner clean and maintained:
Empty and clean the container. An overfilled container will block air flow and impair suction. Hold the basket over the trash can and tap it until it is empty. If the trash can gets dirty, take it out and wash the entire bowl, then let it dry completely.
Wash or replace filters. Check your vacuum’s owner’s manual for specific instructions on how to clean the filter, and perform this task as often as the manual recommends. All our models have washable filters. “Remember that the motor is trying to draw breathing air through the filter. Clean filters often, just like with any other use,” said Tom Gasko, vacuum cleaner repair specialist and owner of Mid Missouri Vacuum.
Check for blockages. Anything too large or slightly sticky will ruin the job. Look into the mechanism and pull out everything you see.
Clean the attachments. Clean fur, hair, ropes and hay. “A brush clogged with hair means the motor will draw a lot more juice from the battery and significantly reduce the amount of time you can use the vacuum,” Gasko explained.
Consider whether this is related to charging. If after getting all the parts clean and clean, your handheld vacuum cleaner still doesn’t work, the batteries may be dead or there may be some other problem with the charging system, such as dirty charging contacts or a broken power adapter.
Sarah Bogdan, Liam McCabe, Michelle Ma and Seamus Bellamy wrote previous versions of this guide, which was first published in 2013. This guide was edited by Courtney Schley and Ingrid Skjong.
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