For most people, vacuum cleaners are essential assets in the home. They’re usually efficient, and make cleaning a lot easier. However, not even the best vacuum will last as long or function as effectively if it is not cared for like it should be.
How long your vacuum lasts depends on you. In this article, we will show you the eight ways to maintain your vacuum. Luckily, these maintenance tips are easy to carry out
How To Clean/Disinfect Your Vacuum Cleaner
1. Clean and Replace Filters Regularly
The importance of replacing your vacuum cleaner filters cannot be overstated. It plays a vital role in how long your will vacuum last. Various vacuums have different filters at various points in the filter. However, this depends on how advanced your cleaner is.
Even if you don’t replace the filters, make sure to unclog them regularly. If you don’t do this, your sweeper will be prone to early damage.
There is also the need to follow all the recommendations in your vacuum model guide. Find out what works for it, and implement them. Filter change should be done after using the vacuum a number of four times. Ensure that you replace filters with the correct size. Avoid buying cheap replacements.
2. Empty Dirt Bags Consistently
One of the things that can shorten the life span of a vacuum cleaner is a dirtbag that is not consistently emptied. Make sure that the bags that collect waste are emptied as often as possible. Of course, this will be dependent on how often you use it, and the quantity of garbage that has been collected.
The significance of this is to avoid clogging and prevent particles from getting released from the device as it is being used. Therefore, if your cleaning is a heavy one, you’ll need to empty the dirt more often than when the cleaning is a mild one. Though this step can be long and tiring, it does pay off to keep your vacuum cleaner disinfected at the end of the day.
3. Remove All Dirt and Dust
This step is also dependent on how much dirt you have to clean. Be warned that this step can get messy. However, if the longevity of your vacuum cleaner is something you must achieve & keep your vacuum clean & disinfected, this is one of the prices you have to pay.
To remove dirt and dust from the vacuum, ensure that you move to an outside space. You don’t want dirt all over your room and on your belongings, do you? Anyway, pay keen attention to the roller, and make sure it is free of dust and debris. This step will especially save pet owners much trouble. As hairs can easily get stuck in the roller and damage it, thorough removal of dirt will prevent this.
4. Clean the Vacuum Hose
It is not unusual for hoses to get big objects caught inside them. If your hose attachment isn’t working right, a trapped object may be the problem.
However, an effective way to tackle this is to peer into the hose, or better still, stick a hook inside it to find out whether or not there are obstructions.
Before this, you have to take the hose off and ensure that it is straight. You can remove whatever is clogging the hose by shaking it or using a dowel rod. Make sure to hold it down to the ground while peering inside, if you hold it up, dirt may come gushing into your face.
5. Check the Vacuum Cleaner Brush
While cleaning, it is essential that you give the vacuum brush some attention as well. Find a stiff-bristled brush that can effectively brush the brush. Use this to gently extract bits and pieces of dirt stuck in the vacuum brush.
Remember, the brush is only as effective as it is dirt free, and like the roller, the brush too can get damaged by too much hair clogging. Thus, be thorough while you do this step. It is also advisable that you do it every fourth time of use.
6. Clean the Vent Covers
Most people tend to overlook vent covers not knowing that they play an essential role in the functionality of a sweeper. Vent covers are so important because they prevent large bits of dirt from getting blown out from the rear of your cleaner. Besides, they help to keep the vacuum cool.
Refusing to carry out this step would inevitably result in your cleaner getting overheated. When this happens, the dust begins to build up in certain areas. Of course, the repercussion of this extends to affect the overall efficiency and cleaning power of the vacuum. This step does not take that much time. Do it at least one time a week.
7. Inspect the Belt
The vacuum belt can easily stretch out as it is used over and over. The belt helps to keep the brush rolling. When the belt loses its strength, ensure that you replace it.
Check the belt regularly to see if it has slipped out of place. Your inspection will also help you ascertain whether the belt is damaged, and needs replacement. It is advised that you change the belt at least twice a year.
8. Seek Professional Advice
Getting advice from professionals is essential. Get information about whether or not your vacuum model supports regular servicing. Avoid repairing your device by yourself as you may end up causing more damage to it. Instead, seek help from a professional. Have the device checked up every six months.
Safety Tips (Things You Need to Consider)
Read the Manual
This is the first thing to do after purchasing your cleaner as it will save you a lot of stress. Manuals are created to help users out whenever there’s a problem with the device.
Wise users take advantage of this by going through them instead of dumping them somewhere. They are accommodating, and pretty simple to understand.
Keep out of Children’s Reach
Kids should be kept away from the device. The more powerful the model, the more important to do this. It is not recommended that you allow your kids to use the machine. It is way too dangerous for them, and may even get damaged as a result of their mal-handling.
Always Unplug Before Inspecting
No matter how obvious this tip seems, it is still worthy of being mentioned. People tend to get carried away while trying to inspect, forgetting that they haven’t unplugged the device yet.
Others merely grab a stick or use their finger to remove dirt quickly without unplugging. These are dangerous and can end up disastrously. So, ensure to always unplug before inspecting.
Avoid Using Your Vacuum on Every Kind of Dirt
A vacuum cleaner shouldn’t be the default cleaner used for all kinds of dirt in the house. Sometimes a broom and dustpan will pack dirt more effectively. Liquids can be moped unless your canister can do wet cleaning. All these will help prevent the sweeper from damaging early.
Use the Right Settings
This tip should be taken as necessary. Most vacuum cleaners have adjustable settings for different surfaces. It is vital that the setting matches the surface that you want to clean. Carpeted surfaces need high settings while curtains can be cleaned with low vacuum pressure.
Inspect the Power Line
Users usually abuse the power cable to their vacuum cleaners. Ensure that the external insulation is not damaged. Avoid using the cable at the maximum extension as this can damage the plug or wall socket.
Conclusion
A vacuum cleaner is just like any other appliance in the home. It needs proper maintenance to keep working efficiently. It has extra working parts and thus needs extra care, and thorough cleaning.
No matter how much work it entails, however, your hard work will pay off in the end. This post has taught you all you need to know to maintain your vacuum.
Ensure that you implement everything that you have read here. Sacrifice your time and energy to make your vacuum work like new, and you’ll continue to enjoy its effectiveness.
