Vacuum Cleaner Maintenance- How to keep your vacuum Cleaner in a Good Condition
Keeping vacuum cleaners or hoovers in a good working condition ensures they last longer and give you better value for money. Expensive vacuum cleaner repairs can be avoided with a little regular inspection and care. So what vacuum cleaner maintenance and cleaning measures should you take to prevent your vacuum and its parts from wearing out before their time?
How to Maintain a Vacuum Cleaner
When using your vacuum cleaner, try to stick to some basic vacuum maintenance guidelines, and you may not have to resort to time-consuming repairs later on.
- Treat the vacuum cord with care. Avoid pulling out the plug with the cord or using the automatic rewind when the cord is tangled or obstructed.
- Check bags regularly. Remember a bag shouldn’t be full to the brim before it is changed, as vacuum cleaners can lose suction when bags are more than half full.
Never re-use paper bags as their pores become blocked after one use, which can cause the vacuum motor to overheat trying to circulate the air.
Caring for Your Vacuum Cleaner Parts
- Check the floor head for blockages. One of the key areas to focus on in vacuum cleaner maintenance is the floor head, sometimes called the power head or beater bar. This is the flat attachment at the base of the hose that makes contact with the floor. By flipping the head upside down and looking underneath, it’s easy to tell if it’s clogged with debris and needs cleaning.
- Open up the floor head. To do this, remove the bottom plate from the floor head. It may unclip, or you might need to get a screwdriver – remember to hold onto any screws that you take out! Carefully take out the brush roll at one end, making a note of which direction it needs to face when you replace it.
- Remove debris. Pull out any fluff, threads, or hair that may have wrapped itself around the brush roll. You may need a small pair of scissors for any tangles.
- Check that the roll is spinning properly. If not, unscrew the end caps and check the bearings inside for any dirt build-up. This simple routine can save on hoover repairs, but you will need to replace the brush roll from time to time, depending on usage.
- Check the vacuum belt. This is located over the brush roll. You can check this while the bottom plate is removed by placing a finger under the belt and feeling to see if it is still taut. Any sagging cracks or visible wear may mean you need a replacement. It’s a good idea to buy a new belt once a year; again depending on how much you use your vacuum cleaner.
How to Clean a Vacuum Cleaner Filter
Dirty filter means a less-efficient machine, so an important vacuum maintenance advice is to make sure that the filters are functioning properly on your hoover. Different models have different filtering systems and while some are washable, others will simply need replacing when used, so double check your model’s instructions on its vacuum cleaner parts before going ahead.
Your vacuum may also have several filters, depending whether it uses bags. Foam filters found on exhaust air can often be rinsed under a tap to clean them, but make sure you allow them to fully dry before replacing them in the vacuum. Plastic filters can simply be dusted with a soft brush or cloth, preferably outside or over the bin.
Things to Watch Out for During Vacuum Cleaner Maintenance
- Always unplug the vacuum before you begin your maintenance regime. It sounds obvious, but even accidentally knocking a switch can cause vacuum cleaner parts to start working unexpectedly, which could result in physical or electrical injury.
- If your vacuum stops working abruptly, this may mean it has overheated, switch off and unplug, wait for at least half an hour for it to cool down before using again. This may be an indication that vacuum repairs are needed, so it may be wise to seek expert advice if the problem cannot be found.
- Monitor your vacuum for changes in noise and performance, in order to get an idea of how often it needs attention.
- Regardless of any issues, you can reduce the risk for vacuum repairs in the long-term by regularly checking the internal vacuum cleaner parts, the bag, and the hose after every few uses.
- Remember- this advice represents general care and vacuum maintenance, and you should always refer to the manufacturer’s handbook for specific instructions, especially before removing any hoover parts in order to clean them.
Key Steps:
Regularly:
- Change your vacuum cleaner bag.
- Make sure the floor head is not clogged with debris.
- Change or clean the vacuum filter.
As you can see, just a little easy care and maintenance can ensure the cleaning tools like vacuum cleaners remain effective. By keeping these tips in mind you can extend the life of your vacuum cleaner and keep it working at its best for a longer period of time.
Top tip:
General vacuum cleaner maintenance is easy and safe, but when it comes down to substantial repairs, it’s always best to ask a professional or simply replace your hoover- attempting to fix the machine yourself could be dangerous!
