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When your vacuum hose is dirty and messy, the frustration can get on your nerves. Right now, this problem might have interfered with the cleaning of your entire home. The outcome of all that is not pretty. We understand the urgency of the need to clean your vacuum hose. That was the motivation behind writing this article. Please read and take advantage of the solutions offered here.
Video Explainer
Why Clean a Vacuum Cleaner (and Vacuum Hose)?
Sometimes the dirtiest things in the house are the things we use to clean. Think of mops, wipes, or towels. These things can carry germs like you would not believe. And if you do not take proper measures to ensure you clean and disinfect them properly, these germs will spread all over the house, beating their purpose, to begin with, and putting you and your family at risk of contracting diseases.
Vacuum cleaners are no exception. After periods of vacuuming, a vacuum cleaner can get quite filthy. It is necessary to clean the vacuum cleaner every once in a while. of course, that will depend on how frequently you use it. If it goes unchecked for long periods, the vacuum cleaner may become dysfunctional. It is critical to know how to clean a smelly vacuum hose if it ever gets to this point.
Is your vacuum cleaner getting overheated? Is it blowing out dust? Is it losing suction? These are possible indicators that you have neglected the vacuum cleaner. Many people wait until there is a clog before they can inspect and clean their vacuum cleaner, but it is best to make a habit of cleaning it regularly, ideally once a month. That way your vacuum cleaner will stay fresh and perform efficiently at all times.
Cleaning Helps to Restore a Vacuum Cleaner's Performance
Cleaning the vacuum cleaner clears it of clogs and debris and keeps it operating at an optimal level. When you sense a funny smell or start noticing a reduction in the suction power of your vacuum cleaner, it could be an indication that your vacuum cleaner needs to be taken apart, inspected for clogs and possibly cleaned. A clogged vacuum hose is likely not to perform as expected. This article will give you excellent insights on how to unclog a vacuum hose to avoid such a scenario.
There are several parts to a vacuum cleaner. You need to clean each of these parts separately and at different intervals. You also need to clean some parts differently than others. If you have one of those bagless vacuum cleaners, for example, you need to empty the canister after every clean. You also need to clean the canister every once a month, so it does not start throwing up a stench. You need to wash the air filter regularly to allow for proper airflow.
One of the most neglected vacuum maintenance jobs, however, is cleaning the vacuum hose. Ideally, you should do this once a month, but if you have a busy household and vacuuming is more frequent, you may also need to clean it as frequently as necessary.
The most common reason people wash a vacuum cleaner hose is to clear it of clogs. Since the vacuum hose is made of flexible material and has many folds, it is more likely to clog up. Pet furs, food particles, fabric, and paper clumps often get stuck in the folds, blocking the airway.
Because of its folds, the vacuum hose also tends to keep a lot of the dirt and grime, making it a breeding ground for germs and bad odors. Cleaning the hose is therefore very crucial.
Follow These Steps for Exceptional Vacuum Hose Cleaning
What You Will Need
- Sturdy stick or rod
- Hot water
- Bleach
- Laundry Detergent
- Soft Brush
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
1. Unplug the Vacuum Cleaner
This goes without saying, but I will say it anyway. Washing any parts of a vacuum cleaner while it is connected to a power source can be hazardous. Even if the power is switched off, make sure to unplug the vacuum cleaner before taking it apart for cleaning or inspection.
2. Unclog the Hose
Before you get down to washing a vacuum hose, first you need to check it for clogs. To do this, first disassemble it from the rest of the vacuum cleaner using instructions from the manual. Once you are done with this step, set it down on a flat surface. Take a sturdy stick or rod, like a mop handle through the length of the hose to push out and remove any large items like wads of paper, socks or furniture stuffing that may be lodged in there. Take care not to puncture the walls in the process as this will interfere with the suction during vacuuming, needing you to replace it. Place the hose against the light and look through the tube for any items that may be stuck.
3. Wash the Hose
Fill a sink with hot water; about four inches high. Add two tablespoons of bleach and a hand scoop of laundry detergent. Dip the vacuum cleaner hose in the solution and swirl it around to clean the inner walls. The hot water will melt out and detach any dirt stuck to the walls of the hose, making it easier to clean. Use a soft brush if necessary to clean out any stubborn grime. Next, drain the water from the sink and rinse the hose with running water from the tap.
4. Sanitize the Hose
Your vacuum hose is now clean, but it also needs to be sanitized. Sanitizing the vacuum hose ensures that no stubborn bacteria, germs or allergens remain. That is why it is essential to know how to disinfect a vacuum cleaner. For this process, you can use baking soda and vinegar.
Hold the vacuum hose in a U shape and put two spoonfuls of baking soda in one end. Mix three tablespoons of white vinegar in a cup of lukewarm water. Add this solution to the baking soda in the hose. Swirl the vacuum hose around until the fizzing stops. Vinegar is useful not only in clearing bacteria and allergens but also in removing any unpleasant odors.
Allergens can bring about respiratory complications and asthma. You can also use this vinegar solution to wipe down all the accessible parts of the vacuum cleaner. That includes the cord and the exterior of the hose. This step also applies for how to clean a shark rotator vacuum hose. However, do not apply moisture to the plug or any other electrified components.
Once you have thoroughly shaken the solution in the hose and the fizzing had died down, pour out the solution, rinse the hose once again in running tap water and hang it out to dry. Make sure the hose is completely dry before you reattach it to the vacuum.
5. Reassemble the Vacuum Cleaner
Once it is all dried out, reassemble the vacuum cleaner using instructions from the manual. Now try it out to test whether it works properly.
Pro Tip
Before vacuuming, make sure to clear the area of any large items such as coins, paper clips, small toys, or handkerchiefs that could end up clogging the vacuum if sucked in. A clogged vacuum hose is a recipe for disaster.
Inspect vacuumed items before disposing of them. There could be something useful or valuable, like a sock or jewelry.
When your vacuum cleaner malfunctions and the problem is not in the hose, there are other parts of the vacuum cleaner you could check for the problem. Take note of this point when you wash your vacuum cleaner.
Check the floorhead for hair, fluff or any debris that could be clogging up. The floorhead is the part that gets in contact with the rug when vacuuming. It is made with rotating brushes that pick up dirt as you move the vacuum across the floor. If your brush bar is heavily clogged, this can prevent it from digging deep into the carpet to suck up dust. Cleaning a clogged up floorhead can have an old vacuum cleaner working like new again. Some vacuum floorheads have removable brushes which makes this process a breeze, but if not, you can use a pair of scissors to cut the hairs out with the help of the manual.
Check the filters. There are two filters in nearly every vacuum cleaner. You will find the motor filter at the back near where the exhaust from the vac exits. The allergen filter is typically nearer to the dust container or bag. These filters collect stray fine dirt and prevent it from making its way back into your home. If they become clogged with dust, it can cause suction to drop. You should clean these filters regularly according to the instructions in your manual. That should not be much of a problem because you already know how to unclog a vacuum hose.
Check the beater bar. The beater bar is the bottom part of the vacuum cleaner where the vacuum sucks on dirt. Sometimes hairs and threads get stuck in the brushes of the beater bar, interfering with the rotation. Make sure to check for this and pull them out.
Check the head. To find out if there is a clog in the head, turn it upright and visually inspect. Use your fingers to pull out any stuck debris.
Check the dirt container or bag. An overflowing dirt container will impact suction. Tests have shown that suction drops with a full dust container or bag, sometimes by up to 30%. If you notice your vacuum cleaner blowing out dust from the back, try checking the canister. This problem arises when the canister is full, and the vacuum cleaner has nowhere to store the dust it's vacuuming. Vacuuming with a full canister can also cause the motor to overheat and lead to a fire hazard. Empty the canister or bag regularly to prevent this.
Most parts of a vacuum cleaner should come off with relative ease. If you find yourself tugging or twisting or forcing things, you are likely to break something. Stop and have a professional take a look at it.
Finally, if you encounter a problem with your vacuum cleaner that is beyond your comfort zone, take it in for repairs. It is okay not to be great at everything.