From pet hair and food crumbs to mud and leaves our vacuum cleaners handle a lot of dirt whenever they are used. We all constantly rely on them to tackle such dirt with ease, so our homes are left clean, spotless and allergen free.

Key to keeping our vacuums working to their full potential, ensuring its suction remains strong and dirt is easily collected, is to carry out regular maintenance on your appliance. Part of this maintenance includes cleaning the vacuum cleaner filter and in this post we explain how to easily do this.

Role of the Vacuum Filter:

The filter in your vacuum is there to trap the dust and dirt particles, preventing it from re-circulating back through the room. But as a result of the dirt which your filter comes into contact with, it will need to be washed regularly to prolong the life of your appliance.

When To Clean Your Vacuum Cleaner Filter:

There is no set rule of thumb as to how often and when you should clean your vacuum cleaners filter, although there will be tell-tale signs the filter needs to be cleaned, and the most obvious signs include:

• There is a reduction in the suction performance of your vacuum.

• A change in sound when your vacuum is in use. This is usually caused by the motor straining to maintain its suction performance.

Although there are no set rules as to when and how often you should clean your filters, we recommend if you use your vacuum on a daily basis you clean the filters weekly, whilst if you vacuum on a weekly basis, the filters should be cleaned once a month.

How To Clean Your Vacuum Cleaner Filter:

Cleaning the filters on your vacuum cleaner is at the heart of keeping any bagless vacuum cleaner in good working order, although how you clean the filter will depend on the make and model of vacuum you have.

As a rule of thumb, once you’ve located your filter and removed it from the appliance you will need to:

• Tap it against a hard surface to release any trapped dirt from the surface.
• Rinse it under running lukewarm water until the water runs clear.

With your filter clean, leave it to dry and although it can often be tempting to place it in your tumble dryer or on your radiator to dry, don’t.  Instead, leave your filter to dry naturally for 24 hours.

Whilst it is drying, unless you have a replacement vacuum filter to place into your vacuum you shouldn’t use the appliance, as doing so without a filter can result in faults developing.

For detailed advice on how to clean the filter in your vacuum cleaner we recommend you check the user manual, alternatively our advice centre has a range of videos, such as “How to Change the Filters on a Vacuum – Dyson DC33” below, which explain how to remove and clean the filters on various models.

Cleaning your vacuum cleaner filters on a regular basis and as per the user guide will help prolong the life of your appliance and keep it working at its peak performance. Regularly cleaning the filters in your vacuum cleaner will also help prevent unpleasant odours from building up whenever you vacuum around your home.