Cleanig and yes washing vacuum bags!

[vacmadman]

Despite popular belief it is possible to safely wash vacuum bags with no damage done to the bag or logo. I have successfully washed Kirby, Kenmore, Air-Way, and other bags with great results. If you start out with a bag that has old and flaking silkscreen logo you may indeed lose some of the logo in the washing process, but the overall appearance should improve.

The best way to achieve this is to gently hand wash the bags, never wash a bag in the washing machine this is the worst thing you can do. I have washed bags in the sink, but normally will wash them in the bath tub, where you can lay the bag flat submerged in the water. I will first rinse the dirt out of the bag using the shower head. Once I have seen that most of the dirt has rinsed out, I will then wash out the tub removing any leftover dirt.

I will then fill the tub again just enough to submerge the bag with warm water adding laundry soap. Without soap the water can't penetrate the fabric and remove dirt and grime. I will gently go up and down the bag squeezing it as I go to help the soap penetrate the fabric. I will then drain the tub and rinse the bag and repeat the process again to ensure that I have removed as much dirt as possible. Then I will do the same thing again this time using fabric softener instead of soap. After I will thoroughly rinse the bag and hang to dry.

I added some before and after Pictures of my Kenmore imperial bag witch was in very bad shape. It was so dirty and full of grime it was stiff in some spots like cardboard. Simply vacuuming out this bag would not do the job. I also added before and after pictures of my Apollo bag you can see when it was wet the color was better, and the logo just popped. Unfortunately after drying it was cleaner, but the color faded again as it dried.

 

[brando_husky]

I always wash my vacuum bags original or not. old or new. Vinyl and cloth. Never had an issue.

 

[louvac]

I always wash my bags, too-when needed....

I wash my bags also, in the washer on Delicate Cycle with a small amount of detergent. I always RINCE TWICE and NEVER USE fabric softener. You don't want to clog the pores of the fabric. I guess the only exception I might make is if the bag was very stiff or brittle feeling. Rinsing twice helps to insure that there is no soap left in the fibers. I have had good luck using a little SHOUT on stains without having any damage.

As soon as the washer stops the gentle spin, I remove the bag and reshape it-put it on a hanger and let it air dry in the laundry room or lay it on a clean table on the deck on a nice sunny day.

I also use a sweater shaver to remove any fabric pills. I have also been very successful in hand sewing any rips or tears. With the cost of new replacement bags it can get very expensive to buy a new bag. So, I say, "screw 'em!" If the bags is that badly damaged you might as well open it up at the seems and make a pattern for a new one. It is not that difficult to make one!

 

[vacman1961]

I had the best success in washing outer bags in my old GE washer with a Mini Basket and on the gentle cycle, they came out great, I never damaged one. I miss that washer.

 

[myvacsrock]

I’m with you, James…

On the Facebook groups especially people seem to be petrified to wash the old bags. I have a crazy amount of original Hoover bags and all have been properly washed. It’s necessary for your vacuum room not to smell like filth!

Last week this stunning 725 bag, which is one of the most hard to find Hoover originals, came out just beautifully.

 

[lesinutah]

The

Bags we worry about are the early 500srries Kirby's. I don't care what you say if you have a mint bag and you wash some of it and screw print comes off your done.
I will say nice job on restoring the bags.

 

[huskyvacs]

The old vacuums used the bag as part of the filtration system as well as the air path. Commercial vacs still do. If you never wash them and leave them to get clogged up, they lose their ability to expel and exhaust air, and what you have is the "blowing into a bottle" effect. Air is going in, but none can escape. Vacuuming them out removes dirt, yes, but the fabric is still holding it within its weaves. Washing them loosens the fabric and lets it shed off all the decades and decades of filth accumulated.

Some people said spraying them with starch after washing them will help even more at making the bag stretch out and hold its shape, but I have not tried that.

No fabric softener, correct, as it puts a layer of soap onto the fabric and the bag will become sticky when washed and after drying, which you don't want, it will clog the bag with dirt fast.

Also hand wash only and gently knead them, a lot of bags are way too fragile to put in a washing machine.

It also helps to make a spreader to insert into the bag to help keep it shaped and allow the bag to dry fully so it doesn't wad up, some bag fabrics like to revert back to their crumpled shape they got from storage.


Lots of old topics on here from the mid -2000's on bag washing and a lot of good tips.

 

[vacmadman]

725 bag!!

myvacsrock,

Wow you did a great job restoring that 725 bag. I would love to find one for my 725... very nice indeed!!

Jim

 

[vacmadman]

Older Kirby Bags

Les,

I would agree with you about the older Kirby bags. The Kirby logos seem to be more fragile then most early vacuum bags, and require more care.

Jim