Cleaning out a Bissell Powerforce Helix

[oliveoiltinfoil]

I used to wash the dust cup out every month or so as they get flighty and look manky as soon as you turn them on, and the dirt flying around the canister scratches the plastic on the inside anyway. Couple to the fact that with the quick release flaps on new bagless vacuums, the dirt not only flies out and goes everywhere, the dirt accumulates on the rubber seals and on the outside of the canister due to static.

I honestly think bagless vacuum designs went backward with these quick release bins. The older design pre-dyson dc04 where you had an actual bin to tip out meant you didn't get as much of a dust cloud and also no rubber seals where dirt could leak out from.

With my Dyson, it is pretty easy to wash the clear bin itself, but washing the cyclone assembly isn't recommended, although i do it anyway and leave it to dry in an airing cupboard for a couple of days, you still cant take it apart and clean it properly.

With my felix on the other hand, it is like with most bagged vacuums these days, just seal off the intake and dump it, replace it with a new one. Every now and then, run a cloth on the inside of the bag housing and that's it.

 

[mark40511]

No - I'm not saying

that single cyclone is more reliable than multi. I simply ASKED someone on here why Shark would take a stop backwards and go from milti-cyclonic to single? That was the answer they gave me - that they went back to single cyclone because they are more reliable. Whether or not that's true, I do not know...My house is CLEAN. When I vacuum, I mostly have cat hair and a little normal dirt dust in the bin, and even then, the filters get dirty. I can only imagine what the filters must look like in a dirty house...I vacuum the foam and flat filter about once every 4 days of use. I don't think much of anything is getting past those filters into the hepa filter itself, probably because I'm OCD about keeping them clean...

 

[niclonnic]

Tolivac, yes, the Euro-Pro company does have misleading advertising. I forgot to mention that Shark was "America's Most Recommended Vacuum." Well, according to online reviews, they say. In addition, Shark also claims to have superior performance compared to Dyson vacuums. Shark and Dyson are fierce competitors!

Oliveoiltinfoil, from time to time, I would rinse out the clear bin of my Dyson DC07. Yes, most clear bins will get perma-dirty after just a few uses, and washing one out will NOT make it clear again. I have never washed the cyclone assembly, as per Dyson's recommendation. On some newer bagless machines with bottom-empty bin designs, the dirt doesn't fall out right away, due to a design flaw in the shape of the bin. Dust will accumulate on the outside of the bin MUCH faster.

Mark40511, I, too, can only imagine what Shark filters would look like in my house. I have 2 dogs and a cat, and I typically get some pet hair and normal household debris. Generally, Shark recommends washing the foam and felt filters every 3 months. In other words, that's once every season.

 

[dys0nb0y]

from my experience i think shark is pretty reliable you do need to clean the filter quite a bit quite a but i quite enjoy it i'd like a vacuum with a bit of maintenance,i would pick a shark over a dyson dc65 and with the last generation of rotator you can buy a lot parts for on the website,and don't forget they have got a good guarantee 5 or 7 years guarantee a even a lifetime guarantee.

 

[fantomfan]

mark40511

I'm sorry if I upset you but that statement was towards the person who told you that remark about single vs. multi cyclonic. I didn't direct that towards you. That's ok though. I make that mistake as well too. My church uses a Shark Rotator and it's FILTHY everytime I go past it. I almost said something because you almost couldn't tell the pre motor filter was a FILTER. Oh well, I hope they'll learn that it was NEVER intended to be used like that. When It breaks down, I'll INSIST that they ought to invest in something better for their needs. They have a Diamond G Kirby as well. My neighbor has a Shark Rocket that really does clean WELL, but the filter is always dirty when I see that. I'm sure they would last longer if you kept up on the maintenance.

 

[marcusprit]

You'd pick a Shark over a Dyson? :-0

 

[niclonnic]

OK...

Everybody has their opinions. My grandmother owns a Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe. She's had it for about 2 years now. The filter is dirty every time I look at the machine. A family support center where I volunteer at has a Shark Rocket Professional, and it does a GREAT job, but the filter is always dirty when I go to empty the dust cup. When will anybody learn that you shouldn't use household vacuums in commercial settings!? It seems to be a trend around here in Washington state.

 

[sptyks]

I still don't understand what is so cost prohibitive about buying bags.


 


I buy a pack of 6 cloth HEPA bags for $18. I order them online and they are delivered right to my door. That comes to about $3 each. The bags are quite large and last me about 6 months each. So is $6 a year too much to spend for all the conveniences of using bags let alone the greatly increased sanitary conditions?

 

[marcusprit]

Yes that's a reasonable price. But over time the pores in the bag will clog and the thought of having dirt and bacteria growing in a bag for 6 months makes me feel ill. Yucky

I'd rather dump it weekly and be done with it.

 

[niclonnic]

That's reasonable

But the hard part is remembering the correct type of bag your vacuum takes, as you have to buy them every time.

I'd much rather have a bagless vacuum that is always ready to go and doesn't require any additional purchases.

 

[parwaz786]

Oliver

The DC41 Cyclone can be taken apart I can tell you how to do that if you like, or there is a guide on the Manchesetervacs forum

 

[oliveoiltinfoil]

I am sure there is a way of taking them apart, but prizing plastic parts and possibly damaging it isn't confidence inspiring, however I will definitely have a look on there !

 

[sptyks]

Marcus, The pores clogging up may have been true with the old paper bags, but the new Kirby HEPA bags do not clog up. I used my Baird meter to measure airflow of my Sentria with a new empty bag. It measured an 8.5 through the hose. A few months later when the dirt reached the full line on the bag, I checked it again and it measured an 8.0, so no significant loss of suction with the HEPA bags.


 


And what about all the dirt and bacteria you come into direct contact with when you wash those nasty filters? All the dirt and bacteria stay inside the cloth bag so I do not come into contact with any dirt and bacteria when I change a bag.


 


Niclonic, If you buy your bags online, then you will always have the link to the URL where you bought them last. Also, you will not have to make a special trip to the vac shop to get bags as with a couple of clicks they will be delivered directly to your home. It just doesn't get any easier than that.

 

[niclonnic]

Sptyks

Buying bags online would be even easier if you have Amazon Prime ($99/year). All you have to do is place an order of bags through Amazon, and just 2 days later, they will be delivered right to your door! How do you like them apples?

P.S. I'm not trying to be disrespectful here.

 

[sptyks]

Well if the price is right that would be great! Thank You.


I will check that out next time I need some.

 

[hvrvaclvr]

I got Amazon Prime for free for 6 months when I added my University Email. Then after those 6th its only $49.99. If any of you order from Amazon a lot and are in college, it's a great deal!

 

[marcusprit]

There is no filters to wash in the Cinetic.

 

[marcusprit]

This is how well the Shark cyclone works

http://https//youtu.be/exBV5_zYFJs

 

[daknx1994]

Be careful with expecting Shark to come through on their warranties. Sure you can buy the parts online from them, but who wants to spend $70 on a cleaner head when all they need is a belt? The number of times I have had to turn people down at work because there is not dealer network for Shark. I even had a customer call me a few days ago and wanted to make sure that I could not get parts. He said he had already called Shark, and even though his unit was under warranty, he still had to pay eighty dollars to ship the unit to Shark and to get it back. Now that is plain ridiculous. I would rather buy a Dyson, because I could at least get parts for those when something went wrong, plus Dyson has some of the best customer support out there.

 

[marcusprit]

Totally agree Derek