How to wash Royal Hand Vac bags?

[royalfan103]

In the past, I would always wash these bags whenever I got them used. I’m wondering on how to properly wash them or not because the dye washes out and I’m wondering on how I could wash them without it fading or if I just can’t wash them at all.

 

[kirbylux77]

Well, I would say if you are going to wash a vacuum bag, and you don't want colors to bleed, hand wash in cold water with Woolite. I would imagine the detergent you use would cause some of the colors to leech from the fabric, so Woolite would prevent that since it's for washing delicate fabrics.

If you don't want to try handwashing it, the next thing you could do would be to blow the bag out with a vacuum with a blower port. Put your hose with a crevice tool on the blower port, and go to town on the bag outside. You could also try using a upholstery brush or a vacuum with a powered upholstery tool, or another hand vacuum.

 

[royalfan103]

Well, I would say if you are going to wash a vacuum bag, and you don't want colors to bleed, hand wash in cold water with Woolite. I would imagine the detergent you use would cause some of the colors to leech from the fabric, so Woolite would prevent that since it's for washing delicate fabrics.

If you don't want to try handwashing it, the next thing you could do would be to blow the bag out with a vacuum with a blower port. Put your hose with a crevice tool on the blower port, and go to town on the bag outside. You could also try using a upholstery brush or a vacuum with a powered upholstery tool, or another hand vacuum.

I don’t even use detergent. It was just plain water.

 

[royalfan103]

Well, I would say if you are going to wash a vacuum bag, and you don't want colors to bleed, hand wash in cold water with Woolite. I would imagine the detergent you use would cause some of the colors to leech from the fabric, so Woolite would prevent that since it's for washing delicate fabrics.

If you don't want to try handwashing it, the next thing you could do would be to blow the bag out with a vacuum with a blower port. Put your hose with a crevice tool on the blower port, and go to town on the bag outside. You could also try using a upholstery brush or a vacuum with a powered upholstery tool, or another hand vacuum.

I'm asking because I'm getitng a Royal 501 in a few days and I don't want the bag fading.

 

[human]

Which 501 are you getting? I have three. Two are later models with the light blue color scheme and rubberized bags, while one is an early model with gray plastics and a red and gray twill bag. I've never laundered any of them. I've always just used my shop vac to vacuum them out. Seems kind of redundant to be vacuuming a vacuum, but it's the best way I've found. That said, all three of them are now fitted with paper disposable bags. They're getting harder to find, and thus increasingly expensive, but I see it as a worthwhile investment.

I've also got a plastic Dirt Devil model 08100 hand vac that obviously shares some DNA with the Royal prince 501, but besides being a little bit lighter weight, it'is not nearly as good a machine. It uses paper bags as well, which are quite readily available, but those won't fit the metal 501s and I don't see a good way to modify one.

 

[royalfan103]

Which 501 are you getting? I have three. Two are later models with the light blue color scheme and rubberized bags, while one is an early model with gray plastics and a red and gray twill bag. I've never laundered any of them. I've always just used my shop vac to vacuum them out. Seems kind of redundant to be vacuuming a vacuum, but it's the best way I've found. That said, all three of them are now fitted with paper disposable bags. They're getting harder to find, and thus increasingly expensive, but I see it as a worthwhile investment.

I've also got a plastic Dirt Devil model 08100 hand vac that obviously shares some DNA with the Royal prince 501, but besides being a little bit lighter weight, it'is not nearly as good a machine. It uses paper bags as well, which are quite readily available, but those won't fit the metal 501s and I don't see a good way to modify one.

This One!

 

[human]

With the switch guard, that's one of the last ones, from about 1988 or so. However you wash that bag, I don't think you have to worry much about it fading, compared to the earlier gray and red ones.

 

[royalfan103]

With the switch guard, that's one of the last ones, from about 1988 or so. However you wash that bag, I don't think you have to worry much about it fading, compared to the earlier gray and red ones.

Alright. I was mainly asking this question because I had the red wash out of a Dirt Devil 103 bag.

This one seems to be made in October 1989.

 

[centralsweeper63]

That looks quite nifty. It would look good with na kirby tradition.

 

[royalfan103]

Updates -

It’s out for delivery today! Expecting it by 5 PM or earlier today.

Qeustion -

What is this? This doesn’t look like any Royal 501 I’ve seen before.

 

[centralsweeper63]

Interesting how the front plate is riveted and not removable.

 

[royalfan103]

Interesting how the front plate is riveted and not removable.

How would it connect to a hose that way?

 

[centralsweeper63]

without knowing for sure I would say it uses a pan converter.

 

[cheesewonton]

How would it connect to a hose that way?

How would you replace a belt? I have to think the front is removable but we are not seeing something.

 

[centralsweeper63]

I wonder if it was planned obsolescence. Though I do think the front is removable.

 

[royalfan103]

GOT IT!

 

[centralsweeper63]

is the front cap included. I can't imagine it will work if the cap is missing.

 

[royalfan103]

is the front cap included. I can't imagine it will work if the cap is missing.

No, it isn’t included, but I have plenty of those. Also, how do I fix this?

 

[centralsweeper63]

I would presume you use that tab on the back of the base plate and take it off. Then put the ends down the slots and make sure the brushes sort of point towards the front of the machine.

 

[royalfan103]

I would presume you use that tab on the back of the base plate and take it off. Then put the ends down the slots and make sure the brushes sort of point towards the front of the machine.

Got it Fixed! And, the agitation on this thing, it looks way more promising than the agitation on my Dirt Devil Handvacs because the bristles are deeper.

 

[centralsweeper63]

Great to hear that you got it fixed. I would love to get something even remotely like this. That style of machine is one that never crossed the ditch.

 

[royalfan103]

Okay, so.

What’s the purpose of the numbers on the Brushroll? I’ve heard what they’re for height adjustment of the brushes and I’d like to know how to get the lowest height adjustment.

 

[centralsweeper63]

I am not 100% sure though I think I can help you. that wouldn't be for height adjustment, rather it is for adjusting for brush wear. Putting it too low puts strain on the motor and belt so therefore is not advisable. Run the straight edge of a bit of business card or something over the rub plate and move back and forth. Rotate the brushroll to allow for the brushes to stick up and straight out. They should protrude an even amount of about 1/8th of an inch. Make sure both ends are set to the same setting too, otherwise your belt may slowly "walk" to one side of the brushroll. It may not have this function, however based on your description I would think it does. If you have a service manual or can get one online you could look in that.