Keeping The Powerforce Turbo Clean

[director12]

My Powerforce Turbo had some parts to be washed and cleaned out. This involved the circular pleated filter, the pre-motor filter, the bin, the plastic cyclone assembly, the brushroll, the bottom plate, and washing the hose out from dog mess.

Do you really thing all bagless vacuums will need to have parts washed? And has anyone washed their vacuum hose out? Mine smelled like dog.

 

[blackheart]

Washing

Bagless parts should be washed out now and then
As for washing out hoses, i disconnect them from the machine then i put soap and water into the hose and slosh the water through the hose a few times then dump it you might have to do that more than once depends on how bad it is. Remember to rinse it out with plain water for drying i typically attach the hose to a blower to speed dry times but you can just hang it over a shower curtain rod to allow it to drip dry but if the hose has exposed metal coil i would recommend blowing it out

 

[madabouthoovers]

Yes, bagless cleaners should be washed out on a routine basis, or they do start to smell, especially with pets. I have washed out my Dysons, and everything except the electrics, brushroll and motor goes through the washing up bowl. The hoses also go in the washing bowl with just plain water and washing up liquid. I leave the hose to soak for an hour or so, then with the ends still held under the water, I lift the centre of the hose out of the water and stretch it out, so filling the hose - this reveals any small holes as well - you see air bubbles entering the hose at the point of the hole. Then I lift the ends out of the water and let the water drain back out of the hose, taking the crap with it. I repeat this several times. Then I take the hose out in the back yard, attach one end to a hook, and then stretch the hose to full length and attach the other end to a hook higher up than the first, so the water drains down the hose, and air can permeate it to dry it out.
I wash out the bins, cyclones, but not the brushroll, just wipe that over and avoid getting water in the bearings.
If your filters are washable, wash them regularly, but if they are paper pleated ones, dont wash them as it will ruin them. Paper filters must be replaced when dirty.
The most important thing with washing a bagless cleaner's parts is letting them FULLY dry before further use. If water gets in the motor, its not good.

 

[durango159]

Ruby Tuesday that I used to work with had the Wolly World Bissel PowerForce Turbo. I took the vacuum home about every 6 months and washed everything. Hose got soap and water sloshed through. Rinse thoroughly and hang to dry over clothes rack, in hot sun or something that it can lye on. Everything else gets washed--dirt cup, foam filter, dirt separator, bottom plate. I do wash brush rolls. Soap and water in hand in hand sink, holding brush roll on angle to get near 0 water in agitator or on bearings. I lather and rinse all agitators twice. Dry immediately with towel.

 

[sebo_fan]

Actually No..

Sorry Steve - paper filter cones CAN be washed - all they need is a gentle lukewarm water, some time from a pair of gentle massaging fingers and washing up liquid. It is how I've maintained the paper pleated cone filter on my little Vax Dynammite model for many years. What they obviously can't handle is a scourer or an abrasive implement that will tear the paper - but the paper is thick enough to be washed; early Vax user manuals indicate this as a suggestion when the filter gets really packed up.


 


To dry filters, I often just toss the damp ones into a pillow case with a tea towel and tie up the pillow case before putting it into the tumble dryer on a low heat. I can't be done waiting all day for the filter to dry. 


 


 

 

[madabouthoovers]

I tried washing the hepa filter in my Electrolux powerlite upright (paper pleated in rectangular plastic housing) and it went like mush, totally ruined it. Tried washing other paper filters before as well and ruined them. Maybe its because I hadnt dried them properly before using them in the cleaner again, but I wont wash paper ones again.
Its up to you whether you want to risk washing paper filters - some may take it without damage, others may not - but I personally would only recommend washing filters that say they can be washed, like foam pads.

 

[sebo_fan]

Ah but the HEPA filter cartridge is totally different to the paper pleated cone filters in a bagless/cyclonic and having owned the Powerlite upright, I know where you're coming from. For starters the HEPA cartridge has viewable glue that holds the paper to the grid, no wonder it turned to mush - the glue disintegrates with warm water. Besides, Electrolux don't really suggest that you wash the filter as shown below from the user manual, but rather "clean it with another vacuum cleaner," or to shake the dust off.

 

[madabouthoovers]

Yes, thats exactly the filter I'm on about - in the end, I scraped out all the mushy paper, cut a piece of Miele exhaust filter to shape (the ones you get in a pack of Hyclean bags) and inserted it into the rectangular recess, reversed the old now empty filter cage, and pushed it up to the new exhaust filter pad to hold in place, replaced the bag door, and presto, a new exhaust filter until I get another proper paper Hepa filter cartridge.
I think the cones you are talking about may have a sort of waxy coating to stop them being ruined by washing - similar to the cone filter in my Dustbuster CV1205. I can wash this filter with no bad effects.

 

[JDrums0789]

My old roommate had a bissell helix turbo, I washed that paper filter loads of times. They clog up fairly quickly.
And speaking of filters, had anyone tried those fabreeze filters? The scent is so strong, just walkin by them in the store gives me a headache.

 

[madabouthoovers]

We've just had a new Bissell launch over here that uses those Febreze filters - havent smelt them yet though and wont be either, as these cleaners aint cheap for Bissells. They look cool though:

They call them the Bissell Floors and More

 

[sebo_fan]

You could just spray non-aersol type Febreeze on an existing Microfilter and see what happens - provided the solution you use isn't flammable.

As for the filters - cone filters are the types you've shown here, and of the type that Vax and Bissell in the past have installed in their bagless cyclonics. Nifty idea with the Miele filter with the HEPA cartridge filter though. I used to install cut to size Dyson filters from my DC01 in my Hoover Telios cylinder vacuums and they worked a treat.

 

[madabouthoovers]

I tend to use a few spots of scented oil - the sort you get from Wilko's in the tiny bottles and put it on either the pre motor or post motor filter on my cleaners - works for bagless just as well a bagged. Lasts ages as well, and you have a lot of fragrances to choose from at a £1 a bottle.

Have ordered a new Hepa cartridge for my Electrolux - not an OE one though, far too expensive - BuyDustBags.co.uk is a great site for bags, belts and filters and they are the cheapest for postage too, I use them loads, very reliable (most of the time)



http://www.buydustbags.co.uk/vacuum...path=495346:496792,49428:495367&refine=filter

 

[sebo_fan]

I would never use scented oil in any electrical appliance - it is a flammable liquid. So putting that within a HEPA filter that sits directly above the hottest part of a motor is asking for it!

 

[director12]

Oh I see.