Vacuum Maintenance Question for Everyone...

[honestjoe68]

Hello everybody,

I have a strange question for everyone to see if anyone else does what I do to maintain my vacuums, specifically my new bagless vacuums.

I have to admit I get a bit fussy (to put it nicely lol) and I must keep all my vacuums clean and the bagless vacuums empty after every single time I use them. SO for me I typically empty the bin in the trash, then I have Swiffer dusters to swipe around inside and out to catch all the fine dust.. but here is my question for everyone here:

Does anyone else clean and maintain their Bagless vacuums and filters by using a Bagged Canister vacuum or Bagged Upright with a hose and attachments, to clean the bagless vacuum out and to suck the filters clean in between water washing them? My husband is so kind to never point out how ridiculous it must look every time I haul out a bagged vacuum canister or hose attachment vacuum to clean up another vacuum that is bagless.

I also tend to change the Bagged vacuum cleaner Bags more often that indicated or required as I don't like it when they get stale or start to have odors. But again, this is just my odd compulsive behavior as I want every one of my vacuums to be clean and ready to be used. Then when I am done using a Bagless vacuum from my collection, I simply cannot just put it back in my "Vacuum Shrine Area" as my husband lovingly calls our spare bedroom, without first cleaning the dirt bin and filters spotless and clean, with the help of that bagged hose attachment and dusting brush, etc.

One last related item, for me I always buy a second set of all the bagless vacuum filters so I have one set to put back in my vacuum while the other is being water washed/rinsed per the manufacture indications. Does anyone else do this and buy spare filters? I also have drawers FULL of extra Belts and parts that might wear out and then for my Bagged vacuums.. Oh my goodness, I have to organize the drawers of disposable bags by Brand as it was getting a bit much to try and find the correct bag. I'm crazy right?? OR may I call it passionate about Vacuum Cleaners?? Please share your thoughts but be kind.

So please let me know what you all think and how you maintain your vacuum cleaners. Also, if you thoroughly clean out your Bagless Vacuums before putting them away, please share your routine. I put this question in this Contemporary category as all my vacuums in my collection are new within a few to 5 years. But if I'm wrong, please let me know and I'll move it accordingly.

Thank you to everybody that might answer and share their maintenance habits with me, just so I can feel if I am normal in the Vacuum Collectors world or simply obsessive! lol

Patrick

 

[crazykirbydude]

I use a Bissell PowerForce Helix (new version) at my school. I dump the bin after every use and wash the filter when I deem necessary. The whole thing is filthy, but it helps a little bit.

 

[dysonman1]

I use my Vacuflo central vac to clean out my bagless machines. Like you Patrick, my husband thinks I'm crazy but he will survive. Our spare bedroom is also my "vacuum shrine" with 29 machines. My husband built shelves for my power nozzles and I have hooks for all the hoses. I store my bagless cleaners always clean and no dirt. I have lots of spare filters and bags (For my bagged cleaners), but it is getting almost out of hand. I buy bags (like Air-Way or Lux bags) at estate sales, thrift stores, etc for almost nothing and have a large supply now (lifetime supply maybe?)

 

[justjunque]

Patrick,

This Air Revolve is the first bagless vacuum I've used.
I also have a Fantom Thunder, but I don't use it.

Not being familiar with them, I emptied the dirt cup three times during the course of vacuuming just our first floor.
And it's not a big house!
After using it, I took the separator out, and wiped that down, as well as the dirt cup itself.
If I knew I wasn't going to use it again for a while, I would have to give it a more thorough cleaning.
But, I'm satisfied with the way it is now, since I'm planning on using it again soon.

My bagged vacuums, specifically the plastic-bodied Electroluxes, I usually give the bag compartment a little wipe down with Pledge when I change the bag.

The Hoover Portable, I haven't had to change the bag yet.
It's a big bag, and the vacuum gets only occasional use, so it might be a while.
When I do change that bag, I imagine I will vacuum out the bag compartment with an Electrolux, and vacuum the pre-motor filter before putting a new bag in.

Barry

 

[suckolux]

Patrick, I do the same thing...

 

[kirbysthebest]

I have to give it a total cleaning

I use a Oreck canister to clean the filters and cyclones, I dust the inside of the bin, and then wipe it down with a dust cloth.

Not just the dry use machines, either. My water based machines get a through cleaning, separator and basin, and are hand dried before storage.


Let's just say, OCD people should not use bagless machines.

 

[gregvacs28]

Dumping ones dust bin from a bagless vac into the garbage INSIDE YOUR living space, and allowing all that dust to become air borne.....INSIDE..... than you are NOT qualified to be OCD. You need to work on that.

And using any non-vented vacuum when one has use of a perfectly good vented central vacuum.....that's bizarre. Why would one do that to themselves? Again, you ARE NOT OCD enough.

Earning the crown of a certified OCD person is not an easy task. I'm tired of all the wanna-be's. Up your game !

Oh, just FYI: having a wonderful central vacuum that's NOT vented outside.... that's craz-zy.
One certainly could not qualify to be OCD under those circumstances.

Some just don't know as I kindly informed the person who made the attached video. She was nice enough to show us her new CV install but the installer failed to finish venting it outside. The pipe just ends at the sound suppressor. It's just so wrong. What a waste.

 

[kirbysthebest]

Nanner-Nanner-Nanner

I don't dump inside, I take it outside to the compost bin.

Don't you even try to take away my OCD card.

 

[mark40511]

Speaking of maintenance

I guess this is "Kind of" a maintenance question. If you have someone in your home who uses baby powder (horrible for vacuums)... they are very careful with it and I've yet to find any evidence of any when I'm cleaning.....but you know that stuff is a super fine powder so you're bound to end up vacuuming very small amounts of it. That makes me paranoid as hell when I'm cleaning hoping I'm not destroying my vacuum in the process because I know that's horrible for any vacuum - bagged or bagless. What's the worst case scenario for a HEPA bagged machine? That the bag just gets clogged more quickly? I'm not talking about vacuuming of large amounts of the stuff - just whatever residuals there may be that could have possibly fallen on the floor or carpet or whatever.

 

[myles_v]

I also use a bagged machine to vacuum out the filters of my bagless vacuums. It's easier than washing the filters off so frequently and it helps maintain airflow.

 

[gottahaveahoove]

How about CDO

if you're into alphabetical order? Now, THAT's obsessive! right?

 

[kirbysthebest]

The CDO is actually one of the organizations I work with. The Community Developmental Organization.

 

[vacuumkid47]

Clean outs

All I use is a shop vac to clean out the filters and the bin and then wash out the filters so they are clean for the next use. But I also have a Eureka 3712A to clean out anymore crap in bags and bins