Cleaning is more than just cleaning and sprucing up your home; it also entails cleaning the tools that are utilized in the cleaning, such as the vacuum cleaner.
A handheld vacuum cleaner is especially useful for cleaning up small messes around the house and performing other tasks such as vacuuming a mattress. However, the tool also requires some tender loving care.
Your handheld vacuum cleaner should also be cleaned because it has a lot of grime lurking in it. The vacuum and its brushes are smothered in bacteria and germs because of what they do.
This article explains in detail how to clean and maintain your handheld vacuum cleaner. Continue perusing to learn more on the matter.
In this post we will cover:
- Cleaning the Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
- Maintenance of the Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
- How often should you clean your vacuum?
- Does baking soda ruin a vacuum cleaner?
- Do you need to disinfect your vacuum cleaner?
- Is servicing your vacuum important?
How Should I Clean and Maintain my Handheld Vacuum Cleaner?
Cleaning the Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
1. Clean the brushes and bristles after every use. Whenever you are done with a cleaning session, just check the machine’s brushes and bristles to remove any stuck hair or trapped debris.
If you find any loose string or hair wrapped around the brush, cut it using a pair of scissors instead of pulling it. After that, sanitize the brushes by spraying them with a disinfectant spray.
2. Empty the canister or dirtbag after every few uses. Do not allow the canister or bag to fill all the way up since it will affect the suction power of the machine. Try to empty it after every use, or at least when it reaches half to two-thirds full.
Every time you empty the dust container, you will be getting rid of any potential bacteria or germs that could take hold in your vacuum. The emptying will also boost the performance of your device.
3. Check and soak the filter of the vacuum once a month. The filters of your vacuum handheld vacuum cleaner to be checked and cleaned every month even though its cleaning is a larger part of your yearly cleaning routine.
4. Deep clean the handheld vacuum cleaner every 12 to 18 months. It is essential to completely disassemble your device and thoroughly clean it.
While individual parts of your handheld vacuum cleaner have to be cleaned more often, it is also good to take apart the entire machine and scrub it down once a year.
For the disassembling and deep cleaning, you will require dish soap, hot water, a can of compressed air, and a cleaning brush.
Take apart the detachable parts and soak them in hot water, including the attachments. Scrub them well and give them time to dry before assembling your device.
Then use the can of compressed air to remove any debris and dirt hidden in parts of the machine.
Cleaning the canister: if your machine is a corded one, unplug it from the power source and remove the dust canister. Wipe the inside with a dry microfiber cloth and wash it with warm soapy water in the sink.
When you are done washing, rinse away all the soap suds and give the canister time to completely dry before putting it back on your vacuum cleaner.
Cleaning the filter: check the manufacturer’s instructions to find out if your vacuum’s filter is washable or needs replacement. If it is a washable one, remove it from your device and tap it against a hard surface to knock out any dust in it. Do it over the trash can.
After that, rinse the filter with warm water under the sink tap. Avoid using any cleaners or soap unless the manufacturer instructs a specific one to be used on the filter. Let the filter dry completely before putting it back on your device.
Maintenance of the Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
Cleaning the handheld vacuum cleaner: having a cleaning routine for your handheld device and its parts is an essential part of maintenance. All the parts of the machine need to be cleaned every now and then to keep the device functioning properly.
Taking care of the rechargeable battery: many people throw away their hand vacuum cleaners and buy new ones once the battery stops holding charge. A rechargeable battery does not last the whole life span of your handheld vacuum cleaner because it is meant to be replaced.
When making the replacement, buy the correct battery for your device. Most hand vacuums use one of three batteries which include NiCad, NiMH, or lithium-ion batteries.
The batteries are available online, in hardware stores, and where handheld vacuum cleaners are sold.
You can extend the life of your rechargeable battery by not keeping it docked to its charger all the time or constantly fully charged. Allow your device to fully discharge and recharge regularly, or else your machine will not be able to hold a full charge.
Storage & maintenance: store your handheld vacuum cleaner in a place that is cool and dry because moisture may damage the filter. Some machines come with a wall mount for easy storage and charging.
For maintenance, take your handheld vacuum to a repair shop as required. If you have recharged or replaced the batteries and cleaned the filters but it is still not performing adequately, a repair shop will provide you with the solution.
Repair shops are fast and inexpensive, and the device will be as good as new at a fraction of the price of purchasing a new one. Consult your manual for routine maintenance instructions specific to your device.
Conclusion
A handheld vacuum cleaner is a unique cleaning tool when it comes to small messes, upholstery, mattresses, and other surfaces. The machine can clean all sorts of dirt, dust, debris, and allergens despite its size and lightweight design.
However, your handheld vacuum cleaner also needs to be taken care of by cleaning and properly maintaining it. The cleaning and maintenance are essential for your handheld vacuum to continue working efficiently.
The routine for cleaning will depend on the parts of the machine that require to be cleaned and the frequency with which the device is used.
When it comes to maintenance, you may find that a visit to the repair shop will save you the expense of buying a new device.
FAQs
How often should you clean your vacuum?
Your vacuum needs to be cleaned every now and then because it filters a lot of dirt, lint, and dust collections. These particles will build up in your device if it is not deep cleaned once in a while. The buildup will increase demand on the motor, wearing it down.
Generally, you should give your device a deep clean every 12 to 18 months to address the effect that dirt, dust particles, and lint buildup have on the machine’s bearing housing. A bearing system that is inefficient will soften the brush roll and slow them down.
Empty the canister after every cleaning session even if you are tempted to let it reach full capacity because it will interfere with the long-term maximum capacity of the vacuum. Cleaning the vacuum and replacing the damaged parts every 12 to 18 months will save you money.
If you have a bagless vacuum, then you will have to clean its filter once a week if you vacuum every day, and on a monthly basis if you vacuum once or twice a week. Bagless vacuums are more efficient than bagged ones, but the filters need frequent cleaning.
If your model has a disposable filter instead of a washable one, then it should be replaced every 6 to 12 months.
Does baking soda ruin a vacuum cleaner?
Baking soda can be damaging to your vacuum because its particles can mess with the motor and clog the filters. The grains of baking soda are microscopic, and this is the reason it can harm your bathroom.
Motor: The motor of your vacuum will be destroyed because most modern vacuums have their motors sealed. However, the small particles of the soda will be able to find their way to the motor.
That is because the motor sucks in the surrounding air to remain cool and brings with it some baking soda. The powder can reach the gear and bearing and this poses a great threat to the motor of your vacuum cleaner.
Filter: the filter of the vacuum can be clogged even if it is the highest quality available. When the filter is clogged, the vacuum will have to work extra hard, and that will quickly wear out your machine.
Baking soda removal: after risking your vacuum and sucking baking soda with it, the baking soda might not be fully removed from the surface that you are cleaning. The small particles will get deep under the upholstery, for example, and the vacuum will not be able to get them out.
Do you need to disinfect your vacuum cleaner?
It is necessary to disinfect the underside of your vacuum’s cleaning head and the dust can on a regular basis. That is because the surfaces that the vacuum cleans are always dirty and full of germs, more so if you have pets or small children.
Disinfection of the vacuum is also essential if you have someone sick in your household. However, it is good to consult the manufacturer’s manual to seek what is allowed and what is prohibited.
If the usage of disinfectant is allowed the best option will be isopropyl alcohol because it is effective and dries quickly. However, any household liquid or spray disinfectant can be used.
The disinfectant should not get into the motor compartment.
If the use of disinfectant is not recommended wipe the underside of the cleaner’s head with a cloth to remove any germs. Ensure that everything dries before reassembling your vacuum cleaner.
Is servicing your vacuum important?
Many people are not aware that vacuum cleaners also need to be serviced. Modern vacuums are significant investments and many consists of computerized parts that are costly to repair.
Most of them come with a one-year warranty, but the average ownership is almost five years.
Therefore, the issues that pop up during the lifetime of the vacuum have to be caught in time before they become costly repairs. That means that different parts of your vacuums have to be serviced during this time.
The servicing will help your vacuum cleaner to maintain its excellent performance while extending the motor’s life.
The servicing should be in addition to routine maintenance that you do by yourself according to the recommendation of the manufacturer.
The vacuum should be serviced at least every 12 months to reduce repairs that may be needed. However, if the motor goes out, repairs may be costly and sometimes more expensive than replacing the entire vacuum.
Where the cost of repairs is equal to or more than that of a new vacuum cleaner, then it is best to purchase a new vacuum altogether.
