The best ways to properly clean a vacuum cleaner and can it be washed

The main tool for dealing with dust at home, a vacuum cleaner, as well as other electrical appliances, needs regular cleaning. Decrease in traction, decrease in the quality of work, "bloating" of air, breakdown - all these problems can appear if you are not careful in cleaning the elements of the vacuum cleaner. How to clean the vacuum cleaner yourself and what to do if mercury gets inside the device.

Filter cleaning types and methods

To ensure that debris passing through the vacuum cleaner does not clog the turbine and return to the room, several degrees of filtration are installed inside the device: coarse cleaning, motor and exhaust air filter. Depending on the type of dust collector to be cleaned, it is worth choosing a cleaning method.

Poached

There are several types of bag filters: paper, synthetic, fabric. Cleaning of paper and fine synthetic filters is not provided.These types are disposable, as soon as the maximum contamination is reached, they must be removed from the vacuum cleaner and new ones installed. These filters are enough for several cleanings, on average, the service life is about a month.

Cloth bags can be shaken out, washed. The attachment at the base of these bags is usually plastic and has a rubber cuff on the inside. Cleaning can be done in the air. To remove the filter bag, you will need to open the cover on the front of the panel or open the separate compartment (depending on the model). A latch or clothespin can secure the bag.

The water

Aquafilter is one of the most efficient filter types in modern vacuum cleaners. It is assumed that all dust particles remain in the water. Cleaning consists of replacing dirty water with fresh water and rinsing the walls of the filter. Masses of dust enter the aquafilter from above, while only 1/3 of the filter should be filled with water.

The absorption of air by the container is carried out in such a way that between the pipe and the turbine there is not only a partition, but also a whole layer of water. Input and output are not interconnected, everything is hermetically sealed. Thus, the dust passing through the water barrier gets wet and remains inside, only the clean air returns.

Cyclonic

It is a plastic container that vaguely resembles a teapot. The operating principle of the cyclone filter is based on centrifugal force: the debris is pressed against the walls and firmly held by the action of air currents. This dust collector is easy to clean. To do this, remove the container from the vacuum cleaner. In case of slight contamination, simply shake off the debris.

HEPA filter

Modern hepa type filters are made of paper (disposable) or polymer. The latter are easy to clean: coarse dust particles are removed with a stiff bristle brush, after which the filter is washed with water. To remove it, open the cover of the vacuum cleaner, in the part where the dust extractor is located (it is important to first disconnect the electrical appliance from the mains), remove the filter.

One of the dust collectors can be installed at the bottom of the unit. In this case, you will first need to remove the protective grille.

Mousse

This type of filter usually serves as a protection in front of the motor and cleans the air coming out of the vacuum cleaner. The foam can be cleaned with a brush or washed with soap or detergent. The filter must dry out, it is not recommended to wring it out, this can distort its shape and shorten its life. In case of wear, you can make a replacement yourself using a washing sponge. It is better to choose non-porous foam, but not too high density.

Carbonic

The carbon filter is much less widespread than the others. Perfectly combats unpleasant odors, even when the vacuum cleaner is switched off. This type of filter usually has a rectangular shape, a plastic base filled with compressed charcoal granules. The only cleaning method available is brushing. Indeed, this type of dust collector is intended for single use. A serious drawback is the high price.

How to clean the hose and pipe

The dust gets inside the vacuum cleaner and passes different degrees of filtration through the hose and pipe. These two elements are often clogged (large debris, bags, animal hair). To clean the pipe, you must:

1. Disconnect the hose from the device.
2. If the pollution is strong, all manipulations are preferably done in a bathtub with water.
3. Rinse the pipe with a stream of water, you can use a sponge and detergent.
4. If there is a blockage in the pipe, you can use any long, thin object (eg, a wire) and try to blow it out.
5. Wipe with a dry cloth and reinstall.

The pipe is cleaned of impurities in the same way.

How to clean the bag

To prolong the life of your vacuum cleaner, you need to keep the bag clean. Cleaning can be done as follows:

1. Untie the bag.
2. Shake out the trash cans.
3. Replace it with a new one or put the old one back in its original place.

You can only wash cloth bags (and only by hand, to avoid damaging the texture), disposable bags will not survive wet cleaning.

Features of brush and turbo brush cleaning

Vacuum cleaners of the basic configuration are equipped with multifunctional attachments - turbo brushes. This part should be cleaned as often as the rest of the elements. This will require:

1. Remove the attachment.
2. Pressing, move the latch, remove the cover.
3. Remove any dust formed inside with a damp cloth or sponge.
4. Hair and threads can be removed with tweezers.
5. Clean the blades from dirt.
6. Close the cover.

Some models require complete disassembly. A regular brush cleans the same way.

Motor skills maintenance rules

The motor is the very heart of the vacuum cleaner, which sets everything in motion. Therefore, it is better to entrust the cleaning of the engine from dirt to a professional, since important elements can be inadvertently damaged. For self-cleaning you will need:

1. Unscrew the screws on the body of the vacuum cleaner.
2. Remove the dust container, unscrew and remove the cover.
3. Clean the inside of dust with a brush. You can use a brush. It is important not to disturb the location of the wires, the integrity of the elements.
4. It is worth getting rid of dust and board. To do this, you need to remove the microcircuit and blow it out or clean it with a brush.
5. Put everything in place, close the lid.

What to do if mercury gets inside

Mercury is hazardous to the health of living organisms due to its high toxicity. Mercury vapors can cause severe respiratory injury when released into the air. Contact with skin or mucous membranes will cause burns. Contrary to popular belief, it is strictly forbidden to collect mercury with a vacuum cleaner. Penetrating inside the vacuum cleaner, mercury turns the electrical device into a hotbed for the spread of harmful vapors, settling on the internal elements and the motor. To understand whether it is possible to use the vacuum cleaner further after entering mercury, it is necessary to measure the toxicity of the background.

Establish availability

First of all, if there is no certainty about the ingress of mercury inside the vacuum cleaner, it is necessary to establish the presence of a harmful background using a test express. Driving order:

1. Remove the dust bag, unplug the electrical device from the mains.
2. Place the parts in a plastic bag.
3. Place the test inside the bag so that the reagent is above and above the part by at least 20 cm.
4. After 3-4 hours, if the mercury concentration is high, the test strip will turn light gray.

To identify a focus or areas with a high concentration of a toxic substance, one must either perform the procedure several times, excluding different parts of the vacuum cleaner, or buy several tests at once and store the elements in different bags.

How to get rid of

If the tests indicate a high concentration of mercury, you can try to get rid of it yourself. You will need to purchase a demercurizer, the simplest, for example, "Mercury Eater".

Perform the manipulations in the following order:

1. Assemble the vacuum, turn it on.
2. Spray liquid demercurant inside the pipe (5 to 6 times).
3. Switch off the device after 2 minutes. Put the vacuum outside for 5-7 days.

After that, you will need to retest for the presence of harmful toxins. The cleaning procedure can be performed several times. If the cleaning fails, you will have to dispose of the vacuum cleaner.

Until the moment of complete elimination of mercury vapors, it is forbidden to use an electrical device in everyday life.

How to clean the body and handles

Particularly dirty areas of the vacuum cleaner are the body and the handles. This outer side of the device requires little effort to clean. It is not necessary to completely disassemble the vacuum cleaner or perform complex manipulations. Simply wipe the contaminated element with a damp cloth and detergents. Beforehand, the electrical device must be disconnected from the mains. Grease stains (usually on the hands) can be removed using special household chemicals or improvised items (citric acid, vinegar essence, hydrogen peroxide).

Rules of operation

To extend the life of the electrical appliance, it is necessary to follow the operating rules recommended by the manufacturer.However, there are general recommendations, regardless of brand, suitable for both the Dyson vacuum cleaner and the Raketa:

• maximum duration of continuous work - no more than an hour;
• do not press the nozzle hard against the surface;
• a decrease in traction is a signal for urgent cleaning of all elements of the vacuum cleaner;
• it is important to observe the safety precautions for working with electrical devices;
• clean the filters at least once a month.

Thus, cleaning the filter plays an important role in the long-term life of the vacuum cleaner. The accumulation of dirt and dust inside the device will not only negatively affect the operation of the vacuum cleaner, but will also significantly reduce the indoor air quality.