How to Maintain a Vacuum Cleaner?

Answer 1

For the most part, a vacuum cleaner is very easy to maintain. As long as you avoid running over items that wrap themselves around the rollers or are too large to fit through the hoses, you will be able to run your vacuum cleaner for months without any maintenance needs. Occasionally, though, you will need to perform some simple maintenance to keep the vacuum running well for a long time.

Remove and Clean the Rollers

It is a good idea to check the rollers once every other month or so. Human and animal hair can wrap around the rollers and cause them to be less effective. They can also begin to wear down over time and need to be replaced. Make sure the brushes on the rollers are still stiff and standing straight out. If they are bent or limp, they will not do a good job cleaning your carpet and should be replaced.

Change the Bag or Clean the Canister

No matter what kind of vacuum cleaner you own, you will need to clean out the portion that collects the dust and dirt. Vacuum cleaners that use traditional bags should have their bags changed as soon as they become about halfway full. When you change bags, take the vacuum cleaner outside and completely clean the dust out of the compartment that the bag is kept in. If your vacuum cleaner does not have a bag you can empty the canister out when it is about two-thirds of the way full. Clean the canister’s sides with a damp cloth once you have dumped the dirt out.

Replace the Belt Regularly

Vacuum cleaners use a rubber belt to drive the rollers. When this belt becomes worn, it will not drive the rollers as quickly as it should. If you replace the belt regularly you will never experience a problem. Waiting too long to replace the belt, however, will cause the belt to eventually break apart in the vacuum cleaner. When a belt breaks it may become lodged within the vacuum’s machinery, which can make it difficult to remove. Many belts will melt or burn when they break and fill the house with foul smelling smoke.