Cleaning out the clogs
A vacuum cleaner is one of the most frequently used cleaning appliances. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to capture the finest and tiniest dust and dirt particles from your hard floors or carpets.
But with intensive usage can come loose suction. If your vacuum cleaner stopped working properly recently, one of the most common reasons is that your hose is clogged. A clogged hose can disrupt air movement and cause a lot of hassle while you’re cleaning.
With a simple method, you can quickly fix the problem. Here, we’ll guide you to unclog any dirt stuck inside and clean your vacuum hose.
How Do You Clean a Clogged Vacuum Hose?
- Unplug your vacuum cleaner and detach the hose.
- Remove any clogs with a wire hanger or mop handle.
- Clean your hose using clean cold water. Rinse your clean vacuum hose thoroughly.
- Let it dry for up to 24 hours. Reattach the clean vacuum hose to your cleaner.
How Often to Clean a Vacuum Cleaner Hose
Manufacturers don’t specify how often you should clean your vacuum’s hose. But, as a rule of thumb, you should clean your vacuum hose as needed.
“As needed” can be several situations. If your vacuum loses suction power you begin to smell bad odors coming from your vacuum, it’s time to clean it.
Also, if you’re using your vacuum cleaner intensively, you have a busy household, kids, or pets, check if the hose is clogged every month. Otherwise, check your hose every three months.
Before You Begin
This cleaning process applies to all vacuums that have hoses. This includes any brand of vacuum such as Shark, Dyson, or even Bissell.
However, depending on the brand or type of vacuum, removing the hose may be different for each model. Check your manufacturer’s guide to find out how to remove your vacuum hose properly.
Plus, newer models, especially stick vacuums, don’t have a hose – but a wand, like this Dyson V10. However, this cleaning method can still apply to wands.
Just make sure the wand doesn’t have any electrical connections inside of it as this Shark Rotator model does.
In any case, always check your user manual to be sure there are no electrical connections in the wand.
What You’ll Need
Tools
Materials
Instructions
01Turn Off and Unplug
First, switch your vacuum cleaner OFF and disconnect it from the power outlet before you begin cleaning.
Not switching off your vacuum from the power supply while you’re cleaning can be dangerous and result in personal injury.
02Detach the Hose
Then, detach the vacuum hose from the vacuum. How you do this will vary depending on the model you have.
In most cases, you have to detach the hose from a handle. In other cases, you’ll disconnect the hose from a wand, a cleaner head, or a dust cup. You’ll either have to twist the hose off or press a release button to remove it.
If you’re not sure how to remove the hose, stop and check the manufacturer’s guide.
03Inspect Your Hose And Locate The Clog
Once you have detached the hose from all parts, visually inspect the inside of it. Check all openings of your hose for clogs or clumps of furniture stuffing. Lay the hose out flat to do this.
- In the hose: use a flashlight to help find any obstructions or blockages inside of your hose. If you can’t see anything – even with a flashlight – drop a small object down the hose like a coin. If it falls, you know the clog isn’t located here.
- In the vacuum: to check if it’s in the actual vacuum, insert a finger at the head and hose intersection. Often clogs are jammed there.
- In the vacuum head: visually inspect the head. Use a flashlight if needed.
04Remove Clumps With Bent Wire Technique
Keep the hose upright.
In the hose:
- Use a broomstick handle, wire coat hanger, bent wire, or any long stick that fits inside the entire length of the hose. And push it through to the other end of the hose. This can help you reach anything that’s stuck in the other end, middle, or top section of your hose.
- Another way to unclog your hose is the shop vacuum technique: if you have a shop vac at home, use it. Thanks to its strong suction power, a shop vac can draw the clog out.
In the vacuum or in the head: use your fingers and pull as much of the clog as you can. A small tool such as a small brush or screwdriver can also be of help.
05Clean in Your Sink or Bathtub
If there is a lot of dirt sticking inside your hose, clean the hose in your sink with clean cold water. If your sink is too small, place the hose in your bathtub and wash it out with water.
Try to submerge the hose as much as possible to get rid of any dirt, dust, or debris that’s sticking to the hose material.
To clean the exterior off your hose you can wipe it with a damp cloth and mild detergent.
06Sanitize With White Vinegar and Baking Soda
To sanitize your hose, use a mixture of baking soda and vinegar.
Add half a cup with two cups of white vinegar. Mix the two ingredients together with a liter of water and pour it through your hose. You can also use a bottle cleaning brush to push the mixture through the length of the hose.
To be completely safe, we asked Dyson support if it was okay to clean your vacuum hose with baking soda and white vinegar. Here is their answer: “That should be fine as long as it is thoroughly dry when reattached. If not, it will likely cause an issue with the connection.”
07Rinse & Dry
Rinse the inner hose completely and get rid of excess water.
Hang the hose over your shower curtain rod to dry the inner folds. Make sure you let it hang dry for at least 12 to 24 hours before reattaching your hose.
Tips To Help Your Vacuum Hose Last Longer
- Do not use warm or hot water. Also, do not use any harsh detergent. And always make sure you check with your manufacturer if you can wash your vacuum hose with this method.
- Avoid using any excessive force to remove any clogs. Your vacuum hose is lightweight and flexible – too much force can cause damage to the material.
- Reassemble the hose properly before you switch your cleaner back on.
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