Just bought a top-tier vacuum cleaner? Learning how to clean a vacuum hose, and other vacuum cleaner parts will keep you from dealing with odor, equipment malfunctions, and more. Almost every household has some type of vacuum cleaner, and many of those come with an attached hose. Keeping that hose clean is crucial for preventative maintenance and regular upkeep.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- This short process is excellent for keeping your vacuum hose in great condition and ensures the best suction power possible for your vacuum.
- Clogs are the number one culprit for losing suction power, so you’ll always want to check for them and clean out any that you find.
- Using white vinegar can reduce the chance of mold or mildew forming and is safe to use on your vacuum hose.
How to Clean a Vacuum Hose
There are just a few steps when you learn how to clean a vacuum hose, and it should only take around a half-hour at most. However, the time it takes does depend on how often you go through your cleaning routine and how often you thoroughly clean your vacuum. Cleaning more regularly will always help speed things along. Additionally, you can maintain strong suction power by learning how to clean vacuum filters.
Insider Tip
Almost every household has some type of vacuum cleaner, and many of those come with an attached hose.
1. Detach Your Vacuum Hose
How you detach the cleaner hose will depend on your type of vacuum. Look at the instructional manual, found either with the box it came in or on the manufacturer website, for more direction. It usually is as easy as unclipping a couple of latches and untwisting the hose.
2. Check For Any Clogs
Once you have it detached, check for clogs. If you’ve noticed a loss of suction recently, then a clog is a likely culprit. You can use an untwisted wire hanger or a hose cleaning brush for this. A hose cleaning brush is a bit more expensive, but it’s made for this job. Don’t forget that hair can also clog your vacuum, so you need to know how to get hair out of your vacuum roller. Make sure to take care of a clogged vacuum hose before you start cleaning.
Insider Tip
There are just a few steps when you learn how to clean a vacuum hose, and it should only take around a half-hour at most.
3. Wash Your Hose Carefully
Now that you have any clogs removed, it’s time to wash. This is another place where that soft cleaning brush for your hose can come in handy. Using hot water and white vinegar, dampen a cleaning cloth. Use this damp cloth to go over the outside of your hose. If you have a smelly vacuum hose, consider using soapy water to cleanse the hose of the bad odors. If there are marks left from the dirt, use a damp cloth with warm water and scrub gently until the marks are gone. This also goes for a dirty vacuum body as well.
4. Let It Dry Completely
You must allow the hose to dry out. Not doing so can cause mold or mildew to form, and either can ruin a vacuum. Leave it laid out in a relatively warm environment until all the moisture has evaporated.
5. Reattach Your Hose
Once you’ve successfully air-dried your hose, you can reattach it. From here, it’s as simple as putting your vacuum back into storage until you’re ready to use it again.
Warning
How you detach the cleaner hose will depend on your type of vacuum.
F.A.Q.
How Often Should I Clean the Vacuum Hose?
How often this maintenance should happen will depend on your regular cleaning habits. However once a month is a pretty good rule of thumb and should be fine for those on a once-a-week cleaning routine.
How to unclog a vacuum cleaner hose?
You can use an untwisted wire hanger to pull out most clogs. Be careful not to damage your cleaner hose in the process, however. If that doesn’t work, then there are several other ways to go about it.
Why is the vacuum is blowing out really hot air or smoke?
Immediately stop vacuuming if your vacuum is blowing smoke. This is due to overheating and could end in a fire if something wrong with your vacuum’s electrical system.
Why is the vacuum is blowing dusty air out of the back?
When is the last time you replaced your bag? Or, in a bagless vacuum cleaner, when is the last time you emptied the debris receptacle? Chances are, your vacuum is full of dirt particles and other debris.
STAT: Vinegar is an effective odor remover and will also kill 99% of bacteria. (source)
