If you like clean floors, then your vacuum cleaner is an important tool that is used often. If your into making sure your floors are truly clean, then your vacuum cleaner must work and perform at it’s best…right? The answer is yes! But, in order for your vacuum cleaner to operate efficiently and effectively, you must know how a vacuum cleaner truly works. Once you have an understanding of how your vacuum cleaner operates, then you can properly maintenance you machine for better cleaning results. Let’s talk about it.

First, how does a vacuum cleaner work. These days some vacuums work differently than others due to advanced technology. Having said that, the overall concept is still the same. The whole point is to remove trapped soil in carpet or a hard surface via vacuum. Vacuum cleaners work like this.

  1. An electric motor turns a fan blade creating vacuum suction

  2. A belt attaches to the fan blade that rotates a beater brush (brush that beats the carpet)

  3. During the agitation process, the vacuum created by the motor sucks the debris into a bag or canister filter…pretty simple!

Yes, it seems pretty simple, but we see broken (non-maintenance) vacuum cleaners all the time. That is the whole point of this post. The majority of vacuums we see are broken or do not operated correctly…this is caused from poor to NO maintenance! As a carpet cleaner, your personal vacuum cleaner is an important tool. If not maintained correctly, your actually causing way more harm than good! Your actually releasing soil into your carpet and air when your vacuum is not working properly…yes, it’s actually soiling your carpet versus cleaning it! Here’s why this happens, as discussed above, you now know how a vacuum cleaner works. Here’s what to look for if your vacuum is not working correctly.

  1. A funny or sour smell is released when the vacuum is turned on. This means the filter is clogged and air is BLOCKED from passing through. This causes soil to be released into the air via the vacuum exhaust port causing an odor!

  2. If your vacuum cleaner is housed with a canister filter, then you should see a tornado cycle, which means the canister is breathing correctly. If the cyclonic action does not take place when your vacuum cleaner is turned on, then the vacuum motor is not breathing correctly and your NOT removing any dirt or debris from your carpet…period! Actually, your making more soil by processing the already contaminated soil through the brushes again making smaller particles.

  3. Your ruining your vacuum cleaner! Vacuum motors must breathe as discussed above. If not, your weakening the motor and it will eventually burn out! Your should maintenance your vacuum cleaner after every vacuum session…period!

Here’s how:

    1. First, make sure the vacuum cleaner is UNPLUGGED and remove the canister filter or bag.

    2. Next, replace the old bag with a new one. For canister models, empty the canister filter and dispose of it’s contents.

    3. Also remove the air filter (typically on canister filter models). There will be an air filter either above or below the canister that becomes soiled with use. This is the filter for the vacuum cleaner motor. Clean this filter so the vacuum motor will work properly…super important! Once cleaned, replace filter and canister.

    4. Check the belt for any tears or damage. Replace if needed.

Vacuum cleaner maintenance in not hard, but must be done to ensure a proper clean.