How to clean a Dyson vacuum

Once unplugged, follow these simple steps to give your Dyson vacuum a thorough clean.

First up, you need to separate the bin from the cyclone part of your Dyson vacuum.

• For cordless vacuums such as the Dyson V15 Detect ( £470 at Dyson ), pull the red lever back and lift upwards to release the cyclone. Continue until the bin base opens fully. Press the red bin release catch, located to the rear of the clear bin assembly, and remove the bin.
• For upright vacuums such as the Dyson Ball Animal ( £279.99 at Dyson ), push the red button on the top of the carrying handle and pull the bin off.

If it’s full, empty it first and wipe the inside and outside with a damp cloth, then allow to dry for 24 hours. Dyson advise against putting the bin into a dishwasher or using any cleaning chemicals on it.

While the bin is removed, you can also give the cyclone part of the machine a little dust, using the brush on the combination tool if you have one. This is an attachment that has a wide nozzle and brush, allowing you to dust and hoover. Alternatively, use a duster or a paintbrush to get into the crevices.

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Combination tool

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The beauty of Dyson vacuums is that they come with a variety of additional attachments, from pet grooming brushes to mattress tools. As they’re at the coalface of all cleaning jobs, these will also need a good spruce-up.

Use your fingers to release any hair or other debris stuck to the vacuum attachment. Check for any blockages inside the vacuum attachment and remove those with your fingers. For any stubborn dirt, use a toothbrush to remove.

Using a damp, lint-free cloth (add in new feature product link), wipe down the attachments, allowing them to dry for at least 24 hours until you use them again.

If your brush bar gets jammed or has some debris stuck in it, the performance of your Dyson vacuum cleaner will be affected. Not only does it mean it won’t be able to suck up dirt as easily, but it can also lead to your brush roll breaking. It may also have a negative impact on battery life if you’re using a cordless Dyson.

Cordless machines come with a fluffy brush bar, which can be rinsed under running water. Give it a good clean, rubbing away any lint or dirt, and finally squeezing out any excess water. Then stand it upright and leave it to dry for – you’ve guessed it – 24 hours.

If your Dyson has a brush bar, it’s very similar. Remove the roller from the floor head and untangle any hair – the Spares2go Vacuum Brush Roll Cleaning Tool can be really useful for doing this. Give the roller a quick rinse and then allow it to dry.

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Spares2go Vacuum Brush Roll Cleaning Tool

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Using a damp cloth, give the exterior of the machine a good wipe over.

Even though Dyson doesn’t recommend using any additional cleaners on its machines, a squirt of antibacterial spray on the handle will help keep it germ free.

Blockages will seriously affect the suction power, so while you’re cleaning your Dyson, it’s a good time to check for any.

Remove the cleaner head and first check to see if there is any debris blocking the opening to it. Do the same to the part of the vacuum cleaner that connects to the head. For cordless Dysons, this will be the stick. For upright Dyson vacuums, this will be the opening at the bottom of the ball.

It’s also good to check for any blockages in the hose and wand. Each machine will vary, so consult the Dyson support website or your instruction manual.

Some models will also tell you when an airway has been blocked. The LED display will show an alert and your machine will also pulse several times to alert you.

Will Jones, floor care expert at Currys, says cleaning the filter of your Dyson is important to help get the most out of your vacuum cleaner.

He says: “To make sure you are getting the most out of your tech, we would recommend Dyson vacuum owners regularly clean the filters within their device to ensure it is working to the best of its ability at all times. This can also extend the lifetime of the product.”

But how simple is it to clean Dyson vacuum filters? Luckily, it’s pretty simple, taking just four steps.

To make it easy, the filter part of a Dyson vacuum is purple, and you just twist it and then pull it out to remove it.

• Dyson’s cordless cleaners use cyclone filters, which can be found in the handle part of your vacuum.
• Their upright vacuum cleaners come with two filters, one that goes in the bin handle (the pre-filter, which is a cone shape), and one that can be found in the ball part of the machine (the post-filter, which is circular).

Once removed, tap your filter on the side of the bin or sink to remove any extra dust.

Then it’s a simple task of running warm tap water through it. You can also fill the filter with water, cover the open ends with your hands and give it a shake. Do this until the water runs clear.

As with all vacuum filters, do not place the filters back into your machine until they are fully dry as this could damage the motor. Don’t dry in a tumble dryer, microwave or near a naked flame as this could damage the filter.

Dyson recommends you follow this cleaning procedure once a month to help keep suction power. Some models, such as their cordless V range, will tell you on the LCD display when your filter needs a clean.