How to Clean a Vacuum Brush Roll
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1-2 hours
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Beginner
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- 10-25
For optimal vacuum cleaning it is important to maintain and clean your vacuum brushes and roller. After each vacuum session take the time to clean the brush and roller, as dirty or entangled rollers will drastically reduce the suction power of your vacuum.
Step 1- Prepare for cleaning
Unplug your vacuum and lay it on its back for easy access to the underside and brushes. You may want to place a towel or newspaper under the vacuum while cleaning to catch any dirt that can fall out. Next, remove the brush roller according your vacuum’s owner’s manual, though most simply slide or pop out. Once every six weeks you’ll also want to test the bristles on your brush, as they do wear down and become less effective over time. To do this, take a hard sided ruler and run it parallel over the bottom of the vacuum while the roller is still in place. The bristles from the brush should bend somewhat as the ruler passes over, and it should cause the roller to rotate slightly. If the bristles are so worn down they are not affected by the ruler you need to replace the brush.
Step 2-Clean
Once the brush roller is free, remove any hair, string, floss or other debris that is wrapped around the brush. You can do this with any sharp object, but scissors, seam rippers or a sharpened letter opener works best. Slide your chosen instrument along the base of the roller, cutting the entangled debris, but be careful not to cut the actual bristles. When the debris is loosened remove it by combing it out, or use your fingers to pull it out. To remove finer dust particles use a damp sponge and stroke the brush in the same direction as the bristles. While you have the roller removed you also want to check the area on the underside of your vacuum around the roller and remove any debris that may be clogging your inner tubing or hindering the rotation of the roller.
Step 3- Reassemble
Once the brush and the area around the brush are cleaned, pop the roller back into position following your instruction manual, and use as normal.
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H.R. Helm is an accomplished DIY craftsman. He has been DIY since childhood and is now a septuagenarian. He is experienced in wood and metal construction, having designed and built several houses and metal buildings. He built every permanent building on his current homestead and did all the plumbing and electrical work. He has several years experience as a professional cabinet builder, and he is an accomplished auto repairman, having operated an auto repair business for many years. He currently has a home shop where he sharpens and rebuilds saws, repairs lawn mowers, mobility scooters, hydraulic jacks, and anything else that comes along. He also builds custom tools for metal working. Invention prototypes are another of his many accomplishments. He owned and operated a manufacturing business building Compact Utility Vehicles for homeowner use. H.R. enjoys making jams and jellies during fruit season along with cooking meals. He is committed to outdoor cooking in a Bar-B-Q pit he welded together several years ago. He maintains fruit and nut trees along with helping his wife with a vegetable garden. He farmed commercial garden produce for several years. It helps to have over 50 years of farming and ranching experience. Employment/Education Highlights ASE Certified Master Auto Technician Certified Welder Cross country truck driver -- over dimensional freight Design Engineer/Project Manager for injection molded plastic company Bus Driver/Substitute Teacher Inventor with two patents (weight training – anti-rollback for manual wheelchair) BS in Industrial Technology
