What's the easiest way to wash a vacuum cleaner filter?

rosie383

I have a bagless vacuum cleaner and was washing the filter again today.
I poked in between each fold with a blunt knife and scooped out all the gunk. I did this when it was wet as it comes out like paste rather than dust, so it doesn't go everywhere. Then I rinsed it under hot water and left it to dry.
This is my first experience of a bagless, and I wonder if there is an easier way to clean it? There are maybe 100 pleats in the filter, all quite tight together, and it took a fair while to clean.

craftdaft

Hoovering it helps (I think this only works if you got two filters with the hoover though). The easiest way with my last filter was to take it outside and bang it on the ground then wash (and I then hoovered it!). It does sound as if you are a lot more thorough than me though

valk_scot

I don't wash mine. I have a spare cheap dishwashing brush and I brush it out every time with this, then turn it upside down and bang it up and down on the outside of the window sill. It's amazing how much grot this gets out. I do wish I could get a spare one though.

rosie383

I can't hoover it as there is just the one filter. I have tried bashing it, but it just makes a huge mess, and doesn't really clear all the dirt out, so the suction isn't that great.
I make sure I have hoovered what I need to for the day, so that when I wash it, I can leave it to dry til the next day.
So from what you guys are saying, there may not really be an easier way.

zippychick

I actually know what you mean! MIne came with a little brush i sit and use. Never thought about washing it:o Let us know if it works Rosie!

rosie383

It does work. But it's just fiddly and takes a while I just thought there might be an easier way.
I think doing it wet makes much less mess as the gunk comes out like paste which I just wipe off the knife on the edge of the sink, then at the end, scoop it all up and put it in the bin.

zippychick

how did it come out then?

GreyQueen

What kind of make and model of vac do you have?

My Henry has a finemesh white cloth filter, like a bag, which hangs from a rubber ring which sits inside the tub part of the vacuum and separated the bag from the motor, which is in the black "hat" top bit. I've taken that out and handwashed it in the kitchen sink with a small amount of handwash powder, rinsed and air-dried.