Dyson Filter Change

rds60h

Buy new filters and replace, then clean the old filters and you will then know they will be completely dry when you need to change the filters next time.
If the filter is not completely dry the filter will clog in a very short period of time and so reduce efficiency.

ic

I thought I'd ruined my dyson after using it to assist in cleaning up after I'd pulled down a ceiling that resulted in the house being filled with soot. However after replacing the filters it ran like new again. As you've only used the dyson for general cleaning - try washing them first. Just rinse and then allow to air dry for a day or two. Also look at the cyclone section of you dyson above the bin/below the top filter - this is probably chock full of dust, give this a thorough clean (you can wash the plastic bits fine too). If you really do need to replace the filters, look on ebay - there's lots of suppliers selling both genuine and aftermarket filters.

macman

You can machine wash the pre-motor filters, despite what Dyson say. But always rinse them first by hand. The post-motor filter (whether plain or HEPA) is not cleanable and must be replaced if clogged.
I've lost count of the number of Dyson's I've seen where the motor has overheated and burnt out due to failure to wash the filter every few months as recommended. You're very lucky in five years that yours hasn't expired for that reason.
Good advice above to clean the cyclone-a pressure washer is the best tool for this. but afterwards the cyclone must be 100% dry before use. If not, any residual water will be sucked through the motor, with the inevitable result.

bondy01

Interesting (in a sad way) comments on this thread. It , yesterday shamed me into washing the filters for the first time on my year old DC33. The post motor filter seems to have water droplets in places where they shouldn't get to when I shake it. Like the suggestion of buying a 2nd (£20+ for a genuine one) , I feel a gentle hairdrying on this filter may be happening this afternoon. It was all very different with my DC01.

Nilrem

I ended up buying a new pre-motor filter for my DC14 the other day (about £14 through amazon for an official part), yet to try the dyson since changing it
I think it took about 30 seconds to change out.
I may pick up the post filter as well some time (that's about £20).

Although it did reinforce one of my long held beliefs about Dysons, that they're very easy to maintain, with anything the user might normally be expected to deal with easy and obvious
A far cry from the old vacuum cleaners where a simple blocked u-bend bit could take you half an hour and a wire coathanger/very long thin screwdriver to fix, I remember seeing our first dyson had that as a simple clip on/off part to clear such blockages, and muttering something like "someone's obviously thought about that!".

I think the build quality of the newer models has gone down a bit, but the design is still probably one of, if not the most well thought out of any vacuum cleaners from the user maintenance point of view.

macman

Every Dyson built since the DC01 has been plastered with stickers warning the user to wash the filters regularly. Why spend £300+ on a quality machine and then trash it by neglect? The problem is that people think vacuum cleaners are maintenance free.