Dyson vacuum - drying filters after cleaning

Manxman_in_exile

Don't judge me, please!

We've got a Dyson DC25 that we've had for years.  It's seen a lot of use over the last three months with a lot of diy decorating done.  My wife said to me "I suppose it might be an idea to clean the filters".  I said "What?".

It turns out the filters are meant to be cleaned every three months.  I've never done it and I'm pretty sure my wife hasn't either.    I'm not even sure how she knew it needed to be done?

Anyway - I've cleaned the two filters as per instructions (basically rinsing them under cold tap until water runs clear) and then left them for 24 hours to dry naturally.  (More like 30 hours actually).  Put the filters back in, turned it on, and there's virtually no suction at all.  Thought I'd check the filters to make sure I'd put them in correctly, and one of them (the one in a rigid plastic frame that goes inside the "ball") is obviously still wet.  We then notice a small amount of water on the floor under the vacuum!

Have I done something wrong?  The manual just shows a diagram of a clock face showing 24 hours from which I assume they're meant to be left to dry over 24 hours.  This one hasn't dried after 30 hours.  The diagrams indicate to dry naturally - not to use any artificial heat.

Is this the machine paying us back for not cleaning the filters regularly? 

EDIT:  What I haven't done is check is it's a straightforward blockage(?).  Because I'd cleaned and dried the filters and had only just put them back in, I assumed it was a filter problem - and then I realised one was still wet.  But maybe it's just a blockage...

Carrot007

It's very easy to break the filters removing them and cleaning them (probably more so if you never have). if there is not a good seal they will no longer work good.

Dyson's are poor machines anyway... But in the spirit of money saving ust buy some cheap aftermarket filters on amazon. Prefereably ones shipped by amazon (amazon will not be selling such things!), and with half decent reviews (some people can find fault with anything!).

FWIW, I bought a stick hoover in the last asda black friday + staff double discount. I should have bought 2, it was cheaper than a replacement battery. Yes the small container need emptying more. Yes the cordless and lightness/easy use makes me keep the place more clean by using more often. Works better than the dyson ever did, beyond the first week! And that cost 3 times the price at the non discounted price. (and it still works good, do need to remove the hair off the roller though!).

Manxman_in_exile

I was pretty careful removing and rinsing the filters and there's no obvious damage.  They both clicked back into place ok - or so it seemed.  If I'd damaged the filters or if the seal was compromised, would it lose suction?  I sort of would have expected the opposite.

(I'm not sure about upright Dysons either.  They seem a bit over-engineered and the filter in the "ball" is fiddly to extract.  Maybe I did break it!)

rach_k

This is probably common sense but, whatever you do, do NOT leave the damp filter in there!  My husband 'helpfully' washed the filter in our V6 and put it back slightly damp.  Next week, the house was filled with a horrendous stink when I used it.  Thankfully, the filter was easy and cheap to replace on eBay and that sorted the smell.  

neilmcl

It's always a good idea to have a spare set of filters as it can quite often take days to fully air dry them out naturally.

another_casualty

When was the last time you changed the battery ? 

roddydogs

DC 25 is a mains cleaner, loads of stuff on u tube, ive got a battery v6, the cheap filters off flea bay are fine.

daveyjp

Did you shake the filter to get out the excess water before leaving it to dry?

NeverTooLate

Dyson have a pretty good troubleshooting page, taking you step by step through what could be wrong:

https://www.dyson.co.uk/support/journey/troubleshooting.html

chrisw

I dry the filters from mine on the radiators in the winter and they've never come to any harm.

cajef

neilmcl said:

It's always a good idea to have a spare set of filters as it can quite often take days to fully air dry them out naturally.

^^^^
 I bought a cheap set of replacement filters on ebay never had any problems with them, just swap them over whenever I need to change and wash a set