Do you have a vacuum? If you do, you would know what a blessing it is to have it. Having only a few minutes to spare from your busy routine every day, when you need to clean the place, can be compared to the difficult task of climbing a mountain.
But since you have a vacuum, you do not need to worry about it. Irrespective of which model or brand you own, a vacuum speed up the cleaning work around the house, sucking dirt and dust on its way around while allowing you to get it done within minutes only.
Hence, if you are an avid house cleaner, who uses a vacuum regularly for cleaning, you need to make sure the vacuum is too cleaned regularly so it performs at its best every time.
From cleaning the brush roll to the hose, everything should be cleaned and dried after you vacuum around the house.
But what is it important to clean the hose? In addition, how to clean a vacuum hose without damaging it? Here is everything you want to know!
If you are wondering what a hose is then it is the pipe sticking outside the vacuum that is responsible to transmit power throughout the vacuum. It is not for this tube, the powerful suction you enjoy while cleaning will not be there.
Hence, when you clean around the house, over time it starts to accumulate within the walls of the hose, blocking it and reducing the suction, which decreases the performance of your vacuum.
So, if lately, you have been wondering why your vacuum is not performing as it should be, you might need to open the hose and clean it. Hence, here is how to clean out a vacuum hose:
1. Detach the Hose
Start by detaching the hose from the main body of the vacuum. How do you do it? Read the instruction manual that comes along with your vacuum because the detaching method differs from model to model.
Just make sure you do not use much force or you can damage the delicate tube easily.
2. Remove Clumps
Once you have detached the hose successfully, take a close look inside and you will see it clogged with clumps. But how can you make sure it is clogged? The easy way is to bring it up at your eye level and look inside.
If you cannot see the other side, that means it is super clogged and if you can see light on the other side, it means that the hose is not clogged.
So, what to do if the hose is fully clogged? Take either a thin metal wire or a brush, anything that is stiff and can easily fit inside the hose. Use it to push the clumps away from the walls of the tube and hence, will help remove them.
Remember to be gentle in your movement. However, you may use some force but not much that it damages the hose from the inside.
3. Remove the Remaining Dust
Looks like you have been successful in removing all the clumps, right? However, this doesn’t mean that the hose has been thoroughly cleaned.
Now, either take a feather duster or attach a clean piece of cloth to a thin piece of wood and put it inside the house.
Use the duster or your DIY duster to clean the dirt from the inside of the hose, rubbing it against the walls so the dust comes off easily.
4. Wash with Water, Baking Soda, and Liquid Soap
The best way to clean the vacuum hose thoroughly is to fill the sink or tub with some warm water, add baking soda and liquid soap to it.
Immerse the hose into the solution and leave it there for 10 to 15 minutes. You will see the water turning cloudy which means the dirt can be successfully removed.
If the need is, use a thin brush to remove any residue from the inside of the tube.
5. Disinfect with Vinegar
This step is completely optional but if you wish to maintain a certain level of cleanliness and hygiene in your house, make sure you pour in some vinegar diluted with water in the house to kill germs and sanitize it.
6. Rinse with Water
Flush out the cloudy water and rinse the house with clean, freshwater. The easiest way to do it is to use a faucet to run water with force inside it, which will help remove any residue.
You can even use a brush to clean the inside one last time, just to make sure there is no dirt, dust, or grime left there.
7. Let it Dry Fully
If you have always been wondering how to clean out a vacuum hose, the task is not as difficult as one may think it to be.
But one mistake that most people tend to make when cleaning a clogged hose is not letting it dry out completely.
What you do not realize is that if you do not let the hose dry fully, all your cleaning efforts will go in vain/ why? Because for starters, you should never use a wet hose to vacuum as it can damage the vacuum.
In addition, all the dirt that is sucked up will quickly stick to the walls and clog the tube again.
Lastly, if the inside of the tube remains moist for long, it will breed mold and bacteria, which make it unsanitary.
Thus, what you need to do after cleaning it is to either let it air dry, place it under the sun or use a clean piece of cloth, tie it to a thin piece of wood and use it to wipe out the excess water from the inside.
Do whatever way you find helpful but make sure you let the hose dry completely before you use it for vacuuming.
8. Attach it Back Again
Once you unclogged the pipe and dried it fully, all you need to do is attach it back to the main body of the vacuum again.
For this use the instruction manual, so that you know you are doing it right.
Sings of a Clogged Hose
Okay, so you have been using a vacuum cleaner for a long time but never did it occur to you that the hose needs to be cleaned out, right? But how would you know that the tube needs some cleaning?
Here are some signs of a clogged hose that you should never miss out on:
You will notice a difference in the suction of the vacuum. If your vacuum is not cleaning as it used to, then know that it has been clogged with dirt, dust, and grime.
It smells awful! When you use a vacuum to clean up the food waste and stains, the tiny particles can easily clog the hose, and hence, if not cleaned it can create a foul smell. If your hose smells bad, know that it is super clogged and needs to be cleaned immediately.
Just like you take care of cleanliness around the house, you should be active about maintaining your vacuum too so it can last for a lifetime. Hence, little do homeowners realize that when they use the vacuum regularly, it can easily clog the hose.
Relax and Enjoy!
Thus, the hose needs to be cleaned regularly to avoid any damage to the vacuum. Thus, if you have been seen a difference in your vacuum performance, a decrease in the power of the suction, know that the hose is super clogged and needs to be cleaned right away!
John Wesley is passionate about cleaning industry especially vacuum cleaners. He is having more than a decade of experience in repairing and selling vacuum cleaners from a well known retail shop. When he’s not testing and reviewing latest vacuum cleaners for this site, he likes to spend time with his partner, 2 kids, and doing house projects.
