Wash filter. How to wash the filter for a vacuum cleaner. The best washable filter types. Vacuum cleaner with dust container

I began to notice that over time, the suction power of the vacuum cleaner deteriorates. Roughly speaking, it starts to work poorly. I soon found out that, most likely, the filter was clogged and it needed to be cleaned literally with my own hands. Is it possible to wash the filter from a vacuum cleaner and how to do it correctly? I'm telling.

Filter types

Before you figure out how to clean the vacuum cleaner filter, I suggest deciding on its varieties. Detailed specifications presented in the table:

Image	Filter types
	Option 1. Bag. There are disposable and permanent bags (the former are made of paper, the latter are made of fabric). Wash the bag from the vacuum cleaner washing machine You can, but only if it is made of fabric.
	Option 2. Aqua. The aqua filter of a vacuum cleaner is characterized by a specific mechanism of action: Litter enters the compartment, which is located above the water. Dust particles collide with moisture and settle to the bottom. In the photo - an example of a device with water cleaning.
	Option 3. Rough cleaning. All dust immediately enters the large debris compartment, there is no special filtration. Such equipment must be cleaned after each cleaning. The price of such household appliances is much lower than their counterparts.
	Option 4. Electrostatic microfilter / HEPA. Such an output filter for a vacuum cleaner is considered the most reliable. Manufacturers guarantee 100% quality cleaning.
	Option 5. Cyclonic. In this design, a special cylinder is provided, in which large dust particles settle due to centrifugal force.

Cleaning methods

During operation of the device, not only filters become clogged, but also other important details: brush, hoses, dust collectors. To properly clean the vacuum cleaner you need:

• arrange filters;
• clean the hose and brush, carry out preventive maintenance.

3 ways to clean the filter

Reception 1. How to wash the vacuum cleaner filter (cyclone, HEPA, electrostatic):

Image	Instruction
	Step 1 Disconnect the device from the mains.
	Step 2 Open the lid and take out the dirty filter. It is best to do this in the bathroom, on the balcony or outdoors.
	Step 3 Wash the filter under running water if its design allows.
	Step 4 Dry the part and put it back into the device.

Reception 2. To wash the aquafilter, follow the following algorithm:

1. Disconnect the equipment from the network.
2. Take out the water container and rinse it. Pour in new liquid.
3. Set the structure in place.

Reception 3. Cleaning a vacuum cleaner equipped with a dust bag is easier than all other design options:

• If a paper bag is installed- just replace it with a new one.
• If synthetic- empty and wash in the washing machine.

The volume of the bag is designed for cleaning for 1 time, so try to empty the filter after each use of the vacuum cleaner.

Parts cleaning and maintenance

How to clean a vacuum cleaner from dust and all its accessible parts?

Image	Instruction
	Step 1. Clean the hose Remove the hose and rinse it inside under a good pressure of running water. If an object is stuck inside the hose, use a long wire or knitting needle to get it out.
	Step 2. Clean the brush from dust Unscrew the part from the device. Remove large debris with your own hands. Using small scissors, cut the tangled hair and threads from the bristles. To finally clean the brush of dust, treat it with a sponge and soap and rinse. You can clean the vacuum cleaner brush with an old comb with fine teeth or an unnecessary toothbrush.
	Step 3 Wipe down the case Slightly damp cloth Wipe all surfaces of the instrument housing.

To avoid damage to the vacuum cleaner and make it easier to clean try to adhere to the following recommendations:

• For cleaning construction waste household appliance no good.
• Empty the dust bins regularly (preferably after each use).
• Don't let it get inside sharp objects, you can damage parts or the entire device.

• If you find any problems with the functionality of the vacuum cleaner, contact the master.

Conclusion

We found that most parts of the vacuum cleaner can be cleaned of dust. Particular attention should be paid to the filter, since cleanliness depends on its performance. floor coverings and hence the air in the room.

The video in this article will show you clearly how to clean the filter from a vacuum cleaner. Ask questions in the comments - I'll be happy to answer.

Is it long, short, but filters for varying degrees dirt (or time of use) finally got to my playful little hands. That means it's time to pour a cup of tea and dive into the wonderful microcosm of filtering dust and dirty air.

For intimate details of the life of filters in real conditions, welcome under cat. Caution, there will be many photos from the electronic small scope.

In a previous article on the Tion corporate blog, the basic principles of operation and particle filtration mechanisms on a filter such as HEPA (filter class H11) were described. Filters, even if they are not 100% efficient, can quite effectively capture dirt and dust particles. Typically, such studies are carried out on model, standard systems, that is, a certain mixture of particles is taken and the filter-pump-filter runs in a circle until a given volume of air is pumped, then, for example, the mass of the substance deposited on the filter is measured.

Below I will show how real filters get dirty over time using samples provided by Tion, although, of course, the results can be extrapolated to any modern fiber filters. But we will start, perhaps, with a small lyrical digression.

Filters and their manufacturing technology

First of all, I would like to answer the question of the previous article, asked by the user vesper, about what materials are used:

What fibers does a HEPA filter consist of? Not cotton ones?

The filter itself consists of two parts, for clarity and brevity we will call them the "base", which gives the filter rigidity and which practically does not participate in the filtration act, and flexible "filter fibers" with a developed surface (in other words, large area surfaces). The difference in the diameters of such fibers exceeds an order of magnitude and varies from 1 to 10-20 microns or microns (for comparison, the diameter of a standard human hair is about 80 microns)!

The material from which both parts are made is mainly, of course, polymer or glass fibers, not cotton. The process of obtaining fibers has been worked out to "automaticity" and is maximally industrialized. So, with the help of electrospinning, a polymer or liquid glass passed through the spinneret (a very thin tube that sets the fiber diameter, usually there are many such tubes - thousands and even tens of thousands), is "sprayed" onto the substrate, forming a grid.

Such a bright and colorful electrospinning.

Schematic representation of the electrospinning process and the formation of the Taylor cone.

Warp (left) and filter fibers (right) produced by electrospinning

Of course, the exact composition, punching parameters through the dies and other technological know-how are trade secrets. Although in some way this process similar to the creation of heat-insulating mats - I once had a chance to visit the Saint-Gobain factory near Yegorievsk.

Nanofibers and electrostatic forces

Secondly, I would like to make a few clarifications and additions to the material of the previous work.

Why not make nanofibers (enlarge the area even more)?

If we solve the problem of laminar air flow around an obstacle within the framework of classical hydrodynamics, then we will inevitably come to the boundary condition: on the surface of the fibers, the flow velocity must be equal to zero, which creates excellent conditions for the deposition of particles. However, when the dimensions of the obstacle are too small, the so-called slip effect occurs.

Of course, there is a correlation between fiber charge and filtration efficiency. A filter fiber that is too heavily charged will simply repel particles with the same charge, and the efficiency will drop, but completely neutral filters are not effective enough, so the golden mean must be observed.

The attentive reader will notice that there are fully electrostatic filters that first additionally charge dust particles, and then effectively remove almost all particles with a diameter up to 10 nm! However, this is a completely different story, worthy of a separate article.

Moving from theory to practice: is it worth washing the filters then?!
Attempts to restore the filter to its original state are doomed to failure, however, some contamination by washing and knocking out can be removed, especially large particles or groups of particles. At the same time, such a “restored” filter will last much less than a new one.

The part is experimental. Dirty filters

So, the following filters were provided for review: F7 with a duration of operation of 0 and 3 days, 2 weeks and 6 months, which were cleaned fresh taiga air Novosibirsk, as well as H11 (HEPA) from the northern capital.

Let's start with the F7 primary filters. Noticeable contamination of the filter begins to appear after two weeks of operation in major city. So the dirt, dust and smog of the metropolis is not an empty phrase!

Now let's take a look at the filters with my favorite electron microscope. Other everyday objects viewed under the electron microscope are presented in the articles The World Around Us.

As noted above, the filter consists of two parts - thick base fibers with a diameter of 50-100 microns and thin filter fibers. The fibers themselves are clean and smooth.

Even after three days use, you can already notice some large dust particles caught on the fibers (marked with red arrows). Although the base fibers remain relatively clean and, as noted above, do not participate in the filtration.

In two weeks overall volume pollution increases significantly. Individual fibers are coated with barely visible submicron and even nanosized particles (according to the IUPAC classification<100 нм, синие стрелки), кое-где начинают формироваться грязевые «перепонки» (отмечено фиолетовым кругом).

The photomicrograph below shows this in all black and white detail:

After six months of use, a significant part of the space between the fibers is filled with dust, dirt and various particles. Films of dirt and dust cover even the thick fibers of the base, not to mention the thin fibers.

Below is, in my opinion, a very revealing micrograph demonstrating almost all the mechanisms of particle deposition. A large particle was deposited by inertia or engagement (red arrow), small particles settled due to diffusion (blue arrow). As a result of the gradual overgrowth of the filter fiber with such particles, a film is formed on the surface (marked in purple).

In principle, the filter can be shaken out, washed, but it is unlikely that it will be possible to return it to a completely new state. It is also worth considering that the charge that was spent on the surface of the fibers and compensated by adhering dust particles, and, therefore, the washed filter will still filter and, more importantly, retain dust worse than a new one.

The clean filter H11 is not much different from the previously reviewed F7, except for the denser packing of the filter fiber. That is, HEPA is simply a denser filter with a smaller diameter of "pores" between the fibers.

It may seem that after two weeks of use, the HEPA filter looks like new, but this is not entirely true. Of course, most of the dust and dirt remained on the F7 coarse filter, so large particles are unlikely to be found in large quantities.

However, if we zoom in ten times more, we can easily find that the HEPA filter works by retaining very small particles on the surface of the fibers (blue arrows). Just like the F7 filter, HEPA “overgrows” with a layer of dirt over time (marked in purple).

Instead of a conclusion

It was interesting to trace the evolution of filter contamination not with model particles on a test bench, but under real operating conditions of a large city (and even two cities!). In fact, it turns out that the filter fibers eventually become overgrown with a monolithic layer of dirt and dust, forming "webs" between the fibers. On the one hand, this is good, as it increases the capture cross section of more and more particles, on the other hand, the filter material itself becomes less permeable to air, and, consequently, the load on the pump increases.

Answering the question: to change the filter or not to change and wash? - I can answer this way: try it, but the washed and / or knocked out one will clog even faster than the new one, again loading the pump additionally.

Text and photomicrographs prepared especially for Tiberius.

PS: Please report errors and comments on the text via LAN.

A vacuum cleaner is one of the most essential household appliances. Without it, as a rule, not a single cleaning of the house can do. In order for the device to work flawlessly, you need to clean its filters in a timely manner. How exactly to do this and whether it is possible to wash the vacuum cleaner filter at all depends on what type it belongs to. Consider the types of filter elements and possible ways to clean them.

In vacuum cleaners, as a rule, several filters are used:

• primary designed to collect large particles of dust and debris;
• nera, designed to collect microparticles, the size of which does not exceed 0.3 microns.

Their use in vacuum cleaners is prerequisite. This is due to the fact that they not only remove pollution, but also prevent dust particles from entering the engine of the device, thereby extending its service life.

Nera

Air filters from the smallest particles, are called nera. They are of two types:

Primary

Primary filters designed to collect debris and large dust particles are divided into the following types:

Ways to clean them

Industrial and some expensive models of vacuum cleaners have a built-in automatic filter cleaning function. However, even in them, during the active operation of the vacuum cleaner, the air gets clogged and you have to resort to manual methods to clean it. These include:

• washing and washing;
• blowing, shaking and knocking out.

Only reusable filter elements can be washed, but it is forbidden to wet paper ones. To clean them, they resort to knocking out, shaking, blowing.

Moreover, this should not be done indoors, since dust particles and microbes that come out during such cleaning can cause significant harm to human health.

When washing, you need to strictly follow instructions manufacturer. Due to the fact that even with timely cleaning of filters from pollution, various microbes can form and develop on them, they must be replaced in a timely manner.

Conclusion

Filter elements in a vacuum cleaner play an important role. They protect the engine of the device from clogging with dust. During operation, they can become clogged, as a result of which, at best, it will significantly decrease, and at worst, it will simply break. To improve the suction power, it is necessary to clean the filter elements. Such an action can increase the retraction force up to 80%, but only their complete replacement will give a 100% result.

Vacuum cleaners have long been the main cleaning assistants in the house. With the development of filtration and cleaning systems, they can not only rid you of dirt on surfaces, but also give clean air to your room.

The only problem is that filters and bagging devices often become clogged and need to be changed constantly. This can be done in a specialty store such as EasyFix, where you can find a vacuum cleaner filter for any model. There is another way out - some models require manual cleaning (or washing) of filtration systems.

Of course, this will not be written in the instructions for the vacuum cleaner, because manufacturers are interested in the user purchasing new spare parts for their devices. However, on the Internet you can find many ways to clean such parts.

HEPA

One of the most advanced filtration systems today is fine particulate, or HEPA. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that such a detail can trap dust particles with a volume of 0.3 microns, that is, very small in size. No other cleaner can do this, which is why they are often used in modern vacuum cleaners.

They are divided into two types:

• disposable (with one cycle of use and light manufacturing material)
• reusable

As it turned out, both of them can be cleaned. But the ways to clean them vary. For example, disposables should never be washed with water - they must be blown with compressed air. Such a procedure can remove up to 80% of the contaminants contained in HEPA, but each time the work efficiency will decrease. Therefore, at some point it will still have to be replaced.

The situation is slightly different with the reusable Hepa. It is water resistant, which means you can clean it under running water (more than once). At home, this procedure is much easier to carry out than blowing with compressed air, and the effectiveness of this will not fall.

Bags

In combination with HEPA, it is customary to use dust bags. The fact is that their transmission capacity is able to capture large dust particles, leaving everything small for the fine cleaning system. These bags can also be cleaned.

Blowing is recommended for paper models because they simply cannot withstand washing. At the same time, synthetic and fabric dust collectors lend themselves perfectly to both blowing and washing. The only thing to start with is to clean them of large dust particles, and then use water.

Other types, such as aquafilters, should never be used with HePA as this may reduce the lifespan of the latter. Cyclone models also do not require an additional filter by their structure. In addition, cleaning such devices is usually not required.

Recently, more and more models of vacuum cleaners have a HEPA filter in their design. In this article we will try to explain: the principle of operation of HEPA filters, their main purpose, varieties and how to properly operate HEPA filters. The table below shows which microparticles the HEPA filter has to deal with. Many of these particles can only be seen with a microscope.

WhatHEPA filter?
Translated from English abbreviation HEPA (H igh E fficiency P articulate A ir
or H igh E fficiency P articulate A bsorbing stands for "highly effective particle retention". HEPA filters are fine filters. The efficiency of fine filters is determined in laboratory tests by the percentage of retained microparticles. For such laboratory tests, an aerosol of a mixture of synthetic microparticles with a size of about 0.3 microns (from 0.1 to 0.5 microns) is used. According to EN 1822 / DIN 24183, HEPA filters are divided into classes:
HEPA 10 - retain up to 85% of particles with a size of about 0.3 microns.
HEPA 11 - retain up to 95% of particles with a size of about 0.3 microns.
HEPA 12 - retain up to 99.5% of particles with a size of about 0.3 microns.
HEPA 13 - retain up to 99.95% of particles with a size of about 0.3 microns.
HEPA 14 - retain up to 99.995% of particles with a size of about 0.3 microns.

What does a HEPA filter look like??
Depending on the material from which the HEPA filters are made, they can be disposable - made of paper (cellulose) with the addition of glass fibers, or reusable (they can be washed) - made of fluoroplast fibers.

In order for the HEPA filter to create as little resistance to air flow as possible, the HEPA filter must have as large a filtering area as possible. To do this, it is made from a folded filter material (in the form of an accordion), glued into a frame as large as possible.
Small size HEPA filters have a small filtering area. Therefore, such HEPA filters quickly become clogged and greatly interfere with the air flow, which leads to a decrease in the suction power of the vacuum cleaner and overheating of the electric motor.

What and how does a HEPA filter capture?
HEPA filters are designed to filter small particles ranging in size from 0.1 microns to 1.0 microns. It is particles of this size that are most effectively captured by HEPA filters. These particles are captured by the microfibers through the following mechanisms:

1. Engagement effect (interception). All particles, from the smallest to the largest, that pass in close proximity to the microfibers are caught on these microfibers and stick to them or are hooked on other particles that have already adhered to the fiber.
2. Inertia effect (impact) . Explicitly expressed for large particles. Due to the large inertia, particles of large diameter are not able to bend around the fibers, following a curved path in the air stream. Therefore, they continue to move in a straight line until a direct collision with an obstacle.
3. diffusion effect (diffusion) . The smallest particles of pollution, with a diameter of 0.01 microns to 0.1 microns, constantly collide with air molecules, from which such particles begin to move away from the air flow lines at distances exceeding their diameter. Such curvilinear motion increases the probability that the particle will stop permanently under the action of one of the above mechanisms. This diffusion effect is dominant at low airflow rates (eg in air cleaners) and is weak in vacuum cleaner HEPA filters where the airflow rate is high.

What particles are harmful to the HEPA filter?
Particles ranging in size from 0.1 µm to 1.0 µm are most effectively captured by HEPA filters. Smaller particles are not captured by HEPA class filters. And larger particles have a very negative effect on the performance of HEPA filters. Particles larger than 1.0 microns constantly knock out already trapped small particles from their places, which leads to a significant decrease in the percentage of filtration efficiency. In addition, large particles quickly clog all the pores and air channels formed by the filter's HEPA microfibers. This results in an increase in the filter's resistance to airflow. A filter clogged with large HEPA particles greatly interferes with the passage of air through the vacuum cleaner, due to which the suction power of the vacuum cleaner drops sharply, and the electric motor overheats.
Therefore, dust particles larger than those for which the HEPA filter is designed, that is, larger than 1.0 microns in size, should not fall on the HEPA filter.

How long does a HEPA filter retain its characteristics?
A clean, new HEPA filter retains microparticles (from 0.1 microns to 1.0 microns in size - for which it was created to capture) in accordance with its class (H10, H11, H12, H13, H14) only as long as sticking occurs microparticles on the filter fibers. The duration of this process of normal / calculated operation of the HEPA filter depends on the amount of incoming dust and the area of ​​the HEPA filter. What happens if all the places on the filter fibers are already occupied?
Further, dust particles entering the filter begin to stick to each other, cling to dust particles that have already adhered to the fibers ... this process continues until the accumulation of particles adhering to each other reaches a critical mass. Then these clusters of particles break off the fibers of the HEPA filter, hit other clusters of dust particles, tearing them off too ... this process is like an avalanche. As a result, a HEPA filter that operates longer than the prescribed period has a dust retention efficiency significantly lower than that declared by the manufacturer, ceases to properly capture particles for which it was designed. When vacuuming with such a HEPA filter, an unpleasant dusty smell begins to appear.
To avoid this, the expired HEPA filter must be replaced with a new one (or washed if it is waterproof). The terms for replacing the HEPA filter or cleaning it are indicated in the instructions for the vacuum cleaner.

Can the HEPA filter be cleaned??
Some owners of vacuum cleaners with disposable HEPA filters blow out a clogged HEPA filter with compressed air (in the opposite direction). Blowing with compressed air can remove up to 80% of large particles (greater than 1.0 µm). Since it was these particles that led to the clogging of the HEPA filter, removing them can restore 80% of the filter's ability to pass air (i.e., reduce airflow resistance). Also, compressed air can remove up to 30% of weakly retained microparticles ranging in size from 0.1 microns to 1.0 microns. The remaining 70% of these particles are held so tightly by the HEPA filter fibers that they cannot be removed. Bottom line: blowing with compressed air will allow up to 80% to restore air resistance, but it will not be possible to restore passport filtration efficiency, even by half. In addition, after several such procedures, blowing with compressed air will not have any restoring effect on the HEPA filter at all.

All of the above also applies to washing water-resistant, reusable HEPA filters. Only, unlike blowing with compressed air, washing waterproof HEPA filters at home is much easier.

How to create conditions for normal workHEPA filter?
The HEPA filter perfectly captures particles ranging in size from 0.1 µm to 1.0 µm. But if there are a lot of these particles, then the HEPA filter fibers will very quickly accumulate the maximum amount of this dust, and then the ability to hold these particles decreases sharply.
The ingress of particles larger than 1.0 µm onto the HEPA filter is generally not desirable, since this clogs all the pores of the HEPA filter material. And a sharp increase in the resistance of a clogged filter leads to a decrease in the suction power of the vacuum cleaner, overheating and breakdown of the electric motor.
Therefore, in a vacuum cleaner, a pre-filter must always be in front of the HEPA filter. It is the main / pre-filter / dust collector that should trap all particles larger than 1.0 microns - which the HEPA filter does not like so much. And it is desirable that this pre-filter also retain as many particles as possible, ranging in size from 0.1 microns to 1.0 microns - while the HEPA filter will show its excellent passport characteristics for a long time without requiring cleaning or replacement. There are several options for pre-filters / dust collectors, these are:
aqua filter,
CYCLONE filter,
FABRIC bag,
PAPER bag,
SYNTHETIC multilayer bag.

HEPA filter and AQUA filter - a good combination in a vacuum cleaner?
In the water bubbles, a rather large amount of fine dust breaks through to the HEPA filter. And along with drops and splashes of dirty water, large particles of dirt also reach the HEPA filter. But more trouble is caused by the growth and reproduction of bacteria, mold and fungi on the HEPA filter. Humid and warm air, plus a large amount of organic dust, is an excellent environment for bacteria, mold and fungi to thrive. As a result, when the vacuum cleaner is working with an AQUA filter, the entire apartment is seeded with spores of these microorganisms.
Bottom line: The HEPA filter in vacuum cleaners with an AQUA filter must be replaced regularly and often with a new one. And since these HEPA filters are water-resistant, the price can be unpleasantly surprising.

HEPA filter and CYCLONE filter - a good combination in a vacuum cleaner?
The cyclone filter, due to its design features and the laws of physics, passes a very large number of small particles to the HEPA filter - from 0.1 microns to 1.0 microns in size and large ones - more than 1.0 microns in size. What quickly clogs all the microfibers of the HEPA filter - as a result, the filtration efficiency drops sharply, an unpleasant smell of dust appears when cleaning with such a vacuum cleaner. Then the HEPA filter becomes clogged with large particles - which leads to a decrease in the suction power of the vacuum cleaner, overheating and breakdown of the electric motor (if the vacuum cleaner is not equipped with an overheating sensor).
Bottom line: The HEPA filter in vacuum cleaners with a CYCLONE filter must be replaced regularly and very often with a new one. Cleaning the HEPA filter does not completely restore its initial properties, and after several such procedures, cleaning the HEPA filter will not give any effect at all. As a result, a CYCLONE vacuum cleaner "without consumables" turns into a vacuum cleaner "with very expensive and scarce consumables".

HEPA filter and FABRIC bag - a good combination in a vacuum cleaner?
The material of the FABRIC bag is not capable of retaining particles smaller than 2.0 microns. Because of what, the filtration efficiency is sharply reduced, an unpleasant smell of dust appears when cleaning with such a vacuum cleaner. Then the HEPA filter becomes clogged with large particles - which leads to a decrease in the suction power of the vacuum cleaner, overheating and breakdown of the electric motor (if the vacuum cleaner is not equipped with an overheating sensor).
Bottom line: Do not use a CLOTH bag if your vacuum cleaner has a HEPA filter. Or replace the HEPA filter with a simpler and cheaper MICRO filter.

HEPA filter and PAPER bag - a good combination in a vacuum cleaner?
A PAPER bag is undoubtedly better than a cloth bag, but PAPER bags often present unpleasant surprises in the form of unexpected tears from overload, moisture or cuts from debris ... As a result, everything that has accumulated inside a paper bag ends up on a HEPA filter.
Bottom line: HEPA filter and PAPER bag is a good combination in a vacuum cleaner. But keep an eye on the condition of the paper bag and protect it from tearing.

HEPA filter and SYNTHETIC bag - a good combination in a vacuum cleaner?
SYNTHETIC multilayer bags are the next step in the development of paper bags. SYNTHETIC bags are excellent at capturing dust particles as small as 0.3 microns and larger. The dust collection efficiency of these bags is close to HEPA 10 filters. In addition to high filtration parameters, these bags are very durable, cut-resistant by sharp debris (broken glass, nails, buttons...) and are not afraid of wet debris.
It is SYNTHETIC bags that are able to ensure the normal / regular operation of the HEPA filter, protecting it from a large amount of dust ranging in size from 0.1 microns to 1.0 microns and generally preventing dust particles larger than 1.0 microns from reaching the HEPA filter.
Outcome: HEPA filter and SYNTHETIC bag - THE BEST combination of filters in a vacuum cleaner.
At the same time, the HEPA filter works for a long time and in accordance with its passport data.

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