One of the things I hate to do it clean my cleaning supplies or tools!
Why can't I just buy new, clean, pretty, high-tech, non-ghetto ones?
I have found that if I clean them often the they last longer and do their job better...MAN! I know, duh, right?
A little over a year ago we moved into a 2 story house and I bought a cheap vacuum to leave upstairs so I didn't have to hike one up and down. Shortly after I got ride of the 'nicer' bag vacuum and just had the light weight bagless one. I'd been using it for a few months and it clogged. I took that entire joker apart. Every screw that I found or snapped piece I disassembled! Pieces everywhere, screws in a pile, filters piled in the sink; my husband thought I'd lost my mind! After 2 hours of deep cleaning and a day and 1/2 of drying filters all over the kitchen counter my vacuum sucked as if it were brand new! I was so proud of myself. I vacuumed everything, everywhere, every inch of my house!
Then...yep, 3 weeks later it didn't suck anymore, well, at least not like new anymore. Boo!
I don't have 2 hours I can afford to devote to cleaning a cleaning tool every week. Since this craziness I've decided not to expect my vacuum to work as new but I do clean some part of it once a month.
The Supplies Needed:
Wire hanger bend straight
Scissors
Flashlight
Screwdrivers (type dependant on kind of screws your vacuum has) *not pictured ;o)
Trash Can
Sink, Water, and preferably a kitchen sink sprayer (that is its technical term)
Big strainer or towel to dry pieces in/on
Wet washclothe
The New Routine (monthly):
1.Unscrewed the bottom and the back to expose the bottom hose that goes from floor to detachable hose (that then leads to the holding compartment)
2.Shove the handy-dandy wire hanger through the hose to push out debris and unclog. Use the flashlight to check to ensure you got everything out.
3.Dump holding container (this should be done on an as-needed basis)
4.Dust and/or wipe down vacuum with wet clothe
Additional Routine (every 2-3 months):
1.Shove the handy-dandy wire hanger through the detachable hose to push out debris and unclog. (note: avoid rinsing hose. They take forever to dry given their crinkly make and therefore moister makes the sucked up dirt clump and clog faster- yep...experienced!)
2.Take out the 2 filters (in my case) and rinsed them (using the kitchen sink sprayer pushes gunk out faster) It's amazing how much cleaner they were having only let the dirt build up for 3-4 weeks instead of multiple months.
3.Rinse all plastic pieces as you go (in sink or with washclothe)
Much faster~15min (each)! Pretty sure this will be my quick fix routine from now on!
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What cleaning supplies/tools have you found a way to manage? PLEASE SHARE! I need all the help I can get.
