Step 2: Remove the attachments and Place the canister in the sink.
Step 3: Take out the filter.
Step 4: In the back of the canister there is a little lever (mine is orange) that removes the top and bottom of the canister from one another. Pull up on it, and give it a little umph, and it should come off. If it’s your first time it might be a little tougher to get apart.
It should look like this after you separate them.
Step 5: Open the top of the canister (where the filter goes).
Step 6: Rinse the canister with water. After you do a quick rinse take a washcloth and some dish soap and wipe the outside and inside of the canister.
This is what the inside of your canister will look like before you wash it. {GROSS!}
Step 7: Rise the outer part of the canister and wash with soap.
Step 8: Rinse the filter. I rinse until the water runs clear, usually it takes a few minutes.
Step 9: Dry. Make sure you let your vacuum parts dry completely before re-assembling it. My rule of thumb is 48 hours, just to make sure it’s dry.
Step 10: While the canister parts are drying wipe the rest of the vacuum down with disinfecting wipes.
Step 11: Clean out all the traps.
The first one is on the back, right side of your Dyson. If you push and pull out on the button, where my finger is pointing, you can clean out this trap. I’ve found all sort of crazy things in mine in the past!
This is what it will look like when you take it off.
There is another trap you can clean out at the back of your vacuum. It’s at the base in the back, right below where the hose connects. It’s kind of hard to see but my finger is pointing at the release button.
This is what it looks like when you take it off.
And don’t forget about the brush! You can take the cover of the brush off by unscrewing the 3 screws on the bottom of the vacuum. Below is a picture of what they look like.
Nice and clean!
Step 12: To clean the attachments I just throw them in the dishwasher, easy peesy!
Edit {Dec 9th}: I have been cleaning my Dyson this way for years. I know this is not the way the Dyson manual says to clean the vacuum but I have never had a problem with mine and it always works like new after I clean it.
If you’d like to see a video tutorial of this process you can view it here.
About Anna
Thanks for the reminder to clean mine out. I don't think I've tackled those pocket areas before so that is very helpful!
Thanks for posting this. I didn't even know how to go about cleaning my Dyson. I thought it was smart enough to clean itself ha-ha!
I'm so stoked about this post! I had no idea that I could clean my Dyson like this. Thanks Anna!
Thanks for all the great information!!!!Tasha
Just followed your directions to do a nice cleaning on Dyson. Thanks!
I'm going to try this on the weekend, my Dyson is looking (and smelling!) a little too much like my dog. thanks for the post!
How do you clean the brush? I tried to unscrew the screws but they are not budging… help please!
Yeah the screws are a little tricky. They turn to the left but you have to push really hard and then turn them. The first time is always the hardest, after that they will turn easier. If you can't get them off you can still cut the hair out, it will just be a little trickier.Annawww.askannamoseley.com
Thank you so much for this tutorial!
In nice weather I take mine outside and blow it out with the air compressor we have in the garage. Gets alot of dirt out of those little holes fast.
Thank you so much for sharing! I have an older model (from 2007) and the filter is in the base area instead of the tank. Is it still safe to run water through the tank & all of those cyclone-y areas? : )
I'm very nervous to run water through it…you have really had no problems, sorry to question you, all I can think is that I could potentially throw $500 away, I'm scared!!
I do this all the time to my dyson even before i saw this tutorial! It works and the sweeper cleans even better every time it gets cleaned
To the previous Anonymous comment: No, I really have not had any problems with doing this, and my vacuum always runs so much better after it's clean. However if you are nervous about using water I had another reader tell me that she uses an air compressor to blow all the dust out, so you could try that instead.Annawww.askannamoseley.com
Yes, I've used the air compressor before and it works to an extent, but I usually have to stand there for about fifteen minutes with the air compressor going and breath in all that dust…ok, I'm going to go for it this weekend! Thanks for the response!
I too have an older model with the filter in the base… is it ok to run water through mine?
wow this is so great! I'm bookmarking this because I need to do mine. We've had it for almost a year and never cleaned it. yikes!
Just FYI – I have the purpe Dyson and I have bee cleaning minein a way that is similar to this well something happened and i tarted stinking. Well I calld Dyson and they told me NEVER to put the cyclone in water…only to use a aircomresser to clean that part. The filter is to be cleaned in water, but not the cyclone. Just thought I would say something!
They say that because most people do not allow it enough time to completely dry out before using it. Which then will cause bacterial and mildew to grow in it. I have a really good friend who works for dyson and that’s what she told me. She said its not that you can’t they just don’t recommend it unless your going to allow everything to completely dry before using again. Which 24-48 hours is what the recommended amount of drying time is. And depending on your water as well they recommending using distilled water to be safe that no minerals settle in you compartments.
Hi there,It’s great to see people taking such good care of their Dysons! It’s fine to wash the clear bin, but we would advise against washing the cyclone pack, as this could damage the machine. For information and advice on maintaining your Dyson, you can call us free on 0800 298 0298 (UK), or 1-866-693-9766 (US). Best wishes,JackDyson Online Customer Support
I called Dyson and asked them if I could wash out the turbo inside and they said, NO! They told me to find a person with a air compressor and blow the inside clean. I like your way, but am not certain if I should do it.andy
I think the only risk is if you don't let it dry COMPLETELY!!! I have cleaned mine like this for 3 years, about once a year. Just to be safe I let mine dry for a couple of days!!! It has never been a problem for me!I would say just be SURE it is dry….just common sense. It is all plastic in there, so there is no reason not to clean it. They have to use water when they refurbish them
Thanks, after owning my Dyson for almost 5 years I finally cleaned it. I was scared being it was so expensive to try to mess around with it- but it was pretty easy. My filter stated not to put under water, so I did not.
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Thanks for the reminder! I've been cleaning my Dyson since the day the vacuum shop quoted me $89.95 to clean it. HA! I think not – I do it myself! :)
I've had mine since 2007 and I clean it like this every 6 months. I just had to say that I've never seen anyone else with a white Dyson!
Clean as a whistle, thanks to this post!!
I've had the original yellow ball Dyson since it came out (over 8 years) and have washed it inside and out with water every 3 or 4 months since I got it. I'm allergic to dust, so the thought of blowing it clean with an air compressor and filling the air that i'm breathing with micro allergens is not at all appealing! Water at least keeps the dust in the air to a minimum. I make sure that I let all of the parts air dry on a towel in my laundry room for a few days before I put it back together. It works just like new every time. I love my Dyson!
Cleaning the your Duson is a great idea but do not be tempted to clean the hose calse getting that to dry takes days if not weeks and then its still not dry enough.
So I have a pink Dyson- not sure the model but after I cleaned it worked so much better until I went to pull up on the lever for the trap door to empty and it didn't work. Apparently with my Dyson there is a bar that goes all the way down which connects to a release for the trap door. I now cannot get it open to empty it. Any one have any suggestions? The cleaning was great and it works like new, but cant empty now, suggestions?
Okay- Update- I read on another site to fix this- remove the top (via unscrewing the top with a screw driver) pull the lid off and reset the "trapbar" back into place. It is not easy as you have to match up the screw holes as well as he bar at the same time which you cannot see very well. Have to go with more of a feel. Overall very happy with the clean out, works much better.
Cleaning my dyson today. So happy! Thank you! Just a quick question. You mention to put the attachments in the dishwasher. Being that it gets so hot, I'm worried about it melting, especially the bristles. Just wanting to know if it truly is safe to throw in there or not. Thanks again!
Love our Dyson, and your great idea to clean it. Can't wait to get home from work and do it today!!
Thanks for the info, I usually use an air compressor but I think I will do this every other time. Heads up though, had my Dyson in for a repair and they said NOT to get the yellow filter holder wet. They said just clean the foam filter it holds.
I have washed my dyson and it's brushes in the sink for the past 6 years and it is still working perfectly I usually blow it out with the compressor first as the dust is so bad then wash it with hot soapy water. The filter says to just wash it with cold water running through which I do I also do the filter holder and it works perfect!!! Anna I think it is wonderful that you are letting people know how to do this..
FYI, Dyson recommends cleaning your machine once a month. I totes don't, but that's what they suggest.
Oh no the pictures are gone! I had pinned this to clean my vacuum and when I came back to actually do it, the pictures were gone. They were so helpful. Anyway you can put them back? Thanks
It’s fixed now. Sorry, there was something wrong with my site.
Anna :)
Came here from Pinterest… are there supposed to be pictures in the post? Because they’re not showing up. (I’m running Firefox, maybe that has something to do with it?)
Anyway, thanks for this post, anyway, I’ll follow the written directions, as my Dyson is a major workhorse, having to clean up road dust, animal hair, and other farm-country pollutants almost daily.
oops… nevermind. The problem was completely on my end. My computer was being a snot! I restarted and the pics are showing up just fine, now. Thanks!
I talked to my IT lady and she fixed the picture problem. Thank you for letting me know! :) I hope the tutorial still made sense even without pictures.
Anna
I am so doing this!!!! TFS!
Haha, I love comments like this. :)
Anna
Thank you for the great detailed info and pics! I just cleaned my machine for the first time ever (nearly 10 years old) My ‘lifetime’ hepa filter is NASTY. I am looking to find a replacement while I wait for all the parts to dry. Anyone know of major chains that carry these?
I would look on Amazon.com, they carry everything.
Anna
Just cleaned mine, followed these instructions. Looks good so far! Although I must have a different model because not everything coordinated. I was disgusted at how much dirt was built up in the cyclone! Hoping it works like new!
Yeah it’s really gross! At least it’s clean now. :)
Anna
I did this with my six year old purple Dyson last year. Rinsed and cleaned both the clear cylinder as well as the cyclone part and was amazed at all the gunk that came out! I thought I had let it dry very thoroughly, but it started to stink (a very musty, mildewy smell). After a while, that seemed to go away, though, so perhaps it just needed more time to dry. If it try it again I’m going to wait a LONG time before reassembling and using it again!
Yeah, make sure to wait at least 48+ hours. If it smells musty you can always add a little baking soda to the canister, that should clear it up!
Anna
Thank you so much for this! I was getting so grossed out with the smell and appearance of the inside of my dyson that I was considering buying a new one (and I am not rich enough to throw down $400 just whenever). I had no idea it could be cleaned this thoroughly. Thanks for knocking some sense into me and helping those of us who are less technically inclined!
Thanks for the step by step directions!! I feel like I have a brand new vacuum!
Awesome! I love it! :)
Anna
I have had my dyson for years and never even thought to do this until I saw your pin on pinterest. The filter was in desperate need of a washing. I have an older model so things are slightly different but I just googled the manual online. Thanks so much for the info.
You’re welcome! Your vacuum will feel brand new after it’s cleaned and dried! :)
Anna
What abouth cleaning the animal dyson. No filter up top. How do we get water into it to clean
I’m not sure Julie, I’m sorry. I’ve never actually seen an Animal Dyson so I couldn’t tell you.
Anna
I have the Animal Dyson and clean it pretty much the same way. The clear canister comes apart at the top, there are little tabs that hold it in place and the filter is on the bottom part of the vacuum. The filter actually shows a faucet with water on it. I run water in the cyclone part and just rinse it around several times and then let it dry for several days. Hope this helps.
OMG, thanks so much for this post. I found you on Pinterest after doing a search on Dyson. I thought I had ruined my mom’s Dyson that I bored to see if I liked it enough to buy my own. Well, after cleaning out the lint trap in my dryer and accidentally sucking up a few dryer sheets, I thought it was broken. It started smelling like it was on fire and turned itself off. I was terrified and looked at the Dyson site and was worried that I’d have to take it in.
But I found this post and all the little “nooks and crannies” that I couldn’t figure out how to get to. Found the culprits (2 dryer sheets, a ballpoint pen, some Scotch tape, and lots of hair and dust. Gross! I did the whole cleaning as you instruct above and it worked like a charm. Thanks for saving me tons of money and better yet, having to explain to my mom why it was broken!
Oh my goodness, that’s a lot of stuff that was stuck in there! I’m glad you got it cleaned out though. :)
Anna
I cleaned my dyson a few weeks ago. Took the canister apart did all of the above except the gray piece that has the holes…I called Dyson to check to see if its okay to clean with water. They told me its not a good idea to do that to take it outside and use an air compresser to blow out the dirt…which I did. I was very shocked at how much dirt…and I mean baby fine baby powder looking dirt came out. Going to be doing that more frequently.
Love your stuff! Thanks for being here wth all the cool motivating ideas!
I use canned air and a baby bottle brush to clean out my canister. . . it works just as well for those concerned about using water.
OMG! So I cleaned my Dyson this past week per your instructions and I can’t believe the difference it made. I have had my Dyson for about 3 years, but have lived in an apartment the whole time. It never looked very dirty so I never really worried about thoroughly cleaning the whole thing. Well after finding your amazing blog and using many of your tips, I decided to clean the Dyson. I just vacuumed with it, and I couldn’t believe how much it picked up. I vacuum about twice a week, but it looked like I hadn’t vacuumed in a month. This chore will surely be added to my list! Thanks for the step by step tips!!
Awesome!!! I love hearing stuff like that! Thank you for sharing. :)
Anna
Thanks for sharing! My hubs will be so happy that I won’t be paying someone to do this. I have had mine for probably 7 years so I can’t wait to try this. Have you guys tried a mixture of vinegar and water to help deodorize? Just curious cause because I have dogs and pet odor is the biggest issue with the vacuum. Also a tip to remove the hair…an old style barbers comb (like the ones guys used to carry in their pockets) works great. You can get them for like $1 and just hook the end around the hair and pull. Thanks again!
Great tip! Thank you for sharing. :)
Anna
I have the Dyson Animal DC17 (purple) so the tutorial didn’t match exactly but close enough! I’m slightly OCD about cleaning so it was great to find this post and finally give my poor vacuum the same TLC I give to everything else. One thing that this doesn’t mention is the belt that spins around the brush; I found a youtube video of a guy showing you how to remove the brush and the belt (his wasn’t working, seemed like the belt was broken) and clean it out. His belt was fine, it was all the gunk/animal hair built up around it that made it inoperable. I decided to do the same for a good thorough cleaning…OMG how nasty it was! There was so much dust, sand-like particles and dog hair collected in the belt crevice, I couldn’t believe my Dyson was still working. It’s very easy to pop the brush off and remove the belt to get to the area. This might not apply to all Dyson models but I would take the time to check, might extend the life of the belt and the vacuum itself although I’ve had mine for years and it worked like a charm even with all that nasty stuff.
Thanks for the info. I did all this and am still getting a funky smell from mine. Any ideas? My dog puked on the carpet a month or two ago and after I cleaned it up and used carpet cleaner on it, I vacuumed. Since then, that lovely smells come back every time I vacuum. I tried baking soda, emptying a lavender sachet and vacuuming it up, sprinkling with essential oil before vacuuming. All are only temporary solutions.
Did you take your vacuum apart and clean it per the instructions? The only other thing I would suggest is to purchase a new hose. They aren’t very expensive and if the vacuum still smells after washing it then I’m sure that’s where odor is coming from.
Good luck!
Anna
How do i get the brush off? I can get the three screws off to get to the brush but there is a black rubber belt securing it.. I want to take the brush off and clean it. Help?
I’ve never taken my brush off but if you watch the You Tube video tutorial at the bottom he shows you how to take it off. Good luck!
Anna :)
Hey Anna,
I inherited a Dyson from my grandpa. I really wanted it cleaned before it comes in my house. So today is the day. I’ll let you know how it goes. Thanks for the great tutorial.
Dyson all clean! Parts are going to dry in the garage and with this lovely Redding heat I’m thinking 24 hours should be enough! Thanks for the help!
Awesome! I love it! Yeah with today’s heat your parts should be dry in a couple hours. :)
Anna
I Like this! I have always taken mine apart and usually just wiped it out or blown it out with an air compressor,(do wash the filters!) they do get really dirty. I have had my Dyson for about 14 years. Great machines!
My Dyson is running like brand new!!!
Yay!!! I love hearing that!
This is how I cleaned my Dyson for years…until it started smelling of mold. I called Dyson and they said under no circumstances should you clean the canister with water because regardless of how long you dry it out, water still stays trapped and like mine, begins to mold and smell. They had to send me another canister and specifically said to NOT clean it with water, otherwise my warranty would be voided, as directions and cleaning instructions say not to use water. They said the best way to clean the canister is to use an air compressor and blow all the dust and particles out. Would hate for someone to use this method and ruin an expensive vacuum.
Thank you for this. I have the D24 and I Just cleaned it up. The owners manual didn’t cover any of this, but i knew there must be a way. I had even looked online and everything. But you covered it here. Thanks again! :)
Clean dyson= no more smelly dog=fresher smelling floors! My pet dyson stunk bad! It was either throw out or try anything. This worked be
Beautifully. For the person who said don’t clean with water….rather take the chance than buy a new vacuum! Thank you. Didn’t take
Too long either!
This was very helpful! My dyson was long over due for a scrub down!
I found your tutorial through Pinterest. I was a little scared by some of the comments that said not to clean the canister with water but I gave it a go. To be sure I did let my parts dry for a couple of days in the sun then left them on the dish drainer for a few more days. It is just like having my brand new Dyson back!!! So amazing! Thank you so much, I will be doing this every six months at least!
Our top part looks like it has no way to “flip open” to get the liter out and clean it. It does look different than yours but I haven’t had it a year yet. Help!
Would be great to have this in printable form!
Good idea Barbara! I will put that together! :)
Never thought of washing it, I was too afraid the water would damage the unit. Then I read thru the last few comments, the one about never using water / voiding the warranty AND the ones about blowing the dust particles out with an air compressor….so wouldn’t it make great sense to WASH the unit as you have described, and then maybe using an air compressor to blow it dry? I think I may go that route. Thanks for the info
Hey, I can’t thank you enough for posting this article on cleaning a Dyson! I did it and thanks to you it is like brand new! I moved from the mountains of southern California to Portland OR and all the red dirt from south is now GONE! I can’t believe that I can clean ALL the parts with soap and water! I laid it out in my laundry room that is about 80 degrees year around and it was all dry in 24 hours!
Your photos and writing style are terrific and I look forward to learning more tips and tricks from you!
Blessings.
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Thank you so much Betty! I’m glad I was able to help you. :)
Can you clean out the tube the attachments hook to? Mine is sticking quite a bit and is difficult to get pulled out when needing to use it. thanks!!
You can but I wouldn’t recommend it. I’ve heard from a lot of readers that it didn’t turn out well for them. It’s really hard to dry the hoses out once you wash them. If you’d like to purchase a new one they are not that expensive, here is a link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00513SEH2/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00513SEH2&linkCode=as2&tag=askan01-20.
Am wondering if sticking a hair dryer into the hose to dry it would work? Better than buying a new hose….?
I never thought of that. It might work! :)
Just followed your instructions for cleaning my Dyson, I have a different model, but it was all basically the same. I let everything dry out for a week, wanted to make extra sure that it was all dry. I’ve put it all back together and used it today and now it smells like something died in there. I’ve previously cleaned the filter and have not had this result. Anyone else have this problem??
I hate to be the one to tell you, but using soap on a Dyson voids the warranty…I found this out the hard way…..Mine started overheating after only 2 years, called the customer service and they asked how I cleaned it, I explained and they told me where I could get it repaired, but the warranty is void because I cleaned it with soapy water……sorry.
I cleaned my Dyson (DC14?) per your instructions, two days ago. Wow, it was dirty! Disgusting! I usually use an air duster to blow it clean but hate breathing in all of that dust. I have left the cyclone part outside to air dry. I turn it upside down twice a day to ensure that it is drying completely. I’m going to wait 2 more days to put it back together in order to be on the safe side. I will update soon.
Thank you!!!!! I’m so grateful for this!!! I agree on cleaning the things we clean with, lol.
I have a different Dyson, it’s a purple one so I’m not sure if it’s newer or older than yours, but I LOVE it. I’ve had it for 5 years, and haven’t had any major problems with it. Haven’t had to replace anything…it’s been perfect. However….My little boy decided to play in the flour…(STINKER!) and so I thought, “oh easy clean up! I’ll just use the Dyson!”…..BAD IDEA!!!! Just get out the trusty, old fashioned BROOM. (I guess this only works if it happened on a hard floor, lol) The flour clogged my filter. (My manual basically does tell me to clean it like you’ve shown here, the filter at least) but my filter is in the base.. Anyways. So I tried to clean it with water….as we all know (but didn’t cross my mind) FLOUR and WATER become like clay.
I was so thrilled when I saw this!! I thought I was going to have to shell out a load of $$ to have mine cleaned by a professional! I’m actually excited about doing this myself!! (note to self….get a life!!)
What a great tutorial, but would this work for the older model? I have the same vacuum only it’s a few years old. I just want to make sure that when I go to clean it, I’m not touching anything electrical or anything that shouldn’t be touched with water you know? Thanks!
Woot! Done. ;-) Thanks!!!
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I cleaned my 4 yr. old Dyson Animal per your instructions today. Poor fella was smelling really foul. Will give it a couple of days for the cyclone to dry out completely. Thank you for this tutorial!
I just cleaned out my Dyson for the first time. That was very traumatizing!!! Thank you for the tips
Haha, you’re welcome. It’s pretty gross what can set stuck in there!
Hello there Anna. Just finished cleaning out my Dyson but with the Ohio cold, I am curious to know where you’d recommend laying it out to dry and in what position you’d recommend? I have the older DC07 Purple Dyson Animal. I can still hear a few droplets of water inside the canister and I plan on giving it 5 days to dry out, do you think that is feasible?
Thanks SO much! Couldn’t figure out for the life of me why it kept cutting off and being that I purchased it used, I thought the motor was going to bite the dust. Turns out ALL of my cyclones were clogged with what appeared to be the DREADED carpet sprinkle!! Even worse than flour, I swear!
Kindest,
Meagan
Yikes! Well I’m glad you got it clean! I think if it’s too cold and takes 5 days to dry then it will end up smelling like mildew. I would recommend putting it in a small room with a space heater. It needs to have dry, warm temps to dry all the way and not get damp and mildewy inside.
Anna, I have one additional question about cleaning my Dyson. The brush part is particularly dirty. It looks like someone cleaned up something wet or damp. I have spent a good amount of time cutting the strings and cleaning as best I could the brushes, but there is some real dirt caked on it. Can it be soaked in water or water with a little Dawn? It’s the one thing I’m not sure about wetting.
Thanks,
Carolyn
As long as you take it all the way off the vacuum you can soak it. You can watch Lain’s video for a more visual tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TUi7xJQ82c&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLAA439D4155F2A071.
I’m ashamed to admit this, but I’ve been “cleaning” my vacuum by emptying it out each time I use it. since 2006. :O I just took it apart and cleaned it.. The funny thing is that almost 7 years of owning it and not cleaning it, but it still works just like the day I bought it. Says something for Dyson! :)
Anyway, thanks for the easy tutorial.
I was so excited to find this on Pinterest, but bummed that it wouldn’t work for my DC07 (well, the cyclone part.) I just wanted to share a YouTube video I found for my fellow DC07 owners – we CAN clean the cyclone! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OO3ugkyzxk
Off to go give my baby (or, as my dog thinks of it, the Yellow Machine of Death) a good cleaning!
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Take a seam ripper to get all the hair and thread off the brush.
It’s an remarkable piece of writing for all the web people; they will obtain advantage from it I am sure.
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OMG!!!! I just washed my dyson, Shame on me lol. Its was major gross inside. So glad i found you Anna.
Don’t you just love Dyson though I am a firm fan of James Dyson. I had one of his vacs in the UK and when i moved to USA one of the first things i did was go and get another one. Thank you Anna for the great clean vac lol .
You’re welcome! I’m so glad your vacuum is clean now. :)
Hi there, I’m wondering if you happen to know of a link to clean the DC25, or if we can basically do the same thing?
I would imagine it would be about the same thing. I’ve never used a DC25 but I think they are all very similar. :)
A friend gave me this link and I tried your step by step guide today. I have come as far as cleaning out the filters and will do the traps later today. Thanks for the pictures as I would have been totally lost without them. A Dyson is a science in itself.
Hi Anna,
Happy New Year to you and your family.
We have our own Dyson DC25 which we’ve always kept meticulously clean however we’ve acquired a second hand DC25 from an auction here in the UK and have followed all of your tips to get it as clean as possible but it still carries a latent smell (from the previous owner). Any ideas how best we can rid the Dyson of this smell.
Old fashioned vacuum cleaners used to enable you to put fresheners in them, but not Dyson.
Any tips that you can offer would be greatly received.
Regards,
Simon
When my Dyson smells between cleanings I put vacuum beads in the canister. It helps make it smell fresh. You can also add a little baking soda to the canister if you don’t have any vacuum beads.
Anna
Do you know if the hepa filter can also be cleaned?
Teri
I’ve tried to get mine out before, with no luck. I think you have to take it to the professionals to have that filter cleaned. Sorry.
I just followed these directions step by step… my Dyson is the DC07 Target Red. I got it about 6 years ago and this is the first time I’ve cleaned it.
It wasn’t nearly as “gunky” as I expected. I guess that’s a good thing! Now I can’t wait for all the parts to dry so i can vacuum again! :)
As Dyson says, don’t use water. The reason they say that is if there is too much crud inside it will turn into a cement like substance and clog it up. Use compressed air from an air compressor, not a silly can of air.
I blow mine out on a windy day so I don’t breathe any dust as I am blowing it out. I can spend over a minuite blowing it untill the dust stops comming out.
Thank you so much for this tutorial! My dyson broke last week and we’re waiting for parts. It’ the perfect time to get it all shiny and new looking again!
There’s a FILTER??? Whaaaaaaaat?
I’ve been cleaning my Dyson like this for 1 year now and no problems with functioning either. I’m glad I’m not the only one who strayed from the manual on how to clean it – I was really nervous about basically soaking it in water the first time! :)
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I was flabbergasted when I say this on Pinterest! I would have never, and I do mean never thought I could use water on the middle portion(too scared I would ruin my vacuum). Thank you for the post, I am trying this today!
I actually do this with my Hoover WindTunnel. The parts are very similar. I’m amazed at how much better it works on my carpet after it’s been cleaned. I do it every couple months or so.
I bump mine on the garbage can or use and old brush to clean out the little holes, after each use. If holes stop up it won’t suction as hard, thus not good vaccum.
I found this post through Pinterest, and I’m so glad I did! I cleaned my Dyson using this blog. While it was disgustingly dirty, it is now clean and shiny. And working better than ever. I had vacuumed my living room rug just before I cleaned the vacuum. After it had completely dried, I reassembled it and vacuumed the rug again. Two days had passed but the rug didn’t get used too much in that time. When I emptied the canister, it was almost full! Wow. Thanks so much for the tips.
Thank you for this! Those ‘traps’ are going to be interesting. I watched my Dyson suck up a felt catnip mouse from about 4 feet away once. Caught that one going through it’s system. But I wonder how many other things it took hold of that I didn’t catch…
I cleaned my vacume like this for almost 5 years, but started noticing a smell that would come back almost Immedietly after cleaning. I called dyson, they told me that cleaning it this way is not recommended and in most cases voids the warranty as the parts inside (the air tunnels) aren’t suppose to get wet… I was shocked! The lady was nice enough and send me a new canister (just before my warranty ran out) and told me to only clean it with air, like from an air compressor.
I had the same thing happen to me and I cleaned my vacuum this way for years. The smell would not go away, no matter how long I left the parts to dry. I called Dyson and the customer service representative was extremely nice and helpful, but said the Dyson canister should never be rinsed with water and in doing so, the warranty would be voided. She did send another canister with specific instructions to use an air compressor or some other form of compressed air to blow the dirt and dust out of the canister. Dyson’s customer service is worth the price of the vacuum alone, not to mention how great the actual product is.
Hi, Anna,
I have rings in the toilets that I can not get out. I’ve used commercial “ring removers” and they don’t do any good. Any suggestions?
Thank you,
Carol.
I recommend using Bar Keepers Friend, a good sponge (I love the yellow and green Scotch-Brite ones) and some elbow grease. That will get the rings out and then make them easier to maintain. :)
Thanks for the information. I clean my Dyson canister periodically but I didn’t know about the other traps. Cleaning those will be at the top of my list for this weekend.
This is brilliant, it not only reminds me to clean the Dyson but also shows me how to do it, even the areas I didn’t know I could clean out. Just brilliant.
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I have also been cleaning my Dyson the same way. But I do one more thing. I remove the screws that are visible underneath the top filter in order to get at the grunge on the inside. Gets pretty bad sometimes. Just thought you’d like to know,you are not alone
I just wanted to say thank you! I also have an “animal” and one thing that yours and mine have in common is the filter that goes under the canister. Don’t forget that one! I use an air compressor to blow mine out. Especially down the hose. Mine likes to clog up so I make sure to blow that out too. I have long hair so I also have to cut hair off the beater bar, lol. My husband doesn’t understand why I’m not bald for the I clean off there sometimes. Thanks again Anna for the tutorial and to all of your posters for the additional tips!
This tutorial is absolutely amazing I just got done cleaning our dyson and I was quite shocked how dirty some of the inside parts were. I knew to clean the brush and some things but I didn’t realize how many parts would come off and apart. Thank you so much for this very helpful cleaning tip!
I put the filters in my dehydrator after I washed them…I even put the smaller traps on a tray…They are dry in only a couple of hours….No smell..Even after many years…I live in the south where its humid also….I know not everyone has a dehydrator but if so its another use for it…
That’s a GREAT idea!!!
Thank you so much! I cleaned my filter about 2 months ago, but felt like that just wasn’t enough cleaning for a vacuum that gets so dirty while doing such a great job. This will be very helpful!
Thank You very much for the pics on a Dyson. My wife took ours apart to get the gunk out of the roller. When she tried to to remove the roller she did not see how it came out. Looking at the pics on your how to clean a Dyson. I was able to reaseamble it. Thank You.