Maintenance procedure · Written to ASD-STE100 Issue 9 · Formatted to ANSI Z535

Cleaning or Replacing the Filters in a Vacuum Cleaner

Domestic vacuum cleaners, bagged and bagless, corded and cordless — and the one question that decides the whole job: does your manufacturer say this filter is washable?
ApplicabilityDomestic vacuum cleaners with owner-serviceable filters: bagged and bagless uprights, canister machines, and cordless stick machines
Task timeat least 27 min to 43 min (30 of 31 steps estimated) editorial estimate
PersonnelOne
Revisionv1 · 2026-08-12
BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Before you begin. This procedure is general reference information, not professional advice. Equipment varies by manufacturer, model, and year. Always follow the documentation supplied with your equipment — where it differs from this page, follow the manufacturer. Verify that you have the tools, the working conditions, and the ability to do this task safely. If anything is unclear, if the equipment is damaged, or if the task exceeds your experience, stop and use a qualified professional. You are responsible for your own safety and for the outcome. This site accepts no liability for any loss, damage, or injury arising from the use of this information.

Specifications marked unverified could not be traced to a manufacturer source. Do not rely on them — obtain the value from your equipment documentation.

Summary

A vacuum cleaner that has lost suction usually has a clogged filter, and most machines have two or three of them in places the owner has never opened. This page walks you through finding every filter, taking it out safely, and deciding what to do with it. That decision is the whole job, because some filters are washed and some are destroyed by water, and the machine gives you no warning either way.

This page does not tell you to wash your filter, and that is deliberate. Of the four manufacturer documents it read, one Dyson manual says cold water and no detergent, another Dyson manual says warm tap water, BISSELL says one of its own filters is not washable at all, and Miele's canister instructions contain no washing procedure for any filter in the machine. There is no single right answer to publish, so the page gives you the method, names what each manufacturer actually says, and sends you to your own documentation for the number.

Safety

WARNING

DO NOT PUT A FRAGRANCE OR A SCENTED PRODUCT ON A FILTER.
Dyson gives this fire warning in its manual. The chemicals are flammable and can cause the machine to catch fire.

Necessary equipment

ItemNote
Documentation for your vacuum cleanerThe manufacturer gives the filter instructions for your model.
A binTap the loose dust from the filter into a bin.
Work gloves optionalA used filter holds dust and sharp debris.
Disposable respirator optionalDust from a used filter can irritate your airway.
Soft brush optionalUse a brush on a filter only if your documentation permits it.
Replacement filter for your model materialThe part number is different for each model.
Dust bag for your model materialOnly a machine with a dust bag needs this.

Find the filter instructions for your machine

Estimated 7 min to 14 min

NOTEThe instructions are different for each manufacturer and for each model.
Filter wash or replacement interval
Unverified — do not rely on this value
CONSULT THE MANUFACTURER DOCUMENTATION FOR YOUR VACUUM CLEANER. THE INTERVAL IS DIFFERENT FOR EACH MAKER, EACH MODEL AND EACH FILTER, AND THE STEPS ABOVE NAME THE FIGURES THIS PAGE FOUND WITH THEIR SOURCES.

No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.

  1. Find the manufacturer documentation for your vacuum cleaner.
    • The documentation gives the number of filters and the position of each filter.
    • The documentation also tells you if you can wash a filter.
    3m
  2. Read the filter instructions for your model.
    • Do not use the instructions for a different model.
    • The four manufacturer documents that this page read do not agree with each other.
    2m
  3. Collect the tools and the replacement parts before you start.
    2m

Disconnect the vacuum cleaner

Estimated under a minute

WARNING

SET THE VACUUM CLEANER TO OFF BEFORE YOU OPEN A FILTER COMPARTMENT.
Disconnect the machine from the electrical supply. Dyson says that failure to do this can cause personal injury.

  1. Set the vacuum cleaner to off.
    <1m
  2. Disconnect the vacuum cleaner from the electrical supply.
    • Dyson tells you to switch the machine off and to unplug it before you remove a filter.
    <1m
  3. If your vacuum cleaner is cordless, remove the battery.
    • Hoover tells the owner of a cordless machine to remove the battery.
    <1m

Remove the filters

Estimated 4 min to 8 min

NOTEMost machines have a filter before the motor and a filter after the motor.
  1. Empty the bin, or replace the dust bag.
    • Miele tells you to discard a full dust bag.
    • Miele also tells you not to use a dust bag a second time.
    2m
  2. Open the first filter compartment.
    <1m
  3. Remove the filter from the compartment.
    • Hold the filter by a clean area.
    • Miele gives this instruction for its own filters.
    <1m
  4. Examine the machine for a second filter after the motor.
    • Hoover puts a second filter below the dirt cup on some models.
    • Miele puts its exhaust filter behind a grille in the dust compartment.
    1m
  5. Remove each other filter that the documentation names.
    <1m

Decide to wash the filter or to replace it

Estimated 3 min to 5 min

NOTEWater destroys a filter that the manufacturer does not call washable.
Replacement filter part number
Unverified — do not rely on this value
READ THE PART NUMBER FROM THE USED FILTER, OR CONSULT THE MANUFACTURER DOCUMENTATION FOR YOUR VACUUM CLEANER.

No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.

  1. Read the documentation again for each filter that you removed.
    1m
  2. If the documentation does not call a filter washable, do not wash it.
    • BISSELL says that its post-motor pleated filter is not washable.
    <1m
  3. Replace a filter that you cannot wash.
    • BISSELL tells you to replace this filter every three to six months.
    • Miele tells you to replace its motor protection filter with each new packet of dust bags.
    • Miele gives no wash procedure for any filter in its canister machines.
    1m
  4. Write the part number from the used filter before you discard it.
    1m

Wash a washable filter

Estimated 5 min to 7 min

Water temperature for washing a vacuum filter
Unverified — do not rely on this value
CONSULT THE MANUFACTURER DOCUMENTATION FOR YOUR VACUUM CLEANER. DYSON GIVES COLD WATER ONLY IN ITS UPRIGHT MANUAL AND WARM TAP WATER IN ITS CORDLESS MANUAL, SO THE ANSWER COMES FROM YOUR OWN MODEL.

No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.

Detergent for washing a vacuum filter
Unverified — do not rely on this value
CONSULT THE MANUFACTURER DOCUMENTATION FOR YOUR VACUUM CLEANER. DYSON REFUSES DETERGENT ON ITS FILTERS AND NO DOCUMENT THIS PAGE READ NAMES A DETERGENT THAT IS SAFE FOR A FILTER.

No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.

NOTICE

DO NOT PUT WATER ON A FILTER THAT YOUR DOCUMENTATION DOES NOT CALL WASHABLE.
BISSELL says that its post-motor pleated filter is not washable. Water destroys such a filter.

  1. Hold the filter above a bin.
    <1m
CAUTION

MOVE TO A PLACE WITH GOOD AIRFLOW BEFORE YOU TAP DUST FROM A FILTER.
Dust from a used filter can irritate your eyes and your airway.

  1. Tap the filter gently to remove the loose dust.
    • Tap on the plastic rim of the filter, not on the filter material.
    • Dyson gives this instruction for one of its own filters.
    <1m
  2. Use the water temperature that your documentation gives.
    • The upright manual from Dyson says that you must use cold water.
    • The cordless manual from Dyson says that you must use warm water from the tap.
    • These are two different machines with two different filters.
    <1m
  3. Put the filter below a flow of water until the water is clear.
    • Dyson tells you to run water through the open end and then over the outside.
    • Hoover tells you to put the filter under a water flow until the water is clear.
    3m
  4. Do not use a detergent unless your documentation permits it.
    • Dyson refuses detergent on its filters.
    • No document that this page read names a detergent that is safe for a filter.
    <1m
  5. Squeeze the excess water from the filter.
    • Dyson tells you to squeeze and twist the filter with both hands.
    <1m

Dry the filter fully

Estimated 2 min (partly estimated)

Drying time before a washed filter is installed
Unverified — do not rely on this value
CONSULT THE MANUFACTURER DOCUMENTATION FOR YOUR VACUUM CLEANER. DYSON AND HOOVER PUBLISH DIFFERENT MINIMUM TIMES FOR THEIR OWN MACHINES, AND THE STEP ABOVE GIVES BOTH WITH THEIR SOURCES.

No tier-1 source was found for this value. Take it from the documentation supplied with your equipment.

WARNING

DO NOT DRY A FILTER IN A TUMBLE DRYER, IN A MICROWAVE OVEN, OR NEAR A NAKED FLAME.
Dyson refuses all three methods. A fire can start.

  1. Put the filter on its open end in a warm place with good airflow.
    1m
  2. Let the filter become fully dry.
    • Dyson gives a minimum of 24 hours for its own filters.
    • Hoover gives a dry time of 24 to 36 hours for its own filters.
    • This page gives no time estimate for this step, because the two figures do not agree.
  3. Touch the filter to make sure that no moisture is in it.
    <1m

Install the filters

Estimated 5 min to 7 min

NOTEDo not start the machine before all its filters are in position.
NOTICE

INSTALL A FILTER ONLY WHEN IT IS FULLY DRY.
Dyson says that a damp filter can cause damage to the machine.

  1. Install each filter in its correct position.
    • The documentation gives the correct position and the correct order.
    2m
  2. Close each filter compartment.
    <1m
  3. Install the bin or the dust bag.
    <1m
  4. Connect the vacuum cleaner to the electrical supply.
    <1m
NOTICE

DO NOT OPERATE THE VACUUM CLEANER WITHOUT ALL ITS FILTERS AND ITS BIN IN POSITION.
Dyson and Miele both refuse this. Damage to the motor can occur.

  1. Set the vacuum cleaner to on.
    <1m
  2. Move the machine across a small area to make sure that the suction is correct.
    1m
  3. Write the date of this work with your documentation.
    • A date record tells you when the next service is due.
    1m

Terminology

This page uses one term for each item and holds it throughout, as ASD-STE100 requires. Equipment sellers and other guides use the names below for the same parts.

pre-motor filter
Also called: foam filter, sponge filter, primary filter, the washable one, filter before the motor, felt filter
post-motor filter
Also called: exhaust filter, HEPA filter, hepa, pleated filter, filter after the motor, the one at the back
vacuum cleaner
Also called: vacuum, vac, hoover, upright, stick vac, cordless vacuum
dust bag
Also called: vacuum bag, hoover bag, filter bag, the paper bag
bin
Also called: dirt cup, dust cup, dust container, canister, the clear bit that fills up

When to use a professional

If the cord or the plug of the vacuum cleaner has damage, do not use the machine. Speak to the manufacturer. Do not open the motor housing. Do not remove a part that your documentation does not name.

If the machine gives a smell of hot plastic, disconnect it and speak to the manufacturer. The suction can stay low after you install clean filters. Then examine the machine for a blockage. Dyson tells you to let the machine become cool after a thermal cut-out. Dyson gives one to two hours before you examine the filters. If no filter is available for your model, speak to the manufacturer.

Common questions

Can I wash my vacuum filter?

Only if the manufacturer says so for that exact filter, and the answer is different for different filters in the same machine. Dyson's UP19 upright manual says the machine has two washable filters and tells you how to wash them. BISSELL says of its 2038037 post-motor pleated filter, in its own parts documentation, that the filter is not washable and should be replaced every 3 to 6 months. Miele's canister operating instructions contain no washing procedure for any filter at all — every filter instruction in that document is a replacement instruction. A filter that is not meant to be washed is usually destroyed the first time it is, and it fails quietly, so you find out weeks later when the suction never came back.

How long does a vacuum filter take to dry?

Longer than people expect, and the manufacturers do not agree on the minimum. Dyson's UP19 manual says to leave the filter to dry completely for a minimum of 24 hours; its cordless manual says at least 24 hours in a well ventilated, warm place. Hoover's vacuum FAQ says to allow a dry time of 24-36 hours, and in a separate answer about clearing a clog says to let a rinsable filter dry for at least 24 hours. Because those are different figures from different makers for different machines, this page does not print one number as the drying time — read your own documentation. The one thing every source agrees on is that the filter must be completely dry before it goes back in.

Cold water or warm water?

Dyson says both, in two different manuals, for two different machines. The UP19 upright operating manual says 'Wash with cold water only. Do not use detergents.' The cordless stick manual published under Dyson's sv27 path says 'Wash with warm, running tap water'. Neither is wrong; they are instructions for different filters. That is exactly why this page will not average them into a recommendation, and why the water temperature specification above sends you to your own manual.

How often should I clean the filter?

Dyson says to wash the filters with cold water at least every month for the UP19, and at least once a month for the cordless machine, and adds that the filters may need washing more often if you vacuum fine dust. Hoover's vacuum FAQ says it is important to wash your filter every month, and that a second HEPA filter on some models should be cleaned every 2 months. BISSELL's figure for its non-washable post-motor filter is a replacement every 3 to 6 months. Miele's canister instructions tie its filter changes to the dust bags instead: the motor protection filter and the AirClean exhaust filter are replaced every time you start a new packet of bags, an AirClean Plus 50 after approximately one year, and a HEPA AirClean 50 when the TimeStrip indicator is completely red. Four makers, four schedules — use the one for your machine.

My vacuum smells bad. Is that the filter?

Often, yes: a filter that has been damp, or one loaded with fine dust and hair, is a common source. Wash it if your documentation says it is washable, dry it fully, and see whether the smell returns. If it does, the bin, the hose and the brush area are the next places to look. A smell of hot plastic is different and is not a filter-cleaning job — disconnect the machine and speak to the manufacturer.

Can I run the vacuum without the filter while it dries?

No. Dyson's safety instructions say not to use the machine without the clear bin and filter in place, and Miele's say not to use the vacuum cleaner without the FilterBag, dust compartment filter and exhaust filter in place. Running a machine with no filter sends the dust it just collected through the motor and back into the room. If you need the vacuum before the filter is dry, that is the argument for owning a second filter rather than for running it empty.

Do I have to buy the manufacturer's own filter?

The manufacturers say yes, and they have a commercial interest in saying so, which is worth knowing when you read it. Dyson says to use only parts recommended by Dyson and warns that other parts may invalidate your warranty. Miele says only FilterBags, filters and accessories bearing the 'ORIGINAL Miele' logo should be used, and that it cannot otherwise guarantee the safety of the product. This page does not test aftermarket filters and has no independent evidence either way, so it repeats what the makers say and leaves the choice to you. What is not a matter of opinion is fit: a filter that does not seal lets dirty air past it, whoever made it.

Sources

Every specification on this page is traced to one of these sources. Tier 1 is a manufacturer document, a published standard, or a government safety authority. See Standards for the full tiering rule.

  1. Tier 1Dyson UP19 Operating Manual (Instrucciones de seguridad)Dyson · accessed 2026-08-12 · re-verification due 2027-02-08
  2. Tier 1Dyson cordless stick vacuum User manual (document 400480-01)Dyson · accessed 2026-08-12 · re-verification due 2027-02-08
  3. Tier 1Post-Motor Filter for PowerForce® & PowerGroom® Vacuums (2038037)BISSELL Homecare, Inc. · accessed 2026-08-12 · re-verification due 2027-02-08 · automated link check returned 403 — verified by hand
  4. Tier 1Operating Instructions — Canister Vacuum Cleaner (M.-Nr. 11 787 241)Miele & Cie. KG / Miele USA · accessed 2026-08-12 · re-verification due 2027-02-08
  5. Tier 1Frequently Asked QuestionsHoover (Techtronic Industries) · accessed 2026-07-29 · re-verification due 2027-01-25

Revision history

Current version 1 · updated 2026-08-12 · next review due 2027-08-12

  1. v1 · 2026-08-12First draft. Built from four manufacturer documents read in full this session (two Dyson user manuals, BISSELL's own parts documentation for filter 2038037, and Miele's canister operating instructions) plus Hoover's vacuum FAQ, which was already in the registry and was re-read in full. Nothing is published as a verified specification: the wash-or-replace decision, the water temperature, the drying time and the interval are all per-model and the sources disagree, so all five specifications publish as an instruction to consult the manufacturer.

Corrections to this page are listed in the public corrections log. Reports that are credible and not yet verified are listed in the public errata register, and an open one renders above the step it concerns.

Comments and corrections

Found an error? A correction with a manufacturer source is applied and logged publicly. You can also write to corrections@fixchecklist.com.

Every step above carries its own report control, which tags the report with that step so a correction reaches the right place. For anything about the procedure as a whole — the order of the sections, a step that is missing, something that did not match your equipment — use this: report something about this whole procedure.

The comment system is not connected yet. Comments are stored in GitHub Discussions through Giscus, outside this site, so that a redeploy cannot destroy them.