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Vacuums are a marvelous invention that allows us to clean the floors of our homes without having to bend down, and without having to beat out big heavy carpets to get the dirt out. Instead, we can just roll the vacuum across the floor and let it deal with the dirt instead.
The problem is that all that dirt doesn’t just disappear. It gets sucked up into the vacuum. And although there is a vacuum cup or bag which is designed to hold the dirt, sometimes the dust, dirt, and debris can get into other parts of the vacuum. That’s when the trouble starts.
In order to clean the vacuum, and remove any clogged-up debris or gatherings of dust, every once in a while you’ll need to take your vacuum apart and give it a good clean. The problem is, how do you take a vacuum apart in a way that doesn’t break the vacuum forever?
That’s where we come in. There are three main places that you will need to take apart to give it a clean; the dust canister, the filters, and the rotating brush. We’ll take you through each one below so that you can have your vacuum clean and together again in no time.
The main thing to remember, for taking apart any of the vacuum, is to make sure that it is turned off and unplugged before you start. You don’t want to get that part wrong!
Okay so this is both the simplest part to clean, and the one that you need to do most regularly. Ideally, you should empty the dust canister after each use of the vacuum. It means that you aren’t leaving dust sitting in there, so you remove the chance of it settling in and clogging up the vacuum.
It also means that it will always be working at maximum efficiency, and you won’t need to stop just to empty the bin halfway through. Even if you don’t do it every time, make sure you never let it reach beyond the “Max Fill” line. It’s best to check before you vacuum again, just to make sure that it isn’t going to get too full.
With a Shark Professional Vacuum, you will be able to locate the dust canister on the main body of the vacuum, above the head which sits on the floor. You can then press a simple button to release the dust cup. Make sure to take it to the trash can and hold it over before you press the release button on the canister.
Once you have emptied all of the debris from the cup, you can give it a few taps and inspect it to make sure that it’s empty. Then you should give the canister a quick wipe with an old piece of a soft cloth. After that, you can return it to the vacuum and click it back into place.
Filters are the part of the vacuum that traps nasty bits, such as allergens or more harmful types of dust. They are important for keeping your air cleaner. If your vacuum starts to have a strange smell, it is an indicator that the filters need cleaning.
Other indicators that you need to start cleaning the filters include when there is reduced suction, no suction, or restricted airflow. This is often indicated by noting that the vacuum has stopped picking up as much dirt as it used to.
A quick way to remedy this situation is to take the filter out each time that you empty the dust canister. Having removed the dust canister, the filter will be just underneath and can be easily lifted out. Remove the filter and then tap it over the trash can, to release any debris that has been trapped there.
If you do this every time then you shouldn’t have to clean it too often, but it will still need doing sometimes.
There are two types of filters that work in a Shark Professional Vacuum. It could either be a regular filter, which will tend to be felt or rubber, or it could be a HEPA filter. We’ll take you through both types, so that you’re covered regardless of which filter your Shark Professional vacuum has.
A felt filter, or pre-motor foam filter, needs to be rinsed at least every three months. It doesn’t need more than simple water to be rinsed clean. Make sure that you leave them to dry before putting them back in, under the dust canister.
The HEPA filter is recommended, as it catches over 99% of harmful dust and allergens. They can also be rinsed less often, although still at least once a year. As with the felt filters, it is under the dust canister, and you just need to press the tab on top of the filter cover, lift the cover, and then lift out the filter.
It can be dropped in a bucket of clean water or run under the top. Like the felt filter, it doesn’t need any soap. After you have left it to dry, reinstall it by reversing the previous steps.
Related Reading: 4 Reasons Why Your Vacuum Cleaner is Smelling Bad?
With some vacuums, you would determine that the rotating brush is clogged due to it no longer working fully. For the Shark Professional vacuums, there is an indicator light that will turn red to let you know.
Once you have unplugged the vacuum, you can press the button on the side, where the body of the vacuum meets the brush head, by the floor. From there you can lift the vacuum body and set it aside, then turn the rotating brush face up.
You will need a screwdriver (or if push comes to shove, a coin should do) to remove the screws around the brush head. Once you have removed the cover, you will reach the rotating brush. The most likely thing to have clogged it is hair. The best way to remove the hair, or other dirt, is to cut it out with scissors.
Take the cutting carefully though, as you don’t want to cut the brush bristles. Once the rotating brush looks clean of all debris and hair, you can place the cover back and re-screw it in. Again, reverse the previous steps to reinstall it.
So, there you have it. Taking apart a Shark Professional Vacuum isn’t too arduous, be it Navigator or Rotator Lift-Away model. Most of the parts will lift out with the simple press of a button. To get into the trickier parts, a screwdriver is usually all that is needed.
If you need to get to parts like the engine or electrics, we suggest that a professional might be a good option unless you know what you’re doing, to make sure that you don’t accidentally cause irreparable damage. But if it’s cleaning that you need to do, you should now be in a good place to take apart all the necessary sections.
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