While vacuum cleaners can be excellent machines for cleaning around the home, even now in modern times they don’t always work perfectly.
Dirt, debris, and hair can frequently get trapped in different parts of the vacuum, including within the vacuum’s hose.
When too much dirt and hair clots together within the vacuum hose, this can cause a blockage, and a clogged hose can prevent further dirt and debris from being sucked up by the vacuum. It’s quite a common problem with vacuum cleaners.
However, I can assure you that there’s no need to panic about this, and the issue can be resolved fairly quickly and easily, once you know how to clean a vacuum hose and remove any blockages that may form inside.
In this article, we’re going to describe some of the different ways that you clean a vacuum hose.
And by the end of the article, you should be feeling confident of handling the situation, anytime you suspect a blockage forming in the vacuum hose in the future.
This way and with a few more tips, you should always have a fully functioning vacuum cleaner.
Here goes!
Method One – Blow The Dirt Away
The first method is one of the simplest methods of cleaning a vacuum hose. All you have to do is simply detach the hose from the vacuum cleaner itself, and blow it out with your mouth.
This works because when you blow air into the hose, all the dirt and debris will be blown away from the hose. It’s as simple as that!
This may not sound like the right way to clean a vacuum hose properly, but it’s one of the easiest, quickest and most effective ways.
This may be a potential method to use when you’ve got a small amount of debris or dirt stuck in the vacuum hose.
But if you want to make sure that you clear out every last bit of dirt and debris, then you’ll probably want to try another method instead.
Method Two – Brush Attachment
If you want to ensure that you completely remove any dirt or debris that might be stuck in the vacuum hose, then you could also consider using a vacuum cleaner brush attachment.
This is something that many people often overlook when cleaning their hoses, but it really does help to get rid of any stubborn dirt and debris that might be stuck inside.
You can use the attachment to reach into the hose and dislodge any items that are stuck inside, and then you can simply blow them out with your mouth. You can find these attachments at most major retailers, such as Amazon.
Method Three – Scooping
Another way to remove any debris that might be stuck within the vacuum cleaner hose would be to use an old toothbrush or spoon. Simply hold the end, and try to scoop up the blockage, and slowly pull it through.
However, there’s only so far that you can reach something as small as a spoon down a vacuum cleaner hose, so if you feel that you need something a little longer, you could try using a shower curtain rod.
It’s perfect for reaching into the vacuum hose and dislodging anything that might be stuck inside, and it’s also ideal for getting things like lint and dust from other parts of the vacuum cleaner itself.
The problem with using a shower curtain rod (or a wire hanger or a broom handle), however, is that it doesn’t scoop as easily as an actual spoon, but it can be used to break up the blockage, and perhaps pull some of the blockage out.
Method Four – With The Vacuum Cleaner Bag
If you still haven’t managed to get rid of all the dirt and dust from the vacuum hose, then you might want to look at using the vacuum cleaner bag.
Vacuum bags are designed to trap any dirt and debris that gets sucked into the vacuum cleaner during vacuuming, and they’re perfect for getting rid of any stubborn bits of dirt and debris that you can’t seem to dislodge.
All you have to do is open up the bag, and place it over the end of the hose. Then, you can suck the bag down towards the floor to catch any remaining dirt and debris.
After that, you can dispose of the bag, and you’ll be ready to continue using the vacuum again.
Method Five – Vacuum Cleaner Brush
Finally, if none of the above methods work, then you might want to try using a vacuum cleaner brush. Just like the other methods mentioned here, this is another tool that you can use to remove any stubborn dirt and debris from the hose.
Simply attach the brush to the end of the hose, and then turn on the vacuum cleaner. As long as there’s enough suction available, the brush should be able to pick up any debris that might be trapped within the hose.
Once you’ve removed all the debris, you can wash out the brush, and you’ll be back in business.
Method Six – With Dish Soap Or Baking Soda
Alternatively, rather than dealing with a clogged vacuum hose, you may be dealing with a smelly vacuum hose. In which case, you’ll want to try a different method entirely.
Remove the hose from the vacuum cleaner, take your bath, and send hot water, or at least warm water through the vacuum hose with either some dish soap, or better yet, with some baking soda.
You can then proceed to clean the vacuum cleaner hose with a bottle cleaning brush.
Wrap Up
So, there we have 5 different ways to clean out a vacuum hose.
The basic idea is first to lessen any blockage by mechanical means, such as by trying to scoop out as much of the blockage as you can.
And then, if there remains any dirt and debris within the vacuum hose still, you should then be able to suck it up by putting the parts back together and switching the vacuum on.
If, once you have tried all 5 methods, the vacuum cleaner still does not appear to be sucking up dirt and debris effectively, it may be that the real problem is not a clogged vacuum hose, but a lack of suction power.
If the problem is a blockage in the vacuum hose, then at least one of the methods described above should work for you.
