I am so thankful for modern conveniences like dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, and vacuums. They make cleaning so much easier. But even these machines that are designed to clean need a little cleaning themselves from time to time. Today I am going to show you how to clean a Dyson vacuum for general maintenance, and how to deep clean it, including the filters and canister.

This post contains affiliate links. Your cost is the same, but a portion of your purchase will go to support this site and help keep the content free. Please read my full disclosure policy here.

How to Clean a Dyson Vacuum

Supplies needed:

• Dyson Vacuum
• Microfiber Cloths
• Mild Detergent
• Rubbing Alcohol
• Seam Ripper or Small Scissors
• Flathead Screwdriver
• Magic Eraser
• Air Compressor or Compressed Air

Disclaimer: Please read all manufacturer’s instructions before cleaning your particular vacuum. Not following instructions can possibly void the warranty for your vacuum. I have done all the below steps without any harm to my vacuum but follow these instructions at your own risk. You can find helpful tips for your particular Dyson at https://www.dyson.com/support.

General Maintenance

I usually follow all these general maintenance cleaning tips every 3 months.

First things first. Always start by unplugging your machine. In the picture, my vacuum doesn’t look too dirty, but as we take it apart you will see inside it is pretty gross.

Empty the canister into the trash can.

Note: I always try to empty the canister when it gets about half full. 

Next, remove the canister from the cyclone. Mine has a little button to push near the top.

Clean out any dirt, dust, hair, or debris that is on the cyclone and dispose of in the trash.

Rinse the canister in cold water.

Note: I use some Basic H and a microfiber cloth to wash mine out when I do my deep cleaning. Dyson does say not to use any kind of detergent on the canister, but I haven’t found any problems with doing this.

Remove all the filters on your vacuum. I have a filter A and a filter B. Filter A is in the side housing. You simply remove the housing and pop out the filter.

Filter B is located under where the canister sits. Open the lid and take out the filter.

Note: Filters should be washed every 3 months according to my manual. Only use cold water.

Filter A consists of two parts – a soft filter and another filter with a plastic housing. For the soft filter simply wash under cold water until it runs clear. It helps to run it under the cold water, squeeze it out, and repeat this process on both sides of the filter.

For the other part of the filter – rinse under cold water, turn it over and shake it out. Do this until the water runs clear.

For Filter B, you need to run it under cold water, turn it over, and tap out the water. Repeat this 10 times.

Allow everything to dry for at least 24 hours. I usually place everything out in the sun on my back porch. If you live in a humid climate you may want to allow 48 hours for all the filters to dry. If you don’t dry everything thoroughly you will end up with a mildew smell in your machine.

Wipe down the outside of your vacuum with a damp microfiber cloth.

Once everything is thoroughly dry, replace the filters and canister to their original positions.

Deep Cleaning

About every 6 months to a year I give my Dyson a thorough deep cleaning. Start by following all the steps above for general maintenance. Now, we are going to go a little further and take apart more of the vacuum.

Remove the wand from the hose. Mine has a little button to push on the side.

Next, remove the hose from the machine. Again, there is a spot where I can push a little lever in to release the hose.

I rinse these out with cold water in the tub or shower.

Mine has a little piece at the bottom on the side where the u-bend connects. Take this part out.

Also, remove the plastic u-bend.

I wash these pieces with cold water and a microfiber cloth in the sink.

Also, wash any attachments you may have for your vacuum. I use a bit of mild detergent and a microfiber cloth to scrub them off. Be sure to remove any excess hair or strings before washing.

Turn the vacuum over and using a flat head screwdriver remove the soleplate covering the brushbar. Use a seam ripper or pair of small scissors to remove any hair or strings that are wrapped around the brushbar. This is a good time to inspect your belt for any signs of wear. Wipe off the brushbar with a damp microfiber cloth and replace the soleplate.

Any part that touches the floor – the soleplate, the wheels, and any other parts of the vacuum on the bottom get wiped down with rubbing alcohol to sanitize them.

The next part should be done outside. We have an air compressor, so this was the easiest way to clean out the cyclone part of the vacuum. If you don’t have a compressor, you could probably use a hair dryer or a can of compressed air. Blow out all the dust and dirt.

Wipe off the outside of the cyclone with a damp microfiber cloth.

I usually try to get off any extra scuff marks on the outside of the vacuum as well. A Magic Eraser is the perfect tool for the job. This is purely cosmetic, but since I only do this once or twice a year, I like to do this extra little step.

Once everything is completely dry – again wait at least 24 -48 hours – put everything back on your vacuum, making sure everything is seated correctly.

Washing the filters regularly and doing a yearly deep clean will keep your machine running at top performance for years to come. I have had my Dyson for at least 4 years and it works just as well as the day we bought it.

You may also like:

• Project Organize: Quick Vacuum the Floor
• Clean Washer and Dryer
• Clean Dishwasher