How to Clean Your Dyson Animal Vacuum Cyclone Component

Clean Your Dyson Animal Vacuum Cyclone Component

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The Dyson Animal is the best vacuum out there to clean carpeted or uncarpeted homes. It's intended for pet owners who have a lot of hair to pick up, but works for all types of vacuuming. Sometimes your purple Dyson Animal vacuum starts to smell strongly of dust or your pet and lose a little suction. This means it's time to rinse out its cyclone component. The built-in plastic cyclone mechanism within the clear canister always provides great suction, as long as you maintain it with a thorough rinsing every three to five uses. It's a simple process, but allow about two days for the filter to thoroughly dry before re-inserting it in the vacuum.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Dyson Animal Vacuum
Sink with running water

Step1

To clean the cyclone component, remove the clear bin and cyclone component, just as if you were emptying a canister of dirt.

Step2

Make sure the bin is empty, and separate it from the upper cyclone component.

Step3

In a large sink, run lukewarm water over the entire grid of small filtering holes, spinning the unit to allow rinsing of each section of holes until the water runs clear.

Step4

Next, spray or pour water into the main hole at one end of the unit, pour it out and repeat until the water runs clear.

Step5

To make sure you've gotten everything, fill the unit again part way, cover the large hole with one hand, and gently shake the unit to agitate water inside the cyclone. This rinses any last patches of dust or dirt from the interior. Pour it out and repeat until the water runs clear.

Tips & Warnings

Check out http://www.Dyson.com to see this process done on your particular model, and learn more about how to keep your Dyson in perfect sucking shape.
Some parts of your Dyson's system should never get wet. See your user's manual for all instructions on your particular model.

Comments

marsh10292 said

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on 7/23/2008 I am strongly against this idea!!!!! I tried this and now my Dyson smells like a mouse went up inside the canister and died!!! I would rather live with the dog odor!!! My dyson is now having to be out in the garage instead of the linen closet. :-( My towels and sheets smelled like dead animal. I suggest trying the air way instead so you won't get the smell. Know I am looking for suggestions on how to get rid of this odor!!!

Snugglej said

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on 6/8/2008 The dyson dc14 operators manual actually states what she is saying. It does recommend cleaning the filter with water (cold from the instructions). It worked well for us, we have two cats and they both shed like crazy after cleaning the dyson actually worked alot better.

If you want to know where I double checked it's at dyson website under dc14 and then the manual is dc14_opmanual_usa(2007).pdf page 7.

chrispurs1 said

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on 9/29/2007 Hi.
You are all doing it completely wrong.
The dyson helpline rep is correct in what she says.
I am a vacuum cleaner service engineer & see lots of dyson machines that have problems with the vortex due to washing.
We use a much easier & quicker way to clean them that does not need water or airline (infact using an air line can clog the holes in vortex tube far worse than they allready were)
The method we use takes less than 30 mins & machine is ready to go no waiting for it to dry.
for more details go to
http://dysonmanuals.inc.io/

Sassafrass said

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on 9/11/2007 Hi Kyalalanaeh,

I followed this procedure successfully and found it the only way to get rid of the strong "wet dog" smell my vaccuum began to emit after about 7 uses. I saw the 'mud' you mentioned, but with continued rinsing until the water ran clear and clean, it all came out. How else can I clean this component? I don't have compressed air handy...

kylalanaeh said

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on 8/14/2007 I am a Dyson helpline representative. In no way should you ever wash the cyclone in water. This could actually ruin the vacuum cleaner. The proper way to clean the cyclone out would be to:
1. Seperate the clear bin from the Cyclone.
2. You can wash the clear bin seperately. Make sure its fully dry before you put it back on the vacuum cleaner.
3. In order to clean the cyclone, you would first use either compressed air, blow dryer (on the cool setting), or by using a shop vac to blow the cyclone

If you put water inside of the cyclone, this could turn the dirt inside of it into mud. And if it isn't fully dry before you power the vacuum cleaner on, the moisture could possibly rush to the motor causing your vacuum cleaner to shut down. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the Dyson helpline, and a customer service rep will be more than happy to assist you.

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