How to Find a Lost Item in a Vacuum Cleaner Bag

Have you ever vacuumed up an item that was so precious you were moved to open up the vacuum cleaner bag and look for it? Well, I vacuumed up an amethyst earring that had apparently rolled off of the dresser when the container it was in fell over. (Teach me not to pile things on the dresser.) So, I had to go through the dreaded bag. And yes, it was a nasty, horrible chore but with a few precautions my search was thorough, safe, and relatively easy to clean up afterwards.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A precious item you just sucked up in the vacuum. It is going be disgusting, and probably take awhile so consider whether that Lego is worth it.
• Scissors
• A large bowl
• A pitcher of water
• Gloves, either latex or rubber.
• Plastic bags. I used double-bagged grocery bags.
• A clean, wipable work surface near a sink.
• A collander in the sink.
• Paper towels and a sponge

1. Get your work area ready. Pour some water in your bowl, put on the latex or rubber gloves. The double-bagged grocery bags should be wide open next to your bowl of water.
2. Carefully snip off the top of the bag with scissors.
3. Grab a small hunk of gray, dusty goo. Dunk it in the water, then rub it between your fingers, pulling sections apart if it is matted until you can see everything. The water acts in two ways: first it wets everything down so you can handle the gunk better without your allergies going nuts. Also, the heavier items will dislodge and fall to the bottom of the bowl even if you miss them.
4. Throw the piece of gone through goo in the open, double-bagged, grocery bag.
5. Repeat over and over again until you have done the entire bag. You may have to pause and go through the dregs in your water, you may also have to add more water from your pitcher. The dust soaks it up.
6. After your bag is done, cut or rip it in half. Rinse off the paper in your water to make sure the item isn't clinging to the side. Discard in the grocery bag.
7. Go through the dregs of your water one last time. Then pour the water into the colander in the sink. The dust is so fine, you may have to slosh it around to get it to drain.
8. Systematically examine the muck in the bottom of the colander, before wiping it up with a paper towel.
9. Clean up, wipe the counter, throw away garbage, and take off your gloves. You now have a collection that includes not only your object, but several other interesting things you had no idea were in the vacuum.

Tips & Warnings

• The hardest part about this job is to keep your allergies from going nuts. A mask is great if you have one. But if you don't, the water will make it bareable and you may want to keep a wet paper towel by your side to put over your nose as needed. For a severe sneezing fit, check out my article How to stop an Allergic Sneezing Fit Without Medication (see resources).
• This will take longer than you think it will, especially if your bag is full and your item is tiny. Plan for 1-1 1/2 uninterrupted hours. This is not something you can put down or walk away from.
• Do not skip the gloves. Not only will you not want to handle the muck with your bare hands, but there are many sharp things such as broken glass, staples, tiny tacks etc. that could actually harm you.