Have you ever tried to change a vacuum cleaner bag?  By the time you're finished changing the bag, you can be left with a bigger mess than you started with!  That's why a bagless vacuum cleaner can be such a blessing to homemakers.

Vacuum cleaners have been around since 1901, but it wasn't until 1982 that a British inventor by the name of James Dyson developed a bagless vacuum cleaner.   Frustrated with his messy home vacuum, Dyson began working on a bagless vacuum in the 1970s.  After working on 5,000 prototypes, he was finally able to put his design skills into creating a better vacuum cleaner.  Consumers love their bagless vacuums, even though they do require a little extra maintenance.

Filter

There's something satisfying about seeing all of the dust that accumulates in a vacuum canister, because you know that it's no longer coating your floors or floating around in the room.  A bagless vacuum cleaner can be extremely effective for cleaning away this dust, but you need to keep the filter clean.

Most bagless vacuum cleaner manufacturers recommend cleaning the filter under running water every few months.  But some users, particularly those with household pets, will clean their filters more frequently.  Small particles like pet dander and powdered carpet refreshers can cause the filter to clog, and should be rinsed away once or twice a month.

Many manufacturers claim that their filters will last the lifetime of the vacuum, however some will indeed need to be replaced.  If the filter is washed frequently, it can break down ever time.  Replacement filters are available where vacuums are purchased or online, and will usually cost from twenty to fifty dollars.

The chamber that holds the dustbin has tiny crevices that can also accumulate dust.  Open the canister area and clean it with a feather duster to keep the vacuum running efficiently.

Dustbin

A good quality bagless vacuum cleaner will take in a lot of dust and before you know it, the dustbin can get packed.  If you empty the bin regularly, you can keep the dust from becoming so packed that it must be scraped out.  Some manufacturers have devised an easy way to empty the bin.  With an opening at the bottom, you can simply hold the dustbin over the trashcan and release the accumulated dust through the bottom of the bin.

Beater Bar

Vacuum cleaner beater bars are notorious for becoming tangled with strings and long hairs.  If you don't keep it clean, the beater bar can lock up, make a dreadful noise and even suffer irreversible damage.  Shop around and choose a model with a beater bar that's easy to remove and clean.  While you have the beater bar off, look for wear on the belt. If the belt appears to be worn, you can easily order a replacement belt and replace it yourself. It should be a crime for manufacturers to produce vacuums that are so difficult for the consumer to replace belts that it is easier, or cheaper, to throw them into landfill sites rather than repair them. Support companies that make products that are easily maintained or repairable!

A bagless vacuum offers great performance and modern convenience.  It's the versatile, easy-to-clean and low-maintenance way to keep your house cleaner with a little less effort.