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The Ups and Downs of Vacuum Cleaner Bags

When it comes to vacuum cleaner maintenance, the first thing you should look at is your vacuum cleaner bags. If your vacuum cleaner breaks down, chances are that the bag is the problem. Depending on what type of vacuum cleaner you have, when solid pieces enter the machine they can cause the bag to split open or even get stuck in the motor. This is why it is very important that you know what your vacuum cleaner can and can't handle as well as how to fix it when it has had too much.

Vacuum cleaner bags come in two types, each with its own advantages. The paper bags are cheaper and easier to find, sold in any supermarket as well as stores that specialize in selling vacuum cleaners. They last for several months after which you simply take out the bag from the cleaner and insert a new one. The downside is that the bags tear easily; a shard of glass can be enough to do the trick, and unless your vacuum cleaner stores the bag away from the motor you run the risk of breaking your machine by allowing the dust to seep in. The second type is made of cloth and is reusable. These bags are much more expensive but since you only need to buy one, this is the type I would recommend. If the bag is full you simply unhook it and dump the dust in your trash can. They are much harder to tear than their paper counterparts but are usually not sold at your local market.

Like any machine, vacuum cleaners can break down unexpectedly, but you don't always need to take it in to get it repaired. Sometimes the reason and solution for the break is easy, like the bag tearing or an object being stuck in the hose. Start by cleaning out your bag or replacing it if you use paper ones. If it is a bagless vacuum, clean your filters with water and let them dry. If this doesn't solve the problem it becomes time to take your vacuum cleaner to the store.

If the idea of using vacuum cleaner bags does not appeal to you, you can always buy a bagless vacuum cleaner. These machines are high maintenance since they require regular cleaning of the filters and scooping the dust out of the cleaner with a cup. They clog much more easily as well, which is not convenient if your schedule is hectic and you don't want to worry about whether your vacuum cleaner is going to spew out dust in a few days.