Thread Number: 31413  /  Tag: 50s/60s/70s Vacuum Cleaners
Are old vacuums really that dirty?
[Down to Last]

Vacuumland's exclusive eBay Watch:
scroll >>> for more items --- [As an eBay Partner, eBay may compensate vacuumland.org if you make a purchase using any link to eBay on this page]
Post# 347303   3/12/2016 at 21:31 (2,938 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)        

vacuumlad1650's profile picture
Ive had this conversation with mother all the time. i dont think they are. Your thoughts?

Post# 347304 , Reply# 1   3/12/2016 at 21:49 (2,938 days old) by HooverWhoBetter ()        

What exaclty do you mean? A lot of them that are second hand tend to be filthy as they have usually been through the mill and are pretty manky.

Not sure what you mean other that that.


Post# 347306 , Reply# 2   3/12/2016 at 22:12 (2,938 days old) by VintageFox (California)        

vintagefox's profile picture
I'm not sure what you mean but I'll list a few statements.
Funny thing is, some old cleaners clean better than the newer chinese 12 amp vacuums that people buy and toss 2 years later.

The process of manufacturing something is always dirty. Be it batteries or the process of getting raw material for producing electric generator windmills.

Older machines usually use a lot less amps to run, so they're actually greener to use. Also using an old vacuum keeps it from ending up in the landfill.

The last thing and probably what you're referring to is the use of a shake out bag. Those are indeed kind of dirty, since some dust gets thrown back into the air. Though this is very minor considering if the user empties it out after each use. (As per some shake out bag machines recommend you do so)
Using a paper bag does help keep the dust level down, not to mention makes it easier to clean out the bag. As for the allergic type, one can use a HEPA bag which keeps more dust and junk out.

But in reality an old machine isn't THAT dirty. Modern bagless vacuums still unleash a dust cloud into the air whenever its emptied into a trash can.
Some newer "clean air" vacs have a butt ton of filters to replace, which isn't fun doing so considering that they're chock full of dust and other contaminates. Not to mention, tossing out these filters creates more unnecessary waste compared to simply tossing out a paper bag into the trash.

That's just my opinion on it really. Others are more than welcome to think otherwise.

-Alex


Post# 347307 , Reply# 3   3/12/2016 at 22:19 (2,938 days old) by gottahaveahoove (Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640)        
Alex,

gottahaveahoove's profile picture

No one else could have stated that better.

  It also depends on HOW you CARE for your appliance.


Post# 347308 , Reply# 4   3/12/2016 at 22:19 (2,938 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)        

vacuumlad1650's profile picture
Should have clarified. not physically dirty, but dirty or unhealthy to use? Mother thinks they spew dust. Obviously she isnt the one to empty the Central Vacuum

Post# 347311 , Reply# 5   3/12/2016 at 22:37 (2,938 days old) by VintageFox (California)        

vintagefox's profile picture
I pretty much summed it up. No not really. If anything, sweeping a dirty floor is much worse. (launching dust up into the air and hardly cleaning the floor) The only spewing of dust that occurs is when you toss the old paper bag into the trash can and nothing more. Which in reality isn't harmful at all.

A little dust isn't harmful, that's what immune systems are for!


Post# 347322 , Reply# 6   3/12/2016 at 23:18 (2,938 days old) by speedqueen (Harrison Twp MI)        
Buy her a Dirt Devil...

...and show her how much escapes the high efficiency cyclone and then promptly blows out around the seal before it ever hits the foam and HEPA filters.

If that doesn't settle it, arguing is futile.


Post# 347348 , Reply# 7   3/13/2016 at 05:19 (2,938 days old) by fantomfan57 (Central Texas)        
Alex, Reply #2 & John, Reply #3

Alex, I like your response. Very well written.

John, that is very true, care is very important.
I had heard the phrase "tools of the trade" when I was young. Paternal Grandparent was a house painter, he taught my dad to take care of his tools or he would not make a living. I wonder, has this ceased to be instilled in younger generations?


Post# 347350 , Reply# 8   3/13/2016 at 06:20 (2,938 days old) by pr-21 (Middletown, OH)        

pr-21's profile picture
Depends on how well you sanitize them before using. I sanitize with Pinesol, using qtips, microfiber towels, paper towels, then I wipe down with windex. Most of my vintage machines, that I acquired or had, I was lucky enough to find nos brushes or brush rolls for the machines. They can be used for daily drivers and I do sometimes. I have a Eureka Model 260, which I had a two speed 6 amp motor put in along with a brand new two speed switch. One of my favorites.

  View Full Size
Post# 347357 , Reply# 9   3/13/2016 at 07:17 (2,938 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)        

suckolux's profile picture
I am guessing she is referring to a dusty smell when you run your Lux? I had that too! Pre-motor filter and the hepa cloth bags was gone! My vac shop said the fans get very dirty, that would stop it. He was wrong on that anyway, the change in filter/ bag did it. I don't think its anything more than smell really, never have noticed dust before.

Post# 347358 , Reply# 10   3/13/2016 at 07:32 (2,938 days old) by vacerator (Macomb Michigan)        
a vacuum

can be cleaned after several uses to keep it clean.
It also prolongs it's life and effectiveness.


Post# 347364 , Reply# 11   3/13/2016 at 07:47 (2,938 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)        

vacuumlad1650's profile picture
I dont have any HEPA in the budget for my Electrolux's. The Kenmore's all got new HEPA filters but mother doesnt like my Kenmore Vacuums.
Whanever I buy a vacuum, i clean it off. They each get serviced in the shop twice a year, and i wipe the bag compartments when I change a bag


Post# 347365 , Reply# 12   3/13/2016 at 07:50 (2,938 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)        

suckolux's profile picture
True Andy, they are a bit pricey but they do seem to last a lot longer.Again, maybe its just a smell and not actually dirtier or dusty

Post# 347370 , Reply# 13   3/13/2016 at 08:08 (2,938 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)        

vacuumlad1650's profile picture
I cant forget that my vacuums sit a long time with the same bag in them and those bags smell bad really quick

Post# 347372 , Reply# 14   3/13/2016 at 08:11 (2,938 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)        

suckolux's profile picture
Great point! Bacteria grow in the bag ? A guess.Not sure what to do for that. I sometimes put some of the Downy Upstopbables in a partial filled bag if its sitting, but then its just another smell.

Post# 347374 , Reply# 15   3/13/2016 at 08:25 (2,938 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)        

suckolux's profile picture
Perhaps a pain? What about using one bag and moving it to the machine you want to use? that would keep the age of dirt in the bag down? A pain I know.

Post# 347376 , Reply# 16   3/13/2016 at 08:28 (2,938 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)        

vacuumlad1650's profile picture
I might try that when my bags all fill up. Right now all the Electrolux bags are hardly full (Except the L. Been using it to clean out my shop in the basement)

Post# 347377 , Reply# 17   3/13/2016 at 08:30 (2,938 days old) by suckolux (Yuba City, CA)        

suckolux's profile picture
Never know till you try! No cost experiment.

Post# 347379 , Reply# 18   3/13/2016 at 08:37 (2,938 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2)        

sebo_fan's profile picture
It depends on what you mean "old"

Old as in a vintage vacuum cleaner?

or New as in a modern vacuum cleaner built a few years ago?

But really I think all vacuums are dirty when you think about it. No matter how many times you might clean out the bag or wash the soft bag if you have a vintage upright, very few actual owners will bother to look past the brush roll. Unless of course it is a collector who can strip everything back and clear the airways that get clogged with dirt that smells.

Its a good question though - it often reminds me of washing machines or ovens - people rely so much on stay clean linings but very few remove the linings and check what's behind, or remove general viewable muck and grime.

Washing machine rubber linings at the door entry for example are another issue - few check what lies underneath until it starts to smell bad.


Post# 347410 , Reply# 19   3/13/2016 at 14:43 (2,937 days old) by vacerator (Macomb Michigan)        
absolutely Sebo!

When pet hair sits in a vacuum, the bacteria grows and smells awfull.
One I have I had to tear down and disinfect the area below the top of the motor.
It is made with a three part cylinder type. Shaped like a triangular canned ham.
The lid, the bag chamber and upper motor, and a lower shell, which is the bottom of the cleaner holding the cord reel and lower motor.
Moldy front load washer gaskets are also nasty.
Clean with bleach occasionally, and leave the door open until it is dry.


Post# 347418 , Reply# 20   3/13/2016 at 14:58 (2,937 days old) by cb123 (Mobile, Al.)        

cb123's profile picture

Does it look like these smell...I think not. It's all about how clean you are and that makes all the difference in the world.


  View Full Size
Post# 347435 , Reply# 21   3/13/2016 at 17:07 (2,937 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)        

human's profile picture
My vacuums were a mixed bag but all are clean now. None ever had any odors.

Both of my Electrolux canisters are clean as a whistle inside and were when I got them. One of my Royal 501 handhelds--the older one, ironically--came to me clean but the other one was encrusted with pet hair though had no odors. I ended up vacuuming the bag out with my Super J and now use paper bag liners with both machines.

My Kirbys are a different story. The first Gsix--the one I rescued from a dumpster--was encrusted with that carpet fresh crap and required some love with a wire brush. The second one, which I bought last spring, was clean as a whistle. I think the former owner mainly used it with the hose. The G5, my 'FrankenKirby', was a mess when I got it. The thing had apparently been used without an inner filter bag and the outer cloth bag appeared to be thoroughly impregnated with dry wall dust. It was in such bad shape that I just ended up replacing the entire outer bag assembly with a pristine one from an Ultimate G. In the year I've had it, the G5 has needed much more love than any of my others and I've had to sink way too much money into it but she's functionally right as rain and has a unique burgundy and gray color scheme.


Post# 347456 , Reply# 22   3/13/2016 at 18:34 (2,937 days old) by Mike81 ()        
paper vs fleece bags

My experience is that just putting good fleece bag in the old vacuum makes a huge difference. I have done it to all of my vacuums. Of course bag has to have good seal. Otherwise it's pointless. My latest experiment was vacuuming a bit of flour with the paper bag and it caused some flour to escape to the bag compartment. Same test with the fleece bag and bag compartment stayed spotless. It doesn't keep the odors away, but filtration is hugely better than with the paper bags.

  View Full Size
Post# 347494 , Reply# 23   3/14/2016 at 00:03 (2,937 days old) by dartman (Portland OR)        

I use a older but not antique Starks/Royal 4650 and it is supposed to be one of the first HEPA filter types out. I don't notice any dust escaping and it cleans really well with a excellent power head. My earlier 413 power tank was the same as long as the hose wasn't shot and full of holes.
We had a good Kenmore canister that the plastic body was so cracked up it shot dust out all over. It would have been a great machine I think if everything wasn't broken. Replaced it with the first Royal I bought as a almost new trade in with everything from a Kirby sales man after I couldn't afford that Kirby about 90 for 200.


Post# 348224 , Reply# 24   3/22/2016 at 02:36 (2,929 days old) by MPN ()        
Holy Crud Batman ! ! !

After putting together the Royal Metal Upright recently given me, I just tossed a black plastic Dirt Devil whose housing was a static-cling anode. When changing the bag, you could literally see dust kicked up from the brush roller being zapped to the plastic housing like a magnet. I hated it because it took 5-minutes to clean the housing prior to putting it away . . .

Post# 348229 , Reply# 25   3/22/2016 at 07:42 (2,929 days old) by jodan3399 (Brownsville, PA)        

Allergies and asthma don't lie...I can't stand most of the newer bagless creatures they offer now.

Most spew dust if you don't keep the filters impeccability clean or get the bin fitted on the seal just right, and just emptying them and cleaning the filters can make me start sneezing and wheezing.

Give me an older bagged vacuum any day.


Post# 348246 , Reply# 26   3/22/2016 at 12:48 (2,928 days old) by kenkart ()        
I switch out

Daily drivers regularly, I always try to clean them and change the bag as I rotate them,IE change the bag of the one going out of service, so its clean, wipe the one down coming into the house with windex.

Post# 348509 , Reply# 27   3/24/2016 at 23:02 (2,926 days old) by icee (Indiana)        

icee's profile picture
Mmm....I really don't think older sweepers are dirtier to use. At first the sweeper itself will probably be dirty considering it's coming to you second hand, but actual operation once it's been cleaned well I think is actually cleaner than newer sweepers. I feel they clean carpet better, and there isn't a giant cloud of dust getting in your face when you empty the bag. All around I prefer older ones (generally late 80s and earlier, with some exception) for keeping my home clean.

Post# 348594 , Reply# 28   3/26/2016 at 02:35 (2,925 days old) by Durango159 (State College, PA)        

durango159's profile picture
Well putting a HEPA bag in a machine really does make a huge difference!! Any A bag Hoover Convertible can get a HEPA bag and filtration from it will be far better than a standard A bag. A hard case bag machine can tell the results a little easier than a cloth bag of the dirt that can go through a vacuum bag.

Unfortunately many of the Hoover C and Eureka F&G bags that were vinyl dust clouds were possible. A lot of it depends on how well the bags are maintained and if one fusses with the dirt in the paper bag or knocks the vinyl bag into furniture during use. An ultra bright would show you some of the dirt that can be expelled from a vinyl bag using a standard filtration bag.

That being said, there are tons of current market machines that are near as bad!! Most bagless vacuums on the market to include Bissell, Eureka, etc. are filthy on the outside of the machine. The filth is not a result of the vacuum sitting out in a room on a regular basis, it is a result of terrible emissions from those machines!! Anyone who has ever serviced or used a Bissell PowerForce bagless, or Eureka Altima bagless or similar knows exactly what I'm talking about!! Remove the dirt cup and look how filthy the housing is around and behind the dirt cup, the entire back of the machine, the handle and of course the floor head. All of that is being knocked back into the air. Now comparatively as bad as I've knocked Hoover Type C and Eureka F&G bags above, I've never seen a floor head on one of those units look anywhere near as filth covered as these Bissell, Eureka, etc. bagless units and even bagged versions of the Eureka PowerLine Hardcase machines!!

A very good example of a pollution producing machine is also the cloth shake out bags of a Sanitaire SC886. I did commercial cleaning a year ago and the contract company I worked for had several of these units. Tons of dust clouds were spewing out of these units. Many of the vacuums had brand new cloth shake out bags too. But let it pick up some dirt and when that bag rubs along a desk or touches any obstacle while you're cleaning and a visible dust cloud will emerge!!

For great emissions I recommend a sealed system like a Riccar, Simplicity, Sebo, Lindhaus, Miele, etc. Filter Queen has terrific filtration, Rainbow has terrific filtration. Rainbow and Kenmore canisters both have earned Certifications by the American Asthma and Allergy Foundation. The Hoover Platinum series bagged upright with HEPA would have fantastic filtration. I have HEPA S bags in my 1990's/ 2000's Hoover PowerMax body style canisters. I have adapted a HEPA Kenmore bag to fit my Hoover Dimension 1000 vacuum cleaners. What's wonderful about the HEPA bag usage is not only the clean air to breathe but also how gorgeously it maintains the bag compartments of machines. I can't remember the last time I've felt the need to take a rag and the tedious time to wipe and clean a plastic body bag compartment in machines where a HEPA bag is installed!!!


Post# 348606 , Reply# 29   3/26/2016 at 08:22 (2,925 days old) by fan-of-fans (USA)        

fan-of-fans's profile picture
With most machines usimg paper bags I find there will be a light film of dust inside the machine. But I agree the newer bagless machines like the Powerforce seem to blow out dust. My family always says vacuums are a filthy thing to collect but I always clean them inside and out as well as put in new bags and filters. Wash the hoses and attachments and cloth outer bags. That gets rid of smells and germs. I don't like bringing a used machine inside the house unless it has been cleaned though.

Post# 348612 , Reply# 30   3/26/2016 at 09:31 (2,925 days old) by Forrest (Alexandria,In cornfields)        

forrest's profile picture
Now that it's been mentioned,I've never noticed my vacuums smelling bad or offensive.I routinely clean the vinyl bags,hoses,brushes,and housing just out of habit.They work better when clean and unobstructed 😃

Post# 348638 , Reply# 31   3/26/2016 at 17:02 (2,924 days old) by Durango159 (State College, PA)        
Fan-of-Fans: I agree!

durango159's profile picture
I think acquiring a filthy machine and cleaning up, returning it back to the way it was suppose to perform and look is part of the fun. It gives our hobby an "activity" and something to actually do with it.

Comparatively:

Lets look at Baseball cards, coins and stamps.

Yes, they're neat. But you get them, clean off former owners finger prints, on coins they may need soaking to restore the original shine. After that they all go in some sort of box or album and just sit there. You can't use them for anything, can't repair, play with or alter them. It's essentially a once and done hobby with each piece that one would take in.

With vacuums, it's a bottomless pit of what can be done. One could swap parts, alter the color, try different brush rolls. It can go on a shelf for display or be used on a daily basis. There is actually something to do with it to keep us busy which essentially is what a hobby should be. Something one enjoys doing in his/ her free time. If a machine is filthy upon being found then it might go into a shed, garage, basement until ready for the main house.

There are car collectors who take in filthy, rusty vehicles. Some of them don't even look repairable! Those need the same process but in a much more time consuming, expensive way and not to mention a vehicle takes up a lot more space than a vacuum!!

In terms of smells and odors. I was trained at Rainbow and Filter Queen that the smell is a result of a few weeks worth of dirt that has been stored in a vacuum cleaner bag. If you think about a vacuum cleaner, it is the perfect breeding ground for germs and bacteria. There's dirt in the bag, it's dark inside the bag, especially if the vacuum is stored in a closet, it's warm inside the houses where vacuums are kept, the dirt is surrounded by surrounding dirt and germs so it's a breeding ground inside of a dirt cup or vacuum bag for dirt and germs to reproduce molds, fungus, bacteria, dust mites, etc. The smell produced from a vacuum is a result of that mold, fungus, etc. A home with pets is generally more susceptible to it because of the animal dander now being picked up.

The more often a bag compartment is wiped down, filters are washed or replaced, brush rolls are kept clean, and bag or dirt cup is emptied or replaced the cleaner and less or non-smelling a machine will be. Normal consumers don't care for their stuff and that's when odors get awful!

It's those machines where the brush roll is so coated in hair and junk that one can't even tell what color the agitator brushes are supposed to be because they have become invisible! Or the vacuum bag was installed improperly so the pre-motor filter is completely clogged, yet the consumer doesn't even realize that a pre-motor filter even exists or what it's purpose is nor what the original color is supposed to be of the pre-motor filter!



Post# 348849 , Reply# 32   3/28/2016 at 09:44 (2,922 days old) by sebo_fan (Scotland, UK, member AKA ukvacfan, & Nar2)        

sebo_fan's profile picture
Or even realise to think about cleaning the coils in a ribbed hose and long suction tube where dirt and oily deposits collect.

Post# 348853 , Reply# 33   3/28/2016 at 10:23 (2,922 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)        
Dirty old cars...

human's profile picture
Durango159 wrote:
There are car collectors who take in filthy, rusty vehicles. Some of them don't even look repairable! Those need the same process but in a much more time consuming, expensive way and not to mention a vehicle takes up a lot more space than a vacuum!!

I reply:
Absolutely. About 12 years ago, I helped my dad move a 1938 Packard Super 8 out of a garage--really more of a barn of similar vintage as the car--in S.C. where it had been stored for more than 40 years. He'd owned it that whole time. Besides being caked with decades of dust--more than enough to fill every vacuum cleaner I own, the interior was completely rotted, full of cat shit and god knows what else. I had to sit in the car and steer it as the wrecker pulled it out and a large amount of the upholstery from the driver's seat stuck to my clothes. That thing was ten times nastier than any vacuum cleaner I've ever owned but an excellent candidate for restoration to someone with the interest and deep enough pockets, which is where the car went after it left Dad's hands.


Post# 348912 , Reply# 34   3/29/2016 at 01:21 (2,922 days old) by kenkart ()        
Best bag ever..

Hoover Handisacs are hands down the best bag ever thought up, for the younger guys who have never seen them, they were meant to be re used several times before changing them, I have bought up every package I could find and use them in virtually all my old uprights, also they make a great vintage tank bag , the material is a heavy felt like paper that dust just does not stick to, I have split them open and made flat filters for a Silver King , and they work a hundred times better than the original filters.

Post# 349020 , Reply# 35   3/29/2016 at 21:54 (2,921 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)        

vacuumlad1650's profile picture
I just got a sweeper with a handisac in it! had the clip too! Im not using that sac though, smells terrible! ill put it with my other SAVE but DONT USE Vacuum Parts

Post# 349068 , Reply# 36   3/30/2016 at 12:44 (2,920 days old) by Kirbysthebest (Midwest)        

I don't know if old(er) vacuums are anymore inherently dirty than new(er) vacuums but I do know I use much more caution with used vacuums regardless of vintage due to the possibilities of what they could bring from their former environment.

 

Though my absolute fear is bringing in bed bugs from somewhere, thank all that is holy I have not encountered any of those.  But I have opened up power nozzles and found cockroaches.  I recently purchased a bagless machine off ebay that was terribly abused, and looked like it had been used in a barber shop.  It was absolutely clogged with hair-eww.  \

 

I purchased one that wasn't dirty, had such a sweet flowery, perfume smell to it, it was absolutely choking.  I have said it smelled like a French Brothel. 

 

 

All used machines I take in have a through cleaning before they are used inside the house.   As for the brothel machine, I ended up replacing bags and filters, wiping down the bag compartment with Clorox wipes, and then sitting it outside on the porch running for about 30 minutes.   It still smells like Miss Mimi, but not as strongly now.

 

 


Post# 349076 , Reply# 37   3/30/2016 at 13:48 (2,920 days old) by kenkart ()        
Febreeze

Spray does wonders with bad odors.

Post# 349280 , Reply# 38   4/1/2016 at 21:03 (2,918 days old) by Durango159 (State College, PA)        
Human-- that's a great story!

durango159's profile picture
Very neat story about that Packard! Amazing and a shame what you had to do to rescue that one!! It's amazing what some do for their hobby. But in the end it exhibits our true passion and what one is capable of doing!


Post# 349307 , Reply# 39   4/2/2016 at 11:16 (2,917 days old) by delaneymeegan (Mary Richards lived here)        

delaneymeegan's profile picture

 

 

Really ?

 

"Ive had this conversation with mother all the time. "   Why would you discuss this with your mother?  

 

If she doesn't work in the industry or have some similar industry experience, her opinion is not really...... Besides, if she has issues with you collecting all these vacuums, her opinions may be slanted or biased.

 

Obvioiusly, it doesn't matter about the age of a vacuum in how dirty it is.  There are brand new vacuums that leak dirt like a colander, and there are 50 year old vacs that the owner has maintained with care and was built with adequate seals to keep it clean.  And vice-versa. 

 

If I had a conversation with my mother about the best vacuum, she'd say her sloppy, heavy, late 90s Eureka Enviro -vac with hepa filtering that is in desperate need for a belt change, is where it's at.  And she'd extol the wonders of her uncared for 90s Hoover Steam vac wide-path with 6 spinning brushes, but she'll also admit, it's too heavy for her now to use.



Forum Index:       Other Forums:                      



Comes to the Rescue!

Woops, Time to Check the Bag!!!
Either you need to change your vacuum bag or you forgot to LOG-IN?

Discuss-O-MAT Log-In



New Members
Click Here To Sign Up.



                     


automaticwasher.org home
Discuss-o-Mat Forums
Vintage Brochures, Service and Owners Manuals
Fun Vintage Washer Ephemera
See It Wash!
Video Downloads
Audio Downloads
Picture of the Day
Patent of the Day
Photos of our Collections
The Old Aberdeen Farm
Vintage Service Manuals
Vintage washer/dryer/dishwasher to sell?
Technical/service questions?
Looking for Parts?
Website related questions?
Digital Millennium Copyright Act Policy
Our Privacy Policy