Thread Number: 37088
/ Tag: 80s/90s Vacuum Cleaners
Clorox wipes |
[Down to Last] |
Post# 396263   8/5/2018 at 08:28 (2,084 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
Hey all. When I'm being a vacuum cleaner, (cleaning a vacuum), one of the products I use is the disinfectant wipes. Clorox, Lysol, etc.
However, I only recently acquired my first Hoover Convertible. Actually, now I have two. My concern is when it comes to cleaning/disinfecting the vinyl outer bags. Would you advise using these wipes on them; inside and outside? Have you successfully done it? I've only used them, so far, on hard plastic and metal. I just don't know if the cleaning/disinfecting chemicals would do any damage to the bag, cosmetically or structurally. Thanks! Barry |
Post# 396265 , Reply# 1   8/5/2018 at 10:37 (2,084 days old) by Dustin (Jackson, MI)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 396269 , Reply# 2   8/5/2018 at 11:32 (2,084 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
Thanks for the reply.
The bag is actually quite clean, appearance wise. I just like to use the sanitizing wipes, especially when I clean a used vacuum. You never know what someone else has vacuumed up in it. I just don't know if the wipes could do any harm to the vinyl bag. I don't want to damage it in any way, as far as the vinyl itself, or the design on the outside of the bag. Barry |
Post# 396271 , Reply# 3   8/5/2018 at 13:40 (2,084 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 396284 , Reply# 4   8/5/2018 at 16:30 (2,084 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 396285 , Reply# 5   8/5/2018 at 17:22 (2,084 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
Wow.
Like I said, this is all new to me. I've never owned a Convertible before. My only experience with an upright would be our Oreck, which I never cleaned the outer bag. And it's a different material anyway. Or, you'd have to go all the way back to my childhood, to Mom's Eureka upright. And I know all we ever did with that was change the paper bags when they got full. I'll have to learn a new cleaning skill! I'm sure that once I've done it the right way, I'll be glad I did. Just knowing that it's thoroughly cleaned. Barry |
Post# 396296 , Reply# 7   8/5/2018 at 21:54 (2,084 days old) by bnsd60m9200 (Akron OH)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 396299 , Reply# 8   8/5/2018 at 22:28 (2,084 days old) by Lesinutah (Utah)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 396310 , Reply# 9   8/6/2018 at 03:47 (2,084 days old) by huskyvacs (Gnaw Bone, Indiana)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
I wouldn't use TSP. That is some seriously nasty stuff and way overkill for cleaning a vacuum bag unless it was buried in a manure pile or something. Not supposed to use it without heavyweight rubber gloves or strong hand protection. It will eat right through latex gloves and give you chemical burns in no time flat. At the hardware stores here, they don't even sell it unless you have a contractor's license. I've only ever seen it used by painters for removing paint off the exterior of houses and prepping the wood for primer.
@ Lesinutah Yes, Simple Green is what many collectors here recommend using, I've seen it posted maybe 20+ times when I was digging through old topics from years back. |
Post# 396313 , Reply# 10   8/6/2018 at 06:26 (2,084 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
Provided I can successfully remove and reinstall the bag, I'm liking the kinder, gentler cleaning options.
Laundry detergent, Dawn, Simple Green. Any of the plastic parts that I gain access to, fill tube, bellows, I'd probably clean with Dawn. I love that stuff! Andy: I'm not familiar with that product by Mothers. Is that a vinyl dressing or something? Along the lines of an Armor-All? I've never used Armor-All on a vacuum. For a little extra shine after a cleaning, I often wipe down my Electroluxes, outside and in the bag compartment, with a little lemon Pledge. Barry |
Post# 396315 , Reply# 11   8/6/2018 at 08:07 (2,083 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 396323 , Reply# 13   8/6/2018 at 13:06 (2,083 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 396429 , Reply# 14   8/8/2018 at 13:35 (2,081 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
Well...since I'm home from work today, not feeling well enough to drive, I pulled the latest Convertible out and started on the cleaning.
I went with Dawn and warm water for the vinyl bag. Since, like I had mentioned, it didn't really "look" dirty, I just wanted to freshen it up a bit, it's not like there's a night and day difference in it. But I'll have peace of mind, knowing that it's clean. I'm going to pick up some of that VLR that Andy recommended, to give it a little extra pop. Do you use it on the inside surface of the bag too, or just outside? I guess I could use it on the bumper as well. How about the plastic hood? Or is it just for soft, pliable surfaces? While at the set tub, (does anyone call it that any more?), I also washed the bellows, fill tube, and hood. The hood will need polishing, to take out the fine scratches, and give it a nice overall shine. The aforementioned deep gouges will be something I'll just have to live with. Maybe some day, I'll find a minty Ranger style hood in this same color, and just replace it. But, it's not a show piece. I'm just going to use it on our two area rugs. While it's apart, I replaced the belt with the one that was supposed to be a spare for my other Convertible. That means that another trip to the vacuum store will be in order, to get some more spares. When it goes back together, it will get a new HEPA bag. That will be my first experience with those in any capacity. I have trouble getting my mind around how they allow better air flow, but yet trap more fine particles than paper bags. I'll put up a few more pictures when it's clean. Barry |
Post# 396430 , Reply# 15   8/8/2018 at 13:52 (2,081 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
A thorough rub down with disinfecting wipes is a standard procedure before bringing a used vacuum cleaner into my house, along with trashing the filter bag (I don't do bagless machines) and removing any dirt, pet fur, etc. that may be clogging things up. If I am purchasing a machine, say, at a thrift shop, I will visually inspect the plug, cord and power switch, then plug it in and turn it on in the store to assess its mechanical condition before purchasing but if it's a trash find, I'll do that on the deck before bothering to break out the disinfecting wipes.
|
Post# 396438 , Reply# 16   8/8/2018 at 16:53 (2,081 days old) by vacuumlad1650 (Wauponsee, IL)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
|
Post# 396480 , Reply# 17   8/9/2018 at 00:26 (2,081 days old) by AdamClapt0n (Washington)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
It's quite easy! I've successfully cleaned it with heat water and my hair shampoo without any damage |
Post# 396487 , Reply# 18   8/9/2018 at 03:01 (2,081 days old) by pr-21 (Middletown, OH)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
When I buy a used vintage vacuum, the first thing I do is use the Clorox or Lysol wipes on the base, handle, wheels, cord. I also use qtips dipped in Lysol to detail the spokes of the wheels and any part that is hard to get into. Then I wipe the whole unit down with a micro fiber towel sprayed with windex to finish up. As far as the bag goes, I have washed them depending on how dirty, or used a hand held steam cleaner on them if they mostly need disinfected.
If it is an old shake out and may be delicate, but needs cleaning, I have a Garage Vac that hangs on my wall in the garage and I turn the bag inside out and vacuum with a upholstery tool that has a brush on it. Then steam clean inside and out.
PR-21 Bud |
Post# 396489 , Reply# 19   8/9/2018 at 06:07 (2,081 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
Hey...that's one I don't think I've heard before.
I imagine it would smell nice too! This vacuum is cleaned as thoroughly as I'm going to clean it. All told, it's gotten vacuumed out, bathed, scrubbed, sanitized, and lightly polished. I'm going to pick up some Mothers VLR for the bag and bumper, then it's going back together. New belt and new HEPA bag, and it'll be ready go. It's far from perfect, but it's better and cleaner than when I got it, and it looks nice enough for a driver. I'm going to keep all of these suggestions in mind for future cleaning projects though! Thank you all, Barry |
Post# 396928 , Reply# 20   8/18/2018 at 19:06 (2,071 days old) by JustJunque (Western MA)   |   | |
Checkrate/Likes
 
     
Once again, thank you to everyone for your suggestions.
The U4423 is all clean, smelling nice, and back together. I used it on the braided rug in the breezeway, and all went well. I kind of held my breath as I flipped the switch, in case I hadn't put something together quite right. But...no drama! Now that I have this one up and running, I think I'll treat my 4387 to a more thorough cleaning like this one got. Barry |