How to clean a Dyson filter: rinse, shake, and dry for 24 hours

Step by step: how to clean a dyson filter

Safety first. Turn the vacuum off and take it off the charger (or unplug a corded model) before removing filters. Refit a filter only when it is bone dry: water drawn into the motor can damage it.

1. 1

   Find your model’s filter

   Check the model name on the machine or in the Dyson app. On the V6 and V8, a pre-filter sits in the top of the cyclone and lifts out by its knob, and the V8 Absolute also has a HEPA filter at the back that twists off. On the V10, V11, V12 and V15, a single filter at the end of the main body twists off. Ball uprights have one filter in the cyclone and another in the ball; check your manual.

2. 2

   Empty the bin and remove the filter

   Empty the clear bin into the trash first so you are not spreading dust. Then pull or twist the filter off. If it is stiff, check for a release button or arrows showing which way it turns.

3. 3

   Tap out the loose dust

   Over a trash can, preferably outside, tap the filter firmly against the inside of the can several times. A surprising amount of fine dust comes out this way, which means less sludge to rinse.

4. 4

   Rinse under the tap, with no soap

   Hold the filter under a running tap and gently rub the outside with your fingers. Use cold or lukewarm water, never hot: Dyson’s instructions differ by model, and some say cold only. Do not add dish soap or any cleaner, and do not put it in the dishwasher or washing machine.

5. 5

   Fill, shake and repeat until it runs clear

   For cylinder filters, fill the inside with water, cover both ends with your hands and shake, then pour the gray water out. Repeat until the water comes out clear, which usually takes several rounds. Flat filters just need rinsing on both sides.

6. 6

   Shake out the excess water

   Tap the filter against the sink and shake it hard, open end down, to get out as much water as you can. Blot the outside with a towel. If your filter has a foam part, you can squeeze that gently, but never squeeze or scrub the pleated paper.

7. 7

   Air-dry for at least 24 hours

   Stand the filter upright somewhere with good airflow, such as near a fan or open window, for a minimum of 24 hours. Do not put it on a heater or in a tumble dryer, microwave or oven, and do not use a hair dryer. If it feels even slightly damp inside, give it longer.

8. 8

   Refit it and wipe the bin

   Push or twist the dry filter back until it clicks. While it dries, you can wipe the outside of the bin with a damp cloth and clear hair from the brush bar. Run the vacuum for a few seconds and check for normal suction and no pulsing.

Where is the filter on each Dyson vacuum?

Most cordless Dysons have a washable filter either in the top of the cyclone or at the end of the motor body, and some have both. The rows below follow model-specific repair guides such as iFixit’s V8 Absolute filter guide and V10 post-filter guide.

Model names and filter shapes change between generations (newer models such as the Gen5 are not in this table), so if your filter does not look like these, follow the manual or the instructions printed on the filter itself.

Why you should never use soap, heat or a dishwasher

Plain water is all the filter needs, and anything more can damage it. In Family Handyman’s interview with a Dyson design manager, he says soap or cleaning solution can damage the filter or the machine, rules out the dishwasher because the heat could damage the filter, and stresses drying for at least 24 hours so water does not reach the motor.

• Water temperature varies by model: the V10 guide says cold water only, while the V12 guide allows warm (never hot) water. Cold is the safe choice if you are not sure.
• Never speed up drying with a tumble dryer, microwave, oven, heater or hair dryer.
• Do not scrub the pleated paper with a brush; rinse it and use your fingers on the outside only.
• Do not pry the filter media out of its housing; the unit is not designed to come apart.

Can you clean a Dyson air purifier filter?

Do not wash one unless your manual says you can. Dyson air purifier and purifying fan filters are HEPA and carbon filters that you replace rather than rinse: on a Pure Cool tower, for example, the filter sits in the base and you swap in a new one when the manual or the machine tells you to.

Between replacements, you can wipe the outside of the purifier with a dry or slightly damp cloth. For other air filters around the house, see how to clean an air conditioner filter.

What if your Dyson still pulses or smells after cleaning the filter?

Pulsing after a filter clean usually means a blockage elsewhere or a filter that is still damp. Family Handyman’s guide to deep cleaning a Dyson vacuum covers the bin, cleaner head, wand and attachments as well as the filter.

• Check the wand, the bin inlet and the cleaner head for clogs, and push a blockage out of the wand with something long and thin, like a straightened wire hanger.
• Cut hair off the brush bar and remove it to clean the ends if your model allows.
• If the filter smells musty, it was refitted damp. Rewash it and give it a full 24 hours or more.
• If a filter is torn, warped or still gray after many rinses, buy a genuine replacement.

To clean a Dyson vacuum head, unplug the machine and detach the cleaner head from the wand. Snip the hair wrapped around the brush bar with scissors and pull it free, then check your manual: on many models the brush bar slides out once you release the end cap, so you can clear the hair wound around the ends. Wipe the head with a dry or barely damp cloth rather than rinsing it, since motorized heads have electrical parts, and make sure it is dry before you refit it.

Mistakes to avoid

• Refitting the filter after a few hours when it still feels damp inside.
• Washing it with dish soap or running it through the dishwasher.
• Drying it on a radiator, in the microwave or with a hair dryer.
• Trying to wash a Dyson air purifier filter, which is not washable.
• Rinsing once and stopping while the water still runs gray.