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How to Clean a Dyson V7 Vacuum

Written by James Hall |

How to clean dyson v7

Does your Dyson V7 need a deep clean? Here’s how to clean a Dyson V7 vacuum in five simple steps.

The Dyson V7 is a brilliant cordless vacuum for the price. It might not have the advanced features of premium Dyson vacuums, but it still provides solid performance and an easy-to-use design.

It’s important to keep your Dyson V7 clean to maintain its performance though. In this article, we’ll show you how to clean the Dyson V7 (all versions) without damaging any of the components.

Step 1: Prepare Your Vacuum for Cleaning

Before you start cleaning your Dyson V7, make sure it’s switched off and that the bin is empty.

Detach the wand from the main body and the floorhead from the wand, as we’ll be cleaning each component separately. You should also remove any tools.

Next, disassemble the main body of the vacuum:

  1. Use the red lever to pull up the cylinder section of the vacuum from inside the canister.
  2. Press the red button on the inside of the machine to fully remove the cyclonic section.
  3. Remove the dust canister using the red clip on the bottom of the vacuum body.

Your Dyson V7 is now ready to be cleaned!

Tip: It’s also a good idea to put a layer of newspaper beneath the vacuum. Lots of dirt and debris will fall out during the cleaning process, so it’s easier just to throw away the newspaper at the end.

Step 2: Clean The V7’s Dust Canister and Main Body

Before we start the cleaning process, it’s vital to point out that the motor, battery, and other electrical components should never be cleaned with water.

Water could permanently damage your Dyson V7’s electronics and may also be dangerous when you switch the vacuum back on.

So, be careful when cleaning your Dyson! As a general rule, you should only use water on components that you can verify are completely plastic without any electronics (e.g. the dust canister).

With that out of the way, here’s how to clean the main body of your Dyson V7:

  1. Carefully rinse the dust canister in cold water to remove dust and dirt. You can also use a damp cloth to wipe it down. However, make sure you don’t get the two electrical contacts on the upper rim wet.
  2. Allow the dust canister enough time to completely dry (at least 24 hours), otherwise dust will just re-stick to the sides as soon as you switch the vacuum on. There’s also a risk of moisture getting into the vacuum motor.
  3. The main body of the vacuum, containing the motor, battery, and post-motor filter should not be cleaned with water. Instead, use a soft brush to get rid of any debris that’s built up around the inlet.
  4. Use a soft brush to clean all around the outer shroud of the cylinder and the air inlets. Do not use running water on this part of the vacuum.
  5. Reassemble the vacuum.

Note: It’s possible to disassemble the cylinder section of the vacuum further using a screwdriver. While this allows you to clean areas that are otherwise inaccessible, we don’t think it’s necessary for most people to do so. Taking the vacuum apart in this way could also invalidate the Dyson warranty.

Step 3: Wash The Vacuum’s Filter

The Dyson V7 actually has two filters: a pre-motor filter and a post-motor filter. Only the pre-motor is washable though. Here’s how to clean it:

  1. Remove the filter from the top of the cylinder (it just pulls out).
  2. Rinse the filter in cold water until the water runs clear.
  3. Tap out any remaining loose dirt.
  4. Gently twist and squeeze the filter to get rid of excess water.
  5. Allow the filter at least 24 hours of drying time before putting it back into the machine. The filter must be completely dry before it’s used again.

It’s important to note that you should never use hot water, a washing machine, or any type of cleaning product when cleaning the Dyson V7’s filter. You should only use cold water.

Step 4: Clean The Direct-Drive Floorhead

The floorhead is the only part of the V7 that’s in contact with the floor, so it’s not surprising that it’s also one of the dirtiest components.

Fortunately, Dyson has made the V7’s floorhead simple to take apart and clean.

  1. Start by removing the floorhead from the wand. Then use a flat-head screwdriver (or a coin) to unlock and slide out the roller brush bar.
  2. Cut away any hair or string that’s caught around the brush bar. But be careful not to accidentally cut the brushes!
  3. Use a damp cloth to clean debris and dirt from the exterior of the brush bar.
  4. Use a flat-head screwdriver to remove the thin baseplate at the back of the floorhead.
  5. Clean both the removed baseplate and the inside of the floorhead with a damp cloth.
  6. This is also a good time to check the outlet of the floorhead for any blockages.

Once you’ve finished cleaning the floorhead, allow everything to completely dry before reassembling it.

Step 5: Clean The Tools and Accessories

The tools included with the Dyson V7 vary depending on which model you’ve bought, but they are all fairly easy to clean.

Non-motorised tools can be cleaned with a damp cloth. This is a bit more difficult with the crevice tool, but just try to clean as deeply as possible with the cloth.

If your Dyson V7 comes with a motorised pet tool, then you should only use a brush to clean it. You can also use scissors to cut away hair that’s become caught around the mini brush bar.

Summary

If your Dyson V7 is dirty and filled with dust, then you might be surprised at how much this can affect performance. Cleaning the various components can restore the vacuum’s performance and extend its lifespan.

Fortunately, it’s easy to take apart and clean the Dyson V7 vacuum cleaner. We’d love to hear how you get on with the method in this article!

Do you have any questions about how to clean a Dyson V7 vacuum cleaner? Please let us know in the comments section below.

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