How to clean your vacuum so it lasts for years, an expert says

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA home cleaning expert named Knoll says a vacuum can last for years if you clean it, and she walks through how, NBC News reports.

2. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorI'm sorry, I need a second. Somebody finally said it: you can take care of the thing that takes care of you.

3. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe first step is to unplug it. If it's cordless or a robot, you take out the battery.

4. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSafety first. Before you touch a vacuum, you ask permission, and then you unplug it anyway.

5. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA reusable filter gets rinsed with a drop of mild dish soap, and it has to dry completely before it goes back in, or it can grow mildew.

6. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorIt has to dry completely. It can't be rushed. Nobody ever lets a filter finish.

7. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorHoover's product manager says use tap water only, no soap. So the experts have a disagreement.

8. 

   Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorTwo experts fighting over how to rinse it. Nobody has ever fought that hard for my filter.

9. 

   Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorI have never cleaned my vacuum. I'd like that on the record before anybody reads the filter section.