Fix Your Clogged Vacuum Hose With One Handy Household Item

A clogged hose can be annoying, but the good news is it does not constitute a broken vacuum. Instead of dragging your clogged vacuum out to the trash, simply reach for a handy household item that can quickly and efficiently clear a plugged up vacuum hose: a broomstick.

The irony of using one cleaning tool to clear a clog in another is not lost on home custodians. Keeping a house clean requires a certain degree of ingenuity regardless of how many square feet you're tasked with maintaining. And when it comes to vacuuming, the loss of even a fraction of suction can add minutes to an already massive time sucker. Consequently, the quicker you can clear whatever is choking your vacuum's hose, the faster you can get your device back in business cleaning everything from your blinds to your bathroom. Granted, not all clogs happen instantaneously. Often, debris builds up in the hose over time and little items, such as paper clips, pine needles, or pet hair can subsequently trap larger objects causing a significant decrease in suction.

If you are fortunate to have a transparent vacuum hose, deciphering what is causing the clog will be exponentially easier. However, executing a fix will still require unplugging the machine and placing it on a hard, flat surface. Next, disconnect the hose from the vacuum's main body. How you disconnect the hose will depend on your particular vacuum; check the owner's manual or the manufacturer's website if you're unsure how to disconnect it.

From there you can use a flashlight to visually examine the interior of the hose. Look for obvious sources of the clog, including pieces of foam or clumps of upholstery. If there's no glaring blockage, position the hose so it hangs vertically and drop a coin into the top opening. If it falls easily out the bottom, the issue is not a clogged hose.

Whether the reduction in air flow is caused by a large item or an accumulation of household gunk, a broomstick can help alleviate the issue. Simply place one end of the hose in a garbage bag, then carefully insert the broom handle into the vacuum hose. Slowly push the broomstick through the entire length of the hose. As you do so, the material causing the clog will be forced out the other end and into the trash bag. If the wedged item resists, gently twist the broom handle and resume feeding it through the hose. Avoid aggressively forcing the broomstick through the hose or attaching a sharp item like a coat hanger to it as doing so may puncture the hose.