The Easy Cleaning Hack That Will Leave Your Vacuum Cleaner Running Like New

Vacuum cleaners are the workhorses of our cleaning cabinets. Not only do they remove any dust and debris from our carpets and area rugs, but they also clean our floors, couches, upholstery, and anything in between. They can clean dust off of baseboards, suck up unsightly spiderwebs, and even clean up grimy messes you don't feel like tackling with your hands. So it's no wonder they tend to break down from time to time. Seeing how much we use them, it only makes sense that the parts begin to wear down. However, if the beater brush inside the vacuum is giving you trouble, there's an easy fix for that. All you need is some cleaning lubricant.

You'll know if the beater brush is stiff and not moving effectively when you notice dust and debris left behind by your vacuum. If it takes you a couple of passes to pick up a single crumb, or if you see significant hair and dust left behind, then chances are your brush isn't rotating properly, and you're not picking up as much as you could. Luckily, a cleaning lubricant can make it work like new.

First thing is first: You need to make sure your vacuum's brush roll is the problem before lubricating it. The culprit might also be the belt; if it has come loose, the brush won't spin. To figure it out, plug in the vacuum, put it on its side, and turn it on. If the belt is intact, but the roll seems stiff, then you know it's time to reach for the lubricant. These products are usually used to clean firearms and their barrels, but they will work just as well on your cleaning device. The Ballistol Multi-Purpose Lubricant (available on Amazon for around $42) is a favorite on the market, and it has been helping clean devices since the early 1900s.

Once you have your preferred product, flip the vacuum over and remove any stuck hair, dirt, and grime from the brush roll. This will ensure that it'll not only spin easier, but that the oil won't gunk up the embedded debris, making it more difficult to move. Once it's clean, add only a few drops near the screws on the end. You don't want to add too much, or else hair and dust will stick to it when you use the vacuum next, making the problem worse. Give it a few hours to properly dry, and then turn the vacuum on. You should notice the brush spinning with ease!