Do you want to know how to clean a Dyson V11 Animal filter? Let’s talk about that.
The Dyson V11 series is made up of mighty powerful vacuum cleaners, so if you’re lucky enough to own one, your floors are no doubt immaculate. But, after a while, you may start to notice the performance of your supper hoover dipping.
Don’t worry — in all likelihood, this doesn’t mean that your expensive cleaning tool is defective or giving up the ghost. You need only look as far as the filter to find the issue.
Like all filters, the ones in your vacuum get clogged eventually, so they need sprucing up from time to time.
If you’ve never cleaned a vacuum filter before, you may not know where to start, so we’ve composed this easy-to-follow guide to help you get your first cleaning session done and dusted.
What Will I Need To Clean My Dyson V11 Animal Filter?
You’ll be pleased to learn that, despite being one of the best filtration units in the game, you really don’t need all that much to revitalize your Dyson V11 Animal filter. All together, you’ll need…
- The filter (which we’ll show you where to find and how to remove)
- Cold running water (not hot)
- A suitable drying spot (we’ll fill you in on all the details when we get to that stage)
That’s literally it! So, without further ado, let’s get started.
How To Clean Dyson V11 Animal Filter
Dyson have done us all a solid by making the filter cleaning process incredibly easy (woo!), so this won’t take too long.
Powering Down
Whenever you’re working on electronics, it’s critical to make sure they’re fully turned off and disconnected from any power source before beginning.
If your V11 is charging, disconnect it, and stay well away from the activation trigger when uncoupling the filter from the bulk of the enclosure.
Locating And Removing The V11 Filter
Unlike V7 and V8 models that arrive with pre and post filters, the V11 series vacuums have just the one mega filter crafted to the HEPA standard, meaning they’re incredibly efficient, even without the help of second-stage filtration.
Dyson don’t only make high performance machines; they also like to keep their designs looking sleek, which is why you’ll find the filter integrated seamlessly into the enclosure of the vacuum.
Above the trigger and handle, there should be a cylindrical section. This is actually the HEPA filter. To remove it, turn it counterclockwise and pull it gently away from the unit.
This will uncouple it from the internal latch, and voilà; that’s all there is to it!
Visual Inspection
It’s a good idea to give your filter a brief visual inspection before you start cleaning it, especially if you’ve recently noticed a significant dip in your V11’s performance.
Check for cracks, dislodging, or tears anywhere on the filter. Should you find any disrepair, it’s not worth cleaning it. Save yourself some time and energy and buy a replacement.
Washing Your Dyson V11 Animal Filter
Your first port of call at this stage is to give your filter a few taps against the edge of your sink to dislodge any large, unstable debris before turning on your faucet. Don’t tap too hard, as the plastic filtration material is relatively fragile.
Just tap firmly enough to shake the debris up a little.
Once you’re certain you’ve gotten all the gunk out you can via tapping, get the cold water flowing and rinse the filter. Get good coverage with the water — it should flow down through the filter’s core, as well as through the walls of the cylinder.
At 10–15 second intervals, give the filter another tap on a hard surface to speed the cleaning process along. Continue rinsing and tapping until the drainage water runs clean and clear.
Give your filter one last tap to shed any excess moisture, then set it aside.
Drying Your Dyson V11 Animal Filter
Should you not be able to find a spot that’s quite right, it’s not a massive deal, but you may be waiting a little longer for it to fully dry.
Our advice is to wait 1.5 to 2 days if this is the case, as running your vacuum with a wet filter could damage it.
Reassembling Your Dyson V11 Animal
Once your filter is completely dry, give it another quick inspection just to make sure it has survived the cleaning and drying process. If it passes the inspection, it’s time to put everything back together again and bring your vacuum back to life.
Take your filter, align it with the connective section of the enclosure, then simply turn the filter clockwise until you hear it click into place.
There is usually a Dyson sticker on the filter enclosure. This sticker should be facing up towards the ceiling when the filter is secured in place.
When Should I Replace My Dyson V11 Animal Filter?
Generally speaking, replacing your V11 filter once every 12 months is fine, but if you’re doing more vacuuming than the average Joe, say, if you have a large home or you’re just particularly meticulous with your cleaning, you should change them more frequently.
For the heaviest cleaning schedules, we’d recommend switching out your filter every 3 months to keep your hoover happy.
And if you’d like our recommendation on a replacement, allow us to introduce you to this magnificent multi-set from Lemige.
Final Thoughts
That wasn’t so hard after all, was it? In fact, it’s such a simple process that you’ll commit it to memory after just one attempt, so you can kiss guides like this one goodbye.
It’s best to treat your filter to a spot of TLC once a month, but don’t sweat it if you miss the odd cleaning session.
One last piece of advice we can give you is to keep a couple of spares handy in the cupboard, as you’ll be able to make the switch immediately when your current filter needs a wash — you’ll never be caught out with grubby floors ever again!