How to wash your Dyson Small Ball™ vacuums filters

How to wash your Dyson Small Ball upright vacuum's filters.
In normal use, both filters should be washed at least once a month. Use cold water without detergent. Leave to dry in a warm place for at least 24 hours - do not dry the filter in a tumble dryer, microwave, oven or near a naked flame. Ensure both filters are completely dry before replacing in the machine.
Step 1. Always switch 'OFF' and unplug before carrying out any maintenance.
Step 2. Press the red button on the carry handle to remove the cyclone and clear bin, and lay the machine down.
Step 3. Turn the blue locking dial anti-clockwise until the cover is released.
Step 4. Turn the post-filter one-quarter anti-clockwise to release.
Step 5. Unclip the front of the carry handle and remove the pre-filter.
Step 6. Press each of the three catches to remove the baffle from the post filter.
Step 7. Wash both filters with cold water only. Note: it is not necessary to wash the post filter baffle.
Step 8. Run the water through the open end and over the sides of the pre-filter.
Step 9. Empty and repeat until the water runs clear.
Step 10. Squeeze and twist with both hands to make sure the excess water is removed.
Step 11. The post filter should be rinsed and tapped out until the water runs clear.
Step 12. To avoid damage, tap on the plastic rim, not the filter material.
Step 13. Then tap out again to ensure all excess water is removed.
IMPORTANT: after washing please leave for at least 24 hours to dry completely before refitting.
Step 14. Align the arrow on the baffle with the arrow on the filter, press firmly until all 3 catches click into place.
Step 15. Refit the filter onto the ball. Secure the filter by turning it clockwise so the arrows align.
Step 16. Locate the cover onto the side of the machine. Twist the blue locking dial clockwise until it clicks.
Step 17. Refit the pre-filter and fasten the carry handle shut.
Step 18. Place the clear bin and cyclone back onto the machine ensuring it clicks securely.
Dyson experts are on hand to help, so leave us a comment if you'd like some advice.

[@sallybaker6870]

I love this vacuum. I’ve had mine since 2014. Time to get the Dyson animal

[@UN-AFFIL]

can i wash the other parts of the vacuum? like the portion of the vacuum that the pre-filter came out of? my vacuum is several years old and id like to restore it to a cleaner look.

[@johnbaines3278]

Thank you for that

[@nancymarker9108]

My Dyson 50's post filter has no Baffle... The vacuum was a gift... it was a is it possible the baffle was lost from the big ring hepa filter, or never had one in the first place? The vacuum seems fine without it, running without a baffle a problem? Thank you in advance...

[@dyson]

Nancy Marker, different Dyson models have different filters, so we'd be happy to check this for you. Feel free to send us a private message via Facebook, or DM us on Instagram/Twitter, and let us know your machine's serial number.

[@shirleyblackerby268]

Nancy, my DC50 post filter has no baffle either, and the clips indicated in the video are also not on mine. I think they may have changed the design, as the white arrow that you line it up with before screwing it back into the vac, is actually on my post filter, not any baffle.

[@johngoard8272]

I would like to know how do you clean the turbine bits in the main body as mine are coated with dust??

[@Mark5mith]

It strips down to it's component parts, start at the bottom and carefully remove each piece, you'll need a torx driver for the top part.

[@user-li6lu3mh2n]

Are there any videos on how to clean the filters and bin for the ball animal please model UP32531A. I managed to follow so far but my ball filter is different, it has a sponge thing inside and I cannot work out how you open it, or even if you are meant to. Also I want to clean the bin but I don’t have a button to release it from the cyclone top.

[@BOBBYB3133]

yeah thats great and common sense, but how do you get the the inner filters of the removeable canister to clean it?

[@dyson]

So we can give you the most accurate information, can you please confirm what country you are located in?

[@mariahhanson3520]

Can I spray lysol in filter if I vacuumed bat feces?

[@walk1012]

Hahahaha

[@safrica1234]

What a question

[@noahevans2314]

@@walk1012 I like to get up when the sun is high and warm.

[@maxberger6172]

This Dyson Manual indicates wash post filter without taking it apart - this video indicates should take the post filter housing apart to wash which is a real pain to do! Which is correct??????

[@dyson]

Hi there, this video will be the correct way to do this, however it does not really matter. The housing can be washed, it'll just take a bit longer to dry if it is left on.

[@sallybaker6870]

How long to dry? Does it need to be completely dry before using

[@Ihtiandr13]

24 hrs, must be dry

[@Ihtiandr13]

24 hrs, must be dry

[@kamudamu5537]

Is it okay to blow dry the filters?

[@dyson]

Hi there, thanks for reaching out to us. We would prefer you leaving it to dry on its ow.

[@angelinalah]

I bought a new filter and am having a nightmare of a time attaching the baffle to the filter. 🙃 Edit: Never mind. I bought the wrong filter. I have the Dyson small ball animal, but I bought a DC50 filter because it looked the same. However, it lacks the notches to allow for the baffle to snap on. It's frustrating because the Dyson website only sells the filter and baffle together, and I don't need a new baffle. I had to purchase from a vacuum store, and the filter I purchased was the only one remotely close to what I needed. Edit 2: I used pliers to rip out notches where needed and got it to work. 🤪

[@dyson]

You can always contact Dyson directly to make sure you're ordering the correct parts for your model. We're happy you were able to sort it out. However, we do suggest you use genuine Dyson parts to ensure optimal performance of your Dyson vacuum cleaner.

[@angelinalah]

@@dyson I did purchase a genuine Dyson part.

[@dyson]

For assistance with your machine, or to find out more about our spare parts we'd recommend either contacting the Dyson helpline in your country directly, emailing or sending us a private message via Facebook, or Twitter: @ AskDyson. Best wishes.

[@DigitalDirge]

Oops. I just used warm water on the round filter and dish soap + cold water on the long filter. Guess we'll see how hosed my Dyson Ball Complete is in 24 hours lol

[@randycollens2681]

Soap is fine. I recommend even using a bit of degreaser spray (like Zep degreaser cleaner spray) if you have animals.

[@wayland7150]

He's washing brand new unused filters. I think if you're washing dirt out of the filters then use warm water and detergent.

[@DigitalDirge]

@@wayland7150 After they dried they were fine. :)

[@markhalvorson4631]

I should have bought a vacuum with a bag. What a pain

[@dyson]

Hi Mark, Rest assured that filter cleaning is done once per month. Also, filters for Dyson vacuums are washable and designed to last the life of the machine, so there's no filter replacement cost involved. As there are no bags, there's also no replacement bag costs associated either. If you're ever in need of support with your machine, we invite you to contact us via the Dyson helpline number listed directly on your unit, as we have Dyson experts standing by who are always keen to assist, if ever needed. Best wishes.

[@wotan10950]

Totally agree. I have a Dyson, along with a couple of LG bagless units (big house). The bagless units are great…….until you have to clean all the filters; that is, after you first figure out how to remove the filters! Not worth the effort. Use a bag, fill it, throw it out. They’re not expensive.

[@wayland7150]

What and have them chop down 100 acres of rain forest just so you can have one paper bag? I'm sure the paper filters are made from recycled vegans so are harmless to the environment.

[@caitlinlewis39]

5 minutes of your time every month, or 1 hour per year - and saving $23/year (aka paying yourself $23/hr to do it). On top of that, preventing excess waste on a planet with finite resources sounds very reasonable to me

[@pamkerr6269]

Whats the point in showing us how to clean two brand new filters that have never been used? It would make more sense to show us that two dirty filters don't come clean by running them under a trickle from the cold tap and have to go in the washing machine to actually get them clean.

[@paulbenvenuti4419]

running cold water over dirty filters seems to do nothing. They take forever to dry.

[@wayland7150]

Remeber the Dyson slogan, "No filters to clog up". Plenty of Dysons at the council tip because no one knew the filters clogged up.

[@lindaelliott1993]

Not a great idea to run the dirt down your drain into your pipes......run the water into a wash tub and then throw the water outside if possible. They get really dirty, unlike this clean, new one in the demo.

[@ellenmarcolongo9670]

It would be really nice if this vacuum was user friendly but it requires a engineering PhD to operate.

[@dyson]

Hi there. If you require help, please send us a private message, and we will gladly assist you with your query.

[@zodiark2456]

god you people of today are useless your grandma and grandpa had to do alot more work on vacuums in the old days back when vacuums werent portable and apart of the house

[@manob7]

@@dyson Better yet - reduce the annoyance of people talking to your Indian support staff by linking support videos in each product page. And stop giving noobs the job of designing your website which is moronic to say the least. Context, context and above all - context ! Put information where people need it !! No one has time to go look for inane detail anymore.

[@sigridh9098]

Dyson ball

[@wotan10950]

I have a Dyson, along with a couple of LG bagless units (big house). The bagless units are great…….until you have to clean all the filters; that is, after you first figure out how to remove the filters! Not worth the effort. Use a bag, fill it, throw it out. They’re not expensive.

[@manob7]

It took me about eight hours of searches (including in their ill-designed fancy website) to find this simple procedure to wash these two filters (for a new ball animal 3). While I appreciate the design choices to have washable and reusable filters (very politically - ahem - correct), the fact that they make it darned near impossible to find this basic information is (for want of a better word) moronic. Why not link it right effing there in the product page?? The fad of charging 500 dollars for a stupid vacuum and finding people stupid enough to purchase it (yes, even in the US of A) is going to be rare soon. This is the way all these idiotic companies bite the dust when more agile companies come up with better products at one fourth the price.

[@globalchaos1984]

Took me an entire minute to find this, Google "clean upright Dyson ball filter", this KZbin vid popped up...

[@rosendahlbrittan]

I hate this vacuum. It's a fight to accomplish basic tasks, the unit is clunky in ways that simpler more standard vacuums are not. The "space saving" extension storing within the vertical rear tube is annoying to deal with and requires removal to utilize the hand held attachments....and still somehow without that rigid pole riding within the tube, i still feel like i grapple with the tube itself. IDK, i've used this model elsewhere and found it problematic, then asked my boss to purchase a standard vacuum for work purposes (i'm cleaning exhibits within a major U.S. Museum in New Orleans) and I thought i should verbalize that he not purchase this unit...sure enough, what do i get. I swear at it every use.

[@rosendahlbrittan]

Giving my own post a thumbs down, cant stress enough how much i hate this vacuum.

[@thezoexperience1]

Stick to a broom and a dust pan then. Complaining about a first world problem... Geez.

[@noahevans2314]

My vacuum is red.

[@kikio2067]

@@thezoexperience1 brush just pushes dust in the air ( I’m tired so grammar is bad)

[@manob7]

@@thezoexperience1 She is not complaining about a 1st world problem, I have the same problem with this ill-designed "ball" piece of crap they charge a small fortune for. The only reason this sells are that US brands have gotten lazy in their own older designs by following price-leader marketing with cheap components and materials. But Dyson designs aren't any better, they just use more sealing and better quality materials. I have seen Dyson knockoffs and other similar designs made in China selling for one tenth the price that work just as good. Once the Chinese start using good sealing and brushless motors (you better believe they can) - then bye bye $500 vacuums.

[@josephchristiancruz8503]

Thank you and may Jesus find your soul, Amen and Amen ... believe in Christ's blood & resurrection and you will be saved‼☺♥

[@sasproductions701]

how to clean the front part? i took the roller out but i cant seem to take the see through cover off as shit is stuck inside and know not to use water because its motorized.

[@dyson]

Hi there, we're sorry for the issue you are experiencing with your machine. Please send us a private message so that we can assist with your machine.

[@sasproductions701]

@@dyson i rang up dyson and they said they cant help me because the part cant be cleaned and taken apart. i have a G1F-PKA1175A and the head sleeve roller is out, but i really need to clean inside the see through part and get there. im upset because its really minging and i had to spend some time using a knife to scrape crap out. i now need a torx screw driver and phillips.