Hey! That works MUCH better!
As part of my regular apartment cleaning routine, I vacuum the carpets. Well, at least I attempted to vacuum the carpets. Attempted is the key word here, because the suction really sucked and I think I ended up rolling the dirt around more than anything else.
For a while, I somewhat fixed the problem by removing the filter, taking a Q-Tip and cleaning between each of the folds. This definitely removed clogs and dust chunks, but it didn’t do enough.
So, I decided to order a new filter. I snagged the old manual (I’m a packrat and keep things like that) to find the part number and low and behold stumbled upon a line that said “filter can be washed up to six times”. Really? I can wash it? Ok!
So, following the instructions, I rinsed the filter under warm water and allowed it to soak for about 10 minutes in mild detergent (my fav: Vaska Herbatergent in lavender – AWESOME). 
Then, I rinsed it and shook off as much excess water as possible and let it air dry for about 12-24 hours.
Once dry, I popped it back into the vacuum and started it up.
Let me tell you, I knew from the moment that sucker roared on that things were different. It sounded louder, more powerful and the suction power was greatly increased. And, for the first time in a long time, the dirt was actually going INTO the vacuum where it was supposed to be.
Hooray! No money spent and only a few minutes of effort led to a boost in my cleaning power. Best of all, no new parts need to be manufactured. Score one for DIY fixes!
What about you, dear readers? Do you have any fix it stories to share? I’d love to hear them.
By Gingerly Green of Two Girls Go Green (@TwoGirlsGoGreen)
