How to clean the Turbo Brush on a Bissell Cleanview Helix vacuum

The Bissell Cleanview Helix is an upright vacuum that comes with several attachments.  One of them is the Turbo Brush, which is useful for vacuuming steps and narrow places.  If the Turbo Brush gets clogged with hair or dirt, it can prevent the brush from spinning.  Cleaning the Turbo Brush is a regular part of maintaining the vacuum, and is easy to do.

1. Remove the screws

There are two screws on the bottom of the Turbo Brush, near the neck.  Remove these screws with a Phillips screwdriver.

2. Remove the cover

With the screws out, pop the clear plastic cover off.  (It snaps in on the end closest to the brush.)

3. Remove the brush

The brush is mounted onto the frame by a black plastic end cap on either side.  Pull the brush straight up and remove it from the frame.  The end caps may fall off; if they don't, remove them yourself.

With the end caps off, slide the brush out from the belt.

4. Clean the brush

You can probably pull most of the dirt and debris off of the brush's bristles and teeth by hand.  If there's hair wrapped around the brush, cut it off with scissors.  Once you've removed all of the dirt from the brush, rinse it with water and let it dry.

5. Clean the rest of the unit

Hair and other debris may also get stuck in the timing belt or on the gear.  Inspect the rest of the Turbo Brush unit for dirt.  All parts of the unit can be rinsed off with water.

6. Reassemble the Turbo Brush

Once everything is clean and dry, slide the belt back onto the teeth of the brush (while keeping it attached to the gear).  Put the end caps back onto either end, with the flat side of each end cap facing down.  Put the brush back onto the frame, and slide each end cap down into the slot on either side.

With the belt and brush back in place, make sure everything is installed correctly.  Turn the gear by hand -- the brush should spin freely.

Reattach the clear plastic cover by latching the tab on the front end of the cover (closest to the brush) under the protrusion on the bottom frame, then pushing the cover down until it is flush with the bottom piece.  Secure the top and bottom with the two screws.

🛈 The Turbo Brush pictured above is green.  Some models may be red (or another color) but they all contain the same parts and come apart the same way.

(Originally published on Helium.com, 2011)

How to replace the brush roller on a Bissell 3750-T Lift-Off Revolution bagless upright vacuum

The steps below will walk you through replacing the brush roller (P/N 2036619, 2032085 or 2032074 depending on the color) on a Bissell 3750 series vacuum, such as the 3750-T Lift-Off Revolution.

- Turn the vacuum over so you're looking at the bottom, where the brush is exposed.
- Remove the six long screws.
- Remove the two short screws behind the metal wheel holder.
- Remove the plastic wheel guard.
- Slide the brush roller out from the left. (The belt will be on the right.)
- Install the new brush roller from the left to the right, looping the belt around the right side of the brush roller.
- Reattach the plastic wheel guard.
- Reinstall and tighten all eight screws.

Panasonic vacuum cleaner repair tips

Below are links to articles and videos that show you how to repair your Panasonic vacuum cleaner.  These links are intended for informational purposes only, and no warranty is made as to their accuracy or usefulness.  Any links typed in bold have been tested and verified; all other links have not.

Panasonic Ultra-Pro:
- How to replace the bag and filter on a Panasonic Ultra-Pro MC-GG529 vacuum
- How to replace the belt and brush roll on a Panasonic Ultra-Pro MC-GG529 vacuum
- How to unclog a Panasonic Ultra-Pro MC-GG529 vacuum

10 vacuum repair tips added

Links to 10 more vacuum repair tips have been added recently:

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- Dyson: 2 vacuum cleaner repair tips
- Fantom: 1 vacuum cleaner repair tip
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- Oreck: 3 vacuum cleaner repair tips

How to replace the headlight bulb on a Bissell 3750-T Lift-Off Revolution bagless pet vacuum

The Bissell 3750-T Lift-Off Revolution Bagless Pet Vacuum uses a small 15-watt headlight to illuminate dark or hard-to-see areas.  If this bulb ever burns out, it's an easy task to replace it, and the only tool you'll need is a Phillips screwdriver.

A new bulb, part #203-1007, can be purchased online from Bissell.com for just $1.95 (plus shipping).  The website has a downloadable maintenance guide available on the bulb's description page that shows you how to install that bulb, but the guide applies to other Bissell models that use the same headlight bulb, not the 3750-T model.  The models described in the maintenance guide have the bulb installed in a different way, and nothing is screwed down, unlike with the 3750-T.

To remove the old bulb, first push down on the long yellow button (it may be another color on some models) on top of the vacuum canister, where it reads, "Press, Grab & Go."  Then pull the canister out, away from the vacuum, and off the base.  Set it aside somewhere safe.

Next, recline the vacuum handle by pushing down on the black foot pedal on the rear side of the vacuum and pushing the handle backwards.  Once the black canister base pops up, the screw securing the headlight cover will be exposed.  Remove this screw with a Phillips screwdriver, then remove the clear plastic headlight cover and set it aside.

Now you'll have access to the headlight bulb.  To remove the bulb, push it in, toward the left side of the vacuum, and turn it counter-clockwise to release it from its holder.  Then pull the bulb out, toward the right side of the vacuum, and remove it.

To install the new bulb, simply push it into the holder with the small round knob on the bulb case lined up with the slot in the holder, and once it's as far in as it will go, turn it clockwise to lock it in place.  Then you can reattach the headlight cover by inserting the two tabs on the front of the cover into the holes in the vacuum base and then pushing the cover into place.  Screw it back in, and then stand the vacuum straight up by pulling the handle forward.  Reinstall the canister by placing it onto the black canister base and then pushing it backward until it snaps into place.

(Originally published on Helium.com, October 2012)

How to replace the headlight bulb on a Bissell Cleanview Helix vacuum cleaner

Many vacuum cleaners now use headlight bulbs to allow you to see under beds or tables, or into dark corners when you are vacuuming.  Eventually these bulbs will burn out, and usually when they do it's not too hard to replace them.  Below are instructions for replacing the bulb on a Bissell Cleanview Helix vacuum (model 82H1 and others).  If you need to get a replacement bulb, part #203-1297, you can order one online from Bissell.com for $1.95.

The headlight is located on the front of the vacuum, just above the height selector knob.  It sits behind a protective clear plastic lens.  Before beginning the replacement process, be sure that the vacuum is turned off and unplugged.  You'll need a long thin flathead screwdriver and a small or medium Phillips screwdriver.

There is a tab on the right side of the plastic lens (as you are looking at it from the front of the vacuum), right next to a narrow hole in the lens.  To remove the lens, slip a flathead screwdriver (or long thin knife) into that hole, and then push it to the left so that you are pushing the tab in.  While you are pushing to the left, force the lens out slightly, to release the tab from where it snaps into the vacuum.

Now you can remove the plastic cover by pulling it straight out.  (You may have to wiggle it slightly.)  With the cover removed, the headlight bulb will be exposed.

The bulb assembly is held down by one screw.  Remove this screw with a small Phillips screwdriver, then you can pull the headlight out slightly to have more room to work.  Be careful not to pull too hard, to avoid damaging the electrical wire.

The bulb can be removed by simply sliding it straight out from the holder.  The new bulb is inserted the same way -- just slide it right in.  Then sit the bulb assembly back on the frame so that the hole in the plastic assembly lines up with the hole in the frame, and screw it back on.

The only thing left is to reattach the plastic lens cover.  Slide the left side of the cover into the vacuum frame first, and then push the right side in.  The tab should make a "click" sound as it snaps into place.

(Originally published on Helium.com, November 2012)

Oreck vacuum cleaner repair tips

Below are links to articles and videos describing how to repair and maintain an Oreck vacuum.  These links are intended for informational purposes only, and no warranty is made as to their accuracy or usefulness.  Any links typed in bold have been tested and verified; all other links have not.

Oreck XL series:
- How to change an Oreck XL belt
- How to change the belt on an Oreck XL vacuum cleaner
- How to change the light bulb on an Oreck XL / XL2 vacuum cleaner
- How to make your Oreck XL vacuum cleaner work like new
- How to put a new roller and belt on an Oreck XL vacuum cleaner
- How to replace an Oreck XL drive belt
- How to replace the belt in an Oreck XL9100

Oreck XL Edge:
- How to service the motor on an Oreck Edge upright

Oreck (non-specific models):
- How to change an Oreck vacuum bag
- How to change an Oreck vacuum belt
- How to change an Oreck vacuum cleaner belt
- How to change the roller brush in an Oreck vacuum
- How to repair an Oreck vacuum with a broken belt

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- Samsung: 1 vacuum cleaner repair tip

Sanitaire vacuum cleaner repair and maintenance tips

Below are links to articles, how-to guides, and videos with instructions and tips for repairing and maintaining Sanitaire vacuum cleaners.  These links are intended for informational purposes only, and no warranty is made as to their accuracy or usefulness.  Any links typed in bold have been tested and verified; all other links have not.

Sanitaire SC3683A:
- How to replace the filter in a Sanitaire SC3683A commercial canister vacuum cleaner

Sanitaire SC684:
- How to install a new fan on a Sanitaire SC684

How to replace the exhaust filter in an Electrolux Harmony canister vacuum cleaner

For an Electrolux Harmony canister vacuum, the owner's manual recommends replacing the exhaust filter every fifth time you change the vacuum bag.  Follow these steps to replace your Harmony's exhaust filter.

With the vacuum off, pull up on the two plastic tabs on the rear side of the vacuum.  Once you have pulled those tabs up, the whole rear cover can be removed, exposing the exhaust filter.

The exhaust filter in your Harmony should look like the one in the picture above (though the coloring of the plastic may vary).  Pull the exhaust filter out by grasping the plastic tab on the left side, then install the new filter in the same orientation, with the tab on the left side.

With the new filter installed, reattach the rear cover by sitting it back on the vacuum and snapping the tabs in place.  Once the rear cover is reattached, your task is complete.

How to replace the motor filter in an Electrolux Harmony canister vacuum cleaner

The Electrolux Harmony canister vacuum cleaner has two filters in it: a motor filter and an exhaust filter.  According to the user manual, Electrolux recommends replacing both filters every fifth time you change the vacuum bag.  This article describes how to replace the motor filter.

In order to remove the filter, you first need to remove the vacuum bag.  Grab the handle on the front of the vacuum, under the hose, and pull up.  The front cover will lift up, exposing the bag.  Remove the bag using the handle on its plastic housing.

With the bag removed, you can see the filter.  It will be a white squarish filter in a plastic grid housing.  (The housing will probably be green.)  Slide the plastic filter assembly straight up to remove it.

Remove the filter from the plastic housing, and set the new filter in its place.  Then slide the plastic filter housing back down into its slot.  Now reinstall the bag, making sure that it sits flush with the vacuum sides (otherwise the top won't close right).  Once the bag is in, close the cover, and your filter change is complete.

How to take apart and clean an Electrolux Harmony EL6985 turbo nozzle

The Electrolux Harmony canister vacuum (EL6985) comes with a turbo nozzle attachment which works fairly well for cleaning small hairballs and other debris.  The nozzle works by sucking air past a large paddle fast enough to spin it, causing the brush to spin as well.  Over time, the gears and belt inside the nozzle can become clogged with hair and dirt, and the brush will stop spinning.

To take apart the turbo nozzle and clean it out, follow the steps below:

A. Turn the vacuum off and disconnect the turbo nozzle by pushing the button in and pulling the nozzle away from the tube.

B. There are four plastic wheels on the bottom of the turbo nozzle, two set far apart on the ends and two set close together by the tube.  Remove the two wheels by the tube by popping them out with a flathead screwdriver (or your hand).  When removing the wheels, there is a small shaft running through each wheel with nothing securing it -- be sure not to lose those shafts.  If either wheel does not spin freely on the shaft, clean any dirt from the shaft and wheel.

C. There are six Phillips screws securing the bottom housing of the nozzle.  Remove these screws and put them somewhere safe.

D. With the screws out, you can separate the top and bottom halves of the housing.  If they don't separate easily, you can pry the top off with a small flathead screwdriver or a knife, but be careful because the plastic is soft and the edges will chip under pressure.

E. Once the top half is off, you have access to all of the interior components.  (At this point, you may want to take a picture of the nozzle's interior, to make it easier to put it back together later.)  Remove the brush by popping the two black end caps out of the grooves that they sit in and then sliding the brush free.  Now you have access to the brush, the belt, the gear shaft and the paddle.

F. Clean all of the components and remove any built-up hair or other debris.  Make sure no dirt is stuck in the teeth of the gears or stuck in the grooves of the belt.  If hair is wrapped around the brush or a shaft, cut it off with a knife or scissors.

G. Once the inside of the nozzle is clean, put everything back together and make sure the brush, paddle, and belt all spin freely.  Reassemble the nozzle by putting the two halves of the housing back together (be sure that the black plastic guard fits into the grooves in both the top and bottom halves) then putting the screws back in and reattaching the wheels.

H. Attach the turbo nozzle to the vacuum and turn the vacuum on to test it.  The brush should spin when the vacuum is running; if it doesn't, the belt is likely not in place or there is still some dirt clogging the mechanism somewhere.

(Originally published on Helium.com, June 2010)

13 more vacuum repair tips added

Links to 13 more vacuum repair and maintenance tips have been added recently:

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Riccar vacuum cleaner DIY repair tips

Below are links to articles and videos that show you how to repair your Riccar vacuum cleaner.  These links are intended for informational purposes only, and no warranty is made as to their accuracy or usefulness.  Any links typed in bold have been tested and verified; all other links have not.

Riccar Brilliance:
- How to replace the belt on a Riccar Brilliance BRLP1

Riccar Upright Premium:
- How to change the belt on a Riccar Upright Premium 8850 / 8955 / 8900 / 8905 / 8920 / 8925

Riccar Vibrance:
- How to replace a Riccar Vibrance belt

Riccar (non-specified models):
- How to fix a Riccar vacuum cleaner
- How to install a belt on a Riccar vacuum
- How to troubleshoot a Riccar vacuum cleaner

19 vacuum cleaner repair tips added

Links to 19 more repair tips for vacuum cleaners have been added to the site:

- Dyson: 17 vacuum cleaner repair tips
- Electrolux: 2 vacuum cleaner repair tips

More vacuum repair tips added

Links to vacuum repair tips for the following brands were added recently:

- Dirt Devil: 1 repair tips
- Dyson: 2 repair tip links
- Eureka: 2 repair tip links

More vacuum repair tips added

7 more vacuum repair tip links were added to the site, for the following brands:

Kirby: 4 vacuum repair tips
Nilfisk: 1 repair tip
Simplicity: 2 repair tips

Vacuum cleaner repair tips added

Some new repair tip links have been added to the site, for Bissell and Kenmore vacuum cleaners.  More coming soon!

How to replace the brush or belt on a Bissell Cleanview Helix vacuum cleaner

Two main causes of a malfunctioning Bissell Cleanview Helix vacuum cleaner are a dirty brush (part #2032448) and a broken belt (part #3031123).  If you need to replace either the brush or belt for your Cleanview Helix -- or just remove them to give the vacuum a good cleaning -- the steps below will guide you through the process.

To take the brush and belt out:
- Unplug the vacuum if it's plugged in.
- Lay the vacuum on its back, with the handle facing down and the wheels sticking up in the air.
- On the bottom of the vacuum, there is a plastic cover over the brush (probably black).  Take out the five Phillips screws holding this cover in, then remove the cover.
- The brush is now exposed.  Remove the brush by sliding it out, left side first, then pulling the belt off the right side to remove the brush completely.
- If the brush needs to be cleaned, clean it now by removing all of the dirt, hair, and other debris wrapped around it.
- Remove the belt by sliding it to the right, off the metal shaft, then pulling it away from the vacuum.

To put the brush and belt back in:
- To reinstall the belt, or install a new belt, slide it back onto the shaft from the right side.
- Fit the belt around the right side of the brush, so that it sits on the flat part of the brush (where there are no bristles), then push the brush in place, right side first and then left side.  If your brush has a white cap on one side, the white cap should be on the right side.  The right side of the brush has a round protrusion on the end, and the left side has a rectangular protrusion that you'll have to rotate so it fits into its holder correctly.
- Put the brush cover back on and screw in the five Phillips screws.
- Put the vacuum back upright.
- Plug it in and turn it on to make sure the belt and brush spin correctly.

How to replace the bulb on a Kenmore 116.35922500 Progressive intelCLEAN upright vacuum cleaner

Like many vacuum cleaners, the Kenmore Progressive intelCLEAN vacuum has a headlight bulb that allows you to see into dark places while you clean.  Replacing this bulb (part # 20-5248) is a piece of cake; simply follow the steps below.

- Obtain a new bulb.  Several websites sell this particular bulb, including VacuumsInc, SearsPartsDirect, and Amazon, and you can probably find it at any local vacuum repair shop.
- Remove the clear plastic cover that protects the bulb by popping out the two tabs on the top of the cover.  A small flathead screwdriver works great, as does a pocket knife.
- Remove the bulb by pulling it out.
- Install the new bulb by sliding it into the hole vacated by the old bulb.
- Reattach the plastic cover, bottom side first, making sure that the two tabs on top snap into place.