Cleaning shop vac filter

[ajchien]

I hate emptying my shop vac. I dislike even more cleaning the filter.

How do you guys clean out your filter without getting dust/dirt/debris everywhere?

 

[Givl Reggin]

Two things:
1) A dirty filter works better.

b) Most vacuum filter types are to be replaced when dirty, not cleaned.

 

[jcbrew]

I use the bags in mine

 

[fr0mastaj]

I give it a few light shakes inside of my trashcan to get the majority of the dust off, then i take a free flowing hose to it and rinse it out (trying my best to spray from inside out). Then let it sit outside for the day to dry out.

This is for the regular Ridgid paper filters.

 

[buildmyown]

Take it outside and bang it against a tree being sure to stand up wind made that mistake once or twice. Still on my origianl paper filter that came with the vac 10 years ago and it doesnt see lite use.

 

[Bull]

Buy one of those washable kind. I had the same issues that you have, bought the washable type, and never looked back. Superior experience.

 

[djjsr]

I got one of the shop vacs that uses bags. I thought I'd hate it but I love it.

 

[brtsvg]

Take it outside and bang it against a tree being sure to stand up wind made that mistake once or twice. Still on my origianl paper filter that came with the vac 10 years ago and it doesnt see lite use.

I've done it this way for years. Helps to have a nice wind to work with.

 

[BHH]

+1 to the bags. It is the ONLY way to run a shop vac. Once you go bags you never go back.

 

[porcupine73]

I take the filter outside and keep tapping it onto the grass about a dozen times until most of it is off. I have a Rigid too, about 15 years, still on the original filter. I do hate dumping out the inside. Maybe I will check out the bag type!

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Buy a Gore Cleanstream filter, you wash it in running water, looks like new. Made of Gortex fabric.

Get the wet/dry type. Home Depot has them too.

http://www.cleanstream.com/

 

[mikester]

I use a smaller Rigid vac to clean the larger vacs filter. Then I do the smaller one the same way. And bags in both. Makes it very easy to empty.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Buy a Gore Cleanstream filter, you wash it in running water, looks like new. Made of Gortex fabric.

Get the wet/dry type. Home Depot has them too.

http://www.cleanstream.com/

 

[Stephenw]

I'm another clean stream user. I spray it off with the hose.

 

[machine_punk]

+1 on taking the paper filter (I have a Ridgid) to the trash can (the big wheelie bin we put out on the curb once a week for trash pickup) and tapping it inside the garbage can. I've had the vacuum for a couple of years and the filter sill looks fine.

It has occurred to me that perhaps a little compressed air might help the process, but I have not tried that yet.

 

[Danglerb]

I'm thinking of some bag over the main filter, but I may just write the filter number and size on a slip of paper for my wallet and see if a replacement doesn't turn up cheap on sale or at the swap meet.

Eventually the finer particles are going to substantially reduce the flow through the filter or start passing through, and its not easy to notice when you start blowing fine dust around in small amounts, until you blow your nose anyway.

 

[homesale]

Doesn't the coating on the Gore Cleanstream filter wear off after a few washes?
Who has the best price on the Gore Cleanstream filter?

 

[PugetDude]

I usually knock out most of the dust inside a garbage bag and then blow out the filter with my leaf blower.. stand upwind.

 

[fury9]

take the filter out and proceed to vacuum said filter with said vacuum with the exhaust port blowing in a favorable direction.

 

[srmofo]

I blow it off outside with an air hose.

 

[CWP1616L]

Hook the vacuum hose into the exhaust port and blow the filter off.

 

[fireguyfrank]

I bought another filter and clean the dirty one with the clean filter installed and just keep going and going and going .

 

[BFHtime]

Wow this post above, is a revival of an old thread. Interesting first post. Welcome to the garage journal.

I use air to blow the filter from the inside out, then on the outside blow up and down the pleats. This has worked very well for me. I do this outside.

 

[Fixin'Stuff]

Haven't tried one yet, but this filter cover looks interesting: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JT17XMO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

uhhhh I throw mine out? Didn't know you were supposed to clean them?

I Have one of those stinger things from home depot, it comes with bags.

I need to upgrade. Keeps getting clogged.

 

[four.cycle]

I usually knock out most of the dust inside a garbage bag and then blow out the filter with my leaf blower.. stand upwind.

^ about the same. I bang it on the fence to knock the big pieces off and then blow it out.
close all the windows on that side of the house first, though.