Vacuum Cleaners Discussions

I checked with Eureka, no longer available, checked with a few distributors, no generic bags available either. These fit the ancient 900 series models (rotomatic) Are there any substitutes a guy could use instead??

Venson wrote:
Ah, so that is where you got your info for Michael.  Notice nowhere did it say  "Do Not Wash the Bag".  HOOVER, and others, wanted to make maintenance of their machines easy.  Users would not wash their bag nor would they sweep it out.  Who wants to clean their shake out vacuum bag.  Hey, plenty of vacuum makers told people to empty their bags after every use.  But did they do that? No.  What do they do if the bag needed to be cleaned?  They would  take it to the vac shop and it would be hooked up to a machine that brushes it for them.

Hand washing a cloth bag on the Eureka Rotomatic/Super Rotomatic canister would probably only be done once or twice in its lifetime.  There is no reason to wash it on a monthly basis.  The above poster, Michael, is a collector.  He wants to make his newly acquired machine more presentable.  The handwashing will not hurt the bag if he has examined it before he washes.

You will be hardpressed to find any old manuals that state, "Do Not Wash".  Today it is different, because shake-out bags are made differently.  I know that for years, Eureka/Sanitaire always says, "DO NOT WASH OR DRYCLEAN".  I also know that today, there are some that say it is fine to wash.  Take a look at Air Storm.

To sum things up, it is fine to wash the outer bag of a canister like the Eureka Rotomatic/Super Rotomatic.  As a collector, Michael, you have to examine it first and make sure it will hold up to a washing.  If it is hard and brittle, it ain't going to make it. 

CarmineD wrote: It is fine if you disagree w/me.  I think you need to explain more how water is going to degrade the cloth vacuum bag of this Eureka.  There are actually other factors that degrade cloth and it is not water and detergent.  The sun is one of them.  Another is bleach.  How about agitation and friction.  If the Eureka bag is so old and frail, then I think the agitation and friction, from a broom, will be damaging also.

If you're worried about possible chemical degradation of the bag material, and the bag fabric is still in good condition, hand wash it with Woolite in warm water, I've done so with good results.  Woolite has a reputation for being extremely gentle (yet still sudsy) and is probably the only chemical I'd use on a cloth bag at this point.  Be extremely gentle and you should have no problems with wear.  As Mike mentioned above it's not a good idea to wash any bags silk-screened or printed logos, there is a very good chance that even the gentlest hand-washing will fade or remove the logo entirely.

Also, never machine-wash cloth bags (especially not vintage; you could probably get away with it on a new bag, but it would cause additional wear), or use fabric softener.  As a waxy substance, it *will* clog the fibers and the bag will not be as porous as it once was.

-MH

Mike_W wrote:

Hello Mike:

I defer to your superior knowledge and experience over the collective vacuum industry guidance and teaching of the past. 

But please to eliminate any doubt I might harbor that you may be wrong, share the tests/measures you use/perform before and after bag washing to make your above statement. And even to conclude and recommend that hand washing these old cloths is just fine and poses no degradation/risks to vacuum performance and operation.  

Feel free to cite here any other authoritative source on the matter to validate your opinion.

Carmine D.

Mike_W wrote:

Hello Mike:

Water causes the pores to open up.  Guess what happens then?  Small holes!    And the small holes get larger.  I'm sure you/others noticed cloth bags with holes.  Even cloth bags that appear vibrant with alot of useful life remaining.  Whenever I saw a good looking cloth bag with some pin holes, I'd ask the user:  Did you ever use water to clean.  I always knew the answer.

Carmine D. 

Mike_W wrote:

Silly and absurd of you Mike to use this as an argument to support your view?  Why?  I can argue in the reverse and say you can't show us a vacuum maker who said you can use water to clean the old cloths. 

Carmine D.

Motorhead wrote:

MH:

I got a rude awakening recently.  Why?  I read the water quality report issued by my local Nevada authorities on the composition of the substances naturally occuring and/or added in our drinking water and their quantities. 

Chlorine [I think this is a substance that qualifies as a bleach which Mike says deteriorates bag cloth] is one of the many chemicals that is added to Nevada water to control and inhibit the natural occurrance of microbes.  BTW, Webster defines chlorine as a poisonous gas used to purify water and to make bleaching chemicals and powder.

In any event, there is no doubt why I don't need to be told: Don't Use Water.  I don't drink it from the tap/filter.  I bathe/swim in it only.

Carmine D.

CarmineD wrote:

Silly me  I now know why after a years washing I get holes in my socks.

Oddly all that chlorine in the water does not bleach white clothes.  I can't understand why additional bleach is needed to achive proper results since it is already in the water.

After pondering a while your argument doesn't hold water.  I suppose your argument has been soaking in the bleach too long.

Mike_W wrote:

Howdy Mike,

No, that's not where I get my information.  It was the first available example.  There are a number of home care books I read during those days that didn't promote the idea of washing vacuum bags either.  The feeling being that many were chemically treated or made in a fashion that washing in water might undo .   And, in answer to your question -- nowhere did it say "Wash"?  The argument works both ways.  To my mind, if a manufacturer specifically gives instruction to shake out or brush off a cloth bag and does not make mention of washing -- you don't wash it.  It's a common sense call.

Who wants to clean their shake-out vacuum bag?  Obviously people who wanted to keep the vacuum.  You are also talking of a time when vacuums were expected to last.  Most people were aware that if you wanted something around for a while, you took care of it.  The task wasn't pleasant but neither was diaper washing -- also a common practice at the time.

Having lived during the time when tank-type and canister vacuums with cloth bags were bountiful and having used them, the usual idea was to shake out the bag well to keep the vacuum running at its best.  No, most folks did not empty their vacuums after every use.  But, when you did, you laid newspaper on the floor, placed the open end of bag on it and held down the ring and shook out the bag.  You got more paper or moved the bag to a new spot on the paper and shook it out again.  This process was repeated until, if not any all, at least a minimal amount of dust appeared on the paper when you lifted the bag away.  And the larger part of vacuums I saw, many purchased before I was born,  fared well enough.  This was also the usual method for wide-mouthed Hoover upright bags.  As well, I actually knew someone who would set her Hoover upright out on her back steps when she thought the bag needed a good cleaning. She'd undo the clip at the top and lay the still atttached bag flat, then turn the vacuum on and pat the bag until it was blown clean.  Canisters and tanks could also be set outside and the hose, attached to the blower port could be use to blow their dust bags clean as well.

In any event, we're spared all that now as everything is disposable -- including the vacuum cleaner.

Venson

Venson wrote:

Hello Venson:

Common sense is very uncommon. 

Carmine D.