A common household staple, vacuums have come a long way in their technological development. One brand that revolutionized the vacuum market, addressing the many qualms of conventional bagged vacuums, is Dyson. Dyson vacuums come in a variety of options, all of which are designed for easy cleaning of every corner of your home. While Dyson vacuums boast their many capabilities, it can leave you wondering if they are able to pick up everything from water to dirt to glass and more.
Dyson vacuums cannot be used to vacuum water, liquids, or other moist materials. Doing so can damage the vacuum, put you at risk of electrocution, and void the warranty. Dyson vacuums that claim to be wet/dry systems work by soaking up minor spills with a wet wipe located between the vacuum channels.
With their impressive advertisements and advanced technology, it can be easy to assume that a Dyson vacuum could hoover any substance however, there are some materials to stay away from to maintain the quality and condition of your Dyson.
What Cannot Be Cleaned Up by a Dyson Vacuum?
While Dyson vacuums do a phenomenal job of cleaning your home of dust, allergens, and pet dander, there are some substances that you should avoid pulling out your Dyson for as they could damage the unit, nullifying the warranty, and cause harm to you.
- Large shards of glass
- Fireplace ash and sawdust
- Hard objects like coins
- Food items
- Sticky materials
- Water, liquids, or anything with moisture content
Because Dyson technology was designed to let the air spin inside the filtration chambers like a centrifuge, separating larger particles, and enabling consistent suction power, the presence of any moisture can disrupt its functioning.
If any form of liquid enters the inner chambers, it can cause dust to clump together hindering the suction flow, creating an environment within the canister and filter for mold to grow.
What Should I Do If I Accidentally Vacuumed Up Water with my Dyson?
If you accidentally vacuumed up water with your Dyson, there are a few things you can do to save it.
- Immediately unplug it and stop using it.
- Remove the canister (if your model has one), shake out any dirt and debris into the garbage, then rinse it out with water allowing it to sit in a warm place for 24 hours to fully dry after.
- Remove the filter (if your model has a filter), gently rinse it until the water runs clean through it, and set it to the side to air dry completely for at least 24 hours.
- If possible, disconnect the hose, remove any dirt, and rinse with water.
- Allow the rest of the vacuum system to sit in a warm area for at least 24 hours to dry completely before assembling and using again.
Can You Clean a Dyson Vacuum with Water?
Even though a Dyson vacuum cannot be used to clean up water, you can use water to clean certain parts of your vacuum. If your Dyson has a canister and removable filters, both of these can be cleaned by detaching them from the vacuum body and then running them under water until they look clean. These parts should be left out in a warm place to dry for at least 24 hours after washing.
Please note that it is not advised to use any cleaning agents on any part of the Dyson as any leftover residue from cleaning products can cause the inner compartments of the Dyson to become sticky, hindering its overall function.
The rest of the vacuum can be wiped down with a microfiber cloth or a very lightly dampened cloth and allowed to sit and dry before assembling and using again.
What About the Dyson DC56 Hard Cordless Wet/Dry Stick Vacuum; Can it Vacuum Up Water?
The deceptive wording of the Dyson DC56 Hard model being labeled as a “wet/dry vacuum” can lead you to believe that it can vacuum up liquids but this is not the case. This model was designed to be used on hard flooring and it does not work by sucking up any liquids nor does it have any water tanks to store collected liquids on it.
Instead, the Dyson DC56 Hard comes with removable wet wipes that are placed between two vacuuming channels at the end of the nozzle. The vacuum channels are positioned to pick up dirt and debris while the wet wipe is designed to mop up minor spills and clean spills that have dried onto hard flooring.
If this vacuum is used to clean up major spills and liquid is vacuumed up, it needs to be cleaned out and allowed to air dry as detailed above to prevent any sticky clumping of dust and damage to the inner compartments.
Even though this is marketed as a wet/dry vacuum and it does allow you to clean up minor spills with the wet wipe, Dyson tends not to focus on wet products of any sort. Dyson as a company focuses on air products such as air purifiers, hairdryers, bladeless fans, and LED lighting.
Final Thoughts
Dyson vacuums are certainly marvels of the vacuum industry. While technologically advanced, effective at keeping your home dust and allergen-free, Dyson vacuums are not immune to damage and malfunction if you use them to vacuum up water.
While certain models offer a wet wipe feature to clean up small spills and stains, it is best to keep your Dyson away from liquids of any form if you want it to last a lifetime (especially when you take their price range into account).
Jamie is the Founder of My Home Dwelling. He is a homeowner and enjoys sharing his homeowner tips with others. He has real estate experience working as a new home construction Realtor. Jamie has worked on numerous residential construction sites helping with interior and exterior renovations. He loves refinishing furniture, DIY home projects, and sharing his knowledge online.