How to Clean a Dyson Cyclone V10 Vacuum Filter
Clean and wash the washable one-piece filter assembly of a Dyson Cyclone V10 vacuum using cold water to maintain suction power and motor longevity.
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🧰 Required Tools & Equipment
- ✓ Sink with cold running tap
- ✓ Microfiber towel
- ✓ Drying rack or flat drying tray
- ✓ Trash can
📦 Materials & Supplies
- ✓ Cold tap water
⚠️ Safety Checkpoints & Warnings
- • Ensure the vacuum is disconnected from the charger and your finger is off the trigger before removing parts.
- • Never use soap, detergents, dishwashers, or washing machines, as they degrade the filter membrane.
- • Never reinstall a damp or wet filter; moisture drawn into the motor will cause permanent electrical failure.
📋 Step-by-Step Guide (7 Steps)
Remove Filter from Vacuum Body
Grip the purple filter cap located at the rear of the cyclone body. Twist it counter-clockwise about a quarter turn until it unlocks, then pull it straight back and off the machine.
- • Filter assembly is completely separated from the vacuum body
- • Rear motor housing opening is visible and clear
- • Pulling forcefully without twisting counter-clockwise first
- • Holding down the power trigger while gripping the machine
Tap Out Dry Debris
Hold the filter assembly upside down over a trash can. Tap the plastic rim gently against the edge of the bin to dislodge loose dust, lint, and fine particles before wetting it.
- • Fine dust clouds drop into the bin
- • No large loose dust clumps visible inside the pleats
- • Skipping dry tapping and wetting caked dust into muddy paste
- • Banging the filter too hard against a hard surface and cracking the plastic
Rinse Filter with Cold Water
Run cold tap water directly into the open end of the filter. Rotate the unit under the running stream so water flows through both the central foam core and the pleated paper outer layer.
- • Water actively streaming through the filter pleats and exiting the base
- • Cold water fully saturating both foam and paper sections
- • Using hot or boiling water which shrinks and damages filter media
- • Applying dish soap or chemical sprays to the filter
Fill, Shake, and Flush
Cup your hands firmly over both open ends of the filter to seal it. Fill the interior halfway with cold water, shake the assembly vigorously for 10-15 seconds, and dump out the dirty water. Repeat until the flushed water runs completely clear.
- • Rinse water exiting the filter turns from cloudy/grey to crystal clear
- • No residual dark sediment settling in the sink basin
- • Stopping after the first rinse while water is still murky grey
- • Shaking too close to tap fixtures and cracking the plastic housing
Squeeze and Shake Out Excess Water
Gently squeeze the foam exterior with both hands to expel trapped water, taking care not to crush the pleated paper sections. Give the entire assembly several firm downward shakes over the sink to clear standing moisture.
- • No steady water stream running out when held vertically
- • Outer purple plastic rim wiped dry with microfiber towel
- • Wringing or twisting the filter, which tears the internal foam and separates seams
- • Crushing the delicate folded paper pleats
Air Dry for 24 Hours
Place the filter on its wide open base on a drying rack in a warm, well-ventilated room with good airflow. Leave it undisturbed for a minimum of 24 full hours until the foam and interior pleats are bone dry to the touch.
- • Filter resting upright on wide end in an open area
- • Pleats and interior foam feel completely dry with zero cool dampness after 24 hours
- • Using a hair dryer, radiator, oven, or direct tumble dryer to speed up drying
- • Attempting to reinstall the filter after only a few hours while still damp
Reinstall Filter onto Vacuum
Align the guide notches on the filter cap with the matching slots on the rear of the vacuum handle. Push the filter straight on and twist clockwise a quarter turn until it clicks firmly into the locked position.
- • Filter sits completely flush against the vacuum housing with no visible gap
- • Locking indicator dots align perfectly on the casing
- • Cross-threading or forcing the filter on without aligning notches
- • Leaving the filter half-turned, which creates an air leak and triggers pulse error alerts
Credit: inspired by an original tutorial by Dyson — watch the original on YouTube.
Don’t have everything?
- No Drying rack or flat drying tray? Folded clean dry towel placed on a flat, well-ventilated counter