If you think a shop vac is only for workshops, then you might want to think again.
My son got me one last year, and since then, it has become an indispensable part of my household. Its super effective cleaning has been especially beneficial for cleaning practically any spillage. Impressed by its overall functionality, I decided to get my friend a shop vac for her housewarming party.
But being fully aware of her aversion to operating such seemingly complicated machinery, I also decided to note down the steps for using it.
At the same time, I thought it would be a good idea to share the details with my readers. Hi! I’m Stacy, and today, I have curated this step-by-step guide on how to use a shop vac.
Let’s get going!
Which Is The Best Shop Vac To Buy?
Before I take you through the details of using a shop vac, here’s some advice about the type of shop vac to go for.
Generally, most wet/dry or shop vacs available in the market today have a capacity ranging between 1 gallon and 20 gallons. Now, most homeowners prefer a model in the 4-gallon to 10-gallon capacity range. But the capacity will depend on how much water you’re looking to clean.
For example, if you don’t need to clean a lot of water regularly, a smaller vacuum will come in handy. Likewise, you’d want a shop vac with a larger capacity to avoid draining the tank frequently. To give you an idea, the cleaned water weighing around 8 and ½ pounds per gallon can make a moderate capacity vacuum weigh nearly 130 pounds.
If you can’t really estimate the amount of water to be cleaned (like for carpets where the water level is not visible), I’d recommend going for a high-capacity unit.
How To Use A Shop Vacuum?
Step 1
You’d want to start by removing the collection bag from the wet/dry vacuum, as it’s not designed to carry liquid waste or water. For this, unlatch the blower-unit section located at the top of the vacuum and detach the collection bag, along with any related fasteners. Set them aside until you have completed vacuuming.
Step 2
The next step is to remove the dry filters, which, much like the collection bag, aren’t usually kept during the wet operation. These filters may also be made of plastic, equipped with pleated paper folds in some models. Or, they may be in the form of filter clothes wrapped around the filtering unit and secured with a rubber band.
While removing the filter may not be necessary for smaller spills, you should never skip this step for cleaning a large spill, as a wet filter will promote mildew formation. Simply remove the top of the vacuum by loosening the knob at the bottom of the shaft. If your machine comes with a wet filter, replace the existing one with it.
In case your dry vac has a single collection tank for dry and wet cleaning, and you have already dry cleaned, you will need to empty it to make room for the liquid waste.
Step 3
Although many shop vacs come with various nozzles for both dry and wet cleaning, I prefer using the broad one with a flat head, which works well for flat surfaces. But you may attach any other nozzle (according to the area to be cleaned and the amount of spilled liquid). This is also the step where you’d be attaching the hose to the vacuum.
If there’s a lot of water to be cleaned, you may consider using a compatible pump to simplify the task.
Step 4
Since it’s about cleaning water with an electric-powered machine, I’d strongly recommend plugging the vacuum into a GFCI (Ground-Fault Circuit Interpreter) outlet. That said, most models come with a double insulated plug, meaning you can plug them into any outlet, whether GFCI or not.
Step 5
With everything set, it’s now time to start vacuuming. Switch on the vacuum, place the nozzle on the required area and wait until you see the water depleting. Gradually move the nozzle to the other spots and repeat the process until the vacuum soaks all the water.
Even if there’s a large quantity of standing water, you’d practically follow the same method. Moreover, wet/dry vacuums have a reputation for soaking up standing water pretty quickly, so you don’t have to spend a lot of your time cleaning.
Here, I should also mention that the sound of the motor will change once the tank is filled up to the maximum level, and that’s when you stop vacuuming. You can drain the tank at this point and then continue vacuuming.
Remember to get rid of any debris every time you empty the tank. Once you’re done vacuuming, dispose of the water in the sink and flush it thoroughly.
Step 6
Never store your vacuum without cleaning it, as this will invariably result in mold and mildew formation inside the collection tank.
I like following a “two-step cleanse” where I first wash the tank with plain water and then add a mixture of 1 gallon of hot water and 1/4th cup of household bleach (or dish soap). Use a soft cloth to gently scrub the inside of the tank and drain the mix through the hose.
Lastly, keep the tank upside-down and hang the hose vertically to let the excess water drain away before putting back the collection bag and air filter for storage.
- ❤【LARGER CAPACITY】Stanley SL18116P Wet / Dry Vacuum has a larger capacity over 22 L, makes small clean-up jobs a breeze for you as you don’t have to empty the bucket frequently any more.Runtime: 300.0 hours
- ❤【VERSATILE & POWERFUL】Thanks to the 4 peak HP motor, this vac offers powerful enough suction needed to almost any cleanup jobs in vehicle, jobsite, workshop, garage, basement, van, house, etc
- ❤【3 in 1 FUNCTION】With this versatile vac you can vacuum both wet liquid spills and dry debris, dust, saw, dirt or blow leaves away(use blower port), just organize the hose and power cord on top handle and side wraps after using, conveniently
- POWERFUL CLEANING: This wet and dry vacuum effectively tackles messes, ideal for home, garage, or job site cleaning tasks
- DURABLE DESIGN: Featuring a sturdy stainless steel tank, this wet vacuum cleaner withstands repeated use, maintaining efficiency
- VERSATILE ACCESSORIES: This wet and dry vacuum cleaner includes a reusable cloth filter, foam wet filter, and locking hose, plus multiple nozzles and extension wands for diverse cleaning tasks
Conclusion
On that note, it’s time for me to wrap up today’s guide.
And I’m sure that by now, the apparently difficult job of operating a shop vac isn’t as complicated anymore! But before I leave, here’s one last piece of advice: using multiple extensions will hinder the efficiency of the shop vac while picking up water. So, try and avoid using extension wands, if possible.
I’ll see you again with more such guides. Till then, adios!