By shop vac we think it is for industrial use only. So, we don’t think about using it in our home. A soap vac can meet almost one hundred percent of your cleaning needs.
Vacuum cleaners are an important tool in our daily lives. However, from several categories of vacuum cleaners, we only think of using a few in our home. They include upright, canister, stick and robot vacuum. But are those regular uprights able to meet the full need to clean up our daily mess?
Suddenly you see your child has dropped his glass of juice or a leak in a pipe. It makes you anxious. Spills on the floor means you have to clean it in a traditional style. But did you know that a wet dry vacuum can be the solution to your annoyance. Where other vacuums have the ability to clean dry dirt, a shop vac is able to clean both dry dirt and spills.
A wet dry vacuum can pick up dirt in and around your house nicely. And at the same time, they can suck your spills to the very end. So, don’t you need to know, How to Use a Shop Vac to Vacuum Water? Let’s move on to that process.
Thing’s You’ll Need
- A shop vac
- A wet filter
How to Use a Shop Vac to Vacuum Water?
You need to be prepared with a wet dry vacuum to get the job done. Basically, I am going to tell you the steps through which you can get a perfect clean surface. Keep your baby and pets away to do the job, for their safety.
Step:1- Remove the Air Filter
If you are doing wet cleaning for the first time in the wake of a wet dry vacuum, you have previously used it for dry dirt. That means the air filter is still attached.
The first thing you need to do to clean the water with a wet dry vacuum is to remove the dry dirt filter. Most of the time they are made of paper with plastic rounds on both ends and secured with a rubber band. So, it is important to keep these paper filters in a safe place to keep them wet. And replace it with a wet filter.
Step:2- remove Dry Dirt
Place in a vacuum canister to store liquids. If there is already dry dust, it can make a mess. So remove the dust and empty the canister.
Some wet / dry vacuums bring loose bags for dry dirt type, in which case just remove the bag. And some even use a canister to collect both types of debris.
Step:3- Attach the hose/wet nozzle
Like other vacuum cleaners, shop vacs also come with different attachments. So, add the wet nozzle that comes with them. If a company does not point to a specific tool, then you have to pick it. Which has flat head and wide design.
Any other attachments are also capable of absorbing liquid water. However, wet nozzles are most suitable for flat surfaces. These flat attachments are capable of sucking liquids from carpets or any surface.
Step:4- plug it
After completing the above tasks, you are ready to clean. All you have to do is plug in the shop vac with the outlet. Wet dry vacuums are very powerful machines so they always come with an electric power system. Battery system vacuums tend to be relatively costly and less powerful.
Wet dry vacuums are always corded and you can plug them into non-GFCI outlets if you wish.
Step:5- vacuum the water
Turn on the vacuum and place the nozzle on the water. It will pull the water according to its capacity. When you finish in one place, go to another new place. Wet dry vacuums are able to absorb water quickly and work great. If your spills area is large, it can do something nice.
Avoid adding extra and unnecessary accessories while wet sucking as this interferes with suction power.
One more thing to keep in mind when cleaning with a wet dry vacuum is to fill their tanks. One way to understand this is to have a different kind of sound. Which basically indicates the tank is full. And you need to stop sucking up water immediately and turn off the vacuum.
Step: 6- Dispose of the Water
If the cleaning task is resolved or the vacuum tank is full, it is important to empty it for later use. For that you have to be careful as it can prove to be quite heavy.
Think carefully about draining them. Do not dispose of dirty water in any clean field or garden. Find the drain port at the bottom of the vacuum to empty the tank and open the mouth. Be sure to set it well where you want to drain the water so that you don’t get hurt with this heavy object.
Step:7- clean the canister and accessories
Since the canister uses garbage and dirty water, there is a possibility of mold or mildew growing in it even after dispose of it, so think about cleaning the tank when the work is done.
Rinse first with clean water, then mix with 1 gallon of hot water, dish soap as needed. Pour into canisters and clean well. Pour some of the mixture into the hose and clean. Now wash the canister and hose or other accessories (if using) with clean water. Be sure to dry the vacuum canister before storing, wipe the past with a cloth, or lower the canister. Hang the hose pipe vertically so that it can drain out.
Some Warnings You Should Remember
There are a few things to keep in mind when using a wet dry vacuum. The important ones can be mentioned.
- When using a vacuum, if it sounds different, stop using it quickly. This can damage the motor.
- Do not place the filter in it after it gets wet, it can attract dust.
- You must turn off the vacuum before you can empty the tank.
Wrap Up
You now know that a shop vac is not just for use in garages or basements. This can be a great machine for your home. Since you can clean dry dirt before and now know how to clean spills that meet the full needs of your cleaning needs.