For the health of your family, vacuum bag and filter changes should be a habit - just like regular doctor visits. They are essential for optimal performance of your vacuum, but sometimes hard to remember to do. One way to keep track is to tie your vacuum maintenance to other seasonal tasks such as changing light bulbs and checking batteries in smoke detectors.

Bags

Change the bags before they’re full, and you’ll have a cleaner home. Vacuum bags are commonly out of sight, therefore out of mind! Remember to check your vacuum bag frequently. You’ll want to check the bag often, if you pick up a lot of fine dust in your home or vacuum pet hair several times a week, which can clog a bag very quickly, you’ll want to check the bag often. A full bag does not allow the air to circulate through the vacuum, which makes the vacuum work harder and reduces cleaning performance.
When it’s time to change your vacuum bag, consider the many types of bags available to you.
Synthetic Bags
Synthetic bags are almost impossible to rip (although you should always be gentle!) When removing the bag, you can be confident the dust and dirt will stay enclosed in a synthetic bag. Synthetic bags also provide high airflow longer than paper bags, which means you can use the bag longer without clogging.
High-Filtration or Premium Bags
Bags can also offer additional help capturing allergy triggers. High-filtration bags also can offer additional help reducing allergy triggers in the home by capturing dust and other particles that can cause allergy symptoms. Premium bags from trusted brands such as the line from ARM & HAMMER® available at Wal-Mart offer allergen and HEPA filtration options and are recommended by allergists to relieve and reduce allergy symptoms. Premium Allergen vacuum bags retain up to 100 percent of dust mite debris, grass and ragweed pollens, plus particles 15 times smaller than a human hair (a human hair is 50-70 microns).
HEPA Bags
Designed according to strict HEPA standards, HEPA bags trap particles 75 times smaller than a human hair. This includes 99.97 percent of dust mites, pet dander, molds and pollen. If you’re concerned with indoor air quality or suffer from allergies or asthma, HEPA bags are the best solution for your bagged vacuum, especially if it does not have a sealed HEPA system.

Filters, Brushrolls and Belts

Most bags and bagless vacs have filters, and they should be changed regularly. How regularly you change your filter depends on how often you vacuum and what kind of filter you have. Some are washable, and don’t have to be replaced as often. Check your owner’s guide to see what kind of filter you have! As a rule of thumb:
• HEPA filters should be replaced every six months to maintain peak filtration. These filters, like Filtrete® by 3M HEPA vacuum filters, are designed to help trap 99.97 percent of all airborne pollutants that are 0.3 microns or larger, including mold spores, pet dander, pollen and other microscopic allergens.
• Dust cup filters (the filters you can usually see through your dust cup) in bagless vacuums should be replaced every six months.
• Motor filters should be checked periodically and replaced at least once a year.
You should also check belts and remove and clean the brushroll (the brush on the bottom of the vacuum that rotates to pick up dirt) several times a year. If belts appear worn or your brushroll makes a vibrating noise, these may be signs that your belt needs to be replaced. Refer to your owner’s manual for instructions specific to your vacuum to perform these tasks.

Cords

Occasionally check the electric cord for damaged or exposed wires as you put the vacuum away. Exposed wires are dangerous if not repaired promptly.