Your vacuum cleaner bags take the brunt of your cleaning jobs—they’re the receptacles that house all the gross dust, dirt and allergens that collect in your home in between cleanings. Generally speaking, you don’t want to just remove your disposable vacuum bag and toss it into the garbage without much thought. There are several ways you can properly dispose of vacuum cleaner bags so the dust is properly discarded and you’re not reintroducing it into your environment. With that in mind, throwing away vacuum bags is amazingly easy and takes under a minute.
The Best Way to Throw Away Disposable Vacuum Bags
If you’re looking to dispose of a bag that has been filled with common household dirt and debris, like the stuff you target during your regular sweepings, then you can throw away vacuum bags in your regular household trash following the instructions below. If you’re using your vacuum cleaner for cleaning up potentially hazardous or dangerous materials, you will need to take a few extra steps. We’ve provided some suggestions for how to dispose of those materials at the bottom of this article.
- Talk with your city or private waste company about their guidelines for disposal. Some municipalities have specific rules for how to get rid of certain household items.
- Turn off and unplug the vacuum cleaner.
- Remove the bag from your vacuum cleaner following the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Take the vacuum cleaner bag outside and dispose of it in your regular trash container. If possible, remove the bag from the machine outside to prevent messes. Do not recycle full vacuum cleaner bags.
- Wash out the inside of the bag compartment immediately after removing the bag, as dirt may fall into the bag compartment and become trapped.
- Put a new vacuum bag in the compartment according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Note that the Vacuum and Sewing Dealers Trade Association recommends that you never use a vacuum cleaner bag if it’s more than half full and that you never attempt to empty the dirt and dust within the bag. The association also emphasizes the importance of never reusing vacuum cleaner bags. These things can reduce the effectiveness of cleaning and put strain on your vacuum cleaner.
A Few Exceptions to the Rule
Note that you will need to take some extra steps if you’re disposing of filters contaminated with lead, mold or any other type of debris that may be toxic to you and your family. There are specific guidelines for cleaning lead-contaminated vacuum bags, so make sure that you’re closely following these instructions so that you’re not reintroducing any toxic or hazardous waste into the environment. If you’ve used your vacuum to sweep up hazardous materials, contact your local department of health and waste division for information on how to dispose.
Can You Recycle Vacuum Bags?
It’s not recommended that you open vacuum cleaner bags after they’ve been sealed, as this could contaminate your house and reintroduce dust and debris into the environment. And since you can’t recycle dirt, dust and debris, you won’t be able to recycle your vacuum bags unless they are empty and have never been used. We recommend considering bagless vacuum cleaners to reduce the cost and environmental impact of sweeping in your home.
Vacuum Bags from eVacuumStore
At eVacuumStore.com, you’ll find a great selection of vacuum cleaner bags for all major brands, including Bissell, Dirt Devil, Eureka, GE, Hoover, Honeywell, Miele and more. We’re happy to help you find the right vacuum cleaner bags or assist you with any of your vacuum-related purchases. Don’t hesitate to contact us for personalized advice!
