How To Clean A Shark Vacuum Hose (Quickly & Easily!)

Ossiana Tepfenhart
by Ossiana Tepfenhart

When it comes to matters of reliable floor cleaning, few names are as treasured as Shark. Shark is one of the hottest new brands of vacuums on the market and regularly gets awards for its action. However, a great build doesn’t mean that a Shark vacuum cleaner is immune to maintenance needs. Even the vacuum hoses need to get cleaned from time to time. But, how do you clean a vacuum hose without wrecking it?

Cleaning your Shark vacuum hose can be done in several different steps. We suggest doing the following:

  • Start by rinsing the hose with hot water, covering one end with your hand, and shaking the hose to loosen debris.
  • Remove your hand from the hose bottom, and let the dirty water fall out. 
  • Mix baking soda and vinegar together, then pour it down the hose. Cover the end with one hand to contain the mixture, and shake. 
  • Remove your hand from the hose bottom, and run warm water through the hose. 
  • Follow up with a cold water rinse, then lay it flat to dry. 

This procedure might look like overkill to some, but it can greatly improve the quality of your vacuuming sessions. To make things easier for you, we made this guide to help explain what you should do, why you should do it, and how it all works.

Do You Need To Clean Out Your Shark Vacuum’s Hose?

This is generally a “yes.” Even if you don’t think it’s clogged, cleaning out your vacuum’s parts is a smart way to make sure that you get the best possible suction for your cleaning. Think about it this way: machines are designed to be used with regular maintenance. This is really part of your expected maintenance, even if it’s not as obvious as cleaning out your vacuum’s canister.

Most people do not clean out their vacuum hoses until they see some warning signs. That’s okay, to a point. If you are wondering if your hose is due for a cleaning, look for these warning signs below:

  • Your vacuum’s suction is fading. In the beginning, you were able to pick up anything with your vacuum—all in one single touch. These days, that’s not the case. Your suction is fading and it often takes multiple passes to get a single, very visible object lifted off the couch. Sound familiar? It could be a clog in the vacuum hose.
  • There’s an odd smell coming from your vacuum, especially the hose. Yikes! That could be a sign that you vacuumed up some food or plant matter, and that it now turned into mold. A cleanup is a must in this situation.
  • Stuff falls out of the hose when you try to use a vacuum attachment. If you’re already having stuff fall out of your vacuum having stuff come out, then you are long overdue for a cleaning.
  • Every time you use the vacuum, you hear a strange noise. Depending on what’s clogging your vacuum hose, you might hear a weird buzzing or grinding sound. This is because some of the debris it’s picking up could be hitting the stuff that’s clogged, or that the clog is vibrating due to the air pulling items in.
  • Your vacuum started to overheat. Sometimes this can be a result of having too much stuff caught in the vacuum hose.
  • The vacuum started to blow out gunk. Did you recently notice your vacuum spitting out a bunch of debris? If so, it’s time for a cleaning.

What Should I Do If Food Is Rotting Inside My Vacuum Hose?

If food is rotting inside your Shark vacuum’s hose, then you shouldn’t panic. This happens to everyone once in a while, especially if you have kids prone to dropping food on the dining floor carpet. The best thing that you can do if you have food stuck in there is to follow the directions in our answer paragraph.

If you are left with extra food stuck in there, or the odor is particularly foul, do a second run of baking soda and vinegar. Baking soda and vinegar both work to deodorize things, making it a huge ally here.

Can You Use Other Cleaning Solvents To Clear Out A Vacuum Hose?

Yes, but you need to be careful of what you use and how you use it. Here’s what you need to know:

  • Do not use bleach or ammonia. This will dry out your vacuum hose and possibly even wreck it. Avoid using solvents that have these two ingredients, even if they would be safe for clothes.
  • Hydrogen peroxide rarely does anything for a vacuum hose. Unless you have a lot of biological agents, there’s no reason to use this. Even then, you may find that it’s simply faster and easier to use a vinegar and baking soda solution.
  • Dish soap can also work, but you need to dilute it. A teaspoon of dish soap in a quart of water is usually good enough. To ensure that you’re not left with sticky residue, you will need to rinse it twice. Otherwise, you might end up with even more dust stuck to the hose interior over time.
  • Laundry soap can be used to make a solution, but it needs to be diluted too. We suggest a very gentle cleaner, like Woolite. Dilute it by adding a quart to half a teaspoon. This stuff is still fairly potent.

How Hot Does The Water Need To Be When You First Loosen Up The Dirt?

One might be tempted to say the hotter, the better, but this isn’t true. You are, after all, going to have a hand on the end of the vacuum hose and you don’t want to get burned. The best way to explain it is that you should have the water be hot to the touch, but not hot enough to scald you. That’s basically a hot bath.

Some older models may have a sensitive hose. If your model is older than two years, it’s best to just use warm water instead. Hot (or worse, boiling) could cause the hose to crack and break. Even if your model is old, having some warmth is still a good idea. Coldwater doesn’t break up debris the way that warm water does.


Related Questions

Are Shark vacuums reliable?

Absolutely. Shark is considered to be one of the most reliable vacuum companies in America, primarily because they put a lot of work into engineering vacuums that will last and last. Along with a fairly good warranty system, people can expect to get great results every time they whip out the vacuum for the latest mess.Currently, Shark has several different warranty policies that protect their products. They range from one to five years, all of which are limited. As long as you register your vacuum, you should be able to get any repairs or replacements you need in the event of a defective part.


How long does a Shark vacuum last?

It all depends on how often you use your vacuum, whether you maintain it, and the type of vacuum it is. With daily use and regular cleaning, most people can expect to keep their vacuum up and running for at least five years. Most will last as long as seven with proper care, and some models are even capable of lasting a whole 10 years.When compared to other vacuums, Shark’s lifespan is quite a bit longer. This is why many people find these vacuums to be a great buy.


Is Shark as good as Dyson?

Both Dyson and Shark are high-quality brands, and for the most part, they are tied on reliability. Which brand is best for you, though, will hinge on a number of factors. Shark vacuums are lighter weight and have less suction, making them better at light routine cleaning. On the other hand, if you want a bulkier vacuum that is meant for deep cleaning, a Dyson is generally the better choice.Both carpet vacuum companies have their own perks and pitfalls, but there are also exceptions to the rule. When picking a vacuum, choose by model, not by brand.

Ossiana Tepfenhart
Ossiana Tepfenhart

Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.

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