Empty the bin after every session, wash the filter on the maker’s schedule — several are washable HEPA rather than disposable — and clear hair from the hose, which is where suction is actually lost.
Suction complaints in this family are usually blockage complaints.
The bin
Empty it after each session, not when it is full. Hair compacts and the last third of a bin does nothing.
The filter
Some kits use a washable HEPA element, which saves the recurring cost entirely. Wash it, dry it completely, and refit — a damp filter smells and restricts airflow.
The hose
The commonest hidden blockage. Hair collects at the bends; a long thin hose is also where much of the suction quoted at the motor disappears.
The attachments
Combs and brushes clog with undercoat. A quick brush-out between sections keeps the collection working, which is the entire point of the machine.
This does not replace your device’s manual. Blade temperatures, locking mechanisms and cleaning procedures differ from model to model, and the manufacturer’s instructions take precedence over anything written here. Unplug a device before dismantling it, check a hot blade or an air nozzle against your own hand before it goes anywhere near an animal, and keep a mechanism that closes or rotates under supervision until you know how it behaves.
Last reviewed 2026-08-17