The Folly of Using a Vacuum to Clean Itself
Two days ago, I wrote about my awesome new vacuum cleaner. I reported that one of the drawbacks of this Hoover model is that the bonus allergy filter gets really dirty and is hard to clean.
I’m usually a pretty handy gal. I can figure out how machines work. On this occasion though, I completely misread the airflow on the vacuum.
I took this extra filter out, put the bagless canister back in the machine, and then used the hose attachment to suction off the dirt.
Yeah, that did not work.
I thought the main filter would be enough, but duh! This is the stuff that got past the main filter in the first place. That’s why the secondary filter is all dirty.
I know. It makes sense now.
But also, I somehow convinced myself that the airflow went the opposite way than it really does.
Wonderfully, all this mess did not go directly into the engine and break my new machine. I pulled out and cleaned the third level filter. It now works as before.
The boyfriend pointed out the logic loop I was trying to make work. He also referenced Being John Malkovich, which is a movie I don’t really remember well.
In any case, I know there’s a greater lesson here that I hope I will remember for the future. I’m just not sure what that lesson is exactly.