How To Access, Clean, And Replace Your Ridgid Wet/Dry Vac Filter

How to access, clean and replace the filter on your RIDGID wet/dry shop vacuum utilizing the the Qwik Lock™ Fastening system.

[JayZoop]

Another reason to jump on YouTube before any project, no matter how small a task.

[cullum]

8 years later and this is still the most helpful 48 seconds for these vacs!!

[RioJudy]

My GOD. Hours trying to do it and one 30 second video did it! Thank you!

[dyanethcubana]

My husband almost broke the plastic tip but we decided to look it up. Thanks for sharing video!

[HeadCase]

Answered my question in 10 seconds. Thats possibly a world record. Thanks

[logansethmaddox]

Thanks for posting this bc we spent 5 1/2 hours trying to figure out how to do this. Was fixed by a 49 second video. We appreciate it.

[jpp]

Great video for us lazy s.o.b's not wanting to fetch the owners manual, thanks! One Hundred Likes👍

[shanemiller]

Man I have to say I pulled the long noses out and was about to break it then I said wait a min this isn't mine I jumped on YouTube and watched your video thank u so much

[midwill]

Thank you so very much for posting this. I would have spent forever figuring that out.

[safehavencarequality]

Thank you I just saved my dad an hour of frustration and braking the damn thing with this couple second video. Much appreciated lol

[vincevega]

lol. Luckily I didn’t twist the pliers overly hard. I thought it was a white screw.

I used powder Tide detergent and soaked in sink for a few minutes. Rinsed off all the debris with water spray. To my surprise the filter was actually blue… I thought it was grey. 😂

[shanemiller]

And happy cleaning to u and yours sir God bless us all

[cathyt]

This is great I was so frustrated I ripped it off, now I will just buy a new one.

[sheldontobe]

Glad I found this video because I was about to mangle the plastic fastener on top to get the darn thing off.

[christianaupont]

Thank you so much I really appreciate it. I got a flood and trying to vaccum it up. Big help!!

[CBinCali]

This was so helpful. Perfect! Thank you.

[Misanthropy]

I wish there was a little more specification on the cleaning technique and filter variation. First of all, why would you let the wet filter (sponge black spongy one) dry before using when you are sucking up water? I would only wash that filter and let it dry before storing it again apart from the vac. Second, most people know that even in high end Dyson filters you don't flush the debris going the same direction as the air flow because this would force the particles into the pores they are being held by, trapping debris between the layers or making that pore less effective for later use. I believe this to be more true with the lower grade white paper/fiber type filter which comes with the unit.

I would start off by banging the filter on the garbage can/vac canister, then use a light almost faucet pressure and rinse the inside letting the debris move away from the deepest part of the v groove and onto the fins. then turn the pressure slightly up and rinse the outside of the filter in a top to bottom vertical angle. Then obviously let dry.

I do not own the higher end blue and green filters, they look to be made out of a better material that might hold up to initial outside rinsing.

Just my two cents because the prices of a couple filters make up the cost of the entire unit.

[Thunderm]

This video is a great help thank you so much👍🏻

[tallll]

O my gosh, how about posting directions or pictures how to do this on the vacuum box or something, unbelievable

[taylorlewis]

Quick question - How often should the filter be cleaned or changed? -Thanks!