How to remove hair from a vacuum brush bar

Before you start

Safety comes first, as a brush bar can spin if the vacuum switches on by accident.

• Switch off and remove the battery or unplug the vacuum.
• Detach the floor head from the wand.
• Have scissors or a seam ripper, a dry cloth and a bin bag ready.
• Work over a table or newspaper.

Note:Never try to clear a brush bar while the vacuum is powered. Keep fingers away from the bar when the battery is fitted.

Remove the brush bar

Most cordless heads let you remove the bar without tools. On many Dyson heads you turn a coin-slot end cap or slide a catch, then pull the bar out sideways. On many Shark and Samsung heads you lift a cover or press a release under the head. Check your manual for your model.

If your bar does not come out, you can still clear it in place. Turn the head over and work carefully along the visible part of the bar.

Cut and pull the hair away

Look for a groove running along the bar; many bars have one for this purpose. Slide the tip of the scissors or a seam ripper under the hair along the groove and cut through it. The hair will then come away in short lengths.

Pull the cut hair off by hand. Work along the bar until it is clear, then roll it and check for strands caught deep in the bristles.

1. 1

   Find the groove along the bar.

2. 2

   Cut along the groove with scissors or a seam ripper.

3. 3

   Pull the cut hair away by hand.

4. 4

   Check the bristles for remaining strands.

Clean the end caps and bearings

Hair works its way into the ends of the bar, around the end caps and bearings. This is where it does the most harm, because it adds friction and can make the bar slow or stop. Pull off the end caps if your manual allows and remove all the hair you find.

Wipe the ends with a dry cloth. Do not oil bearings unless the manual says so, and do not wash a bar that has an electrical connection. Soft rollers on some models can be rinsed; check your manual and let them dry fully, at least 24 hours.

Refit and test

Slide the bar back in, making sure it engages with the drive at one end, and close the end cap or cover until it clicks. Refit the head to the wand and test it on a hard floor, where you can see the bar spinning.

If the bar does not spin, check it is seated properly and that the head clicks firmly onto the wand. Our Shark not working article and Dyson not turning on article cover other causes.

Anti-tangle heads and prevention

Anti-tangle designs reduce wrapping. Dyson's de-tangling heads use combs or vanes to lift hair off the bar, and Shark's Anti Hair Wrap heads use combs to clear the roll as it spins. They keep the middle of the bar clear, though hair can still build up at the ends.

Check the head once a month, more often with pets or long hair in the house. Our anti hair wrap explainer explains how each design works, and our pet hair guide lists heads that handle hair well.

Best cordless vacuums for pet hair →

When to replace the brush bar

Replace the bar if the bristles are worn short, flattened or missing, if the bar is cracked, or if the end caps are damaged and no longer hold it firmly. Worn bristles cannot reach into carpet, so the vacuum picks up less even with full suction.

Buy a genuine replacement using the model code on the head, as bars differ in length and drive fitting.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I clean my brush bar? Once a month in most homes, more often with pets or long hair.

Can I wash a vacuum brush bar? Some soft rollers can be rinsed; most bristle bars should only be wiped. Check your manual.

Why does my brush bar stop spinning? Hair at the ends, a jam or a poor connection between head and wand are the usual causes.

Do anti-tangle heads need cleaning? Yes, less often, as hair can still build up at the ends of the bar.