Maybe, some places say don't wash others say do so with care. I'm sure somewhere there's some that say go ahead and wash, I've just not seen that. My cleaning routine for bags started with the beating you described, but it was outside with the bags turned inside out. Then I took my shop vac and vac'd over the inner surface which really always got them cleaned up enough. My bags were AFF, and they suggested that I not wash them. But let me ask, if you've lost air flow you did check the other stuff as well? Like a clog in the ducts, or maybe a blast gate left open. If you run the DC without the bags on does the air flow return to the ductwork (that would sure say you are correct). BTW, don't run it too long without the bags, it's possible you could burn up the motor. Anyway, nothing to do now but put them back on and see what happens. I suppose the bags could be so clogged they can't be cleaned (that happened to the canister filter on mine) in which case you would need new bags.

 

I don't put my bag in the washer, it has a metal band in it that'd probably rust out in no time. Mine is a 5 micron bag that filters some weensy particles but even that lets the real small ones through. I invert and beat it till it screams then I put the compressor to it with a blower nozzle. Then I hit it with the garden hose and hung it over the swing set beam to dry.

 

If you are using the old cloth dust bags stop. These collect the large particles very well. Unfortunately they are the perfect dispersal units for the small particulates that actually cause lung disease as they push them out of the bag under great pressure. There have been some excellent articles in Fine Woodworking and other magazines about dust collection. Think of a good dust collector as a good health insurance policy. Expensive? Depends on what your lungs and health are worth.

 

I am not saying this is a good idea or not. There was no research done before I threw mine in the washing machine. Washing it did not seem to harm the bag but I guess excessive washing cycles could do damage. To be completely honest I did not read the manual… I may do that tomorrow.

 

Buy a Winn, its cheap health insurance.
When you get COPD, turn on the dust collector and still wear a really good dust mask you'll understand.
60+ yrs in the shop. Whats that? Don't hear very well either.
Wish I'd have some attention to those OSHA dudes.

 

AMEN SLIM!!

Listen to this guy, men.

If you work with MDF you're dealing with some really bad stuff.

 

Have you thought about all the grit you are subjecting the washing machine to?
Bags are cheaper than new laundry appliances.
Kind Regards
Sting

 

I used to wash the factory bags that came with my Delta AP400 with just a garden hose and given how poorly they blocked fine dust it's hard to tell if it did any damage. I replaced them with a much larger top bag from AFF and a plastic lower collection bag. I have noticed the air flow when brand new was tremendous and after seasoning has dropped dramatically. When it gets really bad, I'll beat it from the outside knocking some of the dust down into the plastic bag, then stick a broom inside after removing the lower bag to further clean it out. This process has never allowed me to regain the new flow capability, but works well enough to keep things flowing the way they need to.