If your Dyson High Torque floor head is packed with dirt, hair and dust, sometimes removing the brush bar for a quick clean isn't enough. The floor head can be dismantled much further so you can properly clean the plastic parts, remove trapped hair and get into areas you normally can't reach.
In this guide I'll show you how to take apart, clean and reassemble a Dyson High Torque floor head as fitted to machines including the Dyson V10, V11 and V15.
The exact floor head fitted to your Dyson can vary, but the process is also very similar on later anti-tangle High Torque heads.
Tools You'll Need
For the floor head demonstrated in the video, you'll need:
- T8 Torx screwdriver
- Phillips/cross-head screwdriver
- Flat-head screwdriver
- A coin
- Soft toothbrush or cleaning brush
- Warm water for the washable plastic components
- Cloths for wiping and drying
Before starting, remove the floor head from the vacuum cleaner.
1. Remove the Dyson High Torque Brush Bar
Use a coin to turn the locking end cap on the side of the floor head.
I prefer using a coin rather than a screwdriver because a screwdriver can easily damage the plastic slot.
Once unlocked, pull the main brush bar out of the floor head. The end cap can also be removed from the brush bar so it can be cleaned separately.
If you have one of the later anti-tangle versions of the High Torque head, the basic process is very similar.
2. Remove the Floor-Head Screws
Start with the four small Torx screws across the front of the floor head.
There are then two cross-head screws towards the rear, one at each corner.
Once these are removed, the relevant plastic sections can begin to lift away. A flat-head screwdriver can help release them, but work carefully rather than forcing the plastic.
3. Remove the Remaining Torx Screws
Inside the floor head you'll find another series of Torx screws across the rear section.
There's also a screw around the centre of the assembly which is shorter than the others.
Keep track of where the different screws came from. Taking a quick photo before removing them can make reassembly considerably easier.
4. Release the Front and Rear Panels
The front section can now be unclipped from the floor head.
For the rear panel, insert a flat-head screwdriver into the appropriate gap and gently rotate the screwdriver to help release the clips.
The aim isn't to aggressively lever the casing apart. A small twisting action should help the clips release without putting unnecessary stress on the plastic.
5. Don't Miss the Hidden Screw
There's a hidden Torx screw underneath a sticker on this High Torque floor head.
This needs to be removed before the stem section can be separated from the rest of the assembly.
Hidden screws are worth remembering whenever you're dismantling a Dyson floor head: if something feels firmly attached after you've removed all the obvious screws, check carefully before applying more force.
6. Separate the Electrical Parts Before Cleaning
Once the hidden screw is removed, carefully release the wiring and separate the clear housing.
You can then lift out the motor assembly and remove the stem.
This is an important point in the cleaning process.
Do not put the motor, wiring or electrical stem assembly into water.
Put those parts safely to one side. We're only going to wash the suitable non-electrical plastic components.
7. Remove Hair From the Brush Bar
Before washing the brush bar, cut away any hair or fibres wrapped around it.
Pay particular attention to the ends of the roller, where hair can work its way into the rotating components.
Removing the hair before washing also stops it disappearing down your sink – which may save you another repair job later.
8. Deep Clean the Non-Electrical Parts
The removable non-electrical plastic components can now be cleaned using warm water and a mild cleaning solution.
A toothbrush or soft cleaning brush is useful for getting into corners and removing compacted dirt.
The sole plate tends to be one of the dirtiest components because it's constantly exposed to the floor, so expect to spend a little longer cleaning this section.
Only wash components you're certain are completely separate from the motor, wiring and other electrical parts.
9. Clean the Clear Plastic Housing
The clear section of a well-used Dyson floor head is unlikely to return to perfect glass-like transparency.
Fine particles continually hit the plastic during normal use and can leave tiny marks and scratches on the surface.
Cleaning will remove the dirt, but don't be surprised if some cloudiness or marking remains afterwards.
There is also a seal around the clear housing. If possible, I tend to leave this seal in position because it can be fiddly to refit.
If yours comes away during cleaning, make sure it's correctly positioned again during reassembly.
10. Be Careful With the Front Mechanism
The front section contains a spring and the mechanism operated by the adjustment slider.
I don't generally submerge this complete mechanism unnecessarily. It usually doesn't become particularly dirty and keeping it together reduces the chance of losing a spring or other small component.
A careful wipe is normally sufficient.
11. Leave Everything to Dry Completely
Once the washable parts are clean, put them somewhere dry and well ventilated and leave them until they're completely dry.
Leaving the parts overnight is sensible, but drying time will vary.
Do not begin reassembling the powered floor head with damp components.
12. Refit the Front Red Pieces
Once everything is dry, start with the red components at the front of the sole plate.
Orientation matters here. In the video, I describe them as looking a little like a handlebar moustache, which is probably easier to remember than any technical description I could give them.
Push them back into their correct positions and make sure the mechanism can move as intended.
13. Refit the High Torque Motor
Before reinstalling the motor, inspect the area around it for accumulated hair and fluff.
If anything has wrapped around the rotating components, remove it now.
The front corner of the motor assembly locates into a shaped section within the housing.
This is one of the fiddliest parts of the reassembly. Don't force it. Take your time until the motor sits naturally in its correct position.
14. Refit the Stem and Clear Housing
With the motor positioned correctly, refit the stem and secure it with its screw.
The clear plastic housing can then be positioned over the assembly.
Check that everything sits correctly with no unexpected gaps around the casing.
Also make sure the stem can swivel freely. I continually check its movement during reassembly because it's an easy way to spot something that's become trapped or incorrectly positioned.
15. Route the Dyson Floor-Head Wiring Correctly
Pay close attention to the wiring when rebuilding the floor head.
The wires have specific channels within the plastic housing where they're designed to sit.
Make sure the wiring is inside these channels before fitting the surrounding panels.
Never trap or pinch a wire between two pieces of plastic.
Once the wiring is safely positioned, refit the rear panels and check again that the stem moves correctly.
16. Reassemble the Adjustment Mechanism
The red components at the front connect with the slider mechanism on the floor head.
Small locating prongs on the red pieces need to sit inside the corresponding channels in the slider assembly.
Once correctly positioned, test the slider before replacing all the screws.
Moving the slider should operate the red sections underneath the floor head smoothly.
17. Clean Hair From the Small Wheels
The small wheels on a Dyson High Torque floor head are another place where hair commonly becomes tightly wrapped around the axles.
If yours are clogged and no longer turning freely, they can be removed for cleaning.
Carefully lift the wheel and use suitable pliers to withdraw the small metal pivot. The wheel can then be removed and the trapped hair cut away.
Refit the wheel in the reverse order and push the metal pivot securely back into position.
Some cosmetic marking of the surrounding plastic is possible when removing these, so I wouldn't take them out unnecessarily if they're already clean and rotating freely.
18. Refit the Brush Bar
Once the floor head is completely reassembled, refit the end cap to the cleaned brush bar.
Slide the brush bar back into the High Torque head and use a coin to lock the end cap.
Make sure the locking slot finishes in its correct position and that the brush bar is properly secured.
Final Checks Before Using Your Dyson
Before reconnecting the floor head to your Dyson V10, V11 or V15, check:
- The brush bar is correctly installed and turns as expected.
- The stem swivels freely.
- The adjustment slider operates correctly.
- The small wheels rotate freely.
- No wires are trapped between plastic panels.
- There are no unexpected gaps in the casing.
- Every screw has been returned to its correct position.
- Every washed component is completely dry.
Taking a Dyson High Torque floor head this far apart is more involved than a normal brush-bar clean, but it allows you to remove dirt and hair from areas that simply can't be reached during routine maintenance.
And if you've made it through the complete dismantling and reassembly without losing that tiny screw, you've done particularly well.