Russell Hobbs 18137 User manual

Ring the helpline
0845 658 9700
it’s a local rate number
instructions,
troubleshooting guide,
and guarantee
Problems?
Don’t take it back
to the shop,
they won’t be able
to fix it.

2
Read the instructions before using your vacuum cleaner, and keep them safe. If you
pass the cleaner on, pass on the instructions too.
important safeguards
Follow basic safety precautions, including the ones below. It’s quite a list, but most of
them are simple common sense.
1 The cleaner must only be used by or under the supervision of a responsible adult.
Use and store it out of reach of children.
2 Don’t put the cleaner in water or any other liquid, and don’t use it anywhere
damp or wet.
3 Don’t use the cleaner near a gas, oil (including paraffin), or open fire. The flame may
be sucked towards the cleaner, causing a fire hazard.
4 Keep hair, clothing, fingers (and toes), away from the end doing the sucking, and
from the brush roller. It won’t drag you bodily into the bin, but it may give you a bit
of a start.
5 Stuff you mustn’t pick up:
a) don’t pick up water or any other liquid – you’ll short the motor.
b) don’t pick up anything that may ignite spontaneously, like matches, or bits of
fire-lighter.
c) don’t pick up anything burning or smouldering, like cigarette ends, ashes, or
embers. Wait till they’re extinguished and cold.
d) don’t pick up spillage from toner cartridges – the fine carbon particles may pass
through the filter, short circuit the motor, and burn it out.
e) don’t pick up cement or plaster dust – they’ll combine with moisture in the air,
clog the filter, scour the bin, and maybe burn out the motor too.
f) don’t pick up anything sharp – you may puncture the filter and damage the
motor.
g) don’t pick up anything biological – you’ll eventually have to clean it off the filter,
and there’s always the possibility that viral particles may pass through the filter,
reach the air outlet, and enter your air supply.
6 If you use the cleaner outdoors (e.g. cleaning the car), connect it to the electricity
supply via a residual current device (RCD), with a rated residual operating current
not exceeding 30mA. Don’t let the cleaner get wet.
7 Don’t leave it unattended when plugged in.
8 Keep an eye on the cable, so it doesn’t catch on anything, or trip anyone up. Don’t
run the cleaner over the cable, you’ll damage it.
9 If you’re using the cleaner on stairs, sit it where it can’t topple, and keep it below you,
so if it does fall, it doesn’t land on you.
10 Don’t use the cleaner on people, animals, birds, or pets.
11 Unplug the cleaner and wind the cable round the cable carriers when not in use,
before moving and before cleaning.
12 Don’t use the cleaner if the bin is full – switch off, unplug, empty.
13 Don’t use the cleaner for any purpose other than those described in these
instructions.
14 Don’t use tools or attachments other than those we provide.
15 Don’t leave the cleaner in direct sunlight.

3
before using for the first time
Remove the packaging, but keep it till you’re
sure the cleaner is working properly.
filters
It’s vital you keep the filter
clean. If the filter is blocked,
you’ll lose suction rapidly. We’ve
made it easy to remove, and easy to
clean – the rest is down to you.
count the bits
The box should contain the base (the bit
with the wheels), the handle assembly, the
hose, the extension tube, the crevice tool,
and the small brush. Check that you’ve got
them all before you dispose of the packaging.
fit the handle
,You’ll need a cross-head screwdriver for this.
1 First, grip the pillar in one hand, grip the handle
in the other, and lift the handle into the upright
position. The handle lock will click into place.
2 Remove the two screws from the bottom of the
pillar.
3 Slide/push the pillar down, on to the base, till
the holes you’ve just removed the screws
from are aligned with the screw holes in the
small pillar sticking up from the base.
4 The presence of the mains lead makes it a
bit fiddly.
5 Replace the screws in the holes you
removed them from, and tighten them,
but don’t strain – you don’t want to
over-tighten them.
fit the extension tube
6 Slide the crevice tool into the extension
tube.
7 Slide the extension tube down, parallel
to the pillar, to rest just in front of the
base tube.
8 Flip the cap back, to expose the top of
the base tube.
16 Don’t use the cleaner if it’s damaged or malfunctions.
17 If the cable or plug is damaged, return the cleaner, to avoid hazard (back page).
household use only

4
fit the hose
9 Attach the bayonet fitting to the outlet on the side of the pillar.
10 In this position, you can fit the extension tube, one of the tools, to the hose end, and
use the cleaner as a cylinder cleaner.
11 For the moment, you should push the hose end into the top of the base tube, and
push the centre of the hose into the hose support.
12 In this position, the suction is directed via the base tube, to the main brush, so the
cleaner acts as an upright cleaner.
store the cable
13 Turn the bottom cable hook till it points down.
14 Wind the cable between the top and bottom cable hooks.
15 To remove the cable quickly, you can turn the bottom cable hook up, and lift the
cable off the top cable hook.
lower the handle
16 It might be a good idea to lower the handle at this stage, so it’s out of the way while
you’re fiddling about at the front of the cleaner.
17 Grip the handle in one hand, turn the handle lock about an eighth of a turn forward,
and lower the handle towards the rear of the cleaner – don’t just let it drop – you
might break something.
18 To raise the handle for use, simply lift it till you hear the handle lock click into place,
holding it in the vertical position.

5
fit the filter to the bin
19 Hold the lid handle in one hand, hold the bin handle in the other.
20 Turn the bin to bring the arrow on the bin from the closed padlock Lto the open
one U.
21 Lift the lid off the bin, then set the bin down for the moment.
22 Turn the bin lid upside down.
23 Align the bayonet fittings in the end of the HEPA filter with those in the centre of the
lid.
24 Turn the filter about a centimetre clockwise, to lock it into the lid.
25 Turn the lid the right way up.
26 Align the arrow on the bin with the open padlock Uon the lid.
27 Lower the filter into the bin – you may have to jiggle it about a bit, to fit the bottom
of the filter over the cone in the bottom of the bin.
28 Turn the lid, till the arrow is at the closed padlock L.
fit the bin to the cleaner
29 Fit the fibre filter into the space at the top of the
base. There’s a cut-out at the front, and a hole at
one side, so it only fits one way.
30 Tilt the top of the bin forward.
31 Put the bottom of the bin into the space at the
top of the base, on top of the fibre filter.
32 Straighten the bin, and push the bin lid against
the mount at the top of the pillar.
33 You’ll hear the bin release button click into place,
locking the bin lid to the mount.
34 The cleaner is now ready for use.

6
carrying the cleaner
35 Normally, you’d just grab it by the handle, and trundle it round on its wheels, but if
you want to carry it upstairs, for instance, you need to be a bit more circumspect.
36 It’s fairly heavy, and it’s an awkward shape to carry, so, if the handle’s folded, hold
the cleaner by the bin lid handle, if the handle’s upright, use the bin lid handle and
the handle together.
what fits to what
37 Leave the bayonet fitting part of the hose attached to the cleaner.
38 The other end of the hose may be attached to the base tube, if you’re using the
cleaner as an upright, or to one of the tools, if you’re not.
upright cleaning push the hose end over the base tube – this connects the main brush,
on the bottom of the cleaner, to use the cleaner upright
crevice tool push the hose end over the crevice tool – as its name implies, use
this tool to reach down the sides of upholstery, and into awkward
spaces, nooks, and crannies nothing else can reach
crevice tool and
extension tube
push the hose end over the thick end of the extension tube, then
push the thin end of the extension tube into the crevice tool – use
this to reach curtain rails, picture rails, and covings

7
pedal
39 The pedal locks the cleaner and base together, for storage, or to use the tools.
40 To use the cleaner as an upright cleaner, press the pedal down with your toe, ease
the handle back, then take your toe off the pedal.
41 This lets you push the cleaner back and fore, to vacuum the floor.
42 To lock the cleaner and base together again, raise the handle to the
vertical position, then push it forward.
switch
43 Press and release the switch with your toe, to turn the motor on.
44 If you’ve finished, if you want to change the brush height for a different
floor covering, if you want to change from using it upright to using the hose, or if
you just want to stop for a cup of tea, press and release the switch with your toe, to
turn the motor off.
45 That’s the rear of the cleaner dealt with – now for the front.
small brush and
extension tube
push the hose end over the thick end of the extension tube, then
push the thin end of the extension tube into the small brush – use it
to remove pet hair, lint, and dust from blinds, curtains, and
upholstery; to brush/clean awkward corners
set the floor type
46 Tilt the handle back, to raise the cleaner slightly from the floor, to make moving the
brush height control easier.
47 Set the brush height control to suit the floor covering – short, medium, or long pile.
48 For bare floors like vinyl, stone, parquet, or when using the tools, set the control to
long pile, to prevent the brush continually hitting the surface it’s sitting on.

8
plug in
caution If you’ve inadvertently kicked the switch, the cleaner may
start up when you plug it in – press and release the switch
with your toe to switch it off.
49 Turn the bottom cable hook upwards, to release the cable from the
rear of the cleaner.
50 Use a socket near the area to be cleaned, plug in, and switch the socket on, if it’s
switchable.
press the pedal
51 Stand behind the cleaner, press the pedal down with your toe, ease the handle back,
then take your toe off the pedal.
52 The cleaner is now ready to use upright.
switch on
53 Press the switch with your toe to switch the cleaner on.
cleaning
54 Move the cleaner over the floor, cleaning a small area at a time.
55 When you change areas, overlap the previous area, to avoid missing anything.
switch off
56 If you’ve finished, if you want to change the brush height for a different floor
covering, if you want to change from using it upright to using the hose, or if you just
want to stop for a cup of tea, press and release the switch with your toe, to turn the
motor off, then push the handle forward till it’s fully upright, to lock the base.
changing the floor type
57 Switch off and adjust the brush height control before moving the cleaner to a
different floor covering.
58 Using the “wrong” setting won’t do any harm, but you won’t get the performance
you would with the correct setting.
using the tools
59 Press and release the switch, to switch the motor off.
60 Push the handle forward till it’s fully upright, and the pedal
clicks into position to hold it there.
61 Move the brush height control fully over to the long pile 3
setting, to prevent the brush hitting the surface it’s sitting on.
62 Pull the hose end gently out of the base tube.
63 Pull the hose out of the hose support.
64 Either fit the tool to the hose end, or fit the extension tube to
the hose end, then fit the tool to the extension tube.
65 Press and release the switch with your toe to switch the cleaner on.
finished cleaning?
66 Press and release the switch with a toe, to turn the motor off.
67 Push the handle forward, to lock the base.
68 Unplug the cleaner (switch the socket off first, if it’s switchable).
69 Turn the bottom cable downwards, and wind the cable round both cable hooks.

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removing the bin
70 You don’t have to empty the bin after each use, but it’s a very good idea. You
shouldn’t let it get more than about a third full.
71 Your cleaner will happily work till it’s chock full, but you’ll be wasting energy swirling
yesterday’s dust around. Energy that could be better used sucking up today’s dust.
72 Switch off, unplug, put the handle in the upright position,
and leave it for five to ten minutes, to let the dust settle.
73 Press the bin release button.
74 Use the bin lid handle to lift the bin up and away from the
cleaner.
75 Hold the lid handle in one hand, hold the bin handle in the
other.
76 Turn the bin to bring the arrow on the bin from the closed
padlock Lto the open one U.
77 Lift the lid gently off the bin – don’t stir up the dust.
78 Empty the bin into your dustbin.
,If you’re going to check the filter, jump to point 83 below.
79 Align the arrow with the open padlock Uon the lid.
80 Lower the filter into the bin – you may have to jiggle it
about a bit, to fit the bottom of the filter over the cone in
the bottom of the bin.
81 Turn the lid, till the arrow is at the closed padlock L.
82 Refit the bin to the cleaner (point 29, page 5).
checking the HEPA filter
83 If the HEPA filter is dirty, remove it, clean it, and replace it.
84 Don’t handle the paper part of the HEPA filter, oils from your skin can cause dust
particles to adhere to it.
85 Turn the lid/filter upside down.
86 Grip the lid in one hand, grip the end of the HEPA filter in the other, and turn the
filter about a centimetre anti-clockwise, to release it from the bayonet fittings.
87 Tap the plastic end of the filter gently against the inside of the dustbin, to remove
surface dirt from the filter.
88 Hold the HEPA filter under a running tap, so the water runs over the outside surface
only.
89 Leave it to air dry for 24 hours before replacing it.
90 To replace it:
a) align the arrow with the open padlock Uon the lid
b) lower the filter into the bin – you may have to jiggle it about a bit, to fit the
bottom of the filter over the cone in the bottom of the bin.
c) turn the lid, till the arrow is at the closed padlock L.
discolouration
91 The HEPA filter will discolour with use. This is normal, and won’t affect it’s
performance.

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check the fibre filter
92 While the bin is out, check the fibre filter.
93 It’s unlikely to get terribly dirty, but if you want to clean it, pick out of its housing
with a fingernail, and wash it in warm, soapy water.
94 Leave it to air dry for 24 hours before replacing it.
general cleaning
Switch the cleaner off and unplug it before cleaning.
Don’t put any part of the cleaner in a dishwasher.
Don’t use harsh or abrasive cleaning agents or solvents.
timing
The amount and frequency of cleaning depends on the amount of use the cleaner gets,
and the amount of time you can spare. Basically, the better you look after it, the longer
it’ll last. Keep an eye on it as you use it. Clean the filters when you empty the bin. If
anything else needs cleaning, do it there and then, don’t put it off, in case you forget.
external surfaces
Wipe external surfaces with a damp cloth. A dab of washing-up liquid should remove
stubborn stains, but clean it off afterwards, or it may itself cause staining.
tools
Wipe with a damp cloth, or hand wash in warm soapy water. Rinse to remove the soap,
and air dry before using them.
hose
Wipe with a damp cloth. You can use a dab of washing-up liquid to remove stubborn
stains. Clean off all trace of the washing-up liquid, and check it’s dry before refitting.
brush roller
String and the like may wind round the brush roller. Upend the cleaner, and snip any
string, etc. carefully with scissors. Don’t cut the bristles.
blockages
No matter how careful you are, sooner or later you’re going to block the cleaner.
Don’t worry, we thought of that, we’ve fitted the motor with a temperature cut-out. A
blockage will trigger the cut-out , and the motor will stop.
don’t panic!
If the motor cuts out while you’re vacuuming, don’t panic, it’s not the end of the world,
you’ve probably just blocked it up.
1 Switch off, unplug, and leave the cleaner for half an hour to cool down fully. This’ll
also reset the cut-out.
2 Spread a newspaper on the floor, you’re going to make a mess.

11
suction blocked
3 If you’re using one of the tools, remove and check it first.
4 Check the bin, bin lid, HEPA filter, and fibre filter.
5 Remove and check the hose.
6 Check the base tube – this runs down to the brush roller. Don’t use anything sharp.
The blunt end of a ball-point pen will do nicely.
7 If the blockage isn’t clear by now, try again, as there’s nowhere left to check.
8 Still not clear? – Ring the help line (back page).

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connection
The product doesn’t need an earth. It has a 13A BS1362 fuse in a 13A
BS1363 plug. To replace the plug, fit the blue wire to N, and the brown wire
to L. Fit the cord grip. If in doubt, call an electrician. Don’t use a non-
rewireable/moulded plug unless the fuse cover is in place. If you remove
the plug, dispose of it.
wheelie bin symbol
To avoid environmental and health problems due to hazardous substances in
electrical and electronic goods, appliances marked with this symbol mustn’t be
disposed of with unsorted municipal waste, but recovered, reused, or recycled.
helpline – 0845 658 9700
If you need help, note the Model No (on the rating plate) and ring the helpline 0845
658 9700 (it’s a local rate number).
service
If you ring Customer Service, please have the Model No to hand, as we won’t be able to
help you without it. It’s on the rating plate (usually underneath the product).
The cleaner isn’t user-serviceable. If it’s not working, read the instructions, check the
plug fuse and main fuse/circuit breaker.
If that doesn’t solve the problem, don’t take the cleaner back to the place you bought it
– they won’t be able to fix it. Ring Customer Service.
If they advise you to return the product to us, pack it carefully, include a note with your
name, address, day phone number, and what’s wrong. If under guarantee, say where
and when purchased, and include proof of purchase (till receipt). Send it to:
Customer Service, Russell Hobbs Ltd, Fir Street, Failsworth, Manchester M35 0HS
email: serv[email protected]
telephone: [phone] (local rate number)
guarantee
Defects affecting product functionality appearing within one year of purchase will be
corrected by replacement or repair provided the product is used and maintained in
accordance with the instructions. Your statutory rights are not affected.
Documentation, packaging, and product specifications may change without notice.
wheelie bin symbol
To avoid environmental and health problems due to hazardous substances in electrical
and electronic goods, appliances marked with this symbol mustn’t be disposed of with
unsorted municipal waste, but recovered, reused, or recycled.
online
www.russellhobbs.co.uk for more products
550-698