Ten-year-old shares about his passion for working on vacuum cleaners.

Educators say, “When a child is passionate about something, they will want to study it.” Ten-year-old Gunnar Ruthstrom is proof of that philosophy with his passion for rescuing vacuum cleaners. His joy is to find a throw-away vacuum, bring it home, restore to useful service, and find it a new home. He feels pride and accomplishment with each success!

How did your passion for vacuum cleaners develop?      

When I was still crawling around on the floor, I liked watching Mom run this machine over the floor–the way the carpet looked, the tracks, it looked neat. So, Mom put some vacuum infomercials on the TV, and I loved watching them. I watched them over and over. I liked SpongeBob and Peppa Pig, but I liked the vacuum infomercials more.

Do you remember any of those infomercials?

I think so. There was this old Hoover song. (Gunnar begins to hum a tune that I know is the U. S. Army theme song.)

Did you know that tune is a U. S. Army song?

But it’s a Hoover song, too…it goes something like “All the fluff, dust and grit. Hoover gets at every bit. For it beats as it sweeps as it cleans.” And their slogan was, “The more carpet you have, the more you need a Hoover.”  The Hoover was big in Great Britain, and the Brits say “hoovering” instead of vacuuming.

Your Dad tells about a time when you were two or three years old at a Walmart store, sitting in the cart in front of a display of vacuum cleaners. You were naming not only brands, but also models. One impressed bystander asked if you could already read. But you were not reading at that time, were you?

No. But I watched my TV infomercials and vacuum stuff every day, so I knew the different vacuums. I knew Sharks very well, because they were the ones that I was really interested in. I don’t know why or how, but I just found that Sharks I knew the best. I think I still know them the best to this day. I learned about the Shark because there were neat infomercials, and also I think I watched them demonstrated on something like HSN. I liked that.

How did you go from interest in vacuum cleaners to refurbishing them?

I really don’t know.  But, when Daddy bought me a set of tools and showed me how to use them, I liked that.

What was first vacuum you rescued?

Umm – I think it was a Hoover WindTunnel, but, it might have been a T-Series Hoover.  I don’t think it was a T-Series, because it had a brushroll on/off, and the T-Series does not have that feature. 

Actually, I destroyed a couple vacuums before learning to refurbish. I destroyed a Dyson, and I’m still disappointed about that. I know how valuable Dysons are.   I tried to refurbish the WindTunnel, but a part broke, and we had to throw it away. A weird belt mechanism broke, and it cost too much to replace or repair.

What is your process for refurbishing a vacuum?

Usually, the first thing I do is take some of the obvious things off and put in my laundry basket–things like the canister and filter and attachments, things I can wash–that’s the first thing I do. But, in the case of Dyson, it doesn’t go that way…it’s a whole cyclone assembly. In other vacuums, it’s usually not as complicated. So, I flip the vacuum over and take the brushroll off, which usually has tons of hair on it, and I clean the clear part where you can see the brushroll, clean that all up with Method cleaner.

Then, I take the basket, a scrub brush, and dish soap into the shower. I scrub inside the canister and the filters and the things in the basket, and then I blow dry them.  I see people on YouTube air drying them, but it’s quicker with a blow dryer. I rarely wash the hose unless it’s REALLY dirty.

Do you ever have to order parts?

Sometimes. Maybe attachments. Once I had to order a cord for a Dyson because it was ripped up.

Where do you get your old vacuums?

Most come from the side of the road. I’ve gotten a few from Marketplace. They’re free or very little cost. My grandfather has found a few for me in his subdivision, and my uncle gave me one.

Tell about some special curb-find experiences.

Once, I found a great Shark Navigator Professional. I found it on the curb in our neighborhood.

Probably one of my luckiest days would be, I think, in January. It was trash day in my neighborhood, and I spied this vacuum on the curb where people were moving out. While I was talking to the owner, another neighbor heard our conversation that I was refurbishing vacuums and said, “My vacuum doesn’t work, so you can have mine, too.”  So, I’m walking and have two vacuums. Thankfully, one of the ladies took me and my vacs home on her golf cart.

What is your favorite vacuum and why?

My favorite vacuum is probably a Bissell PowerEase Rewind Pet. I just like the Bissell brand overall, but not just because it’s a sharp looking vacuum. Sharks and Dysons are really good vacuums and probably the best on the market, but I lean toward Bissell because they support the Bissell Pet Foundation with the goal to make all pet shelters empty. I think that’s not possible, but I’m glad they are trying. So, for now I choose Bissell. That doesn’t mean I’m not totally impressed with Dyson and Shark.

I understand you watched a documentary about James Dyson that you found impressive.   

Oh, yes. Well, he started out studying art and changed to engineering with a dream about separating dust from air. He was told it could never be done, but he tried anyhow.  Five years and 5,127 prototypes later, he invented the first bagless vacuum cleaner. He filed a patent and started making them, and I think it was the first vacuum to not lose suction ever, and it was an amazing vacuum, the DC01. He innovated from there to the DC25, and I think the DC35 was the first cordless vacuum Dyson made. Then they innovated to the DC41 and the DC65 and the Ball Animal 2, and that’s what I know about James Dyson. I think he was very innovative.  Oh, and he now makes a bladeless fan somehow by taking a small amount of air and forcing it through a very small opening which makes forceful airflow. I don’t really know how it works. Go to YouTube. And he makes a hair dryer using the same method.

Dyson’s achievements certainly sound impressive. I understand you’ve had some achievements of your own recently. Tell about these experiences.

Well, I sold two of my vacuums on Marketplace. And just a few days ago, I refurbished a vacuum cleaner for Junkyard Fitness in Montgomery where I take lessons. Coach Brandon was impressed with the results. He said, “That vacuum looks brand new!”

I was happy!