S SMILEFIL Smilefil 9 Pack Wet Dry Vacuum Filter Bags Compatible with Stinger 2.5 to 5 Gallon WS0255VA, WORKSHOP WS01025F, Craftsman 9-38737, MultiFit VF2000, Select 2-1/2 to 5-Gallon Shop Vac Vacuums

Why I switched to these filter sleeves

Small shop vacs are my go-to for quick cleanups—sawdust off the bench, debris in the truck, dirt tracked into the garage. What I don’t love is the fine dust cloud that lingers in the tank and eventually finds its way toward the motor. That’s why I’ve been using cloth filter sleeves for years on my 2.5–5 gallon units. Recently, I put the Smilefil filter sleeves through a few months of steady use on a 2.5-gallon Stinger and a Bucket Head. They’ve earned a spot on my shelf.

These are the blue, non-woven “bag” style sleeves that slide over the vacuum’s filter cage and secure with a reusable rubber band. They’re designed for dry pickup only, washable, and the pack includes nine sleeves and three retaining bands.

Setup and fit

Installation is exactly what you’d hope for: slide the sleeve over the filter cage, seat it against the cage lip, then wrap the retaining band around the base to lock it down. The cut is consistent across the pack, and the edge seam feels clean without fraying or loose threads.

• On the Stinger: The fit is snug without being a knuckle-buster. I had to work the band around evenly, but once set, it stayed put—even with repeated lid removals to empty the tank.
• On the Bucket Head: Slightly tighter around the cage, but again, secure. No slippage or gaps.

One small note on the hardware: the bundle includes three retaining bands for nine sleeves. The bands are reusable, so three is workable—I keep one on each vac and one spare—but if you like to pre-stage sleeves with bands in a drawer, you’ll wish there were more. Not a deal breaker, just something to know.

Filtration and airflow

These sleeves aren’t HEPA and they’re not trying to be; they’re meant to intercept typical shop debris and fine dust and keep it off the motor and out of the tank air. In that lane, they perform well.

• General shop dust: Captures the usual suspects (sawdust, MDF dust, dirt) with no visible blow-by. After several cleanups, the inside of the vac lid and motor shroud were noticeably cleaner than when I run foam-only.
• Fine dust: On test passes with sanding dust and cold ash (never hot), suction remained steady and I didn’t see dusting around the exhaust. For ultra-fine dust (drywall sanding), they help, but don’t expect HEPA-level capture—pairing with a disposable collection bag in the tank (if your model supports one) will take you further.
• Airflow: Any filter adds resistance. Here the tradeoff feels modest; suction stayed strong on both vacs. Compared with running bare foam, there’s a slight reduction you can feel on the hose with a hand test, but pickup performance on the floor and bench was unchanged in practice. I preferred the cleaner internals and better motor protection.

A side effect worth mentioning: the cloth sleeve slightly muffles the high-pitched whistle some small vacs make. It’s not a noise solution, but it’s a tiny quality-of-life improvement.

Durability and cleaning

The Smilefil fabric is a medium-weight non-woven that balances breathability with capture. After multiple clog/clean cycles, the sleeves kept their shape, and the seam stitching didn’t unravel. The retaining bands didn’t stretch out or crack.

For cleaning, I rotate sleeves rather than try to push a single one indefinitely.

• Between jobs: Tap them out against a bin or brush with a soft nylon brush. Blowing them from the inside with compressed air (gentle pressure) restores airflow quickly.
• Washing: For heavy dust loading, a rinse works. I turn the sleeve inside-out, rinse with cool water, and air dry fully before reuse. Avoid detergents and heat; both can stiffen or degrade non-wovens. Dry time depends on humidity—overnight to 24 hours is typical.

After a few wet rinses, the fabric still feels supple, and the pores don’t seem to collapse, which is a good sign. If you routinely vacuum plaster or cement dust, expect any cloth sleeve to clog faster and require more frequent maintenance.

Real-world use

• Garage cleanup: Floor dust and road grit disappear without the plume that bare foam sleeves tend to kick up. Emptying the tank is cleaner; less dust puffs out because so much is trapped at the sleeve.
• Shop tasks: Planer shavings and router dust aren’t a problem, but don’t let long shavings wrap the cage—empty before it cakes. For orbital sander dust, I noticed the sleeve loading evenly; a quick tap-out restored performance.
• Car detailing: On crumb and sand duty, no complaints. The sleeve resists the damp grime that sometimes comes with floor mats, but if moisture is present, I stop and swap to wet setup (foam only).

Important reminder: these sleeves are for dry pickup. Remove them before vacuuming liquids. Running them wet will load the fabric with slurry and can stress the motor.

Compatibility notes

Smilefil lists compatibility with a wide range of small wet/dry vacs in the 2.5–5 gallon class, including common Stinger, WORKSHOP, and Bucket Head cages. I’d still do a quick measurement—if your cage diameter is similar to the Stinger/Bucket Head standard and the vac uses a band-secured sleeve, you’re likely in good shape. If your model uses a twist-lock cartridge or a completely different cage style, this isn’t the right accessory.

Value and what’s in the box

The pack includes:
- 9 blue non-woven sleeves
- 3 reusable retaining bands

Nine sleeves is generous, especially if you like to keep a few clean and ready. From a cost perspective, the price-per-sleeve compares favorably to OEM options. Add the fact that these are washable and reusable, and the cost of ownership drops further. For my workflow—frequent, short cleanup tasks—having spares means I can swap a clogged sleeve immediately and keep working.

Where they land short

• Not for wet pickup: That’s by design, but if you want a single do-it-all element, you’ll still need to switch to foam for liquids.
• Not HEPA: For shops needing controlled, ultra-fine dust capture (drywall finishers, allergy-sensitive spaces), you’ll want additional filtration downstream or a different vacuum system entirely.
• Three bands, nine sleeves: Functional, but a couple more bands would make rotating sleeves frictionless.

None of these are disqualifiers; they’re inherent to the category or easy to work around.

Tips for best results

• Seat the sleeve fully against the cage and double-check the band is below the lip, evenly tensioned.
• Knock out dust often; don’t wait until suction drops significantly. Light, frequent maintenance keeps airflow high.
• If your vac supports disposable collection bags, pair one with this sleeve for better fine-dust capture and a cleaner tank.
• Label a couple sleeves for “fine dust” use and keep others for general debris; it helps manage clogging and cleaning cycles.
• Always remove the sleeve before wet vacuuming, and let any washed sleeve dry completely before reuse.

The bottom line

The Smilefil filter sleeves do exactly what I want for small shop vacs: they protect the motor, keep the tank cleaner, and maintain strong suction with minimal fuss. Fit is reliable on the small vacs I tested, the fabric holds up to repeated cleaning, and the nine-pack offers real value if you use your vac often.

Would I recommend them? Yes. If you run a 2.5–5 gallon shop vac for dry cleanup and want a reusable, easy-to-maintain filter sleeve that fits like the originals, these are a solid, cost-effective choice. They’re not a substitute for HEPA or wet filtration, but within their intended use they perform well and simplify day-to-day cleanup.