A filter system for a vacuum cleaner , the system comprising: a housing reconfigurable relative to a bin between an operative configuration in which the housing is disposed upon the bin so that dirt separated from dirt-laden air can collect in the bin, and an idle configuration in which the housing is removed from the bin, the housing comprising an inlet for receiving dirt-laden air into the housing, and an outlet via which cleaned air can exit the housing; the system further comprising: first filtering means and second filtering means , wherein the first and second filtering means are disposed within the housing, the first filtering means being positioned upstream of the second filtering means, the first and second filtering means comprise a filter medium configured to separate dirt from the dirt-laden air passing from the inlet to the outlet through the filter medium; filter cleaning means for removing dirt from the filter medium of the first filtering means when the housing is configured at least in the operative configuration wherein the filter cleaning means comprise driving means ; characterised in that the driving means is configured to control and couple the filter cleaning means to the filter medium of the first filtering means, and wherein the driving means comprises a battery or an engine coupling, configured to power the driving means. a housing reconfigurable relative to a bin between an operative configuration in which the housing is disposed upon the bin so that dirt separated from dirt-laden air can collect in the bin, and an idle configuration in which the housing is removed from the bin, the housing comprising an inlet for receiving dirt-laden air into the housing, and an outlet via which cleaned air can exit the housing; the system further comprising: first filtering means and second filtering means , wherein the first and second filtering means are disposed within the housing, the first filtering means being positioned upstream of the second filtering means, the first and second filtering means comprise a filter medium configured to separate dirt from the dirt-laden air passing from the inlet to the outlet through the filter medium; filter cleaning means for removing dirt from the filter medium of the first filtering means when the housing is configured at least in the operative configuration wherein the filter cleaning means comprise driving means ; characterised in that the driving means is configured to control and couple the filter cleaning means to the filter medium of the first filtering means, and wherein the driving means comprises a battery or an engine coupling, configured to power the driving means. first filtering means and second filtering means , wherein the first and second filtering means are disposed within the housing, the first filtering means being positioned upstream of the second filtering means, the first and second filtering means comprise a filter medium configured to separate dirt from the dirt-laden air passing from the inlet to the outlet through the filter medium; filter cleaning means for removing dirt from the filter medium of the first filtering means when the housing is configured at least in the operative configuration wherein the filter cleaning means comprise driving means ; <EOS>