The invention relates to a vacuum cleaner having a dirt collection container which has a suction inlet and is flow-connected to at least one suction unit via at least one filter and at least one suction extraction line, and having at least one external air inlet which issues into the suction extraction line downstream of the filter and can be closed by means of at least one closing valve, wherein the closing valve has a moveable valve body which is acted on by a spring-elastic return device with a closing force and, in the closed position, additionally by a magnetic holding means with a magnetic holding force. In order to develop the vacuum cleaner in such a way that it permits particularly effective cleaning of the filter, the invention proposes that the magnetic holding means has a solenoid which can be acted on by a field current in order to close the closing valve, and that the valve body can be continuously moved from the closed position, via the open position, back to the closed position in the event of the field current being interrupted, wherein the switch-off time of the field current is matched to the movement time of the valve body.