Vacuum Woes

So my vacuum hasn't been working very well lately. I was sure something was clogging it up so about a week ago we took the hose off and ran water through it in the bathtub. A few dirt clods came out but nothing dramatic enough to make it loose so much suction. After reassembling the vacuum it still wasn't working very well...I just wrote it off as being a cheap $100 Walmart vacuum. Tonight, after trying to vacuum up some food Carson spilled on the floor, Jeff got sick of our poorly working vacuum and tore into it. Here is what he found lodged in it...

Apparently, the water we ran through the hose wasn't strong enough to dislodge two large paintbrushes! Now I am pretty sure that neither Jeff or I would think our vacuum could suck these up, but the question is who? I have my ideas....