Mold accumulation, vacuum belts, and pet hair are some of the common sources of odors you can notice in your top-notch vacuum cleaner.
It doesn’t matter whether the cleaner you’re using is cheap or a little pricey; it’s crucial to know how to get rid of odors in vacuum cleaner, especially if you’re conscious about cleanliness!
Well, when you notice extreme odors in your vacuum cleaner, it becomes essential to empty the bin or replace the dust bag straight away.
On top of that, rinsing the machine, cleaning the bristles, and keeping the hose clog-free are equally necessary to remove unpleasant smells.
Guess what? Regular check-up is a good habit for keeping your device odor-less and even better. So don’t forget to do it, and using perfume pads, cinnamon sprinkles, or deodorants isn’t a flawed plan to prevent odors.
Table of Contents
Details about the Sources of Odors in Vacuum Cleaner
First, you must identify the causes of the unpleasant smell to eliminate odors. Some of the probable sources are as follows:
Dust Accumulation
If you gather more and more dust in the bin, it’ll eventually start to smell. As we all know, dust comes in gatherings, not alone. The excess debris also accompanies the dust in the process.
No matter what you cast away, from coffee grinds to dry foods, all of them are playing their part in adding the unpleasant smell to your vacuum cleaner.
Pets Urine
Unfortunately, your pets are one of the main causes of this odor. Furry animals like dogs, cats, etc., have dander that carries the smell after getting inside the vacuum cleaner.
In addition, the urine can get stuck to the hairs as well as the dust. So, even if you ignore the urine directly, the chances of the sticky liquid getting inside the vacuum still remain. Therefore, the fusion of pet hair and dried-up urine creates the worst smell!
Vacuum Belt
A burnt vacuum belt is a strong reason for the odors to take place inside your device. As the belt is a rubber-built material, it captures dirt, hairs, and debris when it rotates and the brush starts rolling in.
You should always clean the brush after vacuuming since it prevents the risk of the hair getting stuck on the bristles.
But without regular maintenance, it might malfunction. Ultimately, this will damage the rubber as the brush also catches the belt.
Hence, the friction, stress, and the repeated use of belts generate the smell of burning.
Tips of Getting Rid of the Odors
So, have you figured out the source of the smell? If yes, then make sure to remove the odor from your vacuum by following the tips below:
1. Replacing the Dust Bag or Emptying the Bin
In most cases, replacing the old dust bag is more than enough to remove the odor and give your vacuum a fresh start.
However, if this is not the case, you can wash the bag (if you own washable bags) by adding a little bit of baking soda or white vinegar. Wash every angle and corner as it reduces the growth of potential molds and mildews.
On the other hand, if your vacuum cleaner doesn’t support any dust bags but instead supports a dust bin, then be sure to empty the trash and remove all of the waste.
Next, clean it with mild detergent or soap using hot water. Please leave it to dry and check whether the smell is completely gone or not.
If you notice zero odor, then thankfully, you’re free from the horrible experience of bad smells. But, if not (which is rare), then you’ll have to redo the process or maybe replace it.
2. Cleaning the Bristles
Even if there is no odor coming from your device, you need to clean the brush and the bristles for the safety of your vacuum cleaner.
Try to clean it more than once a year if possible. After unplugging the device, detach the floor head from the brush if it’s removable.
Next, cut the stuck hair using a scissor from the bristles. But, be careful, or else you might end up cutting down the bristle itself.
After that, clean and wash them with lukewarm water along with detergent or soap.
But if you struggle to reach and remove excess dirt, simply spray the vinegar and water mixture solution. Finally, the bristles will be ready to use after drying.
3. Rinsing the Machine
The next step is to clean your vacuum cleaner. For this task, use a cloth after soaking it in soap water. Afterward, thoroughly wipe the whole vacuum surface. Take out the stains and dust as much as possible.
If you want to do that more precisely, baking soda can be used as well. Clean all the different parts with fresh water to remove the soapy water and leave it to dry out. Once it dries completely, you are good to go.
4. Changing the Filter
Usually, the filters do the job of restraining the allergens, dust, dirt, and other particles into the machine so that they can’t escape back to your room.
By doing so, they eventually cause a bad smell to occur. After using for a couple of months, the filters become old. So, you need to replace them with a new one.
Every three to twelve months, changing the filters is highly recommended. But in case you can’t change it, then it’s a must to keep them cleaned.
Also, you can purchase washable filters, as they can be used repeatedly after washing.
5. Keeping the Hose Clog-free
Yes, the hose can undoubtedly be a good source of the foul smell you’re dealing with. As we know, all the debris and dirt passes through the hose first and then reaches the destined location.
Therefore, a lot of debris gets caught in the tube and causes a clog in the hose. If you can’t remove it over time, then you have to go through a bitter experience with the bad smell of the clogs.
Luckily, removing clogs isn’t rocket science. So, start the work by detaching the tube from the vacuum cleaner. Place the hose on a plain surface and try to remove the debris or clogs with the help of a stick or similar tools.
Push the stick until the obstacle is completely released from the tube. Next, prepare a bleach and soap solution along with the hot water. Then, pour the solution through the hose to cover the entire portion.
After that, observe if the water is coming out without any hindrance from the other end of the hose. If it does, then you’ve successfully cleared the hose. Now, once it dries out, you can place it back and use it again without any bad smelling issues.
Preventing Bad Smells
Cleaning the machine doesn’t mean that the odor won’t return. So, if you want to prevent the bad smell in the best way possible, feel free to follow these steps:
Cinnamon Sprinkles
Placing spicy cinnamon straight from your kitchen to the dust bin or dust bag can be a pretty brilliant idea to prevent unwanted odors.
In addition, the cinnamon’s antibacterial property can be used for keeping away germs from your vacuum cleaner. So, along with the bacteria protection, you’re getting a fresh aroma at the same time.
Spraying Essential Oil
Lemongrass oil is very popular for its benefits. Thyme can be another great example of the essential oil list. They can be used as good protection against mold as well as odors.
Make sure to mix them with water, fill up a spray bottle and start to spay it gently. A few sprinkles would be enough as we don’t want the area to be dampened.
Perfume Pads or Deodorants
If you want to spend some extras to get rid of odors, then it’d be a good idea to look for perfumes. You can find them in a number of different smells. Just a tablespoon or a single tablet will be enough!
Regular Check-ups
Frequent maintenance comes in handy when we talk about reducing odors. We suggest cleaning up your device every 2 to 5 months. The case will be different if you have a pet because, at that time, it’s necessary to clean the vacuum at least once per month.
Wrapping Up!
It seems pretty simple to keep yourself out of bad smells if you know how to get rid of odors in vacuum cleaner.
In that case, you should not only clean your device after a certain period, but it’s also a plus to use anything like deodorants, perfume pads, or essential oils.
And never forget to check your vacuum cleaner daily. It’s an excellent habit to care for the devices you use to keep them in better condition!