Why Does My Vacuum Smell?

While a vacuums core purpose is to help keep your home clean, over multiple uses this can cause the bag or the inside of your vacuum to reek. There are several causes of vacuum odor. In this article, we will go over how to prevent vacuum odors as well as how to solve them. Also if you live in the Plymouth area, we recommend coming down to Vacuum City for repairs and cleaning services.

What Causes Vacuum Odor?

A vacuum cleaner can begin to smell after a few uses. However, there are certain cleaning projects that lead to worse odors. If you use your vacuum to clean up food debris including coffee grounds or other scraps, this can quickly lead to that food rotting inside of your vacuum. Imagine what would happen if you forgot to take the trash out for months. That can essentially be happening inside of your vacuum cleaner if you vacuum up food or similar trash. Similarly, cleaning up after your pets including their hair and other messes can also quickly create a vacuum odor. No matter what causes the odor, you are going to want to clean your vacuum out. 

How To Clean Out Your Vacuum

It is going to sound obvious but the first and most important step in cleaning vacuums is replacing the bag. If your vacuum has a bag, you will want to remove it periodically even if it isn’t full after a cleaning. If you are cleaning up something particularly odorous you will want to throw that bag out right away. Alternatively, if you have a bagless vacuum, you need to carefully empty it and then wash out the container. Use soapy water to remove any residue on the inside of the canister. Make sure to clean the filters as well and let them fully dry before using the vacuum again. 

Additional Vacuum Cleaning Steps

If you have removed the vacuum bag or cleaned out the canister and filters, and you still notice a rancid smell, it is possible that the smell is localized in a different part of the vacuum. You may need to disassemble your vacuum and look for any blockages within the vacuum. Pet hair can easily create clogs and get stuck in different sections of the vacuum. You will need to check throughout the vacuum for these blockages. 

Vacuum Cleaning And Disinfection Service in Plymouth

A good vacuum should not be thrown out just because of a bad smell. If your vacuum is working fine, you probably don’t want to replace it (unless you are looking for a vacuum that might be better equipped for your home). At Vacuum City we can help you repair, clean, and disinfect your vacuum cleaner, as well as provide attachments and parts. For more information please give us a call or come down to our location.