Carpets, area rugs, and floors in your home are continually exposed to filth and grime. It’s not uncommon to want to know how to make the vacuum smell better. It makes sense for your vacuum cleaner to begin to smell a little stale after collecting dirt. In addition to producing unpleasant odors, filthy vacuums are less effective at gathering debris from the carpet.
Your vacuum cleaner ought to make your abode smell better rather than worse. If the equipment starts to smell awful, it spreads its unpleasant odor throughout your house every time you use it. Vacuum odors are caused by many things, including pet hair clogging the system and moldy food particles in the bag.
Figuring out how to make your vacuum smell better doesn’t have to be tough. If you want to discharge a pleasant scent every time you vacuum, you can make your own odor eliminator for fabric and appliances that leaves a fresh scent.

- How to Make Your Vacuum Smell Better
- Why Is It Important to Remove a Bad Smell From the Vacuum?
- Is Dirt Causing Vacuum Cleaner Odor?
- A Broken Belt Cause a Vacuum Cleaner Smell
- How to Make the Vacuum Smell Better by Emptying It
- Eradicate an Unpleasant Odor by Cleaning the Vacuum Hose
- Make a Bagless Vacuum Smell Good
- Make Your Vacuum Smell Good by Clearing the Brushes
- Keep the Vacuum Smelling Good Using Baking Soda
- Improve the Smell of Your Bagless Vacuum Cleaner
- A Dryer Sheet Gives Your Dyson Vacuum Cleaner a Fresh Smell
- Remove the Musty Smell From a Vacuum
- Commercial Deodorants Erase Vacuum Smell
How to Make Your Vacuum Smell Better
We’ve all experienced the awful moment during vacuuming as you realize your machine stinks. At these times, knowing how to make the vacuum smell better is essential. Pet hair, dirt, debris, mold, and even mechanical failure contribute to vacuum odor.
Rely on uncomplicated at-home fixes to make a bagless vacuum smell good and extend the life of your cleaner.
Why Is It Important to Remove a Bad Smell From the Vacuum?
If you invest in the best vacuum, like a Dyson or Shark vacuum cleaner, it makes sense to keep it clean. Though a foul smell from your vacuum creates a miserable cleaning experience, that’s not all.
Bad odor is a sign of a deeper issue, whether mold, a full bag, or a broken belt. Keeping your vacuum cleaner smelling fresh is a vital part of routine maintenance to prolong its life and prevent odor from spreading in your house.
Is Dirt Causing Vacuum Cleaner Odor?
It’s logical to assume the dirt and debris you vacuum from your carpet contribute to the bad smell as you run your vacuum. Though this might be the case, there is often more at play. During vacuuming, pet hair and dander scents enter your equipment; pet waste intensifies the smell.
If proper cleaning and emptying are neglected, unpleasant odors develop. Although it’s unlikely that you vacuum up pet urine directly, it clings to pet hair and dust. After vacuuming, the pet hair and dried urine mixture lead to musty odors. Vacuum bags and the vacuum filter might contain mold spores.
When you vacuum your carpets and floors, you don’t just collect dust. As you vacuum, additional debris comes along for the voyage. Whether you’re trapping dry food or old coffee grinds, they all contribute to a vacuum that has a foul smell. Too much dust in your vacuum bag or dust bin eventually harms the vacuum’s performance.
A Broken Belt Cause a Vacuum Cleaner Smell
A mechanical issue is possible if the bad odor smells like burning plastic rather than mold or must. Whether you have a bagless vacuum or use a vacuum cleaner bag, the rubber belt is a potential cause of the unpleasant smell. Rubber belt rotation enables the brush to roll while collecting dirt and other debris.
Clean brushes for vacuums frequently. If the brush isn’t kept clean, hair gets caught in the bristles and may prevent the brush from moving correctly, harming the rubber. Additionally, the belt might become tangled. Overworked and stretched belts emit a distinct burning plastic odor. If you suspect a stretched belt, take your vacuum to the repair shop.
How to Make the Vacuum Smell Better by Emptying It
Begin with obvious and straightforward solutions when troubleshooting the foul odor from your vacuum. First, replace the dust bag if one is included with your vacuum. A new bag is sometimes sufficient to reset your device’s scent. If you have a bagless cleaner, empty the dirt canister instead.
Thoroughly wash the dust canister with a cloth soaked with warm water and soap and let it dry before reassembly. If you’re unsure how to replace the bag or empty the canister, consult your cleaner’s user manual for specific instructions.
Eradicate an Unpleasant Odor by Cleaning the Vacuum Hose
Your vacuum cleaner’s hose may be the culprit behind pet odor or an unpleasant smell. Particles are frequently lodged in the hose tube’s inner layer, leading to odor. Make an uncomplicated soak to clean your hose.
Drop the hose in the sink and rotate it to ensure water flows over the tube. Give the hose at least 20 minutes to soak. Drain the sink of water, and run the tap while holding the hose under it to rinse. Let the hose completely dry before putting it back.
Make a Bagless Vacuum Smell Good
Get rid of the dog smell or old house smell by cleaning up your vacuum filter. Filters also become soiled and dusty over time. If the filter is washable, clear the dust off and give it a cold water rinse. Wash the filter until the water from it runs completely clear.
Even filters that appear spotless accumulate a significant amount of dust. Don’t be shocked if completing this process takes several minutes. Let the vacuum filter air dry for a day before reinstalling it.
It could be time to change the filter if you cannot clean it. Generally, change vacuum filters at least once every 12 months. Check the vacuum filter every six months if it sees a lot of use or if you have pets.
Make Your Vacuum Smell Good by Clearing the Brushes
Clean the rotating brushes on your vacuum at least twice a year and more frequently if there’s a bad smell. The brushes gather a lot of residue and are often a source of odor. Unplug the vacuum before beginning, and remove the brush from the floor head attachment if it is detachable.
Using scissors, carefully cut and remove any hair lodged inside the bristles. Wash the brush in soapy water using a cloth or spray bottle and put it out to dry for 24 hours. Reposition the brush once it has completely dried.
Keep the Vacuum Smelling Good Using Baking Soda
Baking soda is a famous odor eater thanks to its odor-absorbing capabilities. It’s a quick way to deodorize your couch and appliances. Introducing baking soda inside your vacuum removes the unwanted odor.
Add a tablespoon of powdered baking soda to the bag next time you put a new one in your bagged cleaner. For bagless vacuums, sprinkle three tablespoons of baking soda on the carpet and vacuum for deodorization.
Improve the Smell of Your Bagless Vacuum Cleaner
Skip the chemical air freshener and use your vacuum to make your home smell inviting. Essential oil is a fantastic tool to fragrance a space. Use this odor eliminator for the dryer and other appliances when unpleasant smells start to show up.
Add a few drops of the chosen oil to the vacuum bag or dust container on your carpet cleaner. As you vacuum, the heat from the motor diffuses the oil into the air, making your vacuum cleaner and house smell fantastic.
A Dryer Sheet Gives Your Dyson Vacuum Cleaner a Fresh Smell
Dryer sheets are heavily fragranced; the pleasant aroma of a dryer sheet beats the smell of must and mold. A quick fix for a stinky vacuum is to use a dryer sheet. After you empty the bag or canister, place a dryer sheet inside the new bag or canister. As you vacuum, the heat disperses the scent of the dryer sheet.
Remove the Musty Smell From a Vacuum
Herbs and spices have long been used as natural air cleaners and fresheners. Skip harsh chemicals and rely on plant derivatives to improve the smell of your vacuum.
Add two tablespoons of herbs directly into the dust bag or bin for a sweet scent while you vacuum.
Commercial Deodorants Erase Vacuum Smell
If you don’t have time for a DIY solution or prefer store-bought products, there’s a wide range of vacuum deodorizers available. Choose your desired scent and ensure you buy the correct type of product for your vacuum. Use the deodorizer according to the manufacturer’s instructions to remove the foul odor from your vacuum cleaner.
A vacuum is a valuable tool for keeping your space clean and sanitary. Yet, when it gets smelly, it becomes part of the problem. Use simple remedies to clean your vacuum and oust unpleasant odor. Explore tips for how to make your vacuum smell better to avoid spreading odor and mold.

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