Why Your Vacuum Smells Unhealthy (and Learn how to Repair It)

Even when vacuuming is considered one of you least-favorite chores, when you think about what life was like earlier than the equipment existed—beating rugs and sweeping flooring manually—you need to admit its capability to make messes disappear is fairly wonderful.

Whereas it would appear to be magic, the fact is that every one the gross stuff you vacuum up must go someplace, and journey by means of the equipment to get there. Over time, this course of could make your vacuum begin to scent dangerous. Listed here are among the commonest causes of vacuum odor, and the way to do away with the stench.

Why does my vacuum scent dangerous?

Most dangerous smells coming from vacuums are the results of these 4 sources:

Mildew

A musty scent coming out of your vacuum might imply that mould has grown and/or amassed inside the bag or filters. Mildew thrives in moist environments, so in case you vacuumed a carpet whereas it was moist or damp, that could possibly be the wrongdoer.

Pets

You probably have furry pets that roam free all through your private home, then you may assume that your flooring are coated of their hair, dander, and urine particles. Whenever you vacuum and these supplies accumulate inside, their odor might linger—even after emptying the canister or altering the bag.

Extreme mud

Sure, vacuums are designed to do away with mud, however in case you don’t empty and clear the equipment recurrently, that mud can construct up and begin to scent terrible. Mud itself is fairly disgusting, provided that it’s made up of flakes of lifeless pores and skin (from people and pets), pollen, textile and paper fibers, dried meals particles, microscopic specks of plastic, soil particles, micro organism, mud mite droppings, and mud mite physique fragments. So when it accumulates, it’s not arduous to see why it will possibly reek.

A burnt belt

When a vacuum hasn’t been cleaned shortly, all of the hair, string, and different supplies wrapped across the bristles may cause its brushes to cease rotating, and the rubber belt to burn.

Learn how to do away with dangerous vacuum smells

If it will get to the purpose that your vacuum stinks, then it’s completely in want of a radical cleansing. It’s not only a matter of dwelling with the dangerous scent: The stench is the signal of an even bigger drawback that, if left untouched, might injury your vacuum cleaner and shorten its lifespan.

Put aside an honest chunk of time to wash your vacuum: It’s a multi-step course of that requires permitting components to air dry. This Lifehacker submit from 2022 breaks down the varied steps concerned within the course of, however when doubtful, examine your vacuum’s proprietor’s handbook for particular directions.

When you’ve cleaned and reassembled the vacuum, give it a whirl. If the dangerous scent continues to be current, you seemingly must take it to knowledgeable, or spend money on a brand new one.