There are several reasons why your vacuum cleaner smells when you use it. The number one reason why your vacuum cleaner may smell when you use it is that your filter has been clogged up with pet hair and dirt.
Another cause of a musty or smelly vacuum cleaner can be attributed to the type of material that you choose to clean with it, the strength of the suction force, and the length of time you leave your vacuum cleaner on.
Some other reasons for a musty or smelly vacuum cleaner are due to mold, mildew, dust mites, and bacteria that have collected in the bag area.
You should check all these things before concluding that there is just no way for you to get rid of this stench without buying a new one.
Why Does My Vacuum Cleaner Smell Bad -Reasons and Solutions
Vacuum cleaners are in constant usage, but all too often, their smell starts to give off a different kind of odor.
Many people are worried about the bad smell and even end up washing out the filters more often than they should.
In fact, some people even believe that their vacuum cleaner is getting dirty and should be replaced more frequently. The truth is that there could be many reasons behind it.
Some of the odors that can be produced when using a vacuum cleaner and the reasons and solutions are as follows:
Smell Like Wet Dog
Vacuum cleaners emit a ‘wet dog’ smell when using it which may be due to the dirt and dust that accumulates on the surface of the cleaning bag. Dirt, dust, hair or even food can accumulate in your vacuum bag when you have not emptied it for a while.
This will lead to an unpleasant odor emitted by your vacuum cleaner as bacteria grow in these areas.
A dog’s hair and pee can sometimes cause a nasty mess when you vacuum. Dogs don’t only have lots of dirt and bodily functions, they also have an unpleasant smell of them.
However, this can be prevented by making sure you replace the vacuum filter regularly. This will keep their oil from getting stuck in the machine, as well as make sure their fur won’t get sucked in and form a sticky paste later on.
Smell Like Burning
Vacuum cleaner smells like burning is a common issue that you will come across when you use your vacuum cleaner and it can be much worse when it’s humid and the humidity increases the smell. The odor can also linger after the cleaning is done.
A solution to this problem is to replace your vacuum cleaner bag every four months or so. Also, it is recommended to use an air purifier in addition to replacing the bag, but keep in mind that these are optional solutions.
When a vacuum cleaner is being used, the smell of burning is noticeable, even in the air. This happens when the motor emits heat and also when dust particles are sucked into the rotating brush.
This problem can be solved by using a vacuum cleaner bag change schedule and airing out the house regularly.
Damp or Musty Smell
Musty smell in the house? It could be caused by a combination of things, like a damp basement, old furniture, and carpet. A musty smell can really bother you while you are vacuuming your home.
It is associated with dampness and can be caused by a variety of factors such as the age of your home, where it was built, the type of wood used, etc.
The presence of a musty smell might indicate that there is some moisture in the walls or carpet. In general, these moist areas are more prone to mold and other types of mildew.
This problem can be solved by using a dryer sheet or placing a dry towel in the bag when it is not in use. Or you can simply remove the bag from your machine and replace it with a fresh one to avoid this smell from lingering around in your home.
Chemical Stink
Vacuum cleaners can cause a lot of chemical smell that is caused by a gas called sulfur dioxide which is emitted from the vacuum cleaner’s motor and can cause headaches, nausea, and even vomiting.
The vacuum cleaner’s motor emits sulfur dioxide gas which builds up in the machine when it is turned on and then mixes with other chemicals in the machine to create the chemical stink.
Some of the causes for this problem are dirt accumulation and particles being caught in the hose or suction area, but most commonly it stems from problems with the motor such as clogging or improper ventilation too.
To get rid of this problem of chemical stink, select the eco-friendly vacuum cleaner to be safe and healthy enough.
How to Prevent Vacuum Cleaner Stink
Vacuum cleaners release an unpleasant pungent smell after cleaning, but what to do when it is too strong? It’s very easy to get rid of the smell with these small, easy-to-use tips:
Empty or Replace the Dirt Bag
Vacuum cleaners often use bags to collect dirt, dust, and other debris that cannot be extracted with a filter or cyclone in the machine.
Over time, these bags will break down and become clogged with dirt particles. As a result, the inside of your vacuum cleaner becomes dirty and this can result in an unpleasant odor.
If you have a bagless vacuum cleaner and use it to clean your home, then you should make sure to empty the canister into a trash can after every cleaning session.
This helps prevent the smell from getting trapped in your vacuum cleaner for longer periods of time.
Unclog the Clogged Brush
Vacuum cleaners tend to leave a bad smell even after being cleaned. This is because the dirt that’s on the brush is clogged in the bristles.
Anxiety over getting rid of the nasty odor that comes with a clogged and smelly vacuum cleaner can make us avoid using a vacuum cleaner altogether.
That’s where this unclogging tip comes in handy!
By doing so, you will save yourselves some money in the long run because your machine will last more than one season longer with proper care.
Clean or Replace the Filters
Vacuum cleaner stink is one of the most annoying problems in a home. The smell is caused by build-up of dirt and dust on the filter. Over time, these filters can become clogged with dirt and grime which leads to an increased smell in your home or office.
In this case, you need to clean or replace the filters of your vacuum cleaner after every two or three uses. To clean the filter, remove it from your vacuum cleaner and wash it in warm water with dish soap. Let it dry before putting it back into your vacuum cleaner.
And, you need to replace the filter after every 2-3 uses to avoid stinky vacuum cleaner too.
You can also prevent this problem by using anti-stink filters that are specifically designed to remove all types of dirt, hair, and debris from your vacuum cleaner.
Clean Vacuum Parts Using Baking Soda
If you’re looking for a natural way to clean your vacuum cleaner, then baking soda is a good option. Baking soda is helpful in many ways and it can do wonders if you use it the right way.
Baking soda can also be used as an effective tool in cleaning your vacuum parts that are difficult to remove by other means. It’s also been proven that Baking Soda helps in getting rid of dust and dirt from the carpet.
Dry the Filters to Prevent Stink
Vacuum cleaner stink often comes from moisture building up on the filters. This can be prevented by drying the filters after each use.
One of the most common reasons for vacuum cleaner stink is excess condensation within the vacuum hose.
Vacuum cleaners, unlike washing machines and dryers, don’t have an exhaust fan that blows out warm air and physically dries things at a faster rate than they would otherwise.
Spray Vanilla Extracts on the Dirt Bag
While vacuum cleaners are powerful in removing dirt and dust from carpets, they also emit some odor that may be unpleasant. In order to remove the odor and keep your home smelling nice, spraying vanilla extract on the dirtbag makes sense.
The dirtbag is an important part of a vacuum cleaner and it is worth taking care of. If you use spray vanilla extract on the dirtbag before cleaning, you will prevent the smell of it from coming out during the process.
Can I use air freshener in my vacuum?
Recent studies show that it is perfectly safe to use air fresheners in vacuum cleaners.
The air inside the vacuum bag is not affected by the air freshener.
However, you should avoid using fragrances that are not marketed for cleaning appliances and electronics.
Conclusion
When you start using a vacuum cleaner, it might not be the most pleasant experience. The smell will probably be a little bit unpleasant and you might get that feeling of dread when you are about to use the vacuum cleaner again.
In conclusion, there are several reasons why a vacuum cleaner smells bad like wet dog when it is used and all the possible causes and solutions, we have discussed above to help you out.
I Hope, you are happy enough with this guide, and if you have further queries feel free to comment in the comment section.
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