Changing the bag or emptying the canister helps prevent odors from developing. It's a given that your vacuum cleaner should help your home smell better, not worse -- but if the appliance itself begins to smell bad, it will release its foul odor all over your home every time you use it. Odors in vacuums can have several causes, from moldy coffee grinds in the bag to pet hair clogging the works. You can prevent the machine from smelling bad simply by keeping its insides clean, and if you want to release a fresh scent each time you vacuum, you can do so with minimal effort or expense. Change the bag if your vacuum uses them. With foul-smelling vacuum cleaners, stinky bags are often the culprit. If you have a bagless model, empty the canister and clean the filters in soapy water. Allow the filters to dry completely before you reassemble the machine. Disassemble the vacuum if the machine still has a bad smell. Look for blockages in the works. If you have pets, pet hair might be clogging the intake valves and causing a bad smell.

Remove any blockages you find. Mix a solution of baking soda and water. Clean the vacuum's canister, hose and filters with it, then rinse them with water. Dry plastic or metal items with a clean cloth and allow the filters to air dry. Insert a dryer sheet or pieces of orange peel into the new vacuum bag through the hole that attaches the bag to the vacuum. best canister vacuum cleaner for hardwood floorsIf you have a canister model without bags, stash the sheet or orange peel in the filter cavity. vacuum cleaners ontarioWhen you use the vacuum, it will release the fresh scent all over your home. vacuum cleaner noise frequencySprinkle orange or vanilla extract onto a paper towel as an alternative. Tear up the towel and vacuum it up.

You can also sprinkle ground cinnamon or ground potpourri directly onto the floor and vacuum as usual. Any of these options will add a fresh scent to your vacuum and your home. Things You Will Need Vacuum bags Soapy water Baking soda Cloth Dryer sheets or orange peel Paper towel Orange extract, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon or ground potpourri Warnings References Geyser Vacuum Center: How to Make Your Vacuum Cleaner Smell GoodApartment Therapy: Stinky Vacuum? Use a Dryer Sheet!Good Housekeeping: Pet Odor in Vacuum Cleaner Bag Photo Credits Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images Suggest a CorrectionExplore Cleaning Proucts, Practical Cleaning, and more!Dog SmellsVacuum CleanersVacuumsHow To GetDogsTo GetHtmlI'd love to know how to get rid of the pet odor smell (it is just a "stuffy" smell) that is emitted from my canister vacuum every time I clean.-- Alicia C.We love our pets, but sometimes! Of course, cats and most dogs do shed, so this can be a problem and just a fact of life!

One hint is to add some cinnamon or allspice to the bag (if you have this type of vacuum) or sprinkle some on the carpet and then vacuum it up if you use a bagless vacuum. Note: If you have a white or light-colored carpet, be careful about using dark-colored spices -- you don't want to stain the carpet. Some people use fine potpourri in the same way.For others with a bag-type machine, if you smell dust or dirt and see some coming from the machine, it's time to change the bag! You will do more harm to the vacuum by not changing the bag when it is full because the motor has to work harder. Don't try to save a few pennies by stretching the use of the vacuum bag. How to Clean a Dishwasher How to Clear Dirty Drains The Best Way to Clean Grimy Grout How to Banish Cat Pee Stains and Stink How to Clean the Slots in a Knife Block Make Every Single Spot in Your Home Smell Better 4 Ways to Prep Your Home For Winter How to Know When to Replace Your Pillows 50 Years of Helpful Hints

How to Get Dog Smell Out of Your Vacuum Cleaner Dogs are loyal and loving members of the family, but they are also the smelliest. Due to dirt, body odor, sweat and their bodily functions, dogs are prone to smelling bad. When you vacuum an area where your dog has been lying, the odors may remain in the machine. Even pet owners who consistently bathe their dogs may have this problem. But you can use a few inexpensive home remedies to remove the smell from your vacuum cleaner. Change the vacuum bag frequently. Empty canister-type vacuums after every use and rinse them out. Changing the bag after every use may not be economical, but it will prevent dog smells from building up in the machine. Place the vacuum outside during periods of good weather, after changing or removing the used bag, allowing it to air out. Let the vacuum sit outside for approximately 24 hours before bringing it back inside. Wipe off any dirt or dust accumulated on its outside, as well as where the bag or canister installs, with a damp, soapy cloth.

Place a scented laundry dryer sheet inside the vacuum bag or canister before using it. As the machine heats up, the drying sheet’s fragrance releases in the air. Sprinkle the carpet with a thin layer of regular baking soda, allow it to remain in place for approximately 24 hours and then vacuum. Baking soda is inexpensive and neutralizes pet odors on the carpet and inside the vacuum cleaner. Sprinkle the carpet with a thin layer of scented, powdered laundry detergent. Allow the detergent to remain on the carpet for approximately one hour and do not allow pets or children in the area. Once vacuumed, the detergent creates a good smell inside the vacuum as well as on the carpet and in the air. Sprinkle the carpet with a scented spice such as cinnamon, lavender, allspice or rosemary to help rid the vacuum and carpet of dog odor. Allow it to sit for at least one hour before vacuuming. Be careful if your carpet is light in color, as dark-colored spices may stain it. Bathe your dog as often as is appropriate to help keep odors down.

Cleaning the carpet regularly with a carpet shampooer helps cut down on dog smells. Geyser Vacuum Center: How to Make Your Vacuum Cleaner Smell Good Good Housekeeping Magazine: Pet Odor in Vacuum Cleaner Bag You May Also Like Complete removal of pet hair from the home is a quandary many pet owners face. The Dyson Animal series vacuums use centrifugal... A well-maintained vacuum cleaner is essential to keeping your household clean. Pet Odor in Vacuum Cleaner Bag; How to Eliminate Vacuum Cleaner Odor. How to Get a Stinky Smell Out of Your Vacuum; How to Remove Pet... You May Also Like. How to Get Dog Smell Out of Your Vacuum Cleaner. Dogs are loyal and loving members of the... How to Rid a Home of Dog Odor. Nasty odors caused by your dog can make your home an unpleasant place to... How Can I Get Rid of the Odor in My Oreck Vacuum Cleaner?. Your Oreck vacuum cleaner sucks up dirt, ... Vacuum the carpet thoroughly to help refresh it and remove any additional odors.