Have you wondered why you enter some homes and you can’t just help but appreciate the sweet smell all around the home? Even with the pet and kids roaming about, you still smell the freshness in the atmosphere.

Okay, do you notice a foul smell each time you vacuum your home? Most vacuum cleaners that are not regularly cleaned bring out a foul odor when being used.

But wait!

Before outlining the steps you’d need to take, they’re certain requirements you’d need for this to work out. See the list below:

• Vacuum Bags (for only bagged vacuum)
• Warm Water
• Small piece of cloth
• Baking Soda
• A new set of Vacuum Filters (HEPA or Foam filter, depending on the model)
• Vacuum Fresheners
• Cinnamon (powdered)
Yup! That’s all you’d need for now

Steps to take

1st Step: Replace Old Smelly Bags

If you use a bagged vacuum cleaner, then you’d want to start by disposing of the old bag and replacing with a new one. Most times a bag that has accumulated dust for a long time without replacement is usually the primary cause of the unpleasant odor protruding from your vacuum cleaner.

Please Note: when replacing, replace with manufacturer’s approved bags.

Also, you should know that there are different dust bags out there, some have extra filters that help stop the smell from accumulated dirt to escape back into your home, while some are just random paper bags that may likely not address the issue.

So when selecting, get the ones with the extra filters.

A tip to remember: make sure you replace your bags between 1 – 5 months, depending on how you use your vacuum or when it gets full.

If your vacuum uses a reusable bag, then you can wash it after you empty it. Ensure you dry out the water before putting it back into your vacuum cleaner.

But if your vacuum is bagless, then all you'd do is empty the canister, wash in warm water, leave it to dry, then you put it back into the unit.

2nd Step: Clean the Vacuum Properly

By now you should have a clean bag or canister. Then, the next line of action would be to clean the outer part of your vacuum cleaner. First thing you’d do is to get a basin of mixed soapy warm water. Then you get a small piece of cloth and soak it in the mixed solution. You then use the cloth to clean the exterior thoroughly, ensuring no dust or dirt particle is spotted.

Another option is to the mixed solution is to use Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate).

After cleaning with any of the above mixtures, you can wipe them dry with a different piece of (dry) cloth.

To make use of baking soda, simply mix a teaspoon of baking soda into about (500ml) of warm water. Then you dip the cloth into the mixture gently and clean the vacuum cleaner and all of its attachments, including the crevice tool and the hose.

A tip to remember: make you sure check the interior of the hose thoroughly for any stuck debris or blockage, and remove using the steps below (5 & 6)

3rd Step: Filter Replacement

The filter helps in preventing germs or allergens getting back into the atmosphere after the dirt must have been sucked into the unit, most times these filter gets worn out and they need replacement.

Although they are large filters that normally don't need changing, only frequent washing, depending on your kind of vacuum cleaner. But if you must replace a filter, don't go for cheap ones, as most times you end up paying more in the long run.

This is important because filters are very vital when it comes to keeping your home free from allergens. If you replace your filter you'd have long term respiratory health benefits.

If your filter can be washed as instructed by the manual, then dully follow the manual on how to go about this. Although I usually rinse the filter with warm water running from a tap. At first, the water flowing down through the filter will be black, but continue squeezing out the accumulated dirt until the water starts getting clear. When doing this, I recommend you wear a set of rubber gloves to avoid contaminated water flowing over your hands and through your nails.

After washing, you must allow the filter to completely dry before putting back into the vacuum unit.

A tip to remember: Always ensure you check and replace the filter every 3 – 10 months. As with your dust bags, and also choose only manufacturer filters, because a lot of these unbranded filters are made from low-grade materials that really don't trap any dirt or debris. It’s best you get the authorized filter from the brand and save your health!

4th Step: Use Vacuum Air Fresheners

Another step you can use to complement your recently clean vacuum cleaner is to purchase air freshener tabs that can be placed directly on the filter or in the dust bags

As you switch on the vacuum cleaner to start cleaning, it gives out a pleasant fragrance as the air comes out of the unit.

There are several fresheners to pick, but I recommend Kirby SCTAB G Scent Tablet, Ocean Breeze Fragrance Scent Vacuum Bag Freshener Sticks, Good Home 1 X Fragrant Scent Vacuum Cleaner Crystals Lavender Scent, as this works and lasts better than most in the market.

A tip to remember: This would be a great choice, especially if you keep pets at home.

5th Step: Use Cinnamon as a Substitute

Studies show that cinnamon absorbs bad odor from the air. It has a very unique dominating but a pleasant smell that can neutralize bad odor from the dirt sucked in by your vacuum cleaner.

If you'd prefer using cinnamon rather than an air freshener, all you need to do is get the cinnamon powder and put half a teaspoon into your dust bag and boom! You're done.

A tip to remember: if you want other substitutes than cinnamon, then you could try other sweet spices, like, potpourri, cardamom, or cloves.

In Conclusion

Did you enjoy this reading? Are you ready to give your vacuum cleaner the clean of a lifetime? Okay not a lifetime, but you should occasionally!

From everything, we can see that the key to preventing bad smells protruding from your vacuum cleaner is to make sure you keep your vacuum cleaners' exterior and interior clean. As we can tell, no one enjoys a bad smell in their house, especially those that can be avoided by simply maintaining and cleaning your vacuum.

You can feel free to try other alternatives to cinnamon, but if you’d go for air freshener, then I recommend Ocean Breeze Fragrance Scent Vacuum Bag Freshener Sticks for just a fee.

Do you have any questions on how to get rid of that carpet odor in your home? Or do you have any suggestions, you’d like to share? Please let us know in the comments, and if you enjoyed this post, please share! Cheers!!