How to Prevent a Smelly Vacuum Cleaner

It's Saturday morning, the sun is out and you're ready to do some cleaning around the house--but as you plug in your vacuum cleaner and turn it on--you're assaulted by a sour, smelly odor. It smells like your vacuum cleaner was doused in vinegar and left to sit in the sun for two weeks. So much for a nice smelling house. Ensure that your vacuum cleaner never smells like spoiled buttermilk again with good cleaning practices.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Avoid vacuuming up food. This goes for all types of food, even dry cereal. All food matter eventually rots, and if it is stuck inside your vacuum, the smell is going to be released once you turn on the machine.

2. Empty your vacuum's bag or canister often. If you have a canister vacuum, empty it each and every time you use it. If you have a bag vacuum it's recommended that you replace the bag once it is half full. Waiting until the bag is completely full not only increases your chance of a smelly vacuum, but it also makes the machine work twice as hard, which will ultimately shorten its lifespan.

3. Avoid vacuuming anything remotely damp or wet. Moisture will cause all kinds of problems with your vacuum, including causing dirt particles to turn to mud, and therefore stick to the inside of your machine. Additionally, moisture in a vacuum will promote the growth of mold and mildew inside the machine, so when it is turned on the spores will be released into the air.

4. Use a disinfectant spray on your vacuum's brushes between use. This will help kill any bacteria and reduce the chances of your vacuum from smelling. Just don't spray them and then use the vacuum. Spray the brushes after you are finished vacuuming so they will be completely dry by the time you are ready to use it again.

Tips & Warnings

• Always unplug the vacuum before performing any maintenance on it.