How to Freshen a Stinky Vacuum Cleaner
The Bold Abode is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com as well as other affiliate networks.
Hello, my BOLD ones!
I’d like you to meet Big Bertha. She’s our twenty-something year old, clunky, dirty, work-horse of a vacuum.
And she has her work cut out for her in our house. With a sheddy cat, a wolfie dog, 2 very boy-ish boys, it’s no wonder she gets a little stinky and needs some TLC. {the maintenance kind… not cable. We don’t have cable, so if she wants to watch TLC she’s broom out of luck.}
When I posted this crazy popular post about the sneaky way to freshen a room, Bertha got all up in my grill about getting her freshened up.
So, I did.
But I didn’t just freshen her up… I ended up freshening up the entire room!
Here’s How to Freshen a Stinky Vacuum Cleaner AND make your room smell delightful at the same time :
All you need is a couple of cotton balls and some Lavender essential oil. I found mine at Fresh Market for about $12. But I know a ton of people who sell food grade essential oils from Young Living. Just pop around a little and you’ll run into one or two or three.
Just dab the oil onto your cotton balls.
I did it several times to make sure the cotton ball was covered but not saturated. It doesn’t take a ton to get the fragrance going.
Cookie was very curious. Don’t worry, I didn’t let her eat it or anything.
Then take one or two cotton balls and toss them in your vacuum bag. I imagine this would work for a bagless as well, but my Hoover lost it’s ability to inhale dust particles, and we ended up grabbing this hunk of dirt suckage at a yard sale.
In you go little fragrance ball!
Close her up.
And turn her on.
Then proceedeth ye to vacuum, and be amazed as fields of lavender fill the air!
Holy Sucking Tubes! It’s AMAZING!!! I’M SCREAMING AT YOU FROM MY KEYBOARD BECAUSE IT’S SO AWESOME!!!
Big Bertha wanted me to tell you that you need to get on this and treat your vacuum. Apparently, she’s become the spokeswoman for stinky vacuums all across the internet.
For more ways to naturally freshen your home, visit my
Naturally Fresh Home Gallery.
This sounds like a wonderful solution to the nasty pooch smell that lurks in my vacuum.Thank you I am definitely going to find the oil which I’m thinking Wal-
Mart might carry. I can tell you that in the past I have thrown away a vacuum due to the odor.
Try it, Debra! I bet it will help!
All I use is Purex Crystals or Downy Boosters. I put them on the floor and vacuum them up. Scent last forever!
Hi Corina!
I’ve never tried either of those, but I love my natural mix. The lavender and peppermint just smells so good!
Thanks for stopping by,
Gwen
Would this method work using perfume on the cotton balls? I have many bottles of perfume that I no longer use. This might be a way to use them up. Also, I have put those perfume paper samplers that come in newspaper ads in my vacuum bags. The fragrance doesn’t last very long, but it’s nice while it lasts, and it’s another way to give these new life.
I’m sure it would work, Carol! I’m just allergic to perfume, which is why I prefer Essential oils. But if it doesn’t bother you, I say try it!
Gwen
That is what happened to me. I am allergic to juniper which is a pine. I took 2 drops of pine essential oil and mixed it with cornmeal for my carpet. I had to immediately vacuum it up. I could barely breathe. I also cannot use pure rose oil. Can’t breathe. But perfume is the worst. Most perfumes are pure chemicals. To put it into a vacuum would be to spread the chemicals throughout the air. That is what is so awful about air fresheners and candles. Nothing but chemicals released into the air. When friends are burning candles, I have to ask them to extinguish them.
Patricia,
Hopefully you can find some good quality essential oils that you’re not allergic to and use those!
Thanks for sharing,
Gwen
For anyone with pets please research the essential oils to be used before purchasing. Most essential oils are toxic to cats including tea tree oil. Many are dangerous because they are smaller and by weight they are getting a hefty dose of the oils.
Also purchase pure distilled essential oils. If it doesn’t say that the oils are pure distilled oils there could be unwanted chemicals or cheap filler oils. The brand in the pictures would work fine and their essential oils are reasonably priced. No need to seek out the highest priced trendy names.
Thanks so much for the tips, Erica! I definitely keep my kitty away from them!
Thank you for the smile! I love your blog and bubbly personality you add to it! I will def be trying this! To Bertha!
Thanks so much, Beth! You are so sweet!
just found you blog…my vac Mitch Sterling has developed wet dog musk and I hesitate to use him. He sits, looking gorgeous, but unused. . . I too am allergic to perfumes and use essential oils – I put cotton balls with essential oils in my air intakes but never thought to try it with my trusty sidekick vacs. As an operator of a housecleaning small bizz this is exciting for me and my clients ( who have also named vacs) and the whole gangs got a few cotton balls each…. Mitch, Monty, Malcolm, baby Mikey and ol’ Morty all send thanks….we went with a fall smelling spiced chai….. And love it.
That is too funny, Heather! Thanks for sharing.
Gwen
I am allergic to dust mites so, to get rid of them, I suck up two damp teabags when I start vacuuming. Hope this helps someone with same issue.
Alexandra,
Thanks so much for sharing!
Gwen
I have a bagless vac (Ernestine the maid) and I haven’t tried this yet, but when I get inspired to vacuum again (or too ashamed to walk in the house) I will give this a try. Essential oils of many scents are available on Amazon and I have found them to be significantly less expensive than the craft stores like Joa… and Hobby Lo… I love the Eucalyptus fragrance and Lavender is my favorite, but ‘spiced apple’ is a great one for fall.
Barbm,
Thanks for sharing!
Gwen
This is incredibly helpful! You have answered so many questions I’ve had for years about how to care for vacuum cleaner. Thanks so much for taking the time to share your knowledge
Camelia,
You are very welcome!
Thank you for sharing.
Gwen
Be careful using essential oils in a bagless vacuum cleaner, as some oils can discolour or even melt plastic. Popping the cottonwool into a small drawstring bag ( the kind used for jewellery or wedding favours) will prevent it coming into direct contact with the plastic bin of the vacuum cleaner.
This is such a helpful for me. Actually, I want to know about the best brand of vacuum cleaner.
I will be using your tip in my vacuum also. I wonder if there is an essential oil for cinnamon?
Thanks.
Betty I.
I’m sure there it. That would smell great!
Hi Gwen, great post! My wife and I call this the “doggification” of our vacuum because our two retrievers always make it smell a bit – even if we clean it out regularly 🙂
Also, if anyone is having trouble with their home smelling like dog after cleaning, look for a vacuum with a charcoal filter. This type of filter absorbs the odour before it’s released into the home.
Thank you for the post!
Great tip, james!
xoxo
Gwen
Thank you for this excellent tip on how to get rid of that stinky smell. The smell coming from my Shark Swivel has been bugging me for a while even after I cleaned it.
It may have something to do with over-worked filters, or probably sucked in some nasty stuff.
Wow, what a clever way to freshen up your vacuum and the entire room at the same time! I can see why this is such a popular tip – using essential oils is so much better than chemical sprays. Thanks for sharing your experience and the step-by-step photos. I love how enthusiastic you and your vacuum are about this hack!