Why Does Your Vacuum Smell Bad or Burnt (And How To Fix)?

Vacuum cleaners are a staple in most modern households as they make housekeeping more convenient by quickly removing dust, dirt, and pet hair from floors and carpets. There are different types of vacuum cleaners on the market, each suited to varying home and user needs. However, when running your vacuum, you may notice strange smells coming from it, like burnt debris, burning hair, and — if you have a pet — may even think your vacuum smells like dog.

There can be many reasons behind these smells — such as clogged filters, overheated motors, or debris stuck in the brush roll — which you should tackle to prevent unpleasant odours from lingering in your home. Understanding the possible causes and best solutions, along with practising preventive maintenance, can help keep your vacuum in top shape and your home smelling fresh.

Why Does My Robot Vacuum Smell?

If your vacuum smells bad or burnt, it's probably due to a clogged filter, especially if the filter has absorbed too much dirt and dust. However, there might be other reasons, like overheating motors, trapped debris, accumulated pet hair, or a full dust bin.

Clogged Filters

If your vacuum cleaner stinks, the culprit may be clogged filters. When the filters are overloaded with dust, they can become a breeding ground for bacteria and mould, resulting in musty odours. If left unattended, the vacuum may even begin to smell like rotten eggs, making it challenging and unhygienic to use the appliance.

Overheating Motors

Clogged filters or an overheating motor are two common reasons why a vacuum might smell burnt. If the belt is worn out, it can cause the motor to overheat, making producing a smell of burning rubber. In severe cases, the motor may burn out entirely and need repairing.

Trapped Debris

Trapped debris, such as pet hair or food crumbs, can lead to unpleasant smells in vacuum cleaners. They can accumulate and decompose in the filter, hose or brush, resulting in a stench emitting from your appliance. This issue typically happens in vacuum cleaners used to clean homes with high traffic, such as households with pets or children.

Pet Hairs

An excess of pet hair, especially when wet, is a common reason why a vacuum smells like dog. Pet hair can collect in the vacuum’s brush roll or filters, trapping moisture and bacteria that cause unpleasant odours. Additionally, if pet poop is vacuumed up by accident, it can become malodorous, and fill the dustbin or hose with a lingering smell.

Full Dust Bin

A full dust bin is a common cause for unpleasant vacuum odours. Dust, debris, and organic materials trapped inside a vacuum cleaner bin can create an ideal environment for bacteria and mould to thrive, leading to foul smells. This even applies to robot vacuums with a self-empty feature, as this sort of waste can also accumulate in their collection bags or bins.

How to Get Rid of Vacuum Smell?

There are several ways to get rid of vacuum smells, depending on the reason behind the stink. Solutions range from emptying and cleaning the dust bin or bag regularly, to washing or replacing filters, and clearing any hair or debris from the brush roll.

Empty Dust Bag or Bin

First, if you have a clogged filter or trapped debris in your vacuum – whether it’s a traditional model or a modern robotic version – emptying the dust bag or bin regularly can help prevent bad odours from developing in the device. Try to do this after each use, especially if you’re vacuuming a high-traffic area, such as the kitchen and living room. This can prevent debris from rotting and becoming smelly.

Clean or Replace Filters

Cleaning the filter if it’s clogged, or replacing it altogether if necessary, should fix the issue right away. Inspect filters frequently to prevent dust and debris from accumulating in them. It’s recommended to refer to the vacuum's user manual for specific instructions on how to clean its filter.

Check the Brushes

A vacuum cleaner’s brushes are often the first point of contact between the appliance and debris, and it’s likely that pet hair and food crumbs may be stuck there, especially after cleaning parts of a home that children and pets frequent. This can be particularly worrisome if your vacuum cleaner starts smelling like burning hair, indicating that trapped hair may be getting pulled towards the bearings. Check and clean the brushes in case there is debris trapped in between, especially if you find that the brushes on your robot vacuum are not spinning. If your vacuum has a rotating brush, you should be able to take it out and clean it.

Wash the Hose

If you’re using an upright vacuum, remove the vacuum hose and wash it with soapy water — either dish soap or mild detergents are fine. It’s best to let the hose submerge totally, which will allow water to move through the inside so it gets a thorough cleaning. After that, rinse well and let it dry before reattaching it to the vacuum.

Wash the Mop if You Use a Vacuum Mop

It’s getting popular to get a vacuum and mop combo for home cleaning. Wash the mop after each use to prevent smells. Some microfibre mop heads are machine washable, but those that can’t be put in a washing machine can be soaked in a bleach-and-water solution, then rinsed completely, and hung to dry.

Remove Trapped Debris

Trapped debris is a frequent cause of unpleasant vacuum smells. Dust, pet hair, and small particles can get caught in the brush roll, hose, or crevices, causing odours to build up over time. To tackle this, regularly inspect and clean these areas, removing any lodged debris. Use a long brush or compressed air to dislodge particles from tight spots.

Check for Motor Issues

A burning smell from your vacuum often indicates motor issues, such as overheating or worn-out components. Check for blockages in the hose or filters that might strain the motor, causing it to overwork. If the motor continues to emit a smell after clearing the debris, it could require professional servicing or replacement.

Replace With Robot Vacuums

For a smarter and hands-free cleaning solution, consider upgrading from a traditional vacuum cleaner to a robot vacuum. Top-tier models such as the DEEBOT X5 PRO OMNI, offer exceptional features, including an all-in-one docking station that not only charges the robot after each use, but also empties the debris and washes and hot-air dries the mop head automatically. The OMNI station has a large dust bin that can hold months’ of debris, while washing the mop head with hot water can dissolve stubborn stains and remove odours. In addition, robot vacuums are equipped with sensors that send alerts to apps to notify users when it's time to replace filters or empty dust bins, preventing the accumulation of unpleasant smells.

How to Prevent Vacuum From Smelling Bad

If you want to take pre-emptive measures to ensure your vacuum doesn’t smell bad, you can carry out certain maintenance tasks like cleaning and replacing clogged or worn-out parts, avoid vacuuming damp materials or pet waste, and use vacuum-safe deodorising products to neutralise odours during cleaning.

Regular Cleaning Maintenance

Most vacuum manufacturers recommend consistent preventive maintenance. Based on your schedule, empty the dust bins or bags to prevent overstuffing. Vacuums need air to flow through in order to work properly, and overstuffed dust bins will block the airflow.

Cleaning the filter, brushes and hoses are also important to keep your vacuum fresh. Ensure that you check all the filters present, as some vacuums have one filter, while others have more. Replace disposable ones and wash the washable variety, which are getting more popular now, and take extra care when cleaning a robot vacuum filter. Rinse and allow the filters to dry completely before reinstalling them in the device.

Brushes collect hair, floss and string-like debris that can wrap around themselves, which draw more power to function and potentially stop them from spinning freely. Untangle the brushes by simply cutting the tangle with scissors or a blade. Certain models also allow users to take the brush rolls out for a thorough clean.

The hoses can be a common place for clogs. Disconnect and clean them frequently, and it is also a good idea to let soapy water run through them in order to dissolve stubborn stains. Ensure they are completely dry before reattaching. Clean sensors on your robot vacuum to remove dust and debris so that the device cleans effectively.

Overall, keep an eye out for any unusual performance. For instance, if your vacuum cleaner is not picking up debris, emits a stench, or even spits stuff back out, stop the operation and try to get to the root of the problem immediately. If you have a smart cleaner, these basic maintenance checks may address why your robot vacuum keeps stopping. If the issues continue, it is highly recommended to bring the device to the manufacturer for professional assistance.

Storing the Vacuum in a Well-Ventilated Area

Other than regular maintenance, it is a good practice to store your vacuum cleaner in a well-ventilated area. Mould, mildew and bacteria grow faster in dark, enclosed places, so keeping the appliance in a dry, cool space with adequate air circulation is key to prolonging the vacuum cleaner’s lifespan and keeping unpleasant smells at bay.

Consider A Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum

A robot vacuum can take over the cleaning tasks in your household, and it requires minimal effort to maintain. Even though regular cleaning is still recommended to keep them at optimal performance, they are ‘smart’ enough to notify users when filters need cleaning or replacement, or if something is jammed in the brushes, keeping it away from odours and maintain freshness.

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