smelly vacuum help needed!

**Maisiedotes** · 04-21-2006, 01:48 PM

Our vacuum is a nice one, but it is a hand-me-down from someone with a rather smelly dog. The vacuum smells like dog whenever we run it- we tried sucking up some carpet deoderizer and baking soda, but nothing helps- then it just smells like dog and carpet fresh

Any ideas? Thanks in advance! And sorry if this has been posted before.

Maisie

**PeacewithMyself** · 04-21-2006, 01:53 PM

Had that problem once myself with a vacume. I put baking powder on the rug and vacumed it up. But, this depends on the rug and it takes quite a while to vacume up. You might just want to vacume some of the powder directly into you cleaner. Helped with the stink anyway. Good luck.

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 04-21-2006, 07:10 PM

We had that problem and I took off my hose mixed up some ammonia water and sprayed it into the hose using a heavy hand. Then put hose outside to dry well. Since I have agreat fear of water and electric I made sure the hose was well dry before running the unit again. Also put a fabric softner sheet in between my filter and bag. These two things really helped. Don't know if you have a hose type vaccum or not. Mines a tri-star (looks like a pig) and when an odor comes home from a cleaning job outside goes the hose.

Laurie in Bradenton

**duckduckgoose007** · 04-21-2006, 07:15 PM

Have you tried sparaying inside with Fabreeze? It might work. Hope you solve the problem soon.

**Libby** · 04-22-2006, 12:00 AM

If its the bagless kind - take out the filter and wash it in SMELLY dishsoaped water and air dry. Wash out the 'bin' where the crap that gets sucked up into that you dump out.

If it has a bag - as the previous posted said FEBREEZE it!

Try taking out the filter bag - Febreezing the inside of the 'pouch' where the garbage bag goes into (while unplugged eh?) - Febreeze a new bag and let dry completely before putting back in. Make sure its all dry from the Febreezing before operating. If that still doesnt work - put down some baking soda on the floor - scented or plain - and vaccum it off the dry floor (not carpet).

Dont forget to clean out the bottom bristles as well and the hose attachment if possible - vinegar and water do wonders!

Good luck, let us know what worked best!

**pkellyc** · 04-22-2006, 06:02 PM

Use some pet deortorizer the type you sprinkle on the carpet. I wouldn't make a habit of using it because it does harm your vacume. But it works, my sister uses it all the time.

**Vannie** · 04-22-2006, 06:54 PM

You might try buying some cheap ground coffee and sprinkle a 1/4 or 1/2 can on the carpet, then vacuum the coffee grounds and the rest of the carpet. I tried this when my kitty had an accident. I found that the grounds made the vacuum cleaner smell fresh like coffee.

**canadian gardener** · 04-22-2006, 07:44 PM

some great ideas! Febreeze, washing the hose. Good thread.

Laurie that fabric sheet over the filter is terrific. I'm going to try that.

My only suggestion would be to replace the filter if you have one separate from the bag. I have a HEPA filter that needs annual replacement and a little washable sponge prefilter that needs cleaning everyonce in a while.

**santoria** · 05-07-2006, 04:55 PM

could you take the air filter out and give it a good cleaning and baking soda or vinegar rinse?

thats what I had to do with my vacuum.....

**troublenrio12000** · 06-03-2006, 03:27 PM

try putting a unused dryer sheet in it

**leezza** · 06-03-2006, 05:42 PM

If these idea's don't help.........I would suggest taking it to a repair shop. I took mine recently (machine is a hoover 10 years old but in good shape)....they put all new belts on and checked everything out for $40 dollars. My machine now vacuums like it did when new! If you don't want to take it in you may want to call them for suggestions.

leezza