Deodorizing Vacuums

[scoots]

Here's a problem I think everbody's had on this site: Purchasing a used vacuum that smells too much of the previous owner. (Usually in the fan discharge)

My mom's solution when our vacuum started getting funky was to put some cheap perfume/aftershave in a cotton ball and vacuum it up.

Does anybody else have a favorite way to deodorize vacuums? After putting fresh bags in, of course...

 

[vacosaurus]

I clean all parts as best I can and spritz on un scented Frebreeze on all the parts. Bill,

 

[jade_angel]

I use a cotton ball wetted with vanilla extract (fake's as good as real for this, and cheaper). Another option - depending on where the stench is - is to suck up some new scented kitty litter. Don't do that with anything bagless and cyclonic, though - the fine dust will get into everything. In fact, I'd only do that with bagged (or disposable-filtered, like FQ or SK) canisters with good filtration.

 

[vintagevaclover]

I like Feather-Lite Carpet & Vacuum Refresher (carpet crystals), Soothing Sensation scent

 

[vintagevaclover]

The local vac shop in my city carries this stuff & it's some of the best I've used. Apparently a lot of hotels use this as well. It does have kind of a "Hotel smell" not that that's a bad thing, it just smells very clean.

 

[marks_here]

That's my secret ingredient I use for my soup along with cat nip!! Oops

 

[vacuumfreak95]

Smelly vacuums.....

When starting a new bag I just dump a little bit of baking soda into the new bag and then install it. If it starts to stink later on before its time to change the bag I just sprinkle a small amount on an area of carpet and vacuum it up. Be carful when using baking soda because it's a fine substance and can clog the pores of the bag and reduce sucktion and air flow so don't over do it. Also NEVER do this with a bag less vac it just cloggs the filter and makes a mess. Another good idea is I sometimes put a dryer sheet around the exhaust filter so that when I vacuum it smells wonderful!

 

[cb123]

Mulberry and cherry is pretty good, too!

 

[super-sweeper]

Calem!

I'm surprised you of all people wouldn't use KIRBY ODORIFIC II! I use it for all my vacuums, just soak a cotton ball in the stuff and the air smells wonderful! It lasts forever, too, I'm STILL on my first bottle I bought a year ago! 

 

[cb123]

Well Alex, A GOOOOOOOD FOR YOUUUUUUUU!!! I got a bottle from the 1950s, and I'm still using it!


.....I'm better than you are.....I'm better than you are.....BONK, BONK on the head!

 


Where you've been, MAN, I've been missing our cutup sessions?!

 

[kirbysthebest]

I just bought a slightly used machine that

was heavily perfumed by the former owner. The smell of strong floral carpet fresh will gag you. I threw away the bag, washed the filters, then wipped out the bag compartment with Lysol disinfecting wipes; it still smells like a french whore.

The only think I can think of is to take it outside and clean the car or something and allow it to air out. I mean the stench is so strong it will choke you. I have bought some machines that smell like someone vacuumed up a dead ferret, I swear this is worse.

 

[marks_here]

I'm so glad that has never happened to me. I do make sure I run it first & if it stank then they can keep it, I don't need it that badly

 

[cb123]

They could've at least had the good common decency to have used Chanel #5, instead of that putrefied  pigswill, like some $2 back alley streetwalker would wear! Sounds like you may have to splash that thing down with some holy water and recite a prayer over it!

 

[sonnyndad]

How 'bout this?

Just yesterday, I had a scuffle with my G3. I went to vacuum with it, but when I did, I was greeted by a horrible rotten fish smell! I took it completely apart, washed the pieces in hot soapy water, and put it all back together. You can still smell it, just not nearly as much. I also noticed that the Mini-Emtor was cracked. So I take the Mini-Emtor off my parts unit, wash it, and notice that it's cracked too. Oh well.

 

[super-sweeper]

Be thankful it was perfume, some of us have had much worse!!


 


I've been places, Calem! But mainly a day of highly unsuccessful garage sales! 

 

[cb123]

Well, I hope you have better luck next time, and I do understand that you've got places to go; people to see, and things to five finger discount.....heeheeheeheeheehee!!!

 

 

[ultralux88]

Ozone!

I use an ozone generator and let the vacuum suck a god about thru it for few minutes and that kills the smell, and it never comes back. I have one of these 'ionizer' air purifier things that makes ozone, and thats what I use for this, and thats all I use it for really, deodorizing things, rooms, cars, vacuums, anything really. I just turn it up to high and hold the hose up by the grille or lay the vac on the back and let this thing blow the ozone towards the brush roll nozzle area so it can suck it in.