Musty smell from two older Hoover vacuums

[fan-of-fans]

I have two Hoover vacuums that emit a musty smell when running. One is a Hoover Constellation (labeled Penncrest) and the other is a Slimline. I have taken both apart (except for the motors, I'm not good at motors) and cleaned everything. I also washed the hoses out and have installed new bags. The Slimline does not have an exhaust filter in place as it was missing (crumbled with age) and the Constellation I know needs a new round filter, but even with it removed, it smells.

What do you recommend to eradicate the odor? I thought about sucking up baking soda but then wondered if it could hurt the motors.

Also is it just me or is the suction on these older vacuums a little weaker than newer ones? I suppose it could be with the lower amperage motors. I'm not saying it's bad, but it does not seem to be as strong as an '80s or '90s Kenmore canister for instance.

 

[tase]

To absorb the musty smell of my Kirbys, I put a cotton ball soaked in vanilla extract in my vacuum bag. Other natural scents like peppermint or lavender work just as well.

If this doesn't help, then ignore me.

Baking soda won't damage anything. The grains are bigger than the fine dust in your carpet so there shouldn't be any problems.

 

[thermokid]

Stinky Vacuums

To get rid of the musty smell, I spray the inside of the vacuum (where the bag goes) with Fabreeze then let it dry and that might take the smell out.. It works with uprights like Kirby or old Hoover covertibles spraying it inside the cloth outer bags...Dan