Just like you, I love my pets and they are like members of the family. But most of us complain that our vacuum cleaner stinks. There is a smell kind of like "wet dog" when using our vacuum cleaner. This is mostly due to our pets having lots of hair, dander, mud, you name it.

So the big question is how do we keep our pet vacuums smelling fresh?

But before answering that, I wanted to point out the parts of a vacuum cleaner where you can mostly find the smell.

• Dust Cup
• Filters
• Vacuum Hose
• Brushroll or Cleaning Head

So here is the list that I compiled of the most effective ways for getting rid of unwanted odours out of the vacuum cleaner.

The most mentioned ways on the internet (blogs and forums) for getting rid of odours out of your vacuum and carpets!

1. Change the filter more often than recommended.

The purpose of a vacuum filter is to prevent harmful particles getting inside the machine that may cause problems internally and to prevent dust and odours from recirculating back into your house while vacuuming.

So changing the filter frequently does make sense. You can also clean the filter regularly (if it’s washable) to get rid of odours. Most vacuum brands recommend washing the filter every 3-6 months. But you can clean it more often and make sure the filter is dry so there’s no moisture remaining before putting it back into the vacuum.

2. Empty the dust cup after each use or change the bag if your vacuum cleaner uses them.

The dust cup or bag is where the vacuum stores all dirt, dust and pet hair inside the machine. So smell can easily build up inside.

It is recommended to change the bag when it’s nearly half full.

Emptying the dust cup after each use and washing it with warm soapy water would greatly prevent unwanted odours from accumulating inside the vacuum. Then spray and wipe the dust cup with disinfectant.

3. Disassemble the vacuum and clean it thoroughly.

If you can still smell unpleasant odours in your vacuum cleaner, then it is time to clean the whole vacuum unit. We already know the main parts of the vacuum where smells accumulate, so give them extra attention when cleaning.

You can soak plastic parts of the vacuum in warm soapy water. Wipe and disinfect the parts that can’t be soaked such as the metal parts. It is also important that you remove any pet hairs and blockages to efficiently get rid of odours.

4. Use scented tablets

I also found a lot of positive reviews about using vacuum scented tablets each time you change the bag of your vacuum. It helps freshen up smelly rooms and can also reduce pet odours each time you vacuum.

For bagless vacuum cleaners, a scented laundry dryer sheet will work better than scented tablets.

5. Use baking soda and essential oil

Put a couple drops of essential oil such as eucalyptus or lavender into a container of baking soda. Sprinkle the mixture into the carpet and leave it for an hour or so, (overnight is better), and then vacuum afterwards. This will serve as a carpet deodorizer.