Thursday, January 20, 2011

Vacuum Cleaner Smell and How to Get Rid of Bad Odors


The burning rubber smell. Vacuums smell like burning rubber when the belt breaks or the beater bar can no longer roll due to an obstruction or a loose belt. It's really easy to tell when a roller bar isn't working properly. All you have to do is tilt the vacuum backwards while "on" to see if the beater is rolling. If it's not, then unplug the cord and examine what's preventing the roller from rotating.

Sometimes pet hair, bits of yarn or string can bind around the ends of the beater bar which prevents it from rolling smoothly. These strings should be cut or pulled away from the bar.

But, if it's the belt that's broken or if the belt has too much slack, the vacuum cleaner will need a new belt. Vacuum cleaner belts are available at all discount department stores. Remember to jot down the brand name and model number of your vacuum cleaner since belt sizes differ by brands.

The mildewy, stinky sock smell. Certain vacuums can pick up mildew smells. These include models that use washable bags, or use water in their filtration systems such as a Rainbow brand vacuum. Mildew happens when filters are placed back in the machine wet, or the machine isn't allow to "air dry" thoroughly before being put back into storage.

To prevent mildew smells, always dry bags and filters thoroughly before installing.
Ref: Carpet & Rug Institutes Carpet Maintenance Guidelines
Products I Like To Clean My Carpets: Febreze Carpet care


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