My Henry Hoover Smells: 6 Things You Can Do Right Now To Fix It
A few weeks ago I went to take our trusty Henry out of the cupboard to do some hoovering only to notice that the room suddenly smelt like long-gone off milk. If you’ve been in the same situation and been left wondering why your Henry hoover smells then this post will help you out.
We’ll take a look at the most likely reasons why your Henry hoover smells like a cat puked inside it. In my case, it was a dirtbag that had outstayed its welcome which made for a fairly simple fix but there could be a few other likely reasons that you’re experiencing a foul odour from Henry.
Key Takeaways
- Your Henry hoover can get smelly just like any other.
- There are some easy steps you can take to stop your Henry from smelling so bad:
- Cleaning the filter
- Changing the bag
- Cleaning the hose
- Wiping Henry’s tub
- Cleaning Henry’s tools, attachments, and cable
- Using air fresheners
Why Does Henry Hoover Smell & What You Can Do To Solve It
So let’s delve into some of the reasons why your Henry hoover might smell and what can be done about it.
Clean The Filter
One of the first major culprits for your smelly Henry may well be a dirty or dusty filter. The filter in a vacuum cleaner plays an important role by trapping dirt and dust that escapes from the intake to stop it from re-entering the atmosphere as well as protecting the motor.
Over time the filter can become clogged decreasing the suction on your Henry but also holding a lot of elements that can cause nasty smells.
It is recommended that you replace the Henry filter around every 12 months if you use the vacuum very frequently and you notice it is looking rather filthy.
Alternatively, you can look at simply giving the filter a good clean to hopefully remove the causes of the smells from your hoover.
Change The Bag
A potential major reason why your hoover smells may well be that Henry’s bag needs to be changed.
That’s right, Henry may need a nappy change.
When our Henry’s last bag needed a change out it was filling the room with an awful smell very quickly. It is likely that whilst cleaning your Henry picks up items that help with festering smells. For example, little bits of food dropped on the floor and even droplets of various liquids spilt on carpets and floors. Now when all of this mixes into a sealed bag that already holds lots of bacteria, you can imagine the symphony of smells that are created.
The good thing about a smell coming from the bag is that as soon as you open up Henry’s lid and lift up the filter you’ll be able to tell if the bag is the problem.
If you have a disposable bag and it’s smelly then you can simply get rid of it and pop in a new bag. You can find a pack of 10 new bags for around £10 or so depending on where you shop.
Here’s How To Change Your Bag
1 – Switch off and unplug Henry.
2 – Unclip Henry’s top half – refer to your user manual if you’re unsure how to do this.
3 – Remove the filter if your model allows you to do so.
4 – Remove the bag very carefully – refer to your user manual. You need to be especially careful if the bag is very full.
5 – With the bag out, it’s a good idea to check for any dirty or potentially defective parts.
6 – Replace the bag.
7 – Put the filter and container head back on before switching on Henry again to use it and check if the smell has gone. Remember to air out the space as well to make sure the smell is not lingering from the previous bag.
Clean The Hose
Another potential source for the nasty smell comes from the vacuum’s hose. As the vacuum does its work everything that gets sucked up travels through the hose. Sometimes bits of dirt and things like items of food can get lodged in the hose resulting in a nasty smell.
You’ll need to check whether there are any blockages or build-up inside the hose.
Here’s How To Clean Your Hose
1 – Make sure the vacuum is switched off and unplugged.
2 – Unscrew/pull out the hose from your Henry – refer to your model user manual if you’re unsure how to do so.
3 – Take a look inside for any obvious obstructions.
4 – If you see anything, try to remove it. If you can’t easily get to it, some water should help to get it moving.
5 – Alternatively, you could place the hose in some hot water and allow it to rest for a number of hours (overnight if time allows).
6 – At this point, once the hose is fully dry, you can try hoover to check if the smell is still present.
7 – If you find the hose is still smelly, then you could try soaking the hose in some hot water and bicarbonate of soda – be sure to check your model can withstand the bicarbonate of soda.
8 – Once again leave the hose to soak for a number of hours. Once done the bicarbonate of soda and hot water should hopefully have acted to remove the offending bacteria causing the smell as well as any lodged dirt.
9 – Make sure the hose is completely dry before reattaching it and trying the hoover once again.
Clean Henry’s Smelly Tub
Whilst you have Henry’s bag out and the tub empty, you can take the opportunity to give it a clean if it looks dirty. To do so you can use a clean cloth and a cleaning spray/solution to wipe around the inside of the tub.
Alternatively, you use a clean cloth alongside some hot water and lemon to help Henry smell nice and fresh. In any case, always make sure the inside of the tub is completely dry before reusing it; the last thing you want inside your Henry is moisture.
Clean Henry’s Tools, Attachments, and Power Cables
By now you’ve checked the most obvious areas for the offending smells coming from your Henry.
If you still can’t figure out where it’s coming from it may well be that one of your Henry tools or attachments is harbouring the foul smell. Pet hairs for example, can cause all manners of smells especially when stuck to the insides of brushes and tools. It’s worth checking and cleaning the attachments and tools such as:
- Brushes
- Nozzles
- Crevice Tool
The best way to clean these is with some warm water and a cloth. Straw cleaners can also be quite handy here in getting to harder-to-reach spots inside the tools.
The other possibility could also be that your power cable has passed through something that has stuck onto it and caused the odour. It may be hard to notice at first but double-check the cable for any stickiness or residue around the cover. You can use a warm damp (not wet) cloth to clean it.
As always make sure everything is thoroughly dry before switching on your vacuum cleaner again.
Make Use of Bag Fresheners
To help potentially combat bad smells and keep your bags operating for longer, you could pop in a vacuum bag freshener. These are like air fresheners but for the inside of your vacuum bag
Be sure to place the freshener inside the bag – not inside the tub or on top of the filter. This could lead to the freshener being sucked into the motor and destroying your beloved Henry.
Top Tips To Keep Henry Smelling Fresh
Here are some other ways to keep your Henry smelling its very best.
- A commonly referenced trick is to attach a car air freshener onto Henry and have the fresh scent work its way around your home as you hoover.
- You could try vacuum discs which are designed to emit a fresh scent as you hoover. These are popped into your vacuum cleaner and can be particularly useful for pet owners.
- A trick favoured by some is to put some scented carpet cleaner on the floor and then hoover it up. Try not to do this often as it could compromise the hose and filter over time. Plus there are plenty of other tricks in this list that don’t harm your machine.
- Replace the hoover bag often – emptying it out weekly or after every hoover session if you wanted to. This is of course more practical if you have re-useable bags.
- Regularly cleaning the filter will help to avoid the build-up of smells and maintain suction.
- Replacing the filter every few years or annually depending on use will help maintain the hoover and lessen the incidence of nasty smells.
- Wash the hose as well as attachments and tools regularly
My Henry Hoover Smells of Burning
If you’re Henry hoover suddenly starts to smell like something is burning then you need to immediately switch it off and unplug it.
Place the hoover somewhere safe and out of the way of children and pets.
If you’re unsure what is causing the smell, you may need to get some professional advice or have it serviced it.
These are some of the common issues that could be causing the burning smell from your Henry:
- Your vacuum could be overheating
- It may be blocked in some areas causing it to work too hard
- The drive belt may be too worn down and coming to an end
- It could be an electrical fault (why it’s a good idea to get professional help)
Conclusion: Why Does Henry Hoover Smell?
Your Henry hoover, just like another vacuum cleaner, can smell from time to time. Given the work it gets through this is a very common problem and one that can be resolved fairly quickly by running through the most likely culprits. By changing the bag regularly as well as cleaning it, you’ll help keep your Henry free from any pesky smells as well as helping to stay running for much longer.
