Quick Answer – First things first, check the bag. A musty odour probably means it’s full or may have split. It’s also possible you’ve vacuumed up water, causing mould to develop, or maybe the filter is blocked. If it’s a burning smell, it might point to an issue with the motor
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Henry Hoover is a household name for a reason—its cheerful face and powerful suction make it a go-to for many homes. But, like all vacuums, Henry can start to smell a little… off. The good news? Most of the time, it’s nothing major.
We’ve all been there: you turn on your vacuum, ready to freshen up the house, but instead, you’re greeted by a musty odour. It lingers in the air long after you’ve finished, making your house smell worse, not better, and suddenly, vacuuming feels less like a clean-up and more like a chore.
A smelly Henry is often due to a buildup of bacteria, whether it’s from a full bag, a bag that’s leaked, or a Henry Wash that hasn’t been properly emptied and cleaned. Luckily, most of these issues are easily fixed without much cost.
In this guide, we’ll break down why your Henry Hoover might smell and offer simple solutions to get Henry smelling fresh again..
Clearing the Air: Common Reasons Why Your Vacuum Has a Bad Smell
Musty odour? Dust Bag or Cylinder is Full
The most common culprit behind a smelly Henry is a full dust bag. It might seem obvious, but in larger homes, these bags fill up faster than you might expect.
A full dust bag can smell bad because all the dirt you’ve vacuumed up is still sitting in there. Dust on its own doesn’t usually smell, but if you’ve hoovered up things like food, pet hair, or other smelly debris, those odors can start to accumulate. I once heard of a Henry that smelled like dog food—turns out, the owner had vacuumed up kibble from their dog’s messy eating habits!.
Make it a habit to swap out the hoover bag once a month, or more often if you vacuum daily or have a large house. A fresh bag goes a long way in keeping those odors at bay.
Musty odour? Blocked Filters
Henry’s filter plays a vital role in trapping fine dust and preventing it from being blown back into the air. When the filter is full or blocked, it can’t do its job properly, and you might start noticing odours or even a decline in air quality, which could even contribute to asthma in some people.
You should be changing your filter out as often as needed – I’d say for every 5 bags your Henry goes through, you need to change out the filter once. Also – don’t suck up anything damp or wet with your normal Henry (this doesn’t apply to any Henrys that have the ability to suck up water, like the Henry Wash or the Charles) as he’s not designed for this and this can cause the filters to clog with water and mould to form, which leads to bad odours
Other Bad Smell? Sucked Up Something Smelly
As we’ve touched on briefly, hoovering up smelly items can lead to lingering odors. Pets and kids can be culprits here—whether it’s leftover food, pet hair, or something worse (looking at you, litter box spills).
Take a moment to think before vacuuming up anything particularly pungent. For example, cat litter—especially if it’s soaked up urine— can make your hoover smell pretty awful over time. If you’re regularly dealing with pet messes, consider investing in a Henry Pet or a bagless vacuum you can empty immediately.
Musty Odour? Mould
Mould thrives in warm, humid and damp conditions. Unfortunately, because Henry is so versatile, many people think that if there’s a spill, they can use Henry to vacuum up the fluid. You really, really can’t do this – it can cause damage to the filter and to the motors, but more importantly if you do this and don’t empty and clean Henry straight away, he will become mouldy which can be the cause of bad smells but it can also be a health hazard.
Remember: Henry and most other vacuums aren’t designed to handle wet messes. If you need a hoover that can tackle spills and even shampoo carpets, check out Numatic’s Charles, George or the Henry Wash, which can handle liquids without issues.
How to Get Rid Of Musty Smells in Your Vacuum Cleaner
Musty smells from the vacuum are caused from mould and mildew developing in the moist environment of an overfull or damp vacuum bag or filter. By preventing bags becoming overfull, replacing filters reguarly, and not sucking up water, you are unlikely to have any bad odours coming from your hoover. So preventing and eliminating these bad odours comes down to regular maintenance:
- Regularly replace the bags before they get overfull
- Replace filter frequently
- Allow the vacuum to completely dry in between use, especially if it has come across any moisture
- If water has been sucked up into the bag, replace the bag
One other note is there is some advice to vacuum up baking soda to neutralise odours in the carpet as well as from the vacuum. Do not do this: Baking soda is such a fine particle that it can sometimes pass through filters and get into the motor and cause permanent damage.
Vacuum Smells Burnt? Motor Issues
If the odour is more of a burning smell, your vacuum cleaner is overheating or you might have a faulty or burnt out motor. While these motors are exceptionally reliable, if the motor gets wet or damaged, or if it’s overloaded by trying to work alongside a filter that’s clogged up completely, the motor can overwork itself and then you might experience a burning smell.
It could also be that dirt has passed through a clogged filter or a generic non-numatic filter and made its way into the motor. This will result in friction and heat and cause the burning rubber smell in the vacuum. In some cases, it’s just a blockage in the hose that’s cutting off airflow and preventing the motor from cooling down.
Burning smells could also be a sign of an electrical issue—frayed wires or a faulty socket. Check the cord to see if there are any frayed, kinked or exposed wires. Carefully feel the cable while it is in use to see if it heats up. If there is any visible damage or heat it is not safe to continue vacuuming, and should be turned off straight away.
To fix the burning smell, start by giving Henry a thorough deep clean.
- Start at the floor head and make sure there are no tangled hairs or blockages in the entrance
- Make sure there are no blockages in the flomax hose. This can be disconnected from where he attaches to Henry’s face and cleaned in wet, soapy water
- Remove the motor and inspect the filter. If it is in any way clogged, don’t clean it but simply replace the filter
- Clean the cylinder and when dry replace the Hepa Bag
- Clean the exterior
Leave him to dry out for about 24 hours. Try again and see if this solves the problem. If the burning smell is still present, it is not safe to continue vacuuming and you’re probably going to have to find a new motor – sounds tricky but there are cleaning supply stores which you can purchase these from, or if you are not handy, a vacuum repairer should be able to do this for you.
Be aware that your repairer may consider replacing the motor uneconomical and might recommend you purchase a new vacuum
From Funky to Fresh: Key Vacuum Maintenance Steps for Preventing Bad Smells
There are a number of vacuum cleaner maintenance tips to prevent overheating and keeping your Henry smelling fresh and clean:
Replace the bags every time they are full
The most common source of bad odours is from the bag itself, either from sucking up organic debris which is rotting, or mould starting to form. Replacing the bags frequently also ensures the bags don’t become overfull, which can increase the work of the motor and lead to the burnt rubber smell and permanent damage to the motor. I would actually recommend you replace the bag when it is about 75% full as this will ensure it doesn’t get so full that Henry can’t suck up any more dirt.
Don’t Reuse the Bags
They are cheap and available at most large retailers. The stories I’ve heard about people cutting bags open and then trying to sew or staple them back up is just ridiculous – it won’t work and you’ll end up with dust and dirt inside the cylinder where it’s not supposed to be. Use a fresh bag every time.
Don’t Use Henry to Suck Up Water
Water in the bag combined with dirt and organic debris will create a great environment for mould to develop, causing that lingering musty odour which can persist even after the vacuum is turned off. The humidity can also make its way into the motor to csuse mechanical damage as well.
If you do suck up water accidentally, or even vacuum over a damp area of carpet, make sure you throw away the bag and filter, make sure Henry is clean and dry, and then replace the filter and bag.
Inspect and Replace the Filter Regularly
Ensure the filters are not clogged and damp through regular inspection. If they are, then replace them -Numatic do not recommend that the filters are cleaned or washed as this will make them less effective at the job they are designed to do. My advice would be not to scrimp on the filters and always have a supply ready and waiting – they’re available from MyHenry or online at a reasonable price. Amazon have a ‘Subscribe and Save’ where you can have them delivered to a set time that you choose, as well as saving 5%.
Invest in a Bag Freshner
These fresheners are placed directly into the vacuum bag and perfume the air while the vacuum is running, leaving the house smelling fantastic afterwards. These should not be used to mask bad odours, and are not strong enough to mask bad odours, but are a nice addition to purify the air.
Conclusion
A smelly Henry Hoover is often a result of improper use or infrequent maintenance. Fortunately, the solution is usually simple: replace the bag, change the filter, and give Henry a bit of TLC. With regular care, you’ll keep your Henry fresh and your home even fresher.
Susie Greene
Susan Greene is a busy mother of two who has worked in the cleaning and vacuum industry for twenty years. Having used Henry hoovers for almost all that time, she's a passionate advocate of Numatic products and this is what led her to start henryhooversonline.com. While she's not seeing which Numatic model picks up dirt the best, she can be found travelling the country with her children and two dogs.
