How To Clean A Vacuum Hose With Bad Smells

After regular use, your vacuum cleaner will get significantly dirtier due to the dust, debris, and grease building up inside. This buildup causes the machine to lose suction power, and all the nasty stuff you vacuum can even start to smell.

You may wonder how to clean a vacuum hose when it's nearly impossible to reach inside. Don't worry, this article will show you how to clean a vacuum hose and all of its attachments in the fastest and most effective ways, so you won't have any trouble using it.

The vacuum hose might get quite filthy and odorous

What You Need and the Process

With vacuums, the filters do their job of keeping the inner parts free of dust and dirt. And the dust container, while being the place that stores dirt, is usually detachable and can be easily cleaned with a little work.

But the hose and connected attachments — the very first things that come in contact with all kinds of nasty stuff you pick up — will get quite dirty over time.

And unlike the container, which can be easily removed and cleaned, you'll need to take extra care when disassembling the parts and cleaning them from the inside out. Not to mention that different machines will have slight differences in design, which require certain compromises.

So, it would be nice if you could learn exactly how to clean a vacuum hose through this process and be able to apply it to your current vacuum cleaner model.

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The Process

Here's how to clean a vacuum cleaner hose, the way I usually clean my own machine. Basically, you'll first need to disassemble the hose from the vacuum body. Nowadays, most vacuum models offer detachable hoses, which can be easily removed with a press of a switch.

And while the outside might look fairly clean, the inside can be filled with all kinds of dirty stuff — from pet hair and dust to grease buildup and more — which won't come out easily. You'll then need to dip the entire hose into a cleaning solution to help loosen the dirt and cut through grease. Once everything is loosened up, you'll find it much easier to clean the inside.

You might wonder how to unclog a vacuum hose when it's too long for any kind of brush to reach. For this, I have a simple trick to help you get inside the hose and scrub the inner walls.

Just find a long stick that fits inside your vacuum hose and put a piece of rag on one end. It'll become a makeshift brush for the cleaning. Then you can simply fit the stick inside the hose while rubbing the inner walls with the rag.

This method is extremely useful when trying to clean the dirt and grease inside the vacuum hose, which are usually impossible to reach.

Any type of broom handle would be ideal for cleaning the hose

Things to Prepare

Here are all the items you need to start cleaning and unclogging your vacuum hose:

A large container that can fit your entire hose — use this to hold the cleaning solution and fully submerge the hose. Avoid using your kitchen sink; you don't want the dirty water going down that drain.

Dish soap or any deodorizing soap — dish soap cuts through grease well, but if your hose smells bad, go for something with deodorizing properties.

A broom handle or any long stick that fits inside the hose — this is your main tool for clearing any blockage deep inside.

A few old rags — wrapped around the stick, these scrub the inner walls clean.

A cup cleaner brush — not long enough for the full hose, but perfect for cleaning the shorter attachments.

Step by Step Instructions

If you're someone who uses their vacuum for almost everything like I do — or if you have pets at home — you can imagine how dirty and smelly it would get if you neglect regular hose cleaning. So, let's get right to work to learn how to clean out a vacuum hose.

Step 1 - Disassemble the Parts

Depending on the vacuum model you're using, the process might vary a little, but most vacuums will let you detach the hose quite effortlessly. You just need to press the knob to unlock the hose from its canister or upright body. Then remove any attachments on the hose head. If you're unsure about this step, feel free to check your instruction manual or contact the manufacturer.

Remove the power unit's hose

Step 2 - Pre-Clean the Hose

With the hose and all its attachments disassembled and ready on the table, you can start making the cleaning solution. Simply apply some soap and add enough water to the container so your vacuum hose and attachments stay completely submerged. Make sure to let the cleaning solution sit and start breaking down the grime and buildup inside. The longer you let it work, the better the results.

Also, for those wondering how to clean a smelly vacuum hose, you'll probably want to get stronger soap with deodorizing effects, since the bad odors that have been building up over time won't simply disappear with regular soap.

Get the soap ready for cleaning

Step 3 - The Actual Hard Work

Once you take out the hose and vacuum attachments, it's time to rinse them inside and out with water multiple times. This will get rid of any greasy and dirty water still on them. Plus, you'll also give your vacuum hose a bit of extra cleaning. It should look and feel much better after this process.

But inside the vacuum hose, there are still stubborn stains and greasy parts that require you to really work on. Hence, it's time for the DIY cleaning tool to do the work. Simply sit on a chair and position the broom handle or something similar on your lap. Wrap a rag around the top of the handle and make sure it fits your hose.

Then, just work your cleaning tool into the hose and start scrubbing the inside to get rid of any stubborn stains and greasy buildup. Remember not to move the stick. Instead, wrap your palm around the outer walls of the hose and rub it against the piece of rag. Repeat this motion and work your way along the hose until you reach the very end.

Take out the hose and run it under water to clean up the excess dirt. Clean the rag or change to a new one and repeat the process to make sure the inner walls of your vacuum hose are completely clean.

As for the attachments, you just need to work the cup cleaner brush into them to get rid of all the dirt and grease. Push and pull the brush in and out while twisting it for the best results. Then rinse everything again with water. Your crevice tool, dusting brush, and many others can be easily cleaned afterward.

Step 4 - Finish the Job

Once you're satisfied with the result, just leave everything to air dry before you try to put them back together. Follow the instructions to put the hose back on the vacuum body and place the attachments back in their original spots. You can even start vacuuming to see how much your machine has improved. No more funny smells, no more weak suction — your vacuum will feel like new again.

Or alternatively, you can learn how to store vacuum cleaners correctly so they'll be ready the next time you use them. Doing this will prevent dust and odors from building up inside the machine, which would sabotage your maintenance in the first place.

Keep Your Vacuum Fresh

With proper maintenance and a nice product from this top 10 vacuum cleaner list, you can enjoy a cleaner, fresher home with every vacuum session. Now that you know exactly how to clean a vacuum hose and remove all that nasty buildup, your vacuum will perform like new again. And of course, I'm sure that my instructions on how to clean vacuum cleaner hose will come in handy for all of you. And if you're interested, there's also another article on how to make a vacuum, which will show you how to create your own vacuum using many common materials. Feel free to check it out and discover more helpful guides for vacuum users on our site.