Why Does My Dyson Smell Bad & How To Fix It? (2024)

Is your Dyson vacuum cleaner smelling like cat pee, feet, or poop after use?  Here are the two main reasons:

You can eliminate this foul smell by thoroughly cleaning its removal parts. 

Continue reading to get detailed reasons why does my dyson smell bad, along with practical solutions:

👃Dyson Vacuum Smells Decoded: Causes & Solutions

Type of odor	How common is the odor?	Reason	Difficulty	How to remove odor?
Dyson smells like a dog	Common, especially among dog owners.	Poor upkeep or attempting to vacuum wet dog hair	Moderately easy	Deep cleaning Dyson vacuum by disassembling and disinfecting it.
Dyson smells like cat pee	Common among cat pet owners.	You use Dyson to clean around the cat litter area, or your cat has pissed on it.	Moderately easy	Wash every vacuum part in an equal mixture of warm water, baking soda, and vinegar.
Dyson smells like something is burning.	It happens after using the vacuum for a long time.	Burned-out engine or a combination of heat, filth, and debris	Not easy	Professional guidance is needed in such cases.
Dyson smells like feet	Very common	Vacuum cleaners are loaded with germs that come from sweaty feet.	Moderately easy	Use disinfectant or dish soap to clean your vacuum’s detachable components.
Dyson smells like poop	Common in households with toddlers and pets.	The vacuum may contain poop, animal litter, or feces.	Very easy	In a bleach and water solution, soak the detachable plastic parts.
Dyson smells like vomit	Common, specifically in hospitals.	If you have ever tried to clean a floor filled with vomit.	Not very easy.	Clean the inner compartments of the vacuum cleaner with disinfectant.
Dyson smells like mold or mildew	Very common	The vacuum tank has moist dirt	Very easy	Clean the interior of your tank with a towel soaked in vinegar and water solution.

Also Read: Sirena vs Rainbow Vacuum

🐕 #1: Dyson smells like dogs

Homeowners with dogs often complain about their Dyson vacuum cleaners smelling like their dogs. 

Reason: If you vacuum your dog’s hair (especially wet) without routinely emptying the dust container, your vacuum will soon start smelling like your dog too. 

Another cause can be poor maintenance of your Dyson vacuum, which includes using damaged Dyson filters.

Solution: Empty the storage containers of all pet hair or fur. Give all the detachable parts of the Dyson a thorough cleaning using dish soap or mild disinfectant.

🐱 #2: Dyson vacuum smells like cat pee

Keeping your pets clean is hard. Cats are comparatively less messy than dogs, but that doesn’t mean they don’t make messes at all.

Reason: Cleaning around your cat’s litter box will lead to your vacuum soaking the smell and wetness with the dust making it smell like cat pee. Also, maybe your cat’s favorite spot for “marking” nowadays is your Dyson. 

Solution: Make sure to clean your Dyson after each use properly. Wash and soak every detachable and external part of your vacuum in an equal mixture of warm water, baking soda, and vinegar. 

Also Read: Can You Vacuum Cat Litter?

🔥 #3: Dyson smells like something is burning

The burning smell from your Dyson vacuum can be of two types – burning or electric burning smell, and neither of them is good. 

👉Rubber Burning Smell

Reason: The primary cause of this is a buildup of heat and friction in a vacuum belt that is out of alignment. 

Solution: Put the vacuum together after guiding it back onto its track. Let the vacuum rest for at least an hour. Then, attempt to use the vacuum again normally.

Also Read: Why Your Vacuum Is Smoking

👉Electric burning smell

Reason: An engine that has been burned out due to negligence, heavy usage, or clogging of the vacuum filter with dirt and debris starts to smell burnt.

Solution: In the case of a burned-out motor, you have to hire professionals to get the best solution for your problem. You may even need to get a new vacuum in such cases. 

Otherwise, you must remove all detachable parts of your vacuum, including the filter. Then, under running water, rinse them and let them dry for an hour or two. 

Also Read: 5 Reasons Why Your Shark Robot Vac Keeps Stopping 

🐾#4: Dyson vacuum smells like feet

If you have kids or attend to many people throughout the day, you can get sweaty feet smells from your Dyson vacuum cleaner. 

Reason: Excessive footfall creates a perfect environment for germs and bacteria, which get into the vacuum cleaner when you use them for cleaning. 

Solution: Clean all the detachable parts of your Dyson vacuum cleaner with dish soap thoroughly. You can also add a few drops of the vanilla extract while cleaning to eradicate the smell. 

Also Read: Shark Vacuum Brush Roll Light Not Working

💩#5: Dyson vacuum smells like poop

Dyson vacuum giving off the smell of poop is a common complaint made by people with toddlers and pets. 

Reason: The main cause of this is that you vacuumed dog poo, cat litter, or your toddler’s feces accidentally, or you’ve been cleaning around those areas without clearing the trash storage afterward. 

Solution: Remove all detachable plastic parts from your vacuum and drench them in warm water and bleach solution (1 cup of bleach for 1 gallon of water). Then, wipe all the parts with a dry cloth before attaching them again. 

Also Read: How To Remove Ash Stains From Carpet

🤮#6: Dyson vacuum smells like vomit

Dyson vacuum cleaners used in hospitals tend to give off the smell of vomiting. Homeowners also often notice such smells. 

Reason: You’ve once tried to clean vomit with your vacuum cleaner, and its particles are stuck to it, emitting a bad odor. Dry vacuums are not meant to clean moist surfaces like a vomited floor. It may stick to almost any surface once it’s inside your vacuum.

Solution: Dismantle all the removable parts of your Dyson and give all of them a deep clean. Also, you need to give the bristles and the filters of the vacuum a good wash because vomit particles can stick to any surface. 

Also Read: 7 Reasons Why My Hardwood Floor Is Sticky 

🍀#7. Dyson vacuum smells like mold or mildew

Dyson vacuums used in areas with many footfalls are more prone to pick up mold or mildew.

Reason: The vacuum has picked up moisture, dry dust, and debris. This is especially true if you haven’t recently emptied your tank. 

Solution: Empty your vacuum tank completely. Clean the interior of your tank with a damp paper towel dipped in vinegar and water solution. Then, wipe it with a dry and clean cloth and let the vacuum parts air dry. 

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✋5 Best Practices To Stop Dyson Vacuum From Smelling?

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🧹Why Does My Dyson Smell: FAQs