I have a hoover windtunnel. nice vacuum cleaner, but whenever I turn it on it blows stale, stinky air . I have changed the bag, changed the filter, sprayed it with Lysol and two weeks later it smells just as stale and funky as ever. This started when I was dog sittin a Lab (lots of hair shedding) and won’t go away even though the dog has been gone for over a year.
I wash my filters in Lysol liqid cleaner, and NO Smells… just that fresh Lysol smell… And that is what it smells like until the next time I clean it…. And empty it every time you use it…. And use moth balls in it since you have bags…. Invest in bagless next time….
Try using baking soda.
have you tried arm and hammer either baking soda or the carpet cleaner with pet deodrizer? I also suggest that you wash out the catch bins with vinegar and water to help clean the smell out, just make sure you allow them to dry really well.
try vacuuming up baking soda and leave in the bag for a couple of days
Try spreading some baking soda on the floor and vacuuming that up. It should help. But they also make some powders for the carpet (carpet fresh) that help eleminate the odors in the carpet, but really help the vacuum to smell better too.
I can relate. Dog stank gets up in the vacuum and you can’t get it out as far as I know. You might try taking it to a vacuum cleaner store for a professional cleaning. But depending on how much money the vacuum itself cost, it may be just as cost effective to buy a new one. Good luck.
You’ve already done everything I would have suggested. Seems like a permanent funk to me and you should replace it.
change the bag(if it has one). dryer sheets work well in the bags, just put a few into a new bag and a few when the bag is about half full.
Vacuum baking soda into it! Cheap natural deodorizer!
Throw some Lemon zest inside the bag,, or go to a little mexican store and for $1.89 they sell a bottle that is purple color called fabaloso it smell’s so good it is actually for moping you kitchen but I use it in a spray bottle just a half of cup in a big bottle and the rest water then spritz inside the bag believe me your home will smell so good , you will want to use it all the time,,, trust me only one problem put it up high because some children might think it is a soft drink….
That’s a long time to still be having a problem. Try stuffing a couple dryer sheets into a new bag.