Mold

• If you vacuum up something wet or damp, the moisture from this mess can grow moldy while inside your vacuum's bag. Additionally, because they are slightly heavy and sticky, damp items often don't make it all the way to the bag. They become stuck in the hoses, where they start smelly mold colonies. When you turn your vacuum on, air rushes through the hoses, the bag and out the discharge vent, "spraying" the moldy, musty smell throughout your home.
  
  

Pet Hair

• Although it seems as though it's your actual pet that smells, vacuuming up large volumes of pet hair can give your vacuum a "wet dog" smell. Unfortunately, this smell is strongest when your vacuum is turned on, and it makes the air in your home smell like a wet dog -- not a smell any homeowner is after. It's not only dog hair that causes this smell. A vacuum bag containing cat hair can give your vacuum this unpleasant odor as well.
  
  

Food

• If you use your Oreck to vacuum to clean up a food spill, the food can spoil once it's in your vacuum bag, causing an awful smell. Even dry foods that don't normally spoil, such as cracker crumbs or spilled sugar, can become a source of unpleasant odor if they mix with moisture while in the vacuum bag.
  
  

Old or Overly Full Bag

• Everyday dirt, dust and debris can become smelly over time, as bacteria has a chance to grow. If your bag is overly full, it is more likely to smell because there is less air circulation in the bag, which allows moisture to linger longer, enhancing bacteria and mold growth.
  
  

Cleaning Your Vacuum

• First of all, throw away your vacuum's disposable bag and replace it with a new one. Most Oreck vacuums have disposable bags; if yours is bagless, empty and wash the dirt cup. If this doesn't eliminate the musty smell, consult your Oreck owner's manual for instructions on removing your vacuum's hoses. Remove the hoses and any clogged debris inside them, then wash them in a deodorizing solution such as water with a small amount of bleach or diluted liquid cleaner. Use an old comb to remove any hair or strings tangled on the brush roll. Wipe down all surfaces of the vacuum with a mild deodorizing cleaner. Set all pieces of your vacuum outside in the sun, if possible, and allow them to dry completely dry before reassembling.
  
  

Keeping Your Vacuum Smelling Fresh

• When it comes to wet messes or food spills, wipe or pick them up by hand whenever possible, as opposed to vacuuming them. Change your vacuum bag often, especially if you have pets. Take your pets outside once a day and brush them, letting the excess hair float away in the breeze, thereby keeping it out of your vacuum. Activated charcoal, baking soda and commercially made vacuum odor reducers absorb smells inside your vacuum's bag. Place these inside each new bag before installing them, or simply place the product on the floor and vacuum it up.