Stinky Henry

[ImAvingOops]

Help! I'm on the verge of dumping my expensive Henry vacuum cleaner and getting a cheaply from Argos! It absolutely reeks like sweaty socks and I have no idea why.
I've changed the bag, washed all the tubing/brush and anything soft and washable. I think the stink is coming from the motor as that's the only bit I can't access.
any ideas on what I can do here, short of dismantling it and hoping that nothing has managed to crawl into the motor and died?

Yes! Family say ours smells like sick all the time!

You shouldn't use bicarb as it can clog the HEPA filter and get stuck in the motor. You shouldn't use anything especially laundry cleanser etc as they're all flammable!

But @PinkButtercups it really does smell awful. Got to do something as the alternative is to bin it!

Mine used to smell then I had to order a new hose for it as it broke and after that I realised it no longer smelt , you can order all the parts for it on Amazon relatively cheaply.

I wonder if car aircon sanitizer might work. You could seal Henry in a bin liner and fill it with the spray. And spray up his nozzle and briefly turn it on. It's designed to kill bacteria inside pipes. Use plenty, but perhaps best outside because it's strong and gets up your nose.

Henry's are quite easy to open up with a crosshead screwdriver. They have a simple design and you can see almost everywhere except inside the actual motor body. I think they all have a thick felt pad around the motor. It might be there.

To confirm that it's the top black head part, you could run that part on its own, detached from the body.

I've just noticed that some car aircon sanitizers click on and spray their entire contents. You probably don't want that. I've used normal aerosol ones.

I'm determined to fix it so I'm going to try everything and will let you know how I get on!
Thank you for all the suggestions

I could spray some anti bac down the tubes and let them dry out. Even if that isn't causing the smell, it can't hurt to kill bacteria in there anyway

Just to update, I think I may have fixed it. Have used the bicarbonate and re washed the filter in washing powder, then fabric conditioner and laundry freshener that's supposed to eliminate smells. I still need to buy an air freshener to go inside the bag but it smells a lot better than before - it doesn't smell nice yet but equally it has stopped smelling like something has died in there!

Thsnk you for all the tips

I'm glad the smells gone but you've used flammable products so you need to be really careful.

I did rinse it out lots so hopefully it's okay. I think I'm going to order a new filter anyway because I did notice as I immersed it in water, the big do not wash label! I missed that the first time I washed it, so I think I probably should get a replacement one.

Are you sure it's not loose wires in the cable? If it only smells when it comes on?
I had a Henry that died on me after I someone managed to pull the retractable cable out completely. It had clearly been loose for a while.

I've never had a smelly Henry, even after DH decided to hoover up sick with it (don't ask!)

Aftwr washing the fabric filter, we sprinkle essential oils over the filter, then when its being used the heat releases the aroma and mask the vacuum smell.