Don't Put Essential Oils in Your Vacuum, No Matter What Instagram Tells You

A cleaning hack that enables you to do two things at once always seems like a good idea, so it’s no surprise that a new social media trend is catching on for its claim that you can make your home smell better while you vacuum. The problem is, the method suggested in the videos could actually damage your vacuum. Here’s what not to do if you want a clean, nice-smelling home. 

Why the essential oil vacuum hack sucks

The people in the videos mean well—who doesn't want their home to smell good?—but the methods espoused in videos like this one, from Instagram Reels, are a bad idea. Basically, these cleaning influencers are telling you to moisten some cotton balls with essential oils, then put them in your vacuum bag or canister. In theory, when you use the vacuum, the scent of the oils will permeate the room as warm air rushes through the machine. While this trick does likely generate a nice smell, it’s not worth trying. Peruse the comments and you'll see that some who have tried it report the oils have caused their vacuums to crack. That’s because essential oils are corrosive to plastic. Essential oil companies even recommend not storing oils in plastic containers for this reason—so you definitely don’t want any touching your expensive vacuum.

To be sure, I reached out to Dyson to ask about the trend. Monika Stuczen, a research scientist with the company, agrees that oils shouldn’t be put into any vacuums—but for more reasons than just their potential to damage the device: “As tempting as it may be to use scented sprays or essential oils to tackle odors from our carpet, we do not recommend introducing liquids unnecessarily, as [dampness provides the] potential for mold and bacteria to grow, causing it to develop odors over time.” Yes, this hack could ultimately make your house stinkier.

To stop odors from forming, Stuczen instead recommends the following: 

1. Use a vacuum with powerful suction and make sure to go slow, giving the brushes time to penetrate deeply. 

2. Go over the same spot multiple times (though more than two or three passes is overdoing it, according to Dyson’s lab research). 

3. Tackle stains right away instead of waiting for them to dry, as they could attract bacteria that will smell. 

4. Wipe down and dry your pets when entering the home to stop any of their dirt or moisture from embedding into your carpet. 

Products to consider:

If you're looking for a new vacuum to get your carpets looking and smelling fresher, here are some great options.

• Dyson V8 Origin+ Cordless Vacuum

• Shark IX141 Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum

• Shark NV352 Navigator Lift Away Upright Vacuum

• iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum

How to make a room smell fresh

Those are great tips on preventing odors, but if you were considering the essential oil hack, you’re looking for ways to make a room smell good. Instead, try the following:

• Banish odors by placing a small bowl of vinegar in an unobtrusive corner, which can neutralize odor-causing molecules 

• Bake a dish of pure vanilla extract to introduce the smell to the air in your home

• Place car vent air fresheners in the vents around your home

• Before vacuuming, dust the floor with baking soda to help absorb odors. (You can also buy scented baking soda made specifically for this purpose.)