UK households are being urged to sprinkle cinnamon in their hoovers and being advised to follow cleaning experts’ unusual tip to help banish musty odours and lingering smells. Britons are being advised that adding cinnamon to their hoover could help make their home smell fresh without breaking the bank (or their appliance). After years of use, many vacuum cleaners will start to smell pretty tired. Dust, dirt, mud, pet hair, and general grime and gunk are not a recipe for freshness, and sometimes just running the hoover for half an hour can leave your house smelling a bit off.
According to vacuum cleaning company Shark, cinnamon is the perfect way to freshen up your hoover. In its advice on “vacuuming hacks”, it said: “Add a teaspoon of cinnamon powder to the bag or cylinder of your vacuum cleaner to leave a stunning aroma wherever you clean. If you don’t like cinnamon, vanilla powder works just as well.”
Science journals also added that cinnamon isn’t just good for spreading a nice smell – there is something in cinnamon’s antibacterial or antimicrobial properties too.
IOP Science reports: “Cinnamon bark has been commonly used as a spice and traditional medicine. It contains several antibacterial compounds, including flavonoids, saponins, and cinnamaldehyde. Several studies have been done to determine the antibacterial effect on bacteria such as Streptococcus in vitro.”
Karina Toner, professional cleaner and operations manager at Speckless, has also backed the tip. She said: “A small sprinkle – about half a teaspoon to one teaspoon – is more than enough. You don’t need much to freshen the air as you vacuum, and using too much can overwhelm the vacuum’s filters or motor.”
As reported by Homes and Gardens, the best method is to sprinkle ground cinnamon powder directly into your hoover’s dustbin. Or if it’s an old-school bagged hoover, just sprinkle it directly onto the floor and then suck it up.
Homes and Gardens adds: “If you’re often vacuuming pet hair or cleaning up smelly food crumbs, you might want to do it before each clean. If not, stick to whenever it’s really necessary to avoid overfilling your vacuum.”
