Robot Vacuum Smells Bad? Check the Bin, Filter and Dock

Short answer

The eufy, ECOVACS and LG odor pages below discuss dustbins, filters, station dust bags or mopping components, depending on the model. The Samsung and BISSELL pages provide routine bin and filter maintenance instructions. Cleaning and drying requirements depend on the part and model. As a precaution, stop using and charging the robot if there is a burnt or electrical smell, smoke or unusual heat, and follow the burning-smell guide.

Stop first for a burnt or electrical smell

As a precaution, switch the robot off and stop charging it before you clean anything if the odor is burnt, sharp or electrical, or if smoke or heat comes with it. The cleaning steps in this guide concern dust and moisture odors. As a precaution, do not resume use after a burnt or electrical smell on the basis of these cleaning steps. The burning-smell guide covers that case.

What changes by model

The table summarizes odor troubleshooting from eufy, ECOVACS and LG, and routine bin or filter maintenance from Samsung and BISSELL. Each row concerns the part and model named. LG says its guide was created for all models and that its content may differ from your product.

The rules for filters conflict between brands. Samsung’s Jet Bot AI+ filters are rinsed, while BISSELL’s CleanView Connect filters are brushed because they are not washable. As a precaution, follow the cleaning instructions for your exact model.

eufy

eufy has two odor pages. The E28 page covers the vacuum-and-mop robot, and its title names the E25/E28. The S1 Pro page directs owners to remove the dustbin from the robot, brush both sides of the dustbin filter and the high-performance filter with cleaning tools, and clean the inside of the dustbin thoroughly. It also says the dustbin must be completely dry before it goes back into the robot. The S1 Pro page says the dirty water tank can be dried with a dry cloth or air-dried before it is reinstalled.

The E28 page says a dirty water tank left unemptied for an extended period can ferment and cause unpleasant odors. It also says the roller mop should be completely dry. If the robot has come into contact with pet waste, the page says to soak the roller mop in a cleaning solution and clean it by hand. eufy recommends a suitable eufy cleaning solution to avoid odor development and reduce maintenance frequency.

The S1 Pro page also covers the base station’s filter tray and dirty water tank. Those parts, and mop-station odors in general, are covered in the mop station guide, so this guide does not repeat them. For hair or debris wrapped around a brush, see the brush-not-spinning guide. Routine dustbin and filter cleaning is set out in how to clean a robot vacuum.

Samsung

Samsung’s support page for the Jet Bot AI+ says all of its filters are washable. The instruction is to rinse them under running water, then place them in a well-ventilated, shaded area away from direct sunlight until they are completely dry.

The Clean Station used with the Jet Bot AI+ is a separate part with its own rule. Its fine dust filter is not washable, and the page says water must not be used on it. As a precaution, keep the robot filter instructions separate from the Clean Station fine dust filter instructions.

ECOVACS

ECOVACS’s FAQ on the auto-empty station covers odor during emptying. It says a small amount of the garbage smell is driven out by the high-power fan, and that this does not affect normal operation. The FAQ names the T8 in its emptying answers.

The same FAQ says that garbage collected in the dust bag can become moldy and blacken over a long period in a damp environment. It recommends replacing the disposable dust bag regularly, and says an overfull bag should be replaced.

LG

LG’s robot vacuum odor guide lists moisture, a full dust bin and nozzle or filter blockages among the possible causes. It advises drying the dust bin in the shade for more than 24 hours. Filters should also be dried for more than 24 hours in shade, away from direct sunlight. The guide warns that a filter washed in water can smell unless it is dried completely.

For dust in the prefilter or exhaust filter, LG says a vacuum cleaner can remove it, or the filter can be washed in flowing water and then dried for more than 24 hours. The guide says to replace the prefilter when it is damaged. It also warns against washing the robot’s inner area with water.

BISSELL

BISSELL’s guide for the CleanView Connect, which names models 2933 and 3110, says to use the cleaning tool to brush the filter cover and the filters. It states the filters are not washable. The dirt bin can be rinsed, but it must completely air dry for 24 to 48 hours before it goes back in. To empty it, press the button on top of the bin and pull the bin out.

Drying before you refit

The drying rules come from each brand’s page, and they differ. eufy requires the S1 Pro dustbin to be completely dry before refitting. Samsung says to dry the Jet Bot AI+ filters until completely dry in a shaded, ventilated place away from direct sunlight. LG gives more than 24 hours in shade for the dust bin and filters. BISSELL gives 24 to 48 hours for the dirt bin after rinsing.

When the smell continues

As a precaution, if the odor remains after you have followed the steps for your model, stop trying new cleaners and contact the manufacturer with the model number, the part you cleaned, the drying time you allowed and the products you used. As a precaution, if the smell turns burnt or electrical, stop using and charging the robot and follow the burning-smell guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can I rinse the Clean Station fine dust filter?

No. Samsung’s page for the Jet Bot AI+ Clean Station says the fine dust filter is not washable and that water must not be used on it. The robot’s own filters are a separate part with a separate rule.

How long should a dustbin dry?

eufy’s S1 Pro page says the dustbin must be completely dry before it goes back into the robot. For other brands, LG gives more than 24 hours in the shade for the dust bin, and BISSELL gives 24 to 48 hours for its dirt bin after rinsing.

Should I replace the ECOVACS dust bag?

Replace it when it is overfull. ECOVACS’s FAQ for its auto-empty station also recommends replacing the disposable bag regularly, and says that garbage left in a damp bag for a long period can become moldy and smell.