Households urged to sprinkle cinnamon powder in hoover in October

It's October and with the dark nights drawing in and Christmas just a few months away, thoughts for many at this year turn to nesting.

When you know you'll be spending more time indoors over the coming weeks, it's natural to feel the urge to clean, tidy, and organise the house for cosy nights in.

There's little more satisfying than getting the house spick and span just before it turns to chaos again at Christmas, and now cleaning experts have issued an unusual tip to help banish musty odours and lingering smells, especially when you're not opening the windows for fresh air as often in the winter..

Simply adding cinnamon to your hoover could help make your home smell fresh without breaking the bank (or your appliance).

After years of use, many vacuum cleaners will start to smell pretty tired. Dust, dirt, mud, pet hairs 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 Lottomart, a sprinkling of cinnamon directly inside your hoover has two benefits: it spreads a sweet, fresh smell throughout the house every time you vac. And, it also has antibacterial properties, meaning nasty germs dwelling in your carpet will be killed off, too.

They said: "Over time, dust, pet hair, and trapped dirt can create a breeding ground for bacteria and unpleasant odours inside your vac.

"But before you splash out on pricey fresheners or replace parts, there's a simple, natural, and shockingly cheap solution hiding right in your spice cupboard: cinnamon!

"Cinnamon isn't just for cooking - it's a powerful, natural deodoriser with antibacterial properties. If you don't already have some ground cinnamon at home, a 36g tub from Tesco or Asda costs just £1.

To use cinnamon to make your vacuum smell incredible, you'll need to start by taking a small napkin or cotton pad and dampening it with warm water.

Next, sprinkle around 10g, roughly two teaspoons, of ground cinnamon onto the damp napkin or cotton pad, gently rubbing it in to ensure it's evenly distributed.

Once the napkin is ready, simply place it inside the vacuum cleaner's bag or dustbin. If your vacuum is bagless, place it inside the waste/dustbin area where it won't obstruct the suction.

Now, vacuum as normal, and during the process, the cinnamon-infused napkin will circulate through the machine, releasing a warm, bakery-like scent and neutralising any unpleasant odours.

A spokesperson for Lottomart stated: "Unlike chemical air fresheners or commercial cleaners, cinnamon neutralises bad smells at the source while leaving behind a warm, subtle fragrance. It's a far more pleasant, long-lasting scent compared to synthetic alternatives."

According to science journals, there is something in cinnamon's antibacterial or antimicrobial properties. IOP Science reports: "Cinnamon bark has been commonly used as spicy and traditional medicine. It contains several antibacterial compounds such as flavonoids, saponins, and cinnamaldehyde. Several studies have been done to know the antibacterial effect on bacteria such as Streptococcus in vitro."