Uk households urged to add one spice cupboard staple to your hoover

With June almost here and the warmer weather finally here, many will be turning their thoughts to the big spring clean. There's little more satisfying than getting the house in tip-top

shape for the summer ahead, and now cleaning experts have issued an unusual tip to help eliminate musty odours and lingering smells. Simply adding cinnamon to your vacuum cleaner 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 rather worn. Dust, dirt, mud, pet hairs and general

grime and gunk are not a recipe for freshness, and sometimes just running the vacuum cleaner for half an hour can leave your house smelling a bit off. According to Lottomart, a sprinkling of

cinnamon directly inside your vacuum cleaner has two benefits: it spreads a sweet, fresh smell throughout the house every time you vacuum. And, it also has antibacterial properties, meaning

nasty germs dwelling in your carpet will be killed off, too, reports the Express. 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 make your vacuum emit a lovely cinnamon scent, start by slightly wetting a small napkin or cotton pad with warm water.

Sprinkle about 10g, or roughly two teaspoons, of ground cinnamon onto the moistened napkin or cotton pad, and give it a gentle rub to spread it evenly. Pop the prepared napkin into the

vacuum cleaner's bag or dust compartment – if you have a bagless model, tuck it into the waste/dustbin section, taking care not to hinder the suction. As you vacuum as usual, the

cinnamon-laced napkin will pass through the device, giving off a delightful, bakery-style fragrance while neutralising any nasty niffs. A Lottomart spokesperson 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." Science journals suggest there's something special about cinnamon's antibacterial or antimicrobial qualities. IOP Science has observed:

"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."