Fear of vacuum cleaners (zuigerphobia)

Zuigerphobia is listed as a fear of vacuum cleaners. It might mean leaving the room when the hoover comes out, covering the ears at the noise, or feeling uneasy around the hose and its pull.

About this phobia

The term was found on one list only, with no documentation behind it. The name may borrow from Dutch, where stofzuiger means vacuum cleaner. A fear of loud or sudden noises is far better known, and many young children and pets are startled by vacuum cleaners.

What it feels like

• Jumping or tensing when the motor starts
• Covering the ears or leaving the room
• Unease at the hose sucking up objects nearby

Explore more unusual fears in the rare phobias A to Z, or browse the common phobias.

Common questions

Why are so many children frightened of the hoover?

To a young child, a vacuum cleaner is loud, sudden and seems to swallow things, so the reaction makes sense. Most children grow out of it with time and gentle familiarity. Adults who still feel strongly about it may find the fear is mainly about noise.

How can you help?

I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to the thing you fear, so the old alarm stops going off. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.

How many sessions will I need?

Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.

Ready to start?

Book a £49 consultation call and we’ll talk through your fear, or take the free suitability test first.

See all session options and prices