Vacuum Cleaner Buying
Guide
How to choose a HEPA vacuum
The two most important qualities
of a vacuum are its ability to pick up dust and dirt and keep the
particles within the vacuum chamber.
Choosing a high-end vacuum produces much better results
especially for those suffering from allergies.
Removing the source of allergens is the most important step
in fighting allergies and a quality vacuum is a key element.
We recommend vacuums with HEPA
filters for allergy sufferers or those with air quality concerns.
True-HEPA filters are rated to remove 99.7% of particles .3
microns or larger.
There are other filters on the market that are named HEPA-type,
however these are not rated to remove either the percentage or
particles as small as 0.3 microns. Typically, HEPA-type filters only remove the largest dust
particles.
A consumer should review all of
the features on a vacuum before you buy, from its overall cleaning
effectiveness, weight and noise level to the allergen filtration
system. A new option is the bag-less vacuum.
Bag-less vacuums can save the cost of having to replace
vacuum bags, however they also require frequent cleaning and put the
user in closer contact with dust and dirt which could be a problem
for allergy sufferers.
Upright vacuums versus canister vacuums
In general, uprights are more
common for cleaning carpets while canisters are used more in homes
with hard floors. Upright
vacuum cleaners are easier to move around when vacuuming on a weekly
basis. Some uprights come with a power assist to make it easy
to move the unit forward and backwards. The main advantage to
a canister unit is vacuuming the stairs or hard to reach areas but
with Dyson's quick disconnect and quick connect accessories, these
inconveniences are no longer an issue.
Click on the following to view product reviews and recommendations
- Upright vacuum cleaners
- Canister vacuum cleaners
-
Steamvac and Robotic vacuums
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Excellent
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Above Average
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Average
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Below Average
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Poor
Upright Vacuums Cleaners:
Upright vacuum cleaners cost
less than canister vacuums and tend to be easier to store in a
closet. They also tend
to be heavier and dont clean hard floors as well as canisters and
have difficulty in cleaning beneath furniture.
Canister Vacuum Cleaners:
Canister vacuums are light
compared to uprights and easier to move around.
They also perform better on hard floors and allow for
cleaning under furniture and beds.
They can be somewhat awkward to control when vacuuming
stairs.
SteamVac & Robotic Vacuums:
|
Model
|
Vacuum Type
|
Filtration
|
Bag Type
|
Cleaning Width
|
Weight (lbs)
|
Noise
|
|
Electrolux Trilobite
|
Robotic
|
Micron
|
Bagless
|
14
|
11
|
|
|
Hoover
F7425-900
|
SteamVac
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
14
|
35
|
|
| 
