Last updated on June 5th, 2022
Everyone wishes to have a clean and dust-free house. A good high-performance vacuum cleaner helps you to finish your cleaning job quickly and efficiently.
Daily floor cleaning helps rid your home of dust and filth. Like it or not, you need at least a basic vacuum cleaner so that you can have a cleaner and more comfortable home.
This is especially true for those allergic to common allergens found in the house, such as microscopic dust mites, fine dust particles, or pet dander. They need the environment to be as dust-free as possible and the best HEPA filter vacuum cleaner comes highly recommended.
What Makes a HEPA Filter Vacuum Special?
A HEPA vacuum, or High-Efficiency Particulate Air vacuum, has a single core difference from other motorized cleaners. This difference lies within the filter. So, to be more precise when you purchase a HEPA vacuum you are actually looking to purchase a HEPA filter vacuum.
A true HEPA filtration will capture 99.97-percent of these allergens down to 0.3 microns and incredibly efficient without clogging or becoming inundated to the point they backfire. They have superb engineering and hermetically tight seals to ensure that these microscopic particles do not escape. In addition, HEPA vacuums require more suction power than other types, thus you’ll receive an impressively strong appliance that is equally as trustworthy picking up dirt and debris!
The HEPA vacuum has a system designed to suction and captures a wide range of particle allergens. The most common of these include ordinary dust, dust mites, human hair and dander, mold spores, bacteria, animal fur and dander, ultra-fine particles, viruses, and general indoor air pollution. And that’s not even including gaseous air quality issues! A HEPA vacuum is useful in an any-sized household, as you can see.
Who Buys a HEPA Vacuum and Why?
Many people have learned the value of a HEPA vacuum cleaner and they often come from a wide spectrum of paths. Overall, the majority are people who suffer from health problems. Many of these issues include common allergies, asthma sufferers, or people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, cancer, lung disease, heart disease, and other serious illnesses. On the other hand, about half who purchase a HEPA vacuum are simply people wanting to be ahead of the curve or who hold health concerns.
Do you need to have a diagnosed illness to really invest in a HEPA vacuum? Not at all. In fact, there are many instances where undefined issues can be remedied with HEPA vacuum filtration – lethargy, breathing issues, a lack of sleep, and eye, ear, nose, or skin irritations.
Using a HEPA filter vacuum in the home will not completely rid all allergens from your home, but will greatly reduce them and bring relief.
See also: Top canister vacuums for asthma or allergy sufferers.
The Type of HEPA Filtration Vacuum Cleaners
There are so many choices in the market today, so which one is best suited for your needs?
Things to consider include the size of your house, the types of floor surfaces, how often do you vacuum, any allergy sufferers in the house, and of course the price. See our list of 11 factors to consider when getting a new vacuum.
It used to be that upright vacuum cleaners are for carpets and canister vacuum cleaners are for hardwood floors. However, the modern cleaners now come with both types of brushes best suited to bare floors and carpets for optimum cleaning.
Upright HEPA filter vacuum cleaners are more suitable for carpets as they are more efficient at this. Those that come fitted with pile adjustment features do a better job at retrieving dust. They are also better able to protect the carpet fibers.
Of course, you will find many stick vacuums that come with HEPA filtrations. Nowadays, some electric brooms are also very powerful and some people prefer a cordless stick model.
Canister HEPA filter vacuums are lightweight and compact, allowing easy maneuverability. Being able to push the flexible hose and nozzle under furniture, edges of carpet, hard-to-reach corners, window tracks, refrigerator grills, up and down the stairs or reach up to the ceiling, allows for easy vacuuming and more detailed cleaning.
Canister vacuums are also fitted with useful attachments such as crevice tools, dusting brushes, or upholstery brushes for more detailed cleaning. These compact vacuums do a good job on soft furnishings, upholstery, shelves, or mattresses.
Most canister vacuum cleaners also come with a turbo-powered brush with a beater brush attached. These air-driven nozzles will do a great cleaning job on carpets as they brush against the pile and release embedded dirt. Here are the best canisters with a powerhead.
They have a special brush for hardwood floors which do not scratch the floor surface as you push and pull the brush when vacuuming. Some even have special parquet brush which not only vacuum but also polishes the floor as well.
Well-designed canister vacuums normally have sealed compartments that prevent the releasing back of dust and allergens back into the air as you vacuum. Miele canister vacuum cleaners come with their signature AirClean sealed system removing 99.97% of air pollutants as well as bad odors.
A bagless vacuum cleaner or one with bags is a matter of preference. However, the cost of bags does not come cheap and can add up in the long term. As for bagless vacuum, emptying the collected dust is best done outside the house so as to prevent dust particles from flying around and landing back on the very surface that you are trying to clean.
Vacuums that come with dust-full indicator light or see-through dust cups are preferred. Sucking efficiency decreased as the dust bag/cup gets fuller due to restricted airflow. An indicator light alerting you to blocked airflow, due maybe to a clogged dust bag or small toys sucked accidentally, is also a convenient feature to have.
The latest addition to the HEPA vacuum cleaner family is the robotic vacuums. Vacuum cleaning on their own while you attend to other chores or just relaxing over a cup of tea is indeed a great time saver. However, they do not clean as efficiently as traditional vacuums, and obstacles in their path such as toys, need to be removed first.
Best HEPA Filter Vacuum for Allergies Reviews
The following are our editor pick on the best HEPA filter vacuum for allergies:
1. Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E
“The best overall vacuum for any money!”
The Shark Navigator NV356E is probably one of the best values out there when it comes to finding a bagless vacuum that never loses suction, is easy to maneuver and has a HEPA filter. Its price is nearly a third the cost of a Dyson, which makes the value proposition practically impossible to pass up.
This is one of the highest consumer-rated vacuums ever, and for those looking for many premium features at a sensible price, the Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV356E is the best choice for the value-conscious consumer. See for yourself why it has won so many people over from the premium-priced brands.
Pros:
+ Never loses suction, and suction is very strong and can be adjusted for different surfaces
+ Lightweight (14 lbs)
+ Swivel head makes it easy to maneuver; some found it comparable to the Dyson Ball
+ Bagless, save cost since no more bags to keep buying
+ Easy to assemble
+ Comes with a HEPA washable filters
+ Quieter than most vacuums
+ Dust collection bin empties easily
+ Strong brush picks up dirt
+ 5-year warranty
Cons:
– Hose attached to the wand is a little short and causes the vacuum to tip over
– No lights
– Pet brush picks up fur but often gets stuck on the brush instead of going in the dust cup
2. Kenmore Elite 21814 Pet & Allergy Friendly CrossOver Canister Vacuum
“The best HEPA canister vacuum for allergies!”
This excellent HEPA filter multi surfaces cleaner is from Kenmore’s elite series of canister vacuums. With the Stair Grip and 8” hose, you can use it to clean your entire home (including above floors cleaning). The various onboard tools make your cleaning tasks even easier and faster.
Besides great features, this canister vacuum is also very suitable for those that suffer from allergy and asthma as it’s certified asthma & allergy friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. For more info, you can read here.
Here are the pros and cons of this machine:
Pros:
- Powerful (2-motor system) and versatile vacuum, great for pet hairs removal
- Crossover handle and variable speed control for hard and carpet floors
- Swivel design for easy maneuverability
- Dirt sensor and electronic performance indicators
- Certified asthma & allergy friendly great for allergy sufferers
- 26-ft power cord with an auto rewind feature
- 5 on-board tools for faster cleaning
Cons:
- The performance on high-pile carpet seems not very convincing, okay on low to medium-pile carpets
- The vacuum is not very lightweight (26 lbs)
3. Dyson V8 Absolute Cordless Stick Vacuum
“The best cordless vacuum with HEPA filter”
For your information, most of the stick vacuums don’t come with HEPA filtration but some of the high-end models like the Dyson V8 Absolute are different. This cordless but powerful cleaner is comparable to the upright vacuums in the market.
You can expect the excellent features available on this stick vacuum to really pick up the large debris and remove fine dust from many surfaces. So, if you are looking for a cordless vacuum with a HEPA filter, this can be a perfect choice.
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Pros:
+ Vacuum head with more brush bar power to produce maximum suction power.
+ Very lightweight (only 5.75 lbs)
+ Run time up to 40-mins; 8-min for Max mode
+ 2-in-1, stick vac that is convertible to hand vacuum
+ Hygienic dirt ejector let you easily empty the dust bin
+ Comes with a HEPA washable filters
+ Docking station let you charges and stores the vacuum
+ Additional attachments for cleaning pet hair and hard to reach places
+ 5-year warranty
Cons:
– The battery life is questionable especially when the vacuum is older
– You have to hold the power button during the entire cleaning process
– No headlights
Please watch the video below and you will know how powerful is the Dyson cordless V8:
Conclusion
A HEPA filter vacuum is able to improve the air freshness and hence reduce the chances of allergic reactions and asthma flare-ups. This is truly important for those that asthma or allergy sufferers.
Still not sure which one to buy? This canister vacuum reviews site is a good source of information on buying tips, popular canister model reviews including the features as well as the pros and cons to help you make the best decision.
Yes, keeping the house and floor clean is so much easier now compared to grandma’s time. So, pick up your best HEPA filter vacuum cleaner from our recommendations above and be proud of the finished results done almost effortlessly.
