The Best HEPA Vacuums for a Spotless House

The Ultimate Buying Guide to the Best HEPA Vacuums

Vacuum cleaners are the best tool to add to your arsenal of cleaning equipment. But don’t just get any old vacuum—invest in a HEPA vacuum, which many would argue is the best type of vacuum out there. A typical vacuum cleaner like a shop vacuum can tackle dirt and dust and other small particles, but a HEPA vacuum cleaner goes one step further. It can eradicate pollen and other extremely small particles that are not visible to the human eye. If you or someone in your household has a sensitive nose, a HEPA vacuum is just what you need to keep your home free from allergies and sickness. In fact, one study found that HEPA filtration greatly improved the quality of life in children with asthma. Learn some more about HEPA vacuums in this short buyer’s guide!

HEPA Certification and Why It Matters

HEPA is an acronym that is short for “high-efficiency particulate absorbing.” In other words, a HEPA filter is able to absorb and filter small, minute particles with a high degree of efficiency. HEPA vacuums can catch even the tiniest particles of pollen and dust, common causes of allergies and sickness.

A HEPA certification is given to vacuum cleaner brands that follow the guidelines in using HEPA filters for their products. This basically serves as a seal of approval for potential customers — when they see a HEPA vacuum, the customer immediately knows that the vacuum will get rid of pollen and dirt throughout the house. But it’s a little more complicated than that. One little-known fact is that while regular vacuums can suck up dirt, they can also release and spread dust as well. However, HEPA filters can combat this byproduct, with one study proving how a HEPA vacuum can significantly reduce the particulate matter being released by the vacuum itself.

Types of Vacuum Cleaners

Upright vacuum

The upright vacuum is one of the most popular types of vacuum. They are used in a similar way to mops in the sense that you have to perform a back-and-forth motion to be able to clean with the vacuum. An upright vacuum usually consists of a head with a brush and a container to store the dirt that gets sucked in.

Upright vacuums are useful when you want to clean floors and flat surfaces. All of the vacuum’s components are combined into one neat little package, and the only thing you need to look out for is the wire that connects the vacuum cleaner to the outlet.

Canister vacuum

Instead of having the dirt get stored in a container directly connected to the rest of the vacuum, canister vacuums use a canister to hold the dust instead. Canister vacuums will usually have one side where the air gets sucked in and another side where filtered air gets blown out. You also typically connect a tube with a brush head or a similar accessory on the other side to give you a bit more reach.

Canister vacuums are the best when it comes to versatility. You can change the vacuum head in a number of ways, depending on the vacuum heads provided, and can also make the vacuum longer and shorter based on your needs. The main issue with canister vacuums, however, is that they can be very annoying to move around, especially from room to room.

Handheld vacuum

Handheld vacuums are vacuum cleaners that you can hold and operate with your hand. Often, handheld vacuums are small and easy to carry around, making them a flexible and simple option. And they’re battery-powered, too, which can be handy if you want to clean places where there are no outlets.

Handheld vacuums can be used to clean small rooms, as the scope of the area can easily be covered by a single handheld device. Ideally, the battery should last long enough to last the entire cleaning session.

Robotic vacuum

Finally, there are robotic vacuums. These vacuums are very easy to use — all you have to do is set them up and they’re good to go. Robotic vacuums, often called “Roombas”, are smart devices that move around the floor of a designated space. As they move around, they collect debris and clean the floor, and when they’ve covered the entire area, they return to their stations.

The station is where the vacuum can recharge and then prepare to clean again. They give the Roomba power and charge it up, and the Roomba also feeds the station the dirt that is collected. You could leave a Roomba to do its own thing for days, and even weeks, on end without any sort of supervision. Of course, you will need to clean the station occasionally, but other than that it’s a hands-free experience.

Tips When Using HEPA Vacuums

Clean the filter regularly

Just because they have “high efficiency” in their name doesn’t mean they don’t need to be maintained regularly. HEPA vacuums accumulate dirt just like any other vacuum, and arguably even more so thanks to the powerful filtration system. Cleaning the filter regularly is essential, as it allows the vacuum to do its job and properly filter air out without any interruption.

Consider vacuuming the same area twice

While not everybody may agree with this tip, it may be a good idea to vacuum the same area at least twice, especially when you’re cleaning a busy area that’s close to the outside such as the living room or entrance. These areas are always going to be chock-full of dirt, and sometimes one pass-through with a HEPA vacuum just isn’t enough. You may have kicked up a few particles during your first vacuum, which would have settled only after you’ve finished.

By vacuuming twice, you get to deal with any particles left behind, especially those that are hard to spot but can be filtered out with a HEPA vacuum filter.