When the average person goes to buy a vacuum, the first thing they do is look at the reviews. The problem with this strategy, however, is that vacuums are evaluated on the power of the machine (watts, amps, voltage, water lift, horsepower, and airflow)—and not their ability to truly remove the toxins that compose our dust. To get the most out of your vacuuming, there’s a reason why we have such high standards. If you’re not using an HEPA filtered vacuum, you’re literally leaving toxins on your surfaces.
The Importance of a HEPA Filter
HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Arrestor—it’s the best when it comes to trapping particulate matter. As stated on the EPA’s website, “This type of air filter can theoretically remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns (µm)” This means vacuums with a HEPA filter are able to capture super small particles that would otherwise get missed by a non-HEPA filtered vacuum.
What to Look for When Shopping for a Quality Vacuum Cleaner
HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) Filter Helps to keep indoor air clean and leaves the air cleaner after you’ve vacuumed.
Completely Sealed System Help so contaminants don’t leak back into the environment.
Dust Bag Without a dust bag, toxins are likely to re-enter the environment when you dump out the container.
Dusting Accessories Helps you access hard to reach places and so you don’t damage your furniture/walls.
We found the best reviewed HEPA vacuums in every price range and shared them here. For the cleanest results, it’s important that your vacuum have an internal bag so that microscopic toxins aren’t released back into the air when you dump the canister into the trash, however, you may want to note that some models can be bulky. Smaller, lighter weight models are available without a bag, but with any vacuum with a true HEPA filter which will give a quality clean.
Investing in a high-quality vacuum is one of the easiest and effective ways to maintain a healthy home. We hope that this article will serve you well and help you look beyond the average consumer ratings for what it means to have a quality vacuum cleaner. Check out Awakening Spaces to learn more about our favorite vacuum cleaners.
