What kind of vacuum cleaner should you
purchase? Canister or Upright? Should your new vacuum cleaner include a HEPA
filter?
Firstly let's clear the air about "HEPA". High Efficiency Particulate
Arresting. What is HEPA Filtration?
HEPA filtration was developed by the Atomic Energy Commission during World War
II to remove radioactive particles from the air in manufacturing plants.
Definition of HEPA Filter
A HEPA filter must remove at least 99.97% of all airborne particles by particle
count at a size of 0.3 microns which is one-300th the diameter of a human hair.
It approaches total efficiency on all known organisms harmful to man. Having a
HEPA filter does not mean that the Vacuum cleaner has HEPA filtration. If the
HEPA filter is not sealed into the vacuum, dust can easily leak around the
filter and back into you living environment. Not good! Many unscrupulous
manufacturers claim that their products have a HEPA filter knowing full well
that the consumer does not know the difference between sealed and unsealed. When
I questioned one manufacturer's representative on the validity of claiming HEPA
filtration when their machine wasn't, he quite bluntly told me that the customer
"wouldn't know the difference. It is all about getting the sale" He did not get
an order from me because I know the difference. Visit my showroom and I will
show you the difference. I want to offer only what works.
Canister Vacuum Cleaners
Since canister vacuum cleaners have the most all around cleaning advantages due
to their unique abilities I will talk about canister vacuum cleaners first.
Canister vacuum cleaners are better designed to accept larger more powerful
motors for superior suction and cubic feet per minute {CFM} of airflow. This
makes for better cleaning ability.
Well-designed canister vacuum cleaners are sealed better than uprights to
prevent the out-gassing of dust and allergens back into your indoor environment.
If you have allergies, asthma or if you're really after a more dust free home,
purchase a high quality canister vacuum cleaner with a certified HEPA filter.
Canister vacuum cleaners have a flexible hose attached to them allowing you to
reach into tight spots. You can also work high over your head to clean
furniture, bookcases and ceiling areas
Canister vacuum cleaners have power heads that are lighter and more powerful
then uprights and they are easier to push though carpeting. Remember when you're
operating an upright; you have to push the entire weight of the vacuum cleaner
through the carpet.
Canister vacuum cleaners are designed with low profile power heads for cleaning
tough to reach areas underneath tables, beds and furniture.
If the power head breaks down or wears out on a canister vacuum cleaner all you
have to do is replace it. In the meantime you can switch to another tool to
continue cleaning. When the power head breaks down on an upright, you're stuck
waiting for a repair shop to fix it or you're on your way to the store to
replace the entire vacuum cleaner with a new one!
Canister vacuum cleaners are loaded with specialty tools to clean different
types of surfaces and locations such as carpeted staircases, hard wood, floors,
ceramic tile floors, different kinds of furniture fabrics and ceiling fans.
Canister vacuum cleaners are by far the best type of vacuum cleaner to gain
access to your car's interior.
Upright Vacuum Cleaner
The advantages of uprights are few. Newer design uprights now have a flexible
vacuum hose attached to them for hard to reach spaces. However the flex hose is
usually shorter than on canisters and more limited for extended reaches.
Some people prefer uprights because they like to have the vacuum cleaner in
front of them to push. Upright vacuum cleaners are easy to use in large open
carpeted areas. But so are many canisters. Some people prefer uprights simply
because they are so used to pushing old Betsy around from habit. Know that
uprights tend to leak dusty air back into the indoor environment while cleaning
with them. Most people find that the newer design and higher quality canisters
are much higher quality then their uprights after they make the switch.
Note: Stay away from bag-less vacuum cleaners! This is because when you dump the
dust container in a bag-less vacuum cleaner, the dust fly's up into the air to
re-contaminate the entire area! Many people complain that the dust often blows
onto their face and clothes. Vacuum cleaners that use disposable bags to contain
the dust and allergens are your best choice.
Now For a Shameless Plug:
From our years of experience we have discovered and truly feel that only the
Miele HEPA vacuum cleaner {Made In Germany} is the highest quality HEPA
vacuum cleaners on the market. The Miele is superior because of its
powerful cleaning ability, user friendliness and 100 percent dust tight sealed
HEPA filtration system.
-donovan
” The Bitterness of Poor Quality Remains Long After the Sweetness of Low Price
is Forgotten”