How to Choose the Best Vacuum for Allergies in 2019

Navigating allergies is an unending war. They come from every direction and range from dust and pollen from trees, flowers, and mold, to good old-fashioned air pollution. And these are just outside. Inside your home, you face issues from mites, dust, pet dander, and everyday products such as wool.  To help keep back the symptoms of asthma, sinus pressure, sneezing and coughing, it’s recommended for allergy sufferers to vacuum. What goes up must come down, and this goes for air-born allergens as well; however, simply vacuuming once a week or every-so-often isn’t enough. Preventing allergies takes vigilance, and for this reason, a combination of an upright and robotic vacuum provides a huge advantage. So how to choose the best vacuum for allergies?

Upright vacuums are ideal for maximum power but aren’t the only option to use, such as a canister vacuum (What is the difference between Upright and Canister vacuum?). Vacuum have the strength to pull up allergens wherever they hide, and many vacuums can be used on hardwood, tile as well as carpet. Stopping allergies require constant vigilance, however, so using them in combination with robotic vacuums are sure to keep allergies from building. Robotic vacuums can, and will happily, do the work for you on a daily basis without any effort from you. Daily prevention is an important part of allergy prevention, keeping allergy symptoms down and allowing for an even deeper clean with upright vacuums.

How to Choose the Right Vacuums for Allergies

Here is a helpful guide to understanding the right traits in vacuums that effectively keep away allergies, as well as a list of our favorite vacuums to do the job right. Skip below to see the list of products. We also recommend two additional vacuum reviews to add to your knowledge, one for upright vacuums and another for robotic vacuums.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR…

HEPA FILTER

The number one trait to look for is a HEPA filter. HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air. It’s an air filter that works by forcing air into an extremely fine mesh which traps particles as small as tobacco smoke. An outside filter holds back larger particles, and a second layer made of fine glass fibers filters the tiny ones. These filters work under suction at very high speed, helping to snag particles against the sides of the filter rather than let them slowly escape through the cracks. This type of filter results in a higher-priced vacuum, but it is worth it.

WATER FILTER

Most homeowners must be familiar with that the HEPA filter is a high-efficiency filter, could remove 99.97% of particles. But may be don’t know the water filter vacuum, which could trap the dirt within the water and make the air very fresh. Mostly, water filter vacuum combines with HEPA filter after the water filter to double make sure the air fresh. So, if you have allergy, we highly recommend the water filter vacuum, only it is a litter expensive.

CANISTER VACUUMS

Canister vacuums offer easy maneuvering when cleaning because they are often removable and transportable while you vacuum. These bag-less vacuums are also an effective to clean out your vacuum, allowing for easy removal and washing. Canister vacuums are very popular, but emptying the dirt bin job should be cautions by the allergy-suffers. We include canister vacuums in our review below. Another helpful link we recommend is visiting the “how to choose the best canister vacuums“.

SPECIAL FEATURES AND ACCESSORIES

When reviewing vacuums, many models allow for additional fittings to aid in more thorough cleaning of areas such as fittings for vacuuming wood floors or upper corners of walls. These fittings can be cumbersome and sometimes create storage problems and will bring up the cost, but are worth investing in if interested in to do the job right.

As time goes by, the more advanced vacuums have become. This is especially the case for robotic vacuums. Soon these little guys will even try to clean us. Until then, they have a number of features that will take cleaning your floor to a whole new level. One such feather is laser technology to scan floors for dirt and dust. These robots can see what our naked eyes can’t. Some even revisit an area, such as a high-traffic area, repeatedly vacuuming for a deeper clean. A good example of a robotic vacuum with these features is the iRobot Roomba 690. Another robotic option called a jet mop, such as the Braava jet® 240, aid further clean by wet-mopping or damp-sweeping hardwood floors. Using these in kitchens and bathrooms will leave the allergens with few places to hide. We include a review of the Braava jet 240 below, and here is a helpful guide of good quality jet mops.

SUCTION POWER

A tried and true method is to pay attention to suction.  The stronger it is, the more successful your war with allergens will go. Research the range of robotic vacuums and choose the strongest you can find. Your sinuses will thank you.

PREVENTION PET HAIR

Many vacuums offer the benefit of vacuuming dog hair. Pet allergies are very common and dander, where the allergy lies, is the culprit. Dogs hair can be especially troublesome, and also annoyingly messy. As Winter heads into Spring and Summer, the shedding begins big time.

THE INTERNAL BAG / RECEPTACLE

What good is suction if the allergens don’t stay in the vacuum? Spend time learning which vacuum is most effective in containing dirt and dust. Having a sealable vacuum bag will make a huge difference. Also understanding which vacuum allows you easy access to emptying your receptacle will keep you from getting lazy with the cleaning process.

THE BEST VACUUM OPTIONS FOR WOOD, TILE OR CARPET

Not all vacuums are alike when it comes to floors. Going from hardwood to plush carpet is not always easy for a vacuum, and one may do better on one surface than another.  Keep an eye on those reviews to see what works best for you, and we outlining below a few helpful options to make your selections easier.

Recommended Vacuums For Allergies

Here is a helpful list of our favorite vacuums on the market today.

Shark Rotator Upright Vacuum NV501 – Anti-Allergy Seal, Lift-Away Hand Vacuum Tech

This vacuum has a large canister, LED lights and advanced steering to get in those hard to reach places. It also has a detachable canister that can be used to vacuum drapes, walls and furniture.

Features:

• HEPA filter
• Accessories: one pet power brush, one pet upholstery tool, one straight suction nozzle, one dusting brush, and one 12-inch crevice tool.
• Optional accessories are available such as a canister caddy, external wand, crevice tool, mini blinds tool, multi-angle dusting brush, an Under-appliance wand, and a hard floor duster with dust pads. It also offers a home and car detail kit, keeping allergies from your car as well.

Pros:

• Its large-capacity dust cup allows for a large amount of usage between cleaning which comes in handy for larger homes.
• It has an anti-allergen seal to keep dust contained.
• Its “Lift Away” technology changes it to a portable vacuum for vacuuming stairs, drapes and wall corners.
• This vacuum is good for pets because of its pet power brush and wide pet upholstery tool.
• This vacuum is also one of the quieter models on the market. HEPA filter included.

Cons:

• The canister prevents the vacuum from moving underneath low furniture, so you will need to take advantage of the “Lift Away” feature for handheld cleaning and purchase an under-appliance
• It is the heaviest vacuum in this review.
• Some say it is difficult to push while vacuuming, but by positioning yourself correctly you can prevent this issue.

Shark Navigator Upright Vacuum NV352 – Lift-Away Hand Vacuum Tech, Anti-Allergy Seal, Advanced Pet Hair Control

This vacuum a detachable canister for portable cleaning and has tight steering capability – very helpful to get to areas you normally cannot. It is another good quality vacuum by Shark with the benefit of a slightly lower price point.

Features:

• Detachable canister for portable cleaning of hard-to-reach places like stairs and drapes.
• An anti-allergen seal on the cannister
• HEPA filter.
• Comes with a premium pet brush, wide pet upholstery tool, straight suction nozzle, dusting brush, a 24” crevice tool, and a 5.5” crevice tool.
• Optional tools include a back-saver wand, crevice tool, bare floor nozzle, dusting kit, extension tube, and a hard surface brush and motorized floor nozzle. It also offers a home and car detail kit.

Pros.

• This is another alternative to the NV501 above but is particularly powerful on carpet floors.
• It is also another good choice for a quiet vacuum while achieving a slightly lower price point.

Cons:

• With it excelling with carpet floors, it’s not as effective on other surfaces. To maximize its effectiveness, you will need one of the optional attachments.

Dyson V8 Absolute Cordless Vacuum – Max Power Suction

This futuristic-looking vacuum can quickly change from an upright to a handheld vacuum with just a click. It is designed to be used on high surfaces as well as low while providing sufficient power for a cordless vacuum.

Features:

• Soft roller cleaner head for hard floors and a motorized cleaner head to remove dirt from carpets.
• It’s gentle on hard floors
• It has impressively powerful suction (107,000 rpm and a vacuum time of up to 40 minutes in Powerful mode)
• HEPA filter.
• It has two power modes: one called MAX for up to 7 minutes of high power, and a regular power mode that works for 40 minutes.
• It comes with a wall-mounted charging kit, a crevice tool, combination tool, and a mini motorized tool for easy car cleaning.

Pros:

• Great for hardwood floors.
• It’s versatile, easily moving from floors to walls and drapery.
• It has strong suction for a cordless vacuum.
• Comes with portability and tools, allowing it to vacuum in hard to reach places.
• It as a sealed air system to ensure clean air.
• It is designed for precise cleaning around edges and narrow gaps.

Cons:

• Max power only works for 7 minutes, which means you have to recharge quickly after use, but regular power mode will give you 40 minutes.

Miele Complete C3 Marin Vacuum  – Electrobrush and AirClean Sealed System

Canister vacuum cleaner with an electronic brush for thorough cleaning of heavy-duty carpeting. It has a six-stage variable speed motor and an advanced air clean sealed system.

Features:

• It contains an electronic brush with a height-adjustable wand with LED.
• It is gentle on delicate hard floors.
• It is highly maneuverable and flexible.
• It has a HEPA filter.
• There are easy-to-use plus/minus foot controls.
• It has a comfort handle and flexible hose connector for easy movement.
• There are optional accessories such as a car and home care kit, turbo floor and hand brushes for quick hair removal, twister brush for hard to reach places, and a mattress nozzle to prevent dust mites.

Pros:

• Its high suctions power of 1,200 W provides a deep clean.
• Excellent suction on carpets, wood floor, and

Cons:

• The $1,100 retail price makes it the most expensive option.
• It does not have replaceable storage of dirt, instead opting for a bag which you discard after use, but it is kept well-sealed during use to prevent dust from releasing into the air.
• It can be more awkward to use than other self-contained vacuums.

iRobot Roomba 690 – Wi-Fi Connected, Dual Brushes For Daily Cleaning

A robotic vacuum that gives you the flexibility of vacuuming as often as needed, whenever you like without any effort on your part.

Features:

• It has dual brushes: the 1th brush loosens, lifts and pulls in dust from floors, the 2th brush vacuum debris into the channel.
• It has a sweeping brush to concentrate on edges and corners.
• It has sensors that find areas to clean more thoroughly.
• It has auto-adjust cleaning head which could automatically adjusts the height to clean carpets effectively
• It has sensors to detect stairs and won’t fall down stairs.
• It could go back to home station to recharge.
• It lasts up to 90 minutes between charges.

Pros

• It does all the work for you.
• It has smart home technology and app controls to allow you to schedule reoccurring cleanings and provide cleaning instructions.
• It’s a great solution to reach under furniture.
• It is best used for hardwood floors and large rooms, and pet hair and high traffic areas.

Cons:

• Sometimes misses a spot and can be a bit noisy.
• It is also not as powerful as an upright vacuum.

iRobot Braava Jet 240 Automatic Mop With Three Cleaning Options

Robotic mop with the ability for wet mopping, damp sweeping, or dry sweeping. Designed to clean hard floors of kitchens and bathrooms. It has smart navigation and cliff detection.

Features:

• Smart navigation allows it to clean without supervision.
• Three types of cleaning pads allow for different cleaning options.
• It automatically selects the option based on the pad that is inserted.

Pros: 

• It provides hassle-free cleaning of your home.
• It picks up spills a regular robotic vacuum won’t.
• It’s very easy to use and cleaning pads are easily added and removed.
• It doesn’t spray or harm furniture and avoids stairs.

Cons: Requires replacement pads which can add up over time.

CONCLUSION

With each vacuum having its own unique benefits, we find each is more effective in different environments. Here are our recommendations depending on your home environment. We recommend using upright vacuums for a weekly deep clean, Roomba’s for daily clean, and jet robot cleaners for floor mopping.

Small house and mostly hard floors:  Dyson V8’s handheld vacuum. Its strong suction ease of use on hard floors makes this vacuum the ideal choice. Using it on small homes means you can maximize the vacuumed area on a single charge.

Small House with Heavy Carpeted Floors:  Shark NV 352. With this vacuum’s focus on strong suction for carpeted floors and the versatility of a detachable canister for easy day-in and day-out cleaning as well as flexibility of vacuuming awkward surfaces such as stairs, use you can’t go wrong with this vacuum.

Big House with Heavy Carpeted Floors:  Versatile NV501. This vacuum has the strong power you need for carpets as well as a wide range of tools to help you tackle all areas of your home. Its large dust cup allows for less frequent cleaning while vacuuming and its extra sharp steering allows for maximum flexibility in movement as an upright. The removable canister, like with the NV52, allows for cleaning of hard to reach areas such as stairs, drapes and walls.

Best choice for mostly hard floors: For the best overall clean, use any of these uprights in combination with a Roomba vacuum and Braava jet mop. This multi-phase cleaning strategy will keep allergens from setting up shop in your home. Upright vacuums provide the strength of suction for a deep clean every week. Between vacuums, use a Roomba and Braava Jet for easy daily prevention. Your home will remain ultra clean and fresh.

And there you have it….our list of favorites! We hope this helps you on your journey to rid home allergies!