If you or anyone in your family suffers from allergies, you may have already tried everything to reduce your symptoms. Unfortunately, many of the allergens that affect the respiratory system are found in the home — making it impossible to avoid them.
Allergens such as dust mites, smoke, mould and pet dander can bring on allergic attacks or exacerbate the associated symptoms. Fortunately, a HEPA vacuum cleaner can trap the majority of these allergens and remove them from your home permanently. Of course, there are always more allergens just waiting to take their place, but using your vacuum cleaner regularly and in the right ways should keep the worst of the problem at bay.
1. Use the attachments
How many of your vacuum cleaner’s attachments have you actually used? These handy tools are there to make your life easier, yet they often lie untouched in their box. To reduce the allergens in your home, you need to be cleaning under, inside and around all of your furniture. If you or a family member suffers from a respiratory allergy, simply vacuuming around your static furniture won’t suffice. Use the appropriate attachments to reach inside sofas, under chairs and into the most awkward areas of your home.
2. Use a HEPA vacuum cleaner
A high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter is designed to catch the smallest of allergens, and stop them from escaping back into the air. A lot of the older cleaners would simply spit these allergens back out, moving problems from one area of a home to another. The latest HEPA vacuum cleaners are designed to capture up to 99.9% of these allergens — significantly reducing the chances of you and your family being affected by them.
3. Use a vacuum cleaner with good seals
Try to find out the emission control value of your vacuum cleaner. A strong, well-constructed cleaner is well-sealed — keeping emissions to a minimum. Unfortunately, every vacuum cleaner is guilty of slight emissions, as they contain lots of moving parts. However, a highly rated cleaner will keep emissions to an absolute minimum, and stop allergens from escaping from the dust cannister.
4. Vacuum everything
The latest vacuum cleaners aren’t just for floors — they can be used to remove dust and allergens from just about every surface in the home. Use your cleaner to remove dust and allergens from curtains, skirting, furniture and any other surface that collects dust. It’s also a good idea to add the hidden problem areas of your home to a cleaning checklist, including electrical appliances, underneath major kitchen appliances and vents.
5. Go for maximum suction strength
High suction power is crucial when removing allergens from your home. EU regulations now limit the power used by new vacuum cleaners, so it’s important that you research your options before parting with any cash. Generally speaking, the bagless systems deliver maximum suction strength. More importantly, they don’t lose suction power over time. Of course, you need to be extra careful when emptying bagless vacuum cleaners, so it’s always best to do so outside.
6. Choose the best option for your home
Before you buy your next vacuum, walk around your home and assess the jobs it is expected to carry out. If you have large areas of floor to cover, an upright is likely to be the best option. However, if you have to negotiate tight areas and lots of furniture, a cylinder cleaner may be more effective. Of course, there are now hybrid systems that offer the benefits of both cleaners, as well as offering handheld functionality. Only be purchasing the best cleaner for your home will you be able to keep the majority of allergens at bay.
Your vacuum cleaner is probably the only thing standing between you and the allergens that can make your life a misery. By choosing the best possible cleaner and using it correctly, you can minimise the chances of household allergens triggering your symptoms.
