Vacuum Cleaning and Indoor Allergies

Filed in archive Gadgets and Tools Against Allergies , Hay Fever , Insect Allergies , Mold Allergy on May 29, 2007

I've been eying one of those pricey Dyson vacuum cleaners that promises to suck your home free of allergens. They are even said to be approved for allergy sufferers by the British Allergy Foundation.

Although this report claim that vacuuming does little to help with allergies at all, the researchers do say that not all vacuum cleaners are created equal and suggest getting one with "[high efficiency particulate air filter] filtration". Without this, pollens, dust mites and other allergens are just pushed around instead of sucking them up. They also say that vacuum cleaners with rotating brushes in the head removed more dirt and allergen from the carpets than those without.

In addition to getting the right vacuum cleaner, you'd most likely get best results in reducing indoor allergens if you remove your carpets and switch to hard surface floorings.