October 2007
Vacuums
Cleaning vs. allergy claims
ALLERGEN ACE A vacuum we tested made short work of allergen-sized particles, and so should many others.
Vacuum marketers are pushing allergen relief along with the usual cleaning as claims move beyond carpets and floors. But our
tests show that those promises mean less than they suggest.
Some uprights claim to filter allergens. (Upright and canister Ratings and information are available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers only.) One of the manufacturers also touts an Asthma Friendly seal from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America certifying that its uprights are "proven more suitable for people with asthma and related allergic sensitivities." In addition, many of its vacuums carry a Seal of Approval from the British Allergy Foundation for products that "restrict or remove allergens from the environment of allergy sufferers."
But practically any vacuum should be able to handle pollen, mold spores, and other typical allergens. At roughly 100 times larger than the smallest specs we measure, allergen particles are large enough to fall to the floor, where they're easy to capture. We expanded our emissions tests to include allergen-sized particles for some vacs that make those claims. Those we tested whisked them away, but so should others. Our top-scoring upright captured them with its standard HEPA bag and even a generic paper version. And any vacuum judged at least very good for emissions will nab the tiny stuff.
Some uprights claim to filter allergens. (Upright and canister Ratings and information are available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers only.) One of the manufacturers also touts an Asthma Friendly seal from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America certifying that its uprights are "proven more suitable for people with asthma and related allergic sensitivities." In addition, many of its vacuums carry a Seal of Approval from the British Allergy Foundation for products that "restrict or remove allergens from the environment of allergy sufferers."
But practically any vacuum should be able to handle pollen, mold spores, and other typical allergens. At roughly 100 times larger than the smallest specs we measure, allergen particles are large enough to fall to the floor, where they're easy to capture. We expanded our emissions tests to include allergen-sized particles for some vacs that make those claims. Those we tested whisked them away, but so should others. Our top-scoring upright captured them with its standard HEPA bag and even a generic paper version. And any vacuum judged at least very good for emissions will nab the tiny stuff.
Months of testing over dust-laden carpets and bare floors also revealed that some newer brands don't improve performance.
Some stylish vacuums also proved to be subpar performers. The details:
Two models that quit. One manufacturer suggests using its canister's "powerful brushroll" for deep-cleaning, which this model did well in our carpet tests. But our tough pet-hair test stopped it cold. We judged an earlier upright Not Recommended because it spewed visible dust. The latest version was better at capturing larger particles, but it scored a poor in our emissions tests. Both samples temporarily shut down after those tests triggered their thermal-overload switches.
Two dubious designs. One unit folds into the most compact upright we've tested. But pushing and pulling it while vacuuming wasn't easy. Another canister floats on a cushion of air. While relatively easy to handle, it lacks a motorized brush and was subpar on carpets and pet hair.
Some unimpressive newcomers. One manufacturer markets its upright for commercial use. Yet it delivered less-than-stellar cleaning, won't accept tools, and was noisy enough to require hearing protection. It also has a plastic fan despite the "all-metal construction" claim on its box, along with a sleeve on its bag that was difficult to attach without ripping. Another maker's canister model was fine on carpets and floors, but only fair in our hose-airflow tests. (Upright and canister Ratings and information are available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers only.)
Two models that quit. One manufacturer suggests using its canister's "powerful brushroll" for deep-cleaning, which this model did well in our carpet tests. But our tough pet-hair test stopped it cold. We judged an earlier upright Not Recommended because it spewed visible dust. The latest version was better at capturing larger particles, but it scored a poor in our emissions tests. Both samples temporarily shut down after those tests triggered their thermal-overload switches.
Two dubious designs. One unit folds into the most compact upright we've tested. But pushing and pulling it while vacuuming wasn't easy. Another canister floats on a cushion of air. While relatively easy to handle, it lacks a motorized brush and was subpar on carpets and pet hair.
Some unimpressive newcomers. One manufacturer markets its upright for commercial use. Yet it delivered less-than-stellar cleaning, won't accept tools, and was noisy enough to require hearing protection. It also has a plastic fan despite the "all-metal construction" claim on its box, along with a sleeve on its bag that was difficult to attach without ripping. Another maker's canister model was fine on carpets and floors, but only fair in our hose-airflow tests. (Upright and canister Ratings and information are available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers only.)
