Floor vacuum cleaners with ultra-modern fine filter systems – risk-free vacuum cleaning for allergies.
A dripping nose and watery eyes are not only the typical symptoms of hay fever, but can also be signs of an overreaction to fine dust in your own four walls. Allergy and asthma sufferers must always take special care to consistently and carefully eliminate possible allergens in the home. However, as an allergy sufferer, you may be familiar with the problem that the symptoms actually intensify when cleaning and vacuuming. This is due to the fact that the allergens, which are not visible to the naked eye, are not sufficiently filtered by many vacuum cleaners and are therefore blown out again with the exhaust air. Studies have shown that indoor air in apartments and houses is usually many times more polluted than outdoor air, which is why house dust allergies are on the rise and are now just as widespread as hay fever. If your discomfort worsens during housework or occurs in winter as much as in spring and summer, it is high time to purchase a new vacuum cleaner equipped with a state-of-the-art filtration system.
When the conventional floor vacuum cleaner becomes a danger
Mites are not only found in house dust, but also in feather beds and mattresses. In other words, anywhere mites find food. Click to enlarge. Allergy sufferers usually react to house dust with rhinitis, itching, coughing or watery eyes; for asthmatics, allergens in the home sometimes even pose a serious health risk. For many asthmatics and allergy sufferers, inhaling dust particles leads to respiratory distress, which in some cases can even assume life-threatening proportions. If you yourself or family members suffer from such immune overreactions, it is worth investing in a high-quality floor vacuum cleaner, for example from a renowned brand such as Siemens, which is expressly suitable for people with allergies. The high-tech filter systems, which have been continuously developed in recent years, prevent the dirt and dust particles that are sucked in from being distributed back into the room with the exhaust air. As a result, they ensure largely safe vacuuming for allergy sufferers.
The most important criteria for the purchase
Among today’s leading filter systems that ensure absolute purity of room air is the so-called HEPA or High-Efficiency Particulate Air filter, which can retain dust particles as small as 0.1 micrometers. The technology on which these systems are based was developed by U.S. scientists as early as the 1940s to filter radioactive substances from the air. Today, such filters are used in research, operating rooms and hospital intensive care units. HEPA filters, in conjunction with intelligent air outlet control systems, have also been installed in high-quality models for several years, and are particularly recommended for people with dust mite allergies, as the exhaust air from such devices is cleaner than the normal ambient air. Vacuum cleaner models equipped with HEPA or microfine filters also promise risk-free use for allergy sufferers. However, the designation “recommended for allergy sufferers” alone is not enough to guarantee one hundred percent safe cleaning. If the housing of the vacuum cleaner is not sufficiently sealed, for example, even the best filter system cannot prevent an allergic attack from occurring during vacuuming. Therefore, you should pay attention to the following criteria when buying:
- Reviews of independent consumer protection organizations such as ÖKO Test or Stiftung Warentest.
- A high degree of dust particle retention
- At the same time an optimal suction result
- Easy handling due to low weight
- Low energy consumption
The main functions and equipment elements
House dust mites belong to the arachnids. The most common house dust mite species are Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae. Click to enlarge. A high performance hygienic filter is a basic requirement to ensure that the vacuum cleaner is suitable for use in households where allergy sufferers live. In addition, it is also important to regularly remove all dirt particles in order to minimize the concentration of allergens.It is not always possible to lay wipeable smooth floors such as tiles or parquet, and in the case of carpets, special attention must be paid to comprehensive cleaning. Allergens easily settle especially in high-pile carpets, so the vacuum cleaner should also be equipped with additional accessories that can thoroughly remove dust particles, hair and dirt from all fibers. Therefore, choose a household appliance that has the following additional parts:
- A height-adjustable turbo or electric brush.
- Upholstery nozzle
- Crevice nozzle
Changing the dust bag is also an important point for allergy sufferers, because if dirt particles escape in the process, they can trigger an allergy attack. Therefore, also pay attention to the type of dust bags used with your new vacuum cleaner. These should definitely have a sealable cover flap. Ideally, the dust bags are also coated with an antibacterial material on the inside, as this prevents allergens such as germs, mold spores and dust mites from multiplying in the vacuum cleaner. Nevertheless, as allergy sufferers, they should always wear a respirator mask when changing bags to prevent the otherwise unavoidable inhalation of dust particles.
