Apart from this there is always the risk of asthma and similar illnesses. Dust mites can be found in your pillows, mattresses, carpets, furniture, clothing and almost
anywhere. You are probably not aware of this but dust mites survive and feed on dead human skin flakes.
Even though there is no complete solution to eliminate them you can try to inhibit their growth and reduce their numbers using a HEPA filter vacuum.
HEPA is the acronym for ‘high efficiency particulate air’. Using a HEPA filter vacuum cleaner is the perfect option for maintaining a clean home environment, free of allergens for asthma or allergy sufferers. They have proved to remove 99.97% of the allergens that pass through from carpets and furniture.
The most common airborne particles are about 2.4 microns. The average vacuum cleaner only vacuums up particles from 30 to 50 microns in size. The .3 microns in size are the most harmful sized particulates. The HEPA Filter vacuum cleaner has special filters made of glass that are formed into paper filters and sealed. They trap mold, dust, dust mites, skin flakes and other pollutants from your carpet and upholstery. A HEPA vacuum cleaner will clean up those allergens and dust which have settled on floors and in carpets. In many cases the vacuums are designed as a closed system so that once allergens are contained within the vacuum and do not escape back out in the room from air leaks within the hoses or chambers.
The original HEPA filter was designed in the 1940’s and was used in the Manhattan Project. This was done to prevent the spread of airborne radioactive contaminants. The HEPA filter rating is applicable to any highly efficient air filter. This filter should be able to attain the same filter efficiency performance standards as a minimum.
With the introduction of HEPA filter vacuum cleaner, the technology has got even better. Most vacuum manufacturers have acknowledged the positive impact of HEPA vacuum cleaners. Every year they are introducing more and more models to consumers with improved features and subtle refinements. They are designed to trap much smaller pollutants and particles by the following the three mechanisms:
- Interception: particles follow a line of flow in the air stream and come within one radius of a fiber and adhere to it.
- Impaction: larger particles are unable to avoid fibers by following the curving contours of the air stream. These particles are forced to embed in one of them directly.
- Diffusion: This is an enhancing mechanism as a result of the collision with gas molecules by the smallest particles.
One important consideration when buying a HEPA vacuum cleaner is the size of your home. We have a preference for a mid size vacuum cleaner which will handle effectively most people’s needs most of the time. On the other hand, a full size canister vacuum may be more appropriate for a very large house.
If you are an asthma sufferer, it is advisable to have less carpeting or switch completely to hardwood floors. But in case you still have carpeting in your room, you need to choose the right vacuum cleaner to keep your room clean and free of allergens. The HEPA vacuum cleaner ensures that the air coming out of your vacuum does not reintroduce pollen and dust mites back into the air and room. Your allergies at home can be alleviated with regular cleaning with a HEPA vacuum cleaner.
