Vacuuming for Better Health: The Role of a High-Performance Vacuum Cleaner

As part of October’s Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Awareness Month, why not give time to consider how everyday household appliances, such as vacuum cleaners, can significantly impact indoor air quality. Vacuuming is one of the most effective ways to remove dust, dirt, and allergens from carpets, rugs, and floors. However, not all vacuum cleaners are created equal. Choosing the right vacuum cleaner can make a real difference in reducing indoor allergens and supporting better air quality.

The Importance of Vacuuming for IAQ

Vacuuming your home is vital for maintaining good IAQ, especially if you or someone in your household is impacted by asthma or allergies. Carpets, rugs, and hard floors can accumulate large amounts of dust, allergens, and irritants, which can become airborne when people walk on the flooring. So a vacuum cleaner that can be demonstrated to remove allergen from flooring can be a useful addition to a plan to control triggers in the indoor environment. An asthma & allergy friendly® CERTIFIED vacuum ensures that these particles are captured and sealed, contributing to better indoor air quality and reducing potential triggers of asthma or allergic reactions.

Many vacuum cleaners claim to offer high filtration, but it’s essential to choose one that has been independently tested and validated. Certified vacuums must pass rigorous tests to ensure they meet stringent standards for allergen pick-up, filtration, and overall performance.

What Makes a Vacuum CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly®?

The asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program subjects vacuums to extensive testing under controlled conditions. To receive certification, vacuums must demonstrate their ability to remove allergens, control dust emissions, and maintain performance over time. Below are the key criteria a vacuum must meet to earn certification:

1. Allergen Pick-up

A vacuum must remove at least 90% of allergens from both a floor covering and a crevice. This is crucial for effectively reducing common household allergens like dust mite allergen, pet dander, and pollen, which tend to settle into carpets and rugs. Testing is carried out in a controlled environmental chamber, where a piece of floor covering is seeded with test dust that contains dust mite allergen and cat allergen.

2. Airborne Particles/Allergens

A vacuum’s ability to prevent allergens from becoming airborne during use is another critical factor. Certified vacuums are tested to ensure that airborne allergen levels and particle counts remain below certification thresholds, both while vacuuming and when emptying the dust receptacle. This is essential for preventing the redistribution of dust and allergens into the breathing zone, which can otherwise exacerbate respiratory conditions.

3. Seals

The integrity of a vacuum’s seals is also evaluated to prevent dust from bypassing the filter and re-entering the indoor environment. A CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® vacuum must have robust seals to ensure that all the air passing through the machine is filtered, providing an extra layer of protection against allergen leakage.

4. Loaded Performance

Finally, the vacuum’s suction performance when the dust receptacle is full is tested. A vacuum must maintain less than a 10% loss of suction to ensure that it continues to perform effectively even when it’s not empty. This ensures that your vacuum can still remove allergens and dust without losing efficiency as the dust bin fills up.

Why Third-Party Validation Matters

With so many vacuums on the market making similar health claims, third-party certification is essential to help consumers make informed decisions. Unlike marketing terms such as “hypoallergenic,” which are often unregulated and may not guarantee the efficacy of a product, third-party certification ensures that products have been rigorously tested by independent labs and meet stringent standards.

The asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program works in partnership with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) to provide a trusted guide for consumers. The program ensures that products claiming to support better indoor air quality, like vacuum cleaners, actually deliver on their promises. By choosing a CERTIFIED vacuum, you can be confident that it has been scientifically tested to support better IAQ and create a healthier home environment.

Practical Tips for Vacuuming and Allergen Control

To maximize the allergen-reducing benefits of your vacuum cleaner, follow these practical tips:

• Vacuum Regularly: Vacuum at least once a week, focusing on high-traffic areas and places where allergens are likely to accumulate, such as carpets and upholstery. If possible, use a CERTIFIED robotic vacuum in tandem with the regular full vacuum to help minimise dirt and allergens.
• Use Advanced Filtration Systems: Ensure your vacuum is equipped with an advanced filtration system that efficiently traps dust, pet dander, and other airborne particles.
• Empty Dust Receptacles Carefully: When emptying the vacuum’s dust bin, do so in a well-ventilated area or outdoors, if possible, to avoid reintroducing allergens back into your home.
• Focus on High Allergen Areas: Don’t forget to vacuum areas where dust mites thrive, such as mattresses, upholstered furniture, and curtains.

Conclusion

A high-quality vacuum cleaner is an essential tool in maintaining good indoor air quality, especially for households with people impacted by asthma and allergies. By selecting a vacuum cleaner that is independently tested and CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® , you ensure that it meets rigorous standards for allergen removal, filtration, and performance.

This October, during Indoor Air Quality Awareness Month, take the opportunity to evaluate your current vacuum cleaner and consider switching to one that has been independently validated for its health claims. By doing so, you’ll not only contribute to a cleaner home but also support a healthier indoor environment for you and your family.