Vacuum Cleaner Information

How Does a Vacuum Work?
How to Make Your Vacuum Cleaner Smell Good
Why do Vacuum Cleaners Smell?
What Are Vacuum Cleaner Scent Tabs?
How to Keep Your Vacuum Cleaner Running Like New
How to Vacuum Heat Ducts
How is Vacuum Measured?
Who Invented the Vacuum Cleaner?
Where Are Electrolux Vacuums Made?
How to Choose a Central Vac
Vacuum Cleaner Service
How to Repair a Broken Vacuum Belt
How to Change the Belt on a Dyson
Changing a Kirby Vacuum Belt
What Are Vacuum Cleaner Bags?
What Are Vacuum Bag Types?
How to Change Bags in Bissell Powerforce
What are Allergen Filters?
How to Put an S Type Filter on a Hoover Vacuum
Cleaning Your Dyson HEPA Filter
What Does HEPA Stand For?
Where Can I Find HEPA Air Purifiers?
What are HEPA Filters?
What Are Micron Filters?
What Are Vacuum Cleaner Filters?
Emptying a Dyson Vacuum Cleaner
Cleaning Dyson Vacuum Cleaners
How to Clean My Dyson Vacuum
How to Clean a Dyson Vacuum Brush
What Are Vacuum Cleaner Brush Rollers?
How to Stop Hose Collapse in a Vacuum
How to Stop Hose Collapse on a Shop Vac
Canister Vacuum Motor Access
What Are Canister Vacuum Cleaners?
What Are Lightweight Vacuum Cleaners?
What Are Upright Vacuum Cleaners?
Replacing Hoover Valve Seal
How to Replace a Vacuum Electrical Plug
How to Change the Battery in Dirt Devil Kone
How to Use a Shop Vac
How to Shampoo a Carpet
How to Use a Hoover Steam Vac
How Do You Use a Hoover SteamVac Deluxe?
How to Use Bissell Little Green Machine
How to Use Kirby Vacuum Carpet Shampooer
Where Can I Donate a Vacuum Cleaner?

Buying a Vacuum Cleaner

How to Buy a Vacuum Cleaner
The Best Vacuum Cleaner for Pet Lovers
What is the Best Cordless Vacuum?
What is the Best Upright Bagless Vacuum?
What is the Best Vacuum for Wood Floors?
What is the Best Carpet Cleaner?
What is the Best Central Vacuum System?
What is the Best Shop Vac?
The Best Vacuum Cleaner for Allergy Sufferers
Should You Get a Bagless Vacuum Cleaner?
Should You Get a Canister or Upright Vacuum Cleaner?

What Are Vacuum Cleaner Filters?

Vacuum cleaner filters come in several forms: the most familiar is the vacuum cleaner bag; the more recent trend is the removable filter; and, a less-known option is the water filter.

Originally, vacuums were sold with replaceable bags, and this is still an option. A bag filter simply traps dirt inside the bag while allowing air to flow through. The bags are removed and replaced when they become full.

Water-filter vacuums were introduced about twenty years ago. Instead of a replaceable bag, the vacuum contains a water tank. Because water is heavier than air, as dirt and debris pass through the water chamber, they are trapped in the water. The water acts as a pressure agent to filter the dirt.

Today’s bagless vacuum cleaners have removable plastic chambers where dust and debris are trapped. Within the chamber is a porous filter through which air passes and matter is collected. These filters have a HEPA rating.

In the 1940’s, the US Atomic Energy Commission developed HEPA filters to filter radioactive dust particles in bomb shelters, protecting the participants in the Manhattan Project as they tested atomic bombs. After World War II ended, the government released the filters for commercial use and HEPA vacuum cleaner filters developed. A HEPA filter is tested and must meet certain criteria. They must be able to trap 99.97% of all particles with a size of .3 microns in order to receive a certifying serial number.

A micron is one-millionth of a meter; .3 micron is approximately .0000133 inches. A .3 micron particle would have to be enlarged 150 times its size to be visible. The .3 micron standard is used because particles of this size are the most difficult to filter, and larger or smaller particles are filtered more efficiently.

HEPA filters trap particles in three ways:

• Interception, where particles adhere to filter fibers.
• Impaction, where particles are embedded in the filter fibers.
• Diffusion, where particles come into contact with gas molecules and are impeded in their path through the filter.

We use vacuum cleaner filters for a number of reasons:

1. To capture as much dirt and dust as possible.
2. To protect the performance of our vacuum cleaner.
3. To decrease allergies, asthma, and respiratory conditions.
4. To cut down on the number of dust mites in our home.

Dust mites are a relative of the spider. They are microscopic parasites that primarily survive by eating dead skin cells shed by humans and their pets. They typically live in upholstered furniture, carpeting, and mattresses. Regular vacuuming removes the dust mites’ food supply.

People who are allergic to dust mites can have a number of reactions, including allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, and eczema. Symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, itchy or watery eyes, stuffy nose, and ear congestion.

Filters must be clean to function properly. Vacuum cleaners come with instructions on how to clean the filter. Typically, the plastic chamber is detached from the machine, the filter cartridge removed from the chamber, and the debris emptied into the trash. The filter itself is cleaned by brushing and/or hand-washing and drying, depending on the vacuum cleaner model. Filters should be cleaned after every 2 to 3 uses, and replaced every 6 to 12 months.

Vacuum cleaner filters are necessary to ensure proper operation of a vacuum and to get the most efficient cleaning from it. When properly used and cared for, they help provide a clean home for many years.

Vacuum Cleaner Reviews

Dyson DC-17 Animal Absolute Upright
Electrolux C101 Perfect Powerteam Canister
Eureka S3686 Sanitaire Professional Canister
Filter Queen 99A Majestic Canister
Hoover S3341 Constellation Canister
Miele S5280 Callisto Canister
Panasonic MC-V9644 Canister
Rainbow SE Series D4C Canister
Royal Lightweight RY6400 / MRY640 Upright
Sanitaire Precision SP7025 / SP7025A Canister

Product Information

Airway Vacuum Cleaners
Bissell Vacuum Cleaners
Compact Vacuum Cleaners
Dirt Devil Vacuum Cleaners
Dyson Vacuum Cleaners
Electrolux Vacuum Cleaners
Eureka Vacuum Cleaners
Euro-Pro Vacuum Cleaners
Filter Queen Vacuum Cleaners
GE Vacuum Cleaners
Hoover Vacuum Cleaners
Insterstate Vacuum Cleaners
Kenmore Vacuum Cleaners
Kirby Vacuum Cleaners
Miele Vacuum Cleaners
Nutone Vacuum Cleaners
Oreck Vacuum Cleaners
Panasonic Vacuum Cleaners
Pro-Vac Vacuum Cleaners
Rainbow Vacuum Cleaners
Regina Vacuum Cleaners
Rexair Vacuum Cleaners
Riccar Vacuum Cleaners
Royal Vacuum Cleaners
Samsung Vacuum Cleaners
Sanitaire Vacuum Cleaners
Sanyo Vacuum Cleaners
Sears Vacuum Cleaners
Sharp Vacuum Cleaners
Shop-Vac Vacuum Cleaners
Simplicity Vacuum Cleaners
Singer Vacuum Cleaners
Tristar Vacuum Cleaners
Windsor Vacuum Cleaners

Vacuum Cleaner Accessories

Bissell Vacuum Cleaner Tools and Accessories
Dirt Devil Vacuum Cleaner Tools and Accessories
Electrolux Vacuum Cleaner Tools and Accessories
Eureka Vacuum Cleaner Tools and Accessories
Hoover Vacuum Cleaner Tools and Accessories
Panasonic Vacuum Cleaner Tools and Accessories
Rainbow Vacuum Cleaner Tools and Accessories
Shop-Vac Vacuum Cleaner Tools and Accessories