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 Does HEPA Stand For?

What Does HEPA Stand For?

HEPA stands for "High-Efficiency Particulate Air".  A vacuum cleaner that contains a special HEPA filter is able to trap finer dust particles than a regular vacuum cleaner air filter. Using a HEPA vacuum is beneficial for homeowners who have lead or asbestos contaminated surfaces, as well as homeowners who have severe allergies.  If you live in a home prone to mold and mildew, the HEPA vacuum cleaner is highly recommended.  HEPA Filters are most commonly used to filter hazardous chemical, biological, or radioactive particles from air the air.  HEPA vacuums are required to remove at least 99.97% of all air born particles.  The Office of Health, Science and Security has done extensive testing on High-Efficiency Particulate Air Filters.

A HEPA vacuum cleaner efficiently cleans hazardous materials that commercial vacuum cleaners cannot even clean.  If there is a spot in the home collecting dust or possible contaminating particles, the HEPA vacuum cleaner should be used.  From the living room, to the basement, to the indoor back porch, the HEPA vacuum will work on all surfaces.  The HEPA vacuum is perfect for all heating (furnace, pipes, radiators) and cooling (air conditioning) systems, as well as window sills and any areas of the house where insulation might be exposed.  Cleaning in and around electrical appliances is another great use for a HEPA filter vacuum.

The HEPA vacuum cleaner is often duplicated.  There are many commercial HEPA vacuum cleaners on the market, so it's important to do research before purchasing a HEPA filter vacuum.  If the vacuum uses only a cyclonic filtration, this is not suitable for cleaning hazardous materials and thus is not a trust worthy HEPA filter system.  Beware of vacuum filters marked "HEPA-like."  Filters marked HEPA are required to remove 99.97% perfect of particles with a mean diameter of 0.3 um from an air stream.

It is recommended when using a HEPA vacuum cleaner, to take proper precautions.  Wearing latex gloves, a face mask, and goggles to protect the eyes is encouraged.  If the area intended for cleaning by the HEPA vacuum cleaner is infected with toxins or pollutants, it is important to protect your body from these damaging contaminates.  After using the HEPA vacuum cleaner, it is recommended to clean the vacuum itself; air born pollutants may have found their way on to the vacuum cleaner.

HEPA resource articles:

• HEPA Testing - A governmental report on the testing of the HEPA filter
• HEPA Testing Assessment - A governmental report on the HEPA vacuum cleaner
• HEPA Vacuum - A university shows a picture of a HEPA vacuum cleaner

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