6 things to keep in mind when you are looking to buy a new vacuum cleaner

The best way to remove the pollen and dust mite allergens found in household dust is to remove them from your home completely. One way to do so is to use a good vacuum cleaner that has the right balance of power and technology.

The device you buy must thoroughly understand the dust, dirt and particulate matter in our homes, and in turn, must also come equipped with the technology that can help owners remove them and keep their homes healthy. (Dyson)

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that people spend 90% of our time indoors. In the last two years, the amount of time we spend at our homes increased significantly. As a result, people are naturally more conscious of maintaining a healthy home – whether it's the indoor air quality or the presence of dust around us.

Very few of us think about what's in the dust in our homes. Beyond the visible components of dust, our general understanding of its invisible make-up is relatively limited. Household dust is a complex matrix of particles that can include dead skin cells, hair, dust mites, dust mite faeces, bacteria, viruses, mould, small insects and other fibres, many of which are only visible under a microscope. It's those invisible components that can impact our wellbeing, and yet, many people lack clarity on the role that hidden dust plays in their indoor environments.

When dust builds up over time on surfaces – including pet hair on carpets, increased mould in damp environments or pollen that is drawn in through open windows – it can trigger allergic reactions. What's more problematic is that most indoor pollutants are invisible to the human eye.

The Indian Household Dust Study, independently conducted by FRAC, revealed that harmful allergens, dust mites and pollen were commonly present on Indian homes' surfaces including sofas, mattresses, carpets, and inside cars. These particles are known to be common causes of allergies and other health hazards.

Despite using regular traditional methods of cleaning, dusting, sweeping and mopping in their homes, many respondents were surprised to see the findings. Traditional cleaning methods are not enough to remove dust mites because these creatures can live deep inside upholstery, mattresses, carpets. This makes it very important to pay more attention to such areas where we sit, play and sleep. 

While the mites themselves can't harm us, the enzymes in their faecal matter are considered the biggest inducer of allergenic diseases worldwide. Dust mites can produce up to 20 faecal pellets per day, so you can imagine the impact on the composition of your dust if you leave millions of dust mites untreated in your home.

The best way to remove the pollen and dust mite allergens found in household dust is to remove them from your home completely. One way to do so is to use a good vacuum cleaner that has the right balance of power and technology to clean your home effectively and efficiently. So when you are looking to buy a good vacuum cleaner, here's what you need to tick off the list: 

An efficient and effective vacuum cleaner must have: 

1. Strong suction power for unparalleled pick-up performance, with no drop in performance whilst cleaning

2. An advanced filtration system to ensure dust and dirty air is not expelled back into the room

3. A powerful and intelligent cleaner head to support agitative and passive pick up for small, large and fine dust debris

4. Versatility in the types of surfaces it can clean

5. Sufficient battery run time to suit your cleaning needs

6. Durability: real home tested and not just in labs

The device you buy must thoroughly understand the dust, dirt and particulate matter in our homes, and in turn, must also come equipped with the technology that can help owners remove them and keep their homes healthy.

This article has been written by Jonathan McGaughey, Lead Separations Systems Engineer, Dyson