Dr Oz: Vacuum Shopping Tips + What Does HEPA Filter Stand For?

Dr Oz: “Good Housekeeping” Vacuum Testing

Meaghan Murphy from “Good Housekeeping” magazine joined Dr Oz, first to talk about the best water filters, then to discuss quality vacuums you’ll want to use in your home. Can you really have a clean home without a good quality vacuum? A good vacuum can reduce dust that you inhale and reduce your family’s risk of asthma.

Meaghan explained that there are industry standards and at “Good Housekeeping” they follow that protocol, but they have an entire lab dedicated to vacuum testing. They go through a thorough process when testing vacuum cleaners to be sure they find out just how effective the product is. In the institute, they weight the canister or the empty bag. Then they mix up a dirty mixture comprised of sand and talc. That mixture is weighed and then spread all over a carpet. A machine then runs over the carpet 30 times to really imbed the dirt mixture into the carpet. Then the vacuum passes 16 times and is weighed again to see how effective it was. That process is repeated three times.

Dr Oz: Tips For Buying A Quality Vacuum

Meaghan shared her tips for buying the best vacuum. First, look for one with a HEPA filter to reduce the risk of asthma and allergies. HEPA stands for high efficiency particulate air. HEPA filters filter out 99.7% of those microscopic particles like mold spores, dandruff, pollen, and more, without pushing it back into the air. You also want to look for a “sealed system” as well as a rotating brush with good suction, especially if you suffer from allergies. That basically means there’s no spots along the suction line where those particles can escape. One vacuum with the “Good Housekeeping” seal is this particular Bissell vacuum cleaner.

Dr Oz: Best Vacuum Recommended By “Good Housekeeping”

However, the one vacuum that Meaghan seems to adore more than any other is the Miele. She called it the “gold standard” of vacuums and explained that it earned the “Good Housekeeping” seal after going through their rigorous testing. She pointed out that it’s a good idea to look for a vacuum with a rotating brush for the best results. Also look for for a vacuum with adjustable settings for various surfaces.

Home expert Mike Holmes was backstage with a robotic vacuum like the Roomba, putting it to the test to see how well it would clean up a messy floor. Meaghan explained that while robotic vacuums did test well, they’re not exactly ideal for multiple floors. If you live in a ranch or an apartment with one single floor, they can be effective. Mike referred to a robotic vacuum as more of an “expensive toy.”