Bag or Bagless Vacuum Cleaners

Bag or Bag less Vacuum Cleaner is the question

This is a question that I get all the time. This question must be answered more on a personal level, than on the technical side. Two major considerations for answering this question are health and money.

Someone that has allergies will more likely choose an internally housed vacuum bag. If you are not affected by allergies you may choose a canister / dust cup system. Let’s get down to the basics.

Internally housed vacuum bag

An internally housed vacuum bag is an extension of the filtration system. Once the soils have been removed from the carpet they provide additional filtration capturing as much airborne particulates as possible. The down side is cost. Remember the importance of airflow? Studies have shown that when a vacuum bag or cup is ¼ full there is a loss of approximately 40% of the airflow. (Suction) That means you should be replacing you vacuum bags before they are full to maintain your vacuums maximum efficiency. Will you replace you bag if it is half full?   $$

Dust cups / No vacuum bag

Dust cups are common in residential vacuum cleaners. In many cases you can see the soil accumulating in the cup and can easily remove and empty the container. No cost is involved in keeping the maximum airflow of the vacuum. The drawback to these is they do not provide additional filtration. Most quality vacuums do however come with HEPA filters that limit the particulates that are reintroduced in to the air.

Cloth External Bag

Cloth external bag vacuums are not as common as bag and cup style vacuums. A dusty, external cloth bag without an enclosed bag is not recommended for use unless the cloth bag can be cleaned frequently. A recent study indicated that cloth bags contained bacteria, yeast, and mold. It also recommended that they be treated with a biocide, to resist the formation of these forms of bacteria. Is this something you would do on a regular basis?

No matter where you live in Wilson County; Lebanon, Watertown or Mt. Juliet you will have soil in your carpets that you will want to remove. Look for a quality vacuum cleaner that has strong motors, high air flow, and a filtration system that meets your personal needs.