Vacuum cleaners

Natural Health, Feb, 2008 by Emmy Favilla

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THE AVERAGE VACUUM cleaner often does little more than push dirt around--leaving behind allergy-triggering dust, mold, pollen, and pet dander. Models equipped with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters, however, remove 99.97 percent of all particles 0.3 microns and larger. The HEPA-vacuum market is crowded with new models, so we put the most promising ones to work on our office carpets and picked four favorites.

1. VERSATILE Effective on both thick carpets and bare floors, with a smooth, effortless glide, the Bosch Formula Series ($400-$600; boschappliances.com) has a bag that traps 99 percent of all dust particles.

2. LIGHTWEIGHT At 9 pounds, the Oreck XL21 Vacuum with IntellaShield Technology ($749; oreck.com) is so easy to maneuver, it was approved by the Arthritis Foundation. Plus, an antimicrobial agent that's built right into the vacuum prevents germs from being spread from room to room.

3. QUIET The motor on the Electrolux Oxygen3 Ultra ($500; smallappliances.electroluxusa.com) is more than five decibels lower than the ones in other "quiet" vacuums. And you can also control suction power depending on the type of floor you're cleaning.

4. GERM-FIGHTING Flip a switch on the Halo UV-ST Ultraviolet Vacuum ($500; gethalo.com) to turn on an ultraviolet (UV-C) light that kills dust mites, flea eggs, bacteria, viruses, and mold.