Although your home may look perfectly clean, if it is draught-proofed, warm and slightly humid it will be seething with house dust mites. They will be thriving in the carpets, beds and upholstery. Pet dander and pollen are also among the airborne allergens in every home.

Asthmatics and those with eczema are often advised to vacuum floors or beds and to dust daily. But if this is done with an ordinary vacuum cleaner and a dry duster it will only mean breathing in yet more allergen as it is churned out by the machine and made airborne by the dusting.

Dust escaping from the body of the machine or through its exhaust filtration system means that airborne allergen particles are easily inhaled. This can explain the unexpected increase in patients' symptoms recorded after doctors have recommended frequent vacuum cleaning.

Tackling allergens is now big business for vacuum cleaner manufacturers and you'll find that the majority of the more expensive models on the market now offer an HEPA - High Efficiency Particulate Air - filter to pick up tiny allergen particles.

However when purchasing a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter make sure that:

1. The HEPA filter is positioned after the motor to ensure that the exhaust fan is releasing clean air.

2. The HEPA filter component and vacuum cleaner are completely sealed so that contaminated air cannot be released into the environment. For anyone with an allergy, how much dust a vacuum cleaner can pick up is irrelevant if it can't retain it.

3. The HEPA filter has been tested during actual use, not just in isolation in the laboratory.

Our Recommended Vacuum Cleaners for Asthma and Allergies

Cleanroom Anti-Allergy Vacuum Cleaner

The Cleanroom Anti-Allergy Vacuum Cleaner is a certified Microfilter product and its high level of double-HEPA filtration means the air is filtered both on its way into the vacuum and once again before discharge from the machine.

A Class 100 Cleanroom standard is required in environments where no dust can be tolerated, such as hospital theatres and sterile handling suites. This standard is therefore highly recommended for domestic households with asthma or any serious respiratory or medical condition where dust and airborne particulates are hazardous to health.

Polti Steam Vacuum Cleaners

Our testers have approved two excellent steam vacuum cleaners made by Polti.

The Polti Lecoaspira Vacuum & Steam Cleaner is a boon to allergy sufferers. The combination of vacuum and steam cleaner thoroughly cleans your home removing allergens from every surface. Its accessories mean it can clean so much more than carpets and floors too.

The Polti Unico Combined Steam Cleaner and Vacuum is a complete cleaning machine for every room in your home. Its five stage filtration removes dust from your home and its steam function destroys 99.9% of germs, bacteria and even viruses. You can clean furniture, tiles, carpets and rugs, mirrors, parquet and household surfaces. The Unico removes dog, cat and human hair too so it is perfect for people with allergies. It doesn't just clean your home it sanitises it.