Got Allergies? This 1 Type Of Vacuum Could Make A Big Difference

If you have carpets or rugs, sorry: They're even dirtier than you think.

The experts consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted.

If you’ve been hiding in your home to escape seasonal allergens, sorry: Your indoor space poses its own problems, from dust mites and pet dander to mite and cockroach waste, especially if you have carpets, rugs or fabric decor. Vacuums with HEPA filtration, like Shark’s “worth every penny” upright vacuum, are more effective at trapping these allergenic micro-particles than your standard vacuum, and can filter some particles from smoke and pollution, too.

“Most particles that trigger allergy and asthma symptoms, like dust mites and mold spores, are airborne for a short time and then settle as dust,” explained Dr. James Sublett, an allergist and air quality specialist for the Allergy and Asthma Network. “Homes with carpets are a reservoir of allergens; each time someone walks across or vacuums the carpet, particles fill the air.”

While vacuuming won’t completely remove all mites or dander from your environment, vacuums with HEPA filters “help keep mites and mite waste from getting back into the air,” according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.

The best practice? Use your HEPA vacuum at least once weekly, and run a HEPA air purifier at the same time (like this popular Levoit option). “Using a HEPA vacuum will trap some particles, leaving others that are stirred up into the breathing space to be removed by room or whole house air filtration,” wrote Sublett. (For extra protection, wear a mask while you clean.)