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Submitted By:
edg
Member Since:
3/15/2007
Bag vs. Bagless Review
Traditionally, most vacuum cleaners came with paper bags in which dust and dirt was collected and then disposed. Bags are available with varying degrees of filtration effectiveness, from inexpensive single layer paper bags to top of the line HEPA bags manufactured from 3M Filtrete(TM), a clothlike filter media.
The main advantages of traditional bagged vaccums are the "fill it and throw it away" nature of dust bags, an immediate return of suction power when the bag is changed, and generally, more efficient control and removal of allergens from the home environment.
Today, however, many vacuums are bagless and use a plastic container instead of a bag to collect the dust. This dust container is then emptied after one or more sessions of vacuuming.
An advantage of bagless vacuum cleaners is that you don't have to purchase and change bags, thus saving the cost of bags and reducing the trash load on the environment. Another advantage is that you can empty and clean the container after each use to reduce bacterial proliferation and subsequent odor.
Disadvantages of bagless models, however, include the cost of the dust-trapping HEPA filters, which can cost more than the equivalent quantity of bags for the same period of use. Filters lose their effectiveness as the micropores become clogged with detritus and must be replaced every 6 to 12 months. <a href="http://www.kwikivac.com/filtexplained.html">HEPA filters</a>, available on many bagless vacuums, tend to be expensive, with some filters costing as much as $50 or $60.
Another disadvantage of bagless models is the rapid degradation of performance as the filter clogs with dirt. In a bagged vacuum, the bag itself is the primary dirt trap, and once the bag is filled it is tossed away and the suction of the vacuum is restored. Some bagless brands, however, such as Dyson, claim not to lose suction due to proprietary dirt separation mechanisms that reduce the dirt load on the filters.
Finally, some people, especially those with moderate to severe allergies, find the blowback of dust and allergens that occurs when the dust container is removed from the cleaner and emptied into a trash receptable objectionable. To combat this phenomenom, some vaccum owners take their cleaner outside before emptying the dirt cup so that the pollution is not returned into the atmosphere of their home.
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