Hey everyone. so, what is everyone's preference for your bagged vacuums, paper or synthetic bags? I would think the synthetic cloth bags would always be better than paper. For one thing, they would not rip as easily, the pores shouldn't clog as much and they provide much better airflow. My Panasonic mc-cg902 came wiith a paper bag, I replaced that with the Kenmore q bag which is synthetic, and there is definitely a difference. I also use the Perfect c bags in my Aerus classic instead of the paper bags provided by Aerus, again, much better performance. Apparently you can choose what kinds of bags to use with your backpack vacuum as well, some can be reused, I think I would rather have the kind that you use once and then throw them out.
cloth or paper bags
- Thread starter n0oxy
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human
Well-known member
I'm a cheapskate and I use generic paper bags on all my vacuums and have no problems with them.
paper
suckolux
Well-known member
I agree with n0oxy totally!
sptyks
Well-known member
So that we don't re-invent the wheel, there is a large thread with over 100 responses on the vintage forum that discusses the pros and cons of cloth HEPA bags.
You can find it here:
http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?30733_102~1
http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?30733_102~1
You can find it here:
http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?30733_102~1
http://www.vacuumland.org/cgi-bin/TD/TD-VIEWTHREAD.cgi?30733_102~1
marks_here
Well-known member
It doesn't matter to me
I'm bagsaxual
I'm bagsaxual
I see my thread is getting popular!
fantomfan
Well-known member
There is really no good reason to use paper bags anymore.
They clog up fast, don't expand well and are bad for the environment. These days, it really isn't all that more expensive to buy HEPA bags online, especially in bulk. They really DO improve airflow and filtration. You can also MAKE HEPA bags for almost every vintage vacuum (except the shake out bag models.) Just look at the bag compartment when you use paper bags. There is a layer of dust on the bag chamber. I see this all the time. Some of that dust is getting into the motor. The motor is better protected and not only that, the air FEELS cleaner. Use HEPA bags in ALL your machines, and you will notice a difference within a few weeks. It happened to me at least. I used to be in the same boat, thinking that the cloth bags were overrated and too expensive. It wasn't until I switched that I realized the difference they make.
They clog up fast, don't expand well and are bad for the environment. These days, it really isn't all that more expensive to buy HEPA bags online, especially in bulk. They really DO improve airflow and filtration. You can also MAKE HEPA bags for almost every vintage vacuum (except the shake out bag models.) Just look at the bag compartment when you use paper bags. There is a layer of dust on the bag chamber. I see this all the time. Some of that dust is getting into the motor. The motor is better protected and not only that, the air FEELS cleaner. Use HEPA bags in ALL your machines, and you will notice a difference within a few weeks. It happened to me at least. I used to be in the same boat, thinking that the cloth bags were overrated and too expensive. It wasn't until I switched that I realized the difference they make.
I really dont like the HEPA Hype
In my personal experience with my kirbys, the mid line paper bag always seemed to be very stiff and ridged when the machine was turned on, however when I put a tol hepa bag in it breaths better and the bag is a lot less ridged this would make me think the hepa bags work better and put less stress on the motor,so I'm all for hepa.
fantomfan
Well-known member
The "hype" should really be on Hepa FILTERS, not BAG
Hepa filters on their own are useless unless the rest of the system is completely sealed. I agree with you in that instance. However, it is a simple fact that Hepa bags are much more efficient than paper bags in regards to motor protection, filtration and performance. I have a Kenmore upright like yours and used the genuine paper bags. After a couple of uses, I would always find THICK dust in the bag compartment. I tried the better kind and got the same result. Use a paper bag in a vacuum over a few weeks and eventually, there will be a coating of dust outside the bag. There isn't ANY dust whatsoever inside any of my vacuum's bag compartments that use Hepa BAGS. Just the same with my Electroluxes. There isn't more dust outside the bag, so there isn't more dust inside the motor. Cloth stretches better and is more breathable than paper as well. Any talk of a Hepa bag reducing airflow is complete nonsense to me. If that was actually true, I wouldn't still be using them in ALL my machines. I want them to always be as efficient as possible.
Hepa filters on their own are useless unless the rest of the system is completely sealed. I agree with you in that instance. However, it is a simple fact that Hepa bags are much more efficient than paper bags in regards to motor protection, filtration and performance. I have a Kenmore upright like yours and used the genuine paper bags. After a couple of uses, I would always find THICK dust in the bag compartment. I tried the better kind and got the same result. Use a paper bag in a vacuum over a few weeks and eventually, there will be a coating of dust outside the bag. There isn't ANY dust whatsoever inside any of my vacuum's bag compartments that use Hepa BAGS. Just the same with my Electroluxes. There isn't more dust outside the bag, so there isn't more dust inside the motor. Cloth stretches better and is more breathable than paper as well. Any talk of a Hepa bag reducing airflow is complete nonsense to me. If that was actually true, I wouldn't still be using them in ALL my machines. I want them to always be as efficient as possible.
marks_here
Well-known member
Is this a carry over from the Vintage Section Thread# 30733 with the Hepa Debate??
Cloth bags all the way.. With some machines, cloth (synthetic (hepa material) bags is the only option offered. They definitey allow the vacuum to breathe easier, providing stronger airflow and better overall performance it seems. They also retain the dust like no other. I used to use cheap paper bags in one of my Hoovers. The dust bag door on the inside would always be filthy, covered in dust. When I switched to hepa cloth bags and opened the dust bag door to take a peek it was TOTALLY CLEAN!!! Once I switched to cloth, I never looked back, they're worth it.
kirbylux77
Well-known member
FantomFan
Cloth HEPA bags are NOT better for the environment! It's the other way around, paper bags are better for the environment. Those HEPA Cloth bags are made from polypropylene, which is a form of plastic. I would think that some of the plastic content used to make the bags may be recycled plastic, but still, think of that, the next time you throw out a HEPA Cloth bag, you literally just threw plastic in the garbage.
I do agree with you though on the filtration benefits the HEPA Cloth bags offer though, & especially the fact the motor is protected a LOT more than using paper micro-filtration bags. And since the filtration is so good & you can easily adapt a HEPA Cloth bag to fit older machines, that also means it can make your old Eureka or Hoover canister with no HEPA Filter on the exhaust suitable for allergy sufferers.
Rob
Cloth HEPA bags are NOT better for the environment! It's the other way around, paper bags are better for the environment. Those HEPA Cloth bags are made from polypropylene, which is a form of plastic. I would think that some of the plastic content used to make the bags may be recycled plastic, but still, think of that, the next time you throw out a HEPA Cloth bag, you literally just threw plastic in the garbage.
I do agree with you though on the filtration benefits the HEPA Cloth bags offer though, & especially the fact the motor is protected a LOT more than using paper micro-filtration bags. And since the filtration is so good & you can easily adapt a HEPA Cloth bag to fit older machines, that also means it can make your old Eureka or Hoover canister with no HEPA Filter on the exhaust suitable for allergy sufferers.
Rob
suckolux
Well-known member
On the pro side though? I think you will use maybe 1/3 less bags with the cloth as they work much longer? Totally a guess here folks.
HEPA Cloth bags all the way!
I don't like paper bags. We had a Vax 6140 pet's vacuum which used paper bags and whenever you change the bag, you really do realise how much the suction deteriorates after a couple of vacuumings.
My Auntie has a Numatic Henry with HEPA-Flo bags and they are fantastic. No matter how full the bag gets there's still suction. The bag doesn't need to be changed for months because it never loses it's suction fully. If the bag is really full, it would only lose suction if it was so packed full that it's a matter of dirt starting to collect in the end of the narrow hose. It would lose suction because the suction can't penetrate the dirt and dust.
The reason why I used the word 'narrow' is because the bag has a large surface area and it's porous and very effective for it's intended purpose of being used in a vacuum cleaner. The hose is narrow and is non-porous.
I don't like paper bags. We had a Vax 6140 pet's vacuum which used paper bags and whenever you change the bag, you really do realise how much the suction deteriorates after a couple of vacuumings.
My Auntie has a Numatic Henry with HEPA-Flo bags and they are fantastic. No matter how full the bag gets there's still suction. The bag doesn't need to be changed for months because it never loses it's suction fully. If the bag is really full, it would only lose suction if it was so packed full that it's a matter of dirt starting to collect in the end of the narrow hose. It would lose suction because the suction can't penetrate the dirt and dust.
The reason why I used the word 'narrow' is because the bag has a large surface area and it's porous and very effective for it's intended purpose of being used in a vacuum cleaner. The hose is narrow and is non-porous.
oliveoiltinfoil
Well-known member
Cloth all the way. They are far more durable, most of them to the point you'll have a hard time actually damaging them even deliberately. Most are electrostatic which helps with airflow, they are essentially one large filter, like just superior in every way and they cost around about the same. SEBO and nuamtic bags are made from 100% recycled fibres as well, even though you can make that type of cloth from renewable sources anyway.
sebo_fan
Well-known member
The other beauty of the Synthetic bag is that dependent on the brand and design, some of them can be used another time when shaken out.
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