The Great HEPA Debate

[durango159]

Suckolux

That's very interesting and shockingly sad!! I haven't experienced that yet but I appreciate the heads up!. I don't own any Kenmore canisters but I buy the Envirocare Kenmore Q bags to glue cardboard collars for Hoover Type M bags to them and I'm able to use a HEPA bag in my Hoover Dimension 1000 canister vacuum!! I've also heard of some users having luck gluing Eureka B bag collars to the Kenmore style HEPA bags. I have yet to try that. But I now have 2 Eureka B bag units so I may very well do so!

Thanks for the warning!!!

 

[suckolux]

I am using masking tape top and bottom to hold them in, seems the middle of the collar pulls back?Comes with very little warning too. Material of the bags is very good, but I think the collar is just too weak.Again, my 2 cents with my machine.

 

[vacuumlad1650]

Zippy (Durango159)

Well, i started cleaning houses for my extended family at 9, and my neighbors since i was 11. I have used many different machines, but i really love cleaning for an old woman down the street who has a BEAUTIFUL Hoover Constellation that looks like it is new! It has the Genuine Green HOOVER Bag in it!
My Hoover PowerDrive that belonged to my Grandmother currently has a generic bag, but I have 2 packs of the Green Hoover bags for it. One from goodwill, the other is from my Grandma. The bag from grandma is staying sealed. I can use the Goodwill bag no problem. I manage to save money by not buying HEPA bags, and changing filters when they REALLY get bad. Im trying to save up for a house. I currently use (Almost) all generic bags, Minus 2 Kenmore vacuums and a Hoover.
Andy Rousonelos

 

[vacuumlad1650]

Also, I tape full bags shut. i hate a face full of dust when i change a bag!
Andy

 

[kirbysthebest]

i hate a face full of dust when i change a bag!

Dust is good for you.


 Builds your immune system.


 

 

[coffeecanman]

Dust is not "good for you" otherwise we wouldn't have vacuum cleaners...

I would go as far as to say a little dust isn't harmful, but certainly not "good for you."

With that said, I do not, and will never use HEPA bags, since I mainly clean with pre-war Hoovers. My home is clean and there is never a film of dust on anything. I empty the bags outdoors after each use, since emptying a cloth Hoover bag IS a messy affair.

 

[kirbysthebest]

Dust is not "good for you"

PSST--Read the whole thread, including OP's statements.  My response #49 this thread.


 


One was throwing his dust back at him.


 


 

 

[coffeecanman]

I did read the whole topic, I was just putting my opinion and experience out there for anyone who cares.

 

[kirbysthebest]

Dust comment




I was being sarcastic, and didn't want my position being confused. 


 


"Move along, nothing to see here. "


 

 

[vacuumlad1650]

Im not saying Dust is good for you, but it is needed to strengthens the immune system. I dont mind breathing dust, what I dont like is when I take a bag out and it gets squeezed of bumped and a cloud of dust hist my face
Andy

 

[durango159]

Hi Vacuumlad1650, I try to be a respecting person so I hope you don't mind if I call you Andy. Afterall, that is the name listed in your profile, you've signed several posts with and we've never yet met in person!

You have a gorgeous Hoover Power Drive upright! Those are very nice machines. It's a shame that your Grandma didn't take your knowledge when you were young about disconnecting the hose when doing carpets.

I used to have this Blue Hoover Power Drive upright pictured below but I ended up selling it to a client of mine. I do miss it, it was a great machine but since I primarily bought it to use while I actually moved in with that family for a few years, I sold it to her prior to moving.

I think there are definitely some health benefits to not being the cleanest person on Earth and having some exposure to germs and dirt. That being said there is a big difference of environmental exposure and when a vacuum cleaner bag makes a little explosion in the air for one to choke on when trying to remove and dispose of them! That type of thing would tick me off too.

I have found that if I mainly try to remove a bag two handed by the cardboard and also rear or bottom of the bag, so it remains fairly level then the process ends up being sanitary with no dust belches!

There is a different technique to be acquired for each individual machine though depending on how bags are installed, etc. It's nice when the bags are filled enough to hold the shape of the bag when disposed of as the stiffer shape seems to lock the dirt in more, I find too.

Happy Vacuuming!

ROB

 

[vacuumlad1650]

Rob

Sorry if you dont want me calling you Zippy! John long refers to you as that...
Its fine too call me Andy! i sign my posts like that so people dont HAVE to type Vacuumlad1650. its a mouthful!
Thats a Very nice Power Drive Supreme, I have the beige one and i had the burgendy one, but I traded it on my PortaPower.
By the time my grandmother bought the PowerDirve, she was fairly blind and was very careful about vacuuming. This was around 96 when she bought it. She hired the Ladies from the cleaning company in...i think it was 2002. I never liked them because they would scold me when i would vacuum. "You Arent Doing it Right!" they would say too me. They usually used the PowerDrive (for the self propel. One of the ladies was thin as a rail!) and the other used the Kenmore progressive 300 upright. Both have had an easy life since coming to me. I plan to make them last forever. And now I am getting an Elite II...On yes!
Have a Good One! Thats a VERY Nice looking Supreme!
Andy Rousonelos

 

[citroenbx]

heap means to me over heating

 

[durango159]

Yes, John Long has been a great friend for a few years now. I love attending vacuum meets at his home. I plan on making a Chocolate Chip cake for the next one and I might do the salad too since he really appreciated that. Gotta make sure everyone gets one veggies!!

Currently my Hoover PowerMax style canisters and a Windtunnel canister are running HEPA similar Envirocare S bags. Hoover Dimension 1000 is running with Kenmore Q HEPA bag. Eureka canisters are running standard filtration Eureka Genuine B bags. Hoover Convertible and Decade 800 that I just gotgot, and am still tuning up, are running with Genuine Hoover Allergen filtration A bags. Hoover Breathe Easy that I just got is running Arm and Hammer Z bags. The bags were given to me so I'm using them but will switch over to most likely HEPA Z bags. Simplicity canisters will be running HEPA Simplicity/Riccar bags when fully cleaned up and ready for usage.

 

[vacuumlad1650]

BAG UPDATE

Here are all my bags and miscellany parts i am using. Sorry i have not the best pictures. Michael, my Partner was using my shop so I couldnt go down there and take pictures right now
Andy

 

[vacuumlad1650]

And COULDNT TAKE Pictures right now. Whoops!

 

[sebo_fan]

I think if you can try the synthetic bags if you can get them for your vacuum; you wont have to spend so much on bags as the newer ones tend to last longer for each brand.

And before you go down that route, they aren't usually fitted with many layers of paper like "HEPA" bags, nor do they put any strain on the motor. Made of finely compacted S-Class electrostatic felt, they allow dust to remain trapped in the bag and lets airflow through.

 

[motojoejo]

So many interesting points brought up here. Out all the machines I own (which is a small collection), I've found that air flow improved, the bags hold a lot more dirt before any notice of suction loss and yet to see any over heating or strain on the motors. These bags seem to hold a lot more before losing suction compared to paper. So I'm wondering if cloth HEPA holds twice as much as paper before needing changing and if so, would it equate to 2 paper bag = 1 HEPA bag?

I keep a small collection for space and cost. So my rule is, if I can't use it then it needs to find another home. This goes for machines that are too bulky, unhealthy for me to use or noisy. With the exception of my two 1970-72 Hoover Convertibles, GE swivel top and royal hand held- I've been able to fit good filteration with my machines so I can use them and enjoy them.

 

[kirbylux77]

David / Suckolux

I hear you on those Kenmore bags! I am road-testing a solution to solving the problem with the bag collar coming un-seated from the bag holder. Stay tuned, as soon as I know this works as I expect it to, I will be posting & making a how-to tutorial guide. Trust me, when you see this, you're gonna think it's a genius idea & why nobody hadn't done this before!

Rob

 

[suckolux]

I am used to drop in Lux bags and the slide in Miele, so that Kenmore is a bit tough, not much feeling in fingers,stiff, hard to fight when I can't win it!I really enjoy the machine but for that.Have been told the factory Q bags work fine.