When there is a choice between a washable or disposable HEPA filter, get the disposable option.

While some would think I say this to increase repeat sales, the real reason is that washable vacuum filters are almost impossible  to clean to a standard of a new HEPA filter.

Customers that reuse washable HEPA filters after cleaning do not achieve the renewal of suction that is resulted by replacing the filter. This is particularly true when the HEPA filter is a premotor filter in a bagless vacuum cleaner. To top it off, in some instances the suction of the cleaner is actually worse after washing the filter. This happens for a couple of reasons:

• HEPA filters are designed to remove very small particles (like pollen and carbon from the motor brushes) from the air expelled by your vacuum cleaner. To do this, HEPA filters work differently to other air filters that, simply put, act like a sieve only stoping particles too large to fit through its pores. HEPA filters also trap tiny particle in its fibres (the literally get stuck to the fibres as air passes through). Washing a filter can remove surface particles but is unlikely to remove the particles stuck to the fibres.

• When you wash a HEPA filter the loose surface particles often collect in between the weaves of filter material. As the filter dries, these particles set together and fuse to the filter. This makes it difficult for air to find a path through the filter which results in poor suction.

If you do have a choice between a washable of disposable HEPA filter for your vacuum cleaner (as is the case with most Electrolux vacuum cleaners)  buy the disposable. They are less expensive and are guaranteed to renew your suction fully.