They have multiple layers of criss-crossing fibres, typically made of fibreglass, which work to intercept particles and prevent them from passing out the other side of the filter. Do HEPA filters work?

We have covered just about everything there is you need to know before you make your choice. The Henry vacuum cleaner range is extensive and iconic. There is a high chance that they will be the only thing to survive a nuclear explosion and still work.

Henry Vacuum Range Buyer’s Guide

The Henry range is beloved for good reason: the vacuum cleaners are powerful, simple to use and deliver a huge amount of power. Henry Allergy has just one power setting but you can adjust the suction to some degree by swivelling a valve on the head of the suction tube. But here’s the rub… While the valve helps dial down the suction, there’s still way too much of it when used on a carpet, even with the bristles raised. It’s not terrible but it just takes extra effort to push and pull it across the carpet. Put another way, it doesn’t glide across carpet like a Dyson or a Shark. If you have a big home, messy occupants, or want to save time, this is the Henry model to go for in our opinion. Its design features will keep you cleaning without pause, and it’ll cope admirably with all the dust, debris, and fur you need to remove from your home or car. In our review Lindsey gave it top marks for cleaning power and versatility, but bear in mind that it's heavy to lug up the stairs. A unique aero-brush is great if you have pets in the house. It provides an outstanding level of cleaning with carpets and is the perfect tool for cleaning up pet hairs, as well as those bits of pet food that don’t quite stay in the bowl and other edibles such as cat grass. A hard floor brush means it can continue cleaning on hard floor surfaces while a 10m power cable provides extensive reach.

A key factor is how well fitted the filter is, and how carefully sealed the airways are within the vacuum cleaner. A poorly fitted filter will let some air pass around it instead of through it, letting unfiltered particles escape into the air again via the exhaust. The cherry on top is that it is an energy class A. Plus the Airobrush and the extra attachment for hard floors.

Unstoppable Cleaning, Built to Last

The EcoBrush came in handy during testing for giving upholstery and stairs a once over, according to our vacuum expert Jen. Another standout feature is the impressive suction that works well on carpet and hard floors, part in thanks to the universal floorhead. This is optional, but if you’re looking to make your house smell extra fresh after vacuuming, simply pop an air freshener (the car ones will do) in the main body of your Henry, on the bottom and below the bag. The Henry Allergy comes with a skinny crevice nozzle, an upholstery nozzle (with slide on brush attachment) and a round brush nozzle, plus an extension tube. It can clean wet spills, dry dust, scrub carpets, and clean upholstery. Essentially it is a 4-in-1 carpet cleaner and vacuum. Our table below shows how the most popular models differ in weight, dust capacity, cleaning range and price. The technical specifications are shown as stated by the manufacturer.

The addition of a large HEPA filter ring inside the hood of this vacuum is the main element that stands it apart from a regular red Henry. According to a leaflet by Allergy UK supplied with the vacuum, it “may, in proper use, reduce exposure to house dust mite allergen and cat allergen”. Everyone struggling with storage space needs to consider size limitations before they buy from the Henry vacuum cleaner range. The smaller models will work best for smaller homes – but come with less dust bin capacity. We recommend the Henry Micro for smaller homes. The largest of the Henry vacuums is the George, which is a 4-in-1… although the Charles comes close. Colour & Style

Henry Quick

There are a variety of considerations to be made before you make your final choice from the Henry vacuum range. Things like colour, shape, and whether or not it can handle cleaning up after your dog are important! Add to that all the usual benefits of the Henry range such as 9 litre capacity, a sturdy frame and reliable, long-lasting performance and you have the perfect addition for any pet lover’s home. We were impressed by this cordless number after giving it a whirl for our Henry HBV160 review. As with his plug-in mates, our tester Sarah found this Henry was capable of cleaning carpets, hard flooring, car interiors, and the aftermath of DIY projects.While our fave corded Henry HRV160 was a bit of a pain to use on the stairs, Sarah found that the HVB160 was comparatively stress-free, with ease of use thanks to the 2.2 m hose which could reach every step with no trouble at all. He offers a combination of a highly efficient Twin-flo bypass vacuum motor and a Powerflo pump system which delivers professional cleaning standards anywhere and at any time. It draws much of its design from the Numatic Cleantec range of professional vacuum cleaners designed to deliver unbeatable professional results every single time.