Health concerns prompt more effective cleaners
Machines that provide consumers with a better sense of clean are at the forefront of the vacuum business today. After improving basic engineering to match the Dyson, major vacuum cleaner vendors are developing machines that meet specific concerns about problems associated with allergens, dust mites and microbes that are generating new hygiene concerns among consumers.
The newest floor cleaning products that respond to better cleaning include Eureka’s Capture, which is designed to address consumer cleaning concerns about dust and particles hidden in hard-to-reach crevices, high-ceiling areas and stairs, as well as ceiling fans, blinds and shelves. Using Eureka’s telescopic self-cleaning duster, Capture takes a high-tech turn on dusting by employing a self-generated electrostatic charge that attracts dust from as much as 3 feet from the device.
“We did research in consumer homes,” said Rob Newcombe, vp of marketing for Electrolux home care products. “We were watching consumers clean edges and stairs and looked at the difficulty at getting at those areas. They may not tell you what they hate in a focus group, but watch them and how they’re bending over, literally on hands and knees cleaning stairs. We asked, ‘What can we incorporate to help serve their needs?’ The Eureka Capture is a product that really addresses consumers who want to get that heavy cleaning.”
Earlier this year, Dirt Devil reengineered its Reaction vacuum to address issues that arise with long-lived HEPA filters. HEPA filters help clear allergens, dirt and germs from the home, but they wind up in the filter. Brad Crozier, produt manager for uprights, noted that Dirt Devil added an antimicrobial element to the filter to keep its positive qualities from becoming something of a negative, as it “inhibits growth of odor-causing bacteria and the development of a musty smell,” he noted.
Taking tiny pest control a step further, Halo has introduced a vacuum that features a UV light source to help kill dust mites, eggs and nymphs as well as microbes in carpeting.
Halo president Kevin Garcia’s interest in the home cleaning business began when he and his wife had twins seven years ago. “They were born very early, at about 2 pounds each,” he said. “At the time they were ready to go home, the doctors said, ‘If they get sick in the first six months it could be life threatening, so do everything you can to provide a clean environment.’”
That meant disinfecting hands, furniture surfaces and bedding. Despite diligence, though, carpeting proved impossible to disinfect. As he discovered more about the difficulties of better carpet cleaning, Garcia also learned that dust mites are a leading cause of household allergies. Those realizations led him to develop the Halo.
Today, Halo wants to move from the direct and specialty sales and aim to reach the broad consuming public. Garcia said his research indicates that getting into big-box retailers can boost the credibility of new models. In providing support, retailers may expand the better cleaning segment Dyson helped establish.