Choosing an advanced vacuum delivers better results and can mean less time and effort - major pluses in today's busy lives. An effective vacuum also can be a weapon in the fight against allergies for the millions of Americans who suffer from this problem. Indoor allergens that can trigger reactions, such as dust mites, are typically found in carpets, upholstered furniture, bedding and drapes.

Check out all the features on a vacuum before you buy, from its overall cleaning effectiveness to the allergen filtration system. A new option is the bagless vacuum. Details also count - a good set of vacuum tools is essential for getting down to the details in home cleaning. Among other advantages for more efficient cleaning are a dirt sensor that shows when the carpet is clean and the Self Propelled feature that makes the vacuum glide easily.

Here's a closer look at some of the major technology advances from Hoover, the leader in floor care, and other features to look for in a vacuum.

WindTunnel™ technology:
For maximum cleaning effectiveness, Hoover engineered breakthrough WindTunnel technology with an innovative duct system inside the agitator cavity. Once dirt has been picked up by the brush roll, the ducts help prevent the dirt from being redistributed onto the carpet.

Allergen filtration:
Hoover WindTunnel vacuums have an allergen filtration system that captures 100 percent of dust mites and 99.98 percent of ragweed and common grass pollen.

Even vacuum bags make a difference. A vacuum bag should be designed to trap fine particles and keep dust mites and dirt from reaching the air. Hoover's allergen filtration bags perform two-stage filtration, capturing fine particles and returning filtered clean air to the room.

Bagless vacuums:
Convenience without maximum cleaning ability isn't a true step ahead. To provide a better bagless, the Hoover WindTunnel™ Bagless upright provides the double impact of WindTunnel technology with Hoover's latest innovation, the Twin Chamber™ System.

The Twin Chamber System, designed with two stages of filtration, provides longer cleaning performance by helping prevent build-up and clogging of the cleaner's HEPA filter. Heavy dirt entering the vacuum is drawn into an empty chamber and kept there by a permanent pre-filter between the two chambers.

The pre-filter allows only fine particles to pass into the second chamber, where they are stopped by a HEPA filter. The HEPA filter has a coated surface that helps shed dirt, helping to prevent build-up that can clog and restrict airflow. Outside the Twin Chamber System is a final filter.

The Hoover WindTunnel Bagless is designed with an easy-to-remove dirt chamber with lid for convenient dirt disposal.

Thorough cleaning with vacuum tools:
You'll get a major boost to your vacuuming and all-around cleaning with the new turbine-powered hand tool introduced on Hoover's Self Propelled WindTunnel upright. Like the vacuum itself, the powered hand tool works on WindTunnel technology for maximum dirt removal. It's designed for use on upholstery, carpeted stairs and other hard-to-reach or heavy traffic areas.

Testing:
Will a vacuum measure up to your tough cleaning standards? The Hoover WindTunnel Bagless, for example, is proven to outclean all other bagless upright models in extensive testing, according to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard Test Method F608, the only industry-wide accepted cleaning effectiveness standard.

Added features:
Enjoy a sense of satisfaction when a room is really clean? The Embedded DirtFINDER™ offered by Hoover gives you useful feedback while vacuuming. Via a sensor in the machine that actually senses dirt, a light flashes green when the carpet is clean or red when dirt still needs to be removed.

The Self Propelled feature from Hoover makes the vacuum glide easily.

Deep cleaning:
Do-it-yourself home deep cleaning (deep cleaning refers to hot water extraction cleaning) can now be done quickly and easily with excellent results using advanced deep cleaners like the Hoover SteamVac™ Widepath™ deep cleaner. This deep cleaner distributes a solution of hot tap water and special detergent onto the carpet, agitates the fibers with its patented six-rotating brush system and then extracts the solution containing dirt.

The CleanSurge' feature lets you dispense 50 percent more cleaning solution in soiled or high-traffic areas. The SteamVac Widepath deep cleaner also provides quick drying time in only a few hours, plus easy-to-fill tanks.

Remember, a home-owned deep cleaner is always at the ready, eliminating the need to rent bulky equipment or wait for a carpet-cleaning service.