Henry Allergy Vacuum review

If you're in need of a new vacuum cleaner but don't know which to purchase, fear not; we have put the Henry Allergy vacuum to the test for months in our writer's house full of children, where mess is inevitable and daily.

Henry vacuum cleaners are known for their durable and reliable performance. They are one of the most instantly recognisable vacuum cleaners because of the smiling face design on the vacuum's body. Traditionally, the vacuums were red, but now, they come in an array of shapes, sizes and colours, as well as speciality vacuums that are tailored for different tasks.

Henry Allergy is the ultimate vacuum cleaner for pet allergy sufferers. This is also great news for everyone who suffers from general sniffles and sneezes. In this country, one-third of us suffer from dust-related allergies. Having a clean, dust-free home can significantly help to alleviate the symptoms of allergies. Equipped with an advanced, three-stage HEPA filtration system, the Henry Allergy can trap particles up to 800 times smaller in width than a human hair.

When it comes to Henry vacuums, usually, you will sit in one of two camps. Either you absolutely love them, or you find them too heavy and opt for an alternative design, like a cordless vacuum cleaner. Our writer, Hannah Carroll, firmly sat in the second camp. So, we set her the challenge of testing the Henry Allergy vacuum cleaner to see if it could change her mind.

Henry Allergy overview

Testing the Henry Allergy vacuum

I was desperately in need of a new vacuum cleaner. Having lots of little people in my home means the vacuum cleaner is only ever off for an hour or so before I have to whip it out and clean the latest 'creation' my children have made on the floor. Usually, I would opt for a cordless stick vacuum because, with modern living, convenience is key, and let's be honest, there's nothing convenient about being connected to the only free plug socket in the house.

But, when it comes to actually tackling ingrained dirt and dust, rumour has it that you cannot beat a Henry. You ask any cleaner, construction worker or homemaker, and most of them will tell you that you cannot beat the suction of a good Henry. And, whilst it may not have all the bells and whistles of, say, a robot vacuum, it is robust (put to the test with my toddlers forever climbing on top of it) and reliable.

As the parent of a severe allergy sufferer, I know all too well the importance of a dust-free home. Whilst an air purifier does help to keep the air clean and free from air pollutants, you cannot beat a clean home. But try as I might, the floor never seemed to be properly clean, so I was excited at the prospect of having a vacuum that could pick up tiny fragments.

While testing the Henry Allergy vacuum, I wanted to see if it lived up to the hype. The main aspects that I considered were the quality of the clean, usability and whether I could notice a difference in my son's allergies.

Setting up the Henry Allergy

The vacuum arrived in a large box, but much to my delight, most of the packaging was easily recyclable. The box was not as heavy as one would expect, and I was able to lift it up a flight of stairs without assistance. Upon opening the box, I found five floorhead attachments, each serving different cleaning purposes, from a hard floor tool to a powerful carpet cleaning attachment. And whilst construction was simple, it did take a few attempts to get the vacuum poles in the correct order (though I didn't read the instructions to begin with).

I was pleasantly surprised at the weight of the Henry; whilst I wouldn't categorise it as a 'lightweight vacuum', my previous reservations were squashed. It was easy to lift from room to room and even easier to pull along whilst in use.

Performance

Firstly, there is something to be said about corded vacuums; they are reliable, and if you live in a busy household, you will know all too well the frustration of going to use the vacuum only to realise it has little to no charge left on it. This isn't the case with our Henry. Just plug him in and he is good to go. Upon arrival, there was already a vacuum bag, so we were ready to clean.

My initial thought was of how powerful this vacuum was. The Henry has an incredibly strong suction, so much so that the small sock hiding under the sofa fell victim. If vacuum lines are your thing, then this vacuum delivers. The powerful suction will have your carpets looking brand new - or at least considerably cleaner.

The six-litre capacity is more than enough for a family of four. I found that I would not need to empty the bag as frequently as I have had to empty other vacuum canisters. I found that the bag would become full after approx. Four weeks. And whilst it was super easy to empty, just shut the lid and all the mess was contained, then it can be thrown in the rubbish bin. My only gripe was there is no indication of when the bag is full other than the Henry stops working as efficiently.

Usability

It is easy to see why Henrys are the firm favourite for people who need to do extensive cleaning. As previously mentioned, the suction is arguably unbeatable. You name it; we tested it: breakfast cereals, the endless crumbs that come with having small children and even glitter - which everyone knows is notoriously difficult to get rid of. None of them were a match for Henry.

Where this appliance does fall short is the stairs; unlike a handheld vacuum that can tackle the dirt on the stairs with ease, Henry's large base makes it very challenging to clean the stairs. I found that I had to carry the vacuum from each step, which would be a real struggle for those who suffer from mobility issues. Even with the extended arm, the vacuum could not reach more than halfway up the stairs.

When plugged in, I was able to clean two large-sized rooms before having to replug the vacuum somewhere else. And, once I had finished cleaning, I loved how easily you can wind the lead. Whilst I wouldn't say that Henry Allergy is easy to store due to the large base circumference, the wires are neatly out of sight.

Henry Allergy sells itself as being the best in the range for removing allergens through the HEPA filter ring. And whilst it is an amazing vacuum for removing dirt and dust, it is difficult to know just how effective it is. I did personally find that the vacuum left the house feeling cleaner, but I cannot categorically say it improved my son's allergies. However, the vacuum bag was full of dust and, like other models on the market, easy to empty and self-contained - meaning there was no dust flying around the kitchen the moment I tried to empty it.

Final verdict

I can confidently say that I am sold on Henry Allergy. They may be a little old-fashioned compared to some of the smart vacuums now available, but they are reliable and resilient, and they do a fantastic job of cleaning. I would strongly recommend this for anyone who has a large family or lives in a busy household. Similarly, anyone who has a large home, because the quality is unmatched. While Shark vacuums may be having their time in the sun, I personally found that this Henry Allergy vacuum was easier to clean - with no faffing with filters and needing to empty every couple of days. And most importantly, it provided a consistently better clean.

I only knock off half a star because of the weight of the vacuum. If you have issues with strength or dexterity, this may not be the best purchase for the reasons previously mentioned.

Don't forget to grab some extra hoover bags, as the vacuum only comes with one.

Hannah Carroll is a Senior Home, Parenting and Lifestyle Product writer for Yours, specialising in product testing and reviews. As a mother of three, Hannah loves finding clothes that make her feel fabulous and products that are great for large families.