Fed up with pet hair and allergies at home? This vacuum cleaner tackles both with ease – and stays tangle-fee

If you had told me last year that a corded vacuum cleaner would be my favourite model, I wouldn’t have believed you. As someone with zero arm strength and two flights of stairs, I had remained as loyal as ever to my cordless vacuum – until I met the Henry Allergy (available on Amazon).

Yes, it’s a little bulky, weighing 7.7kg, but its powerful suction and reliable performance outweigh this drawback every time, making it one of the best vaccum cleaners. Thanks to the two-metre hose, I can vacuum half of my stairs from the top and half from the bottom without having to lug the body up and down with me.

To find out whether the Henry Allergy Vacuum Cleaner could be right for you, keep reading – I’ve shared the good, the bad, and the type of home it’s best suited for below. Plus, I asked an allergy expert whether HEPA filters are all they’re cracked up to be.

Henry Allergy Vacuum Cleaner specs

Here's a round-up of the specs you need to know:

Henry Allergy Vacuum Cleaner: set-up

One thing I love about a Henry vacuum is how simple it is to set-up and use. It might not have 100 flashy features like many cordless models do, but if you just want to get on with your cleaning without solving a technical riddle, it’s just the trick.

Plug it in, switch it on, and you’re good to go. The attachments are pretty self-explanatory – they click on with ease, and the instruction manual clearly explains what each one is best for.

Henry Allergy Vacuum Cleaner: ease of use

Whether you have carpets, hard flooring, or want to dust off fabric sofas, this vacuum works wonders on all types of surfaces and comes with all the attachments you need for each one, so you don’t cause any damage.

I’ve tested it on all three, and while it works fantastically on each of them, it definitely scored top marks on my hard wooden flooring – it glides across like a dream, without missing a speck of debris. I love finishing off skirting boards and cabinet tops with the crevice tool.

From crumbs and dirt to hair and food clumps, nothing gets past the powerful suction of this vacuum. Due to this high grip power, you do have to put in a bit of effort when it comes to cleaning carpets – but rest assured, the results are always worth it.

I previously mentioned that this vacuum is a little bulky, so when I discovered that it comes with a handy built-in stand to rest the hose, I couldn’t have been more excited. This, combined with the handle on top, makes it easier to carry around.

Talking of useful features, the Henry Allergy Vacuum Cleaner also comes with its classic cord rewind feature, making it easy to store away.

Cleaning out my vacuum is one of my least favourite chores, but thankfully, due to its six-litre capacity, I only need to do this around once a month. The vacuum bags are cheaper than I expected too, costing under £15 on Amazon for 10 dust bags.

Despite other vacuum cleaners claiming to have a 'tangle-free' design, I always ended up cutting my hair out of the vacuum head with a pair of scissors, which was so frustrating. To my delight, I haven’t had to do this with the Henry Allergy – only once did I just have to brush it into the suction. So, if you have pets or shed a lot of hair yourself, I highly recommend it.

Henry Allergy Vacuum Cleaner: HEPA filter

The HEPA filter is, of course, the standout feature of this vacuum cleaner, making it a great choice for those with allergies and pets (or anyone looking to improve their indoor air quality).

As a hayfever sufferer, running this around the house in the summer gives me peace of mind that pollen isn’t collecting on surfaces and aggravating my allergies even further at home.

I was initially sceptical that a HEPA filter would make that much of a difference, but after speaking with Dr Stephanie Kayode, Allergy Physician at Allergy Care London, I changed my mind.

"HEPA filters are made up of multiple small, crisscrossing fibre layers that are great at trapping and collecting the smallest particles," she explains. "In non-HEPA vacuums, these tiny particles can escape the filters, travelling out of the vacuum and back into the home."

"It has been demonstrated that HEPA filter vacuums, when used over time, are better at retrieving dust, pollen and animal allergens than non-HEPA vacuums. Over the long term, vacuuming removes allergens and debris from carpets and soft furnishings. HEPA-filter vacuums can successfully reduce airborne allergen levels."

Dr. Stephanie Kayode

Dr. Stephanie Kayode is a Consultant Allergist and Allergy Physician at one of the largest allergy centres in Europe, where she provides expert care for adults with a wide range of allergic conditions. Dr. Kayode practices within an internationally recognised Centre of Excellence, where her work spans patient care, service innovation, and academic collaboration.

Henry Allergy Vaccum Cleaner: final verdict

Henry vacuums are a classic for a reason – they're long-lasting, reliable, and offer high suction without unnecessary faff. The Allergy model is no exception, and after a year of testing it on all kinds of surfaces (hard flooring, carpets and furniture), it has always delivered flawless results.

Although this model is marketed towards those with allergies, I think all households are better off having a HEPA vacuum. While the standard model is a little cheaper, for the sake of a £20 difference, you may as well opt for the higher-grade filter.

It might be clunkier than some of the cordless models out there, and it is a bit of a pain that you have to buy filters separately, but this is the vacuum I’ll always turn to when I need a deep, thorough clean. And, if the other Henrys I’ve tested in the past are anything to go by, I know it’s going to last me a very long time.

If you're feeling undecided, read our Henry HVR160 review – a popular choice for DIYers. Or, for low-maintenance robot cleaning, check out our review of the MOVA Z60 Ultra Roller Complete.