Asthma Friendly Directory
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Do Asthma Friendly Products Work?

Many manufacturers claim that their products are asthma friendly, meaning less likely to trigger asthma symptoms.

Unfortunately there is no sure way to know if a product will ease your symptoms and, as with all purchases, the old adage, “buyer beware” holds true. Before spending your money on a product, ask yourself these questions:

Q.What evidence can you find that supports the manufacturer’s claims?
A.As with any product, do your homework before you buy. Are there product reviews you can access? Does your doctor or other health care provider recommend the product? Are there any consumer organizations, like Consumer Reports, which have evaluated the product? Has the product been tested by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers?

Finally is the product certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America? This is a non-profit organization which tests and certifies products as Asthma Friendly. Their endorsement has yet to be independently verified but at least you can rest assured that they have tested the products they review.
Q.Does the product claim to reduce your particular triggers?
A.If you are sensitive to perfumes, for example, buying an "asthma friendly" mattress cover that reduces or eliminates dust mites may not help you at all. Know your triggers before you buy.
Q.If I buy an allergy-friendly product will that be enough to rid my home of triggers?
A.Using certain products may help to eliminate triggers but you should not rely on any one product to do the whole job. For example, an air filter may help reduce triggers in your home, but banning smoking, and vacuuming frequently will dramatically increase your odds. It’s best to take a trigger inventory in your home and plan multiple steps to reduce them.

PRODUCT DIRECTORY

Air Purifiers Vacuum Cleaners Websites that Specialize in Allergy and Asthma Products

Air Purifiers

There are many things in the air that can trigger asthma attacks. Some of these are dust, pollen, chemicals, allergens and pet dander. Although there is no definitive proof that air purifiers help asthma sufferers, many medical professionals recommend them.

Before you consider buying an air purifier, be sure to take some basic steps which may be as, or even more, effective at keeping your indoor air clean. Make sure no one smokes in your house, keep pets out of bedrooms, keep windows open to let in clean outdoor air, and remove rugs.

In choosing an air purifier, look for one with HEPA filtration. (HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air Filters.) HEPA filters are guaranteed to trap 99.7% of particles that are .03 microns or larger. If you have a forced air system in your house, consider a whole house purifier. If not, choose a large portable system. Note that a portable system is usually effective in areas of 300-500 square feet or less.

Room Purifiers
Name Price Range Pluses and Minuses Where to Buy
Whirlpool AP51030K
 $299 - $349 +
  • Very quiet.
  • Great smoke and dust removal.
-
  • Operating cost on the high side.
Austin Air Bedroom Machine
$764 +
  • Very effective filtration.
  • Simple maintenance.
-
  • Very heavy (weight).
IQ Air Health Pro Plus Air Purifier
 $899 +
  • Very effective, hospital grade air-filtration.
  • Captures a broad range of particles, allergens and chemicals.
-
  • On the expensive side.
Blueair 503
 $549 - $749 +
  • Great dust and smoke removal at high speed.
  • Energy efficient.
-
  • Noisy at high speed.
Honeywell 50250
 $129 - $199 +
  • Great dust and smoke removal at high speed.
  • Energy efficient.
-
  • Poor removal at low speed.
Holmes HAP756-U
 $211 +
  • Great dust and smoke removal at high speed.
  • Energy efficient.
-
  • Not great at low speed.
Hunter 30547
 $333 +
  • Impressive dust and smoke removal at high and low speeds.
  • Energy efficient.
-
  • Above average operating costs.
GE AFHC32AM
 $351 +
  • Great dust and smoke removal at high speed.
  • Energy efficient.
-
  • Noisy, not great for sleeping.

Vacuum Cleaners

If you or someone in your family has asthma, you already know that keeping your home as free as possible of dust, pollen, pet hair and other allergens is an important part of asthma control. The most effective way to deal with this problem in your home would be to eliminate carpets altogether, but this is not always feasible.

These days many asthma sufferers choose vacuums with HEPA (high particulate-air) filtration because they are very effective in reducing the fine particles that can escape from your vacuum into the air. Whatever vacuum you choose, always dust after, not before, you vacuum. Vacuuming can blow dust particles into the air and they land on your furniture. It’s best to use a microfiber cloth for excellent dust pickup.

Canister Vacuums
Name HEPA Price Range Pluses and Minuses Where to Buy
Miele S5281 Callisto
 Yes $900 +
  • Excellent cleaning.
  • Excellent pet-hair pick up.
  • Quiet.
  • Good airflow.
-
  • Expensive.
  • To adjust suction levels, user must bend.
Kenmore Intuition 28014
 Yes $439-$599 +
  • Excellent cleaning.
  • Excellent pet-hair pick up.
  • Good airflow.
-
  • Relatively high price.
  • A bit on the heavy side.
Kenmore Progressive 21714
 Yes $349-$399 +
  • Excellent cleaning.
  • Excellent pet-hair pick up.
  • Good airflow.
-
  • Some users found it unreliable.
Kenmore Progressive 21614
 Yes $279-$379 +
  • Very good cleaning.
  • Very good pet-hair pick up.
  • Reasonably priced.
-
  • Check attachments to be sure they are appropriate for you.
Sebo Airbelt K2
 No $399-$489 +
  • Ultra compact and light weight.
  • Excellent filtration.
  • Good cleaning ability.
  • Good at picking up pet hair.
-
  • Small vacuum bags need to be changed frequently.
  • Not ideal for medium to high pile carpets.
Upright Vacuums
Name HEPA Price Range Pluses and Minuses Where to Buy
Hoover WindTunnel Anniversary Edition U6485-900
 Yes $183-$259 +
  • Excellent at capturing all the dust it picks up.
  • Great pet hair removal.
-
  • Does not have suction control.
Miele S 7210 Twist
 Yes $376-$429 +
  • Excellent at capturing all the dust it picks up.
  • Great pet hair removal.
  • Miele is considered one of the most reliable brands on the market.
-
  • Does not have manual carpet height adjustment.
Kenmore Intuition 31100
 Yes $179-$299 +
  • Very effective, removal of embedded dirt from carpets.
  • Excellent pet hair removal.
  • Excellent at capturing all the dust it picks up.
-
  • User needs to bend to change the pile height.
Miele Jazz
 Yes $549 +
  • Very effective, removal of embedded dirt from carpets.
  • Excellent pet hair removal.
  • Excellent at capturing all the dust it picks up.
-
  • Does not have a manual carpet-height adjustment.
Sebo Felix Premium
 No $599 +
  • Lightweight (as much as 5 pounds lighter than competitors).
  • Very maneuverable.
  • Good at picking up pet hair.
  • Very good at removing embedded dirt from carpets.
-
  • User must bend to adjust pile height.
  • Power cord somewhat short.

Websites that Specialize in Allergy and Asthma Products

Name Pluses and Minuses Shipping
AchooAllergy
www.achooallergy.com

 +
  • Well designed, easy to use interface.
  • Buying guides with lots of information to help consumers evaluate products.
  • 60 day no hassle returns.
  • A+ Better Business Bureau rating.
  • Live chat.
 Free shipping on orders over $150
-
  • In some categories, only stocks high end items.
  • 15% restocking fee on damaged products or products without original packaging.
  • Some items have different return terms.
Allergy Buyers Club
www.allergybuyersclub.com

 +
  • Natural, green and hypoallergenic products.
  • Large product selection.
  • Thoughtful product descriptions and reviews.
  • Low price match policy.
  • A- Better Business Bureau rating.
 Free shipping on orders over $150
-
  • Only 30 day returns policy.
Allergy Solution
www.allergysolution.com

 +
  • Has a large section devoted solely to asthma products.
  • Attractive, easy-to-navigate.
  • 60 day money back guarantee.
  • Virtually all products have a lifetime warranty.
 Free shipping on orders over $150
-
  • Limited product selection.
  • Restocking fee on air purifiers.
Allergy Store
www.allergystore.com

 +
  • 60 day money back guarantee, no questions asked.
  • Best shipping policy of the sites we visited.
  • Carries asthma friendly ® certified stuffed toys.
 Free shipping on orders over $89
-
  • Limited product selection.
  • Consumer information not easy to find.
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