What to look for before you buy asthma and allergy-friendly products

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Even if your asthma or allergies are under control with medication, keeping your home as free of allergens as possible is always a wise move. And given that about 60 million Americans suffer from allergies, asthma, or both, it’s no surprise that many household product manufacturers now market items, from vacuum cleaners to furniture polish to bedding, as "asthma and allergy friendly."

The notion of such products is appealing, as an extensive body of evidence shows that decreasing exposure to indoor allergens can reduce the risk of an asthma or allergy attack. However, only a small number of these products have undergone rigorous scientific research to find out if they actually live up to their asthma- and allergy-friendly claims.

That said, some products might still be worth a try. Here’s how to determine which ones might be right for you.

Finding Asthma- and Allergy-Friendly Products

One way to find out if a product is asthma or allergy friendly is to look for the seal of approval from the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). The AAFA is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting asthma and allergies.

Under the AAFA’s recently created Asthma and Allergy Friendly Certification Program, manufacturers can voluntarily submit their products for testing, and those that meet or exceed certain standards (set by government or industry or prevailing medical opinion) are permitted to label those items with the group’s certification mark. For a list of certified products, go to www.asthmaandallergyfriendly.com and click on Certified Products.

Air cleaners These devices must reduce airborne allergens below certification levels via a filter and not simply redistribute the allergens. Air cleaners must also not emit ozone. Vacuum cleaners To get the AAFA seal of approval, a vacuum cleaner must remove at least 50% of dust mite and cat allergens from carpeting, even when the vacuum bag is partially full. And it must not generate airborne irritants during bag changing and removal.

To receive the seal of approval, here is what the AAFA looks for:
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