I always thought that I was allergic to cats until I recently took an allergy test due to complications from Lyme Disease (an illness that kicks up allergies). It turns out I'm not allergic to cats. I'm allergic to dogs. I'm a dog trainer. I rescue and foster dogs. I have three dogs. Dogs are what I do.

I set out to find a way to scrub my environment as much as possible to eliminate as many allergens as I could. It was the only way I could help my body heal. If you're unwell and you are continually exposed to allergens, you don't get better. 

It turns out that keeping your pets clean is only one small way to reduce allergens in your home. You also have to clean your air. Most people are allergic to pet dander, which is often .03 microns in size -- that's very, very small. Once that gets into your lungs, you can have an allergic response and it can also be damaging to the lung tissue. 

I was encouraged by the Alen A350 Air Purifier because of the company's "Allergy Relief Guarantee." I like a company that stands by its product. And it's a big deal to tell a suffering consumer that her allergies will be relieved by using a product. When you're sick, all you want to do is feel better. 

The first thing I noticed about this unit is its power. It really cranks when it's on high and I like the white noise sound. If you're not into white noise, you can keep it on a lower level -- it's extremely quiet on the lowest level. I tested it in my bedroom and was not bothered by noise. The green lights on the front are also quite dim (as compared to some other units), so the lights should not bother you if the unit is on the floor or turned away from the bed (if you're sensitive to that). 

The Alen A350 Air Purifier also has an ionizer, which is great for household and pet odors, and if you have pets, you have odors. I have three dogs, so there's bound to be dog smell somewhere in the house. You can turn the ionizer on and off, so you don't have to keep it on all the time, or you can turn it on when your wet dog comes in from the rain. I don't have cats, but I imagine that this unit would be great in a room where there's kitty litter.

I had an asthma attack the other day and realized that I hadn't had one in a very long time, so it took me by surprise. I pulled the cover off of my Alen A350 Air Purifier unit and saw the problem -- it had been a while since I serviced it, and it was literally clogged with dust and gunk. I vacuumed it off, cleaned the pre-filter with water, and after a hit of Albuterol, I was fine, and haven't wheezed since. 

Another thing that makes this unit attractive is the size. It has a very slim profile and can fit just about anywhere. Also, it is able to be wall-mounted, which is a great feature that I am going to take advantage of in the future. 

All in all, I have noticed a reduction in allergies and an all-over feeling of healing since trying this unit in my bedroom. I have also reviewed other air purifiers and cleaners, and I can definitely recommend this unit to those with pet allergies and asthma. For $399.00, this unit is a great deal. 

From Alen's Website: 

Alen A350 Air Purifier
Designed for allergy and asthma sufferers, the powerful and highly rated Alen® A350 removes allergens and harmful airborne pollutants-the perfect indoor air solution for anyone seeking relief from persistent allergy and asthma symptoms.Creates an allergy and asthma friendly environment by capturing dust, pet dander, mold spores and pollen from the air

• Covers up to 750 square feet, removing 98% of particles 0.3 microns and greater
• Helps maintain a clean household by reducing dust
• Provides pure, breathable air by capturing VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) from cleaning products, personal care items and other household materials
• Versatile filter options address bacteria, heavy odor and smoke concerns
• Energy Star Certified
• Includes Alen's Lifetime Limited Warranty and Allergy Relief Guarantee

The Alen A350 Air Purifier features HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) style filtration, combining three layers of filter technology to purify and freshen the air in your home. Polluted air first passes through Alen's washable Pre-Filter to capture large particles, extending the life of the filter. In the second layer, air moves through a unique, electrostatically charged HEPA style material that attracts and captures dust, pollen, pet dander, mold spores and other airborne pollutants. In the final layer, clean air passes through a layer of Alen's Activated Carbon, reducing light odors and chemicals commonly found in the air from cleaning products, smoke, cooking, pets and various other household materials. The A350 ozone-safe Ionizer complements the HEPA style filter by charging particles in the air, causing them to stick together and become more easily captured.

Offering Alen's greatest coverage, the Alen A350 air purifier circulates all of the air in a 750 square foot space more than twice every hour on the highest speed. It comes standard with the HEPA-Fresh Filter, designed for easy replacement. We recommend regular filter replacements (at least every 6 months with normal use) to extend the life of your air purifier and maximize performance for pure, breathable air.

If you want to speak to someone directly at Alen (they love talking to their customers), you can call: 1-855-500-5483.

www.alencorp.com

Beauty and brains . . . that’s how I’d describe the BreatheSmart air purifier from Alen. I consider myself an “air purifier connoisseur,” having tested dozens of them for this site, giving me the perspective to distinguish the difference in noise, ease of use, bells and whistles, and effectiveness between brands for use in a pet household, and even between units within the same brand.

Here’s what I’ve found, overall: It’s hard at first to tell if an air purifier is working. An air purifier is not like a fragrance plug-in, where you can smell your well-spent dollars at work. An air purifier is more like a computer antivirus protector toiling behind the scenes to protect your software. You can’t see the program running, but as long as your computer is safe, you don’t care about the magic that makes it work. 

The proof in air purifiers is not in the pudding, but in how you feel after a few days of running one. I first tested Alen’s BreatheSmart air purifier for a month in the bedroom of my parents' very dusty home in Florida, where I was convalescing after a long battle with Lyme Disease that left me extremely ill. The last thing I needed was to breathe dirty air in my sleep, not to mention all the particles that my three dogs brought in from the yard ten times a day. Windows in Florida are closed all year long, making the inside air more polluted than the outside air.

Here’s something I only tell my closest friends: I’m allergic to dogs. I’m a dog trainer, rescuer, and foster home, and I’m allergic to the furry little buggers. And they sleep in bed with me. Prior to running the BreatheSmart unit, I used sticky strips over the bridge of my nose so I could breathe at night, and when those weren’t enough, I bought a very uncomfortable piece of plastic to shove into my nose—it was far from cute.

A couple of days after running the BreatheSmart air purifier (in about a 250 square foot bedroom), I was able to ditch the sticky strips and horrid nose insert and breathed wonderfully at night for the first time in a long while. Not only that, my allergies are better, and if my allergies are better, I’m sure my dogs’ allergies are better. Dogs have allergies to air pollution, pollen, and mold too.

That’s the “Yes, it works,” testimonial, but even if an air purifier works to clean the air, there can be some drawbacks. Fortunately for the BreatheSmart, it manages to easily clear the pitfalls that plague some other air purifiers.

The BreatheSmart is extremely intuitive and easy to use, almost like Alen took a page from Apple’s book—the BreatheSmart even looks like it could be an Apple branded product with its sleek lines and white uber-modern shape, like a giant iPod, or something you’d find on a spaceship.

All of the buttons are on top and have big, easy-to-read labels (great for seniors, or people like me, seniors-in-training). The unit comes with a peel-off sticker describing the buttons.

A couple cool things about the company, Alen. First, all of their products have a Lifetime Limited Warranty, which is basically unheard of these days. Here’s what they say: “If there is ever an issue with your Alen Air Purifier—either 1 year or 20 years from now—we will repair or replace it, as long as you are maintaining your air purifier by replacing its filter on a regular basis.”

Secondly, they have an Allergy Relief Guarantee. If you’re not satisfied within 60 days they will refund your money and even pay to ship the unit back. That’s the mark of a company who feels strongly that they have a quality product.

About the price . . . you get what you pay for, especially these days. This filter is in the mid range of air purifiers in terms of price. There are more expensive units, but they aren’t necessarily better. I think it’s clear that I’m a fan of this unit, and Alen in general. I’ve been running their A350 Air Purifier in my New York City bedroom for over a year, but I think I’m leaning toward the BreatheSmart as my favorite for a few reasons, not the least of which is that it’s very attractive.

I’ve had a Rabbit Air MinusA2 air purifier for over a year, and I adore it, so I was thrilled to try Rabbit Air’s newest member of its air purifier family, the Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0, a redesign of their previously popular unit.

Having dog allergies and being a dog enthusiast requires some lifestyle tweaks—since discovering a few years ago that I’m allergic to dogs, I decided to clean my breathing air rather than wrapping the dogs in plastic (because I’d never consider giving them up, of course).

My official test for an air purifier is how I breathe at night while I’m trying to sleep and whether I’m stuffy in the morning. I started running the BioGS air purifier in my bedroom after I came back to NYC from a month in Miami, when I knew my room would be dusty and filled with dander and NYC grime. Sometimes I sleep with breathing strips on my nose, but I decided to test the BioGS without them to see if it would help me sleep peacefully—and it did. I woke the first morning with clear sinuses, and still do.

Another of my criteria for an air purifier is how noisy it is—this one has five different speeds. I don’t mind some white noise while I sleep, so I turn it up. But when this unit is turned down, you can’t hear it at all.

This unit has a different interface than I’ve seen on other air purifiers, including my Rabbit Air MinusA2. The way the buttons and indicators are designed puts me in mind of a sci-fi movie that takes place a hundred years in the future. This interface assumes that you are an intelligent person. Gone are huge, tacky buttons—they are replaced by small, brilliant lights that shine through the unit’s outer shell, which, when removed, reveals information about filter life, modes, and speeds. 

One thing that impressed me about the BioGS 2.0 is that it’s not highly illuminated, making it nice for the bedroom. Some other air purifiers have bright lights that can’t be dimmed or turned off for sleeping.

The BioGS is quite the looker too. It’s got a sleek, modern look that will go with contemporary interior designs, but it’s small enough to stick into a corner and blend with a wall if you’ve got a “French countryside cottage” kind of interior.

Machines like this can be intimidating if you haven’t used one before, but I’m here to tell you that Rabbit Air is one of the most user friendly air purifier companies out there—simply take the unit out of the box, remove the plastic from the filters, and put them back into the machine. Then plug it in for clean air.

This unit is different from others in that there aren't any labels on the front cover, which is part of its design charm. Simply familiarize yourself with what the lights shining through the cover mean (take off the cover and it’s all very clear). Once you set the unit to do what you want (I set it on auto), you won’t need to change it much anyway.

Once a month or so it’s a good idea to use a vacuum or hand vac to clean the dust from the pre-filter. You can even hose it down or wash it in the bathtub. This unit works so well, even if you don’t think you have dust, you will be amazed at what you’ll find after a month of use, especially if you have dogs or cats. It even sucks in pet hair! For me, the most important thing is that it sucks up all of the loose particles that my dogs bring in from outside, things like pollen and city grime that can cause me to have an allergy attack.

Another cool thing about the Rabbit Air BioGS is that it has an air quality sensor, which you will find only on the higher end air purifiers. This measures the amount of particles in the air—if you put it on “auto” mode, it will speed up or slow down the fan according to how dirty your air has become.

According to Rabbit Air’s website, the BioGS Hepa and carbon filters should last about a year and a half with 24 hour use (or 3 years with 12 hour use). The pre-filter is permanent and just needs cleaning.

The unit has a small remote control. My only issue with remotes for air purifiers is that they tend to be tiny and get lost, but the BioGS has a slot on the back/top of the unit where you can stow the remote. You'll need the remote to use the timer feature and the ion feature. The remote works great and is easy to use.

There are two units in this model: The BioGS SPA-550A air purifier will filter all of the air in a room up to 550 sq. ft. (or 625 sq. ft. for the SPA-625A) twice in an hour on the high setting.

I have several brands of air purifiers so I’ve gotten to be quite the air purifier connoisseur, and I’m very discerning when it comes to these machines. The BioGS has impressed me with both its design and its execution. In other words, this thing works. For $369.95 to $399.99, the BioGS is priced in the mid-range for air purifiers, but I believe that it works like a high-end unit. Paws up for Rabbit Air’s BioGS!

The Rabbit Air BioGS:

• Traps allergen and particles at 99.97% efficiency down to 0.3 microns
• Reduces common allergens including dust mites, mold, pollen and pet dander
• Reduces the growth of bacteria and viruses on the filter
• Prolongs optimal filter efficiency
• Alleviates common household odors
• Has a negative ion mode
• Energy Star certified (won’t run up your electric bill)

From the Rabbit Air website:

The BioGS's redesign is much more than a facelift. We dug deep to reconsider the fundamental facets of our product, including the air purifier's shape and form, user interface, and functionality. We also ruminated on its impact on the environment, which led us towards a more holistic approach, cutting back on light and sound pollution generated by the air purifier to ensure that while it takes pollutants from the environment, it leaves nothing but clean air in return. Industrial designer Guto Indio da Costa’s concept of "flow" resonates throughout the BioGS 2.0. 

The curvaceous body of the air purifier reflects its relatively simplistic but comprehensive functionality, and its clean, cool, and straightforward style. By reimagining the air purifier's structure and streamlining its bells and whistles, da Costa has steered the latest generation of Rabbit Air products towards growth and progress, with a new model that’s easy to use, less intrusive, and aesthetically pleasing. For more information on the BioGS 2.0, check out Rabbit Air's website.