Costco Connection

Costco vs. the competition

Costco
Competing e-tailer*

Allergy Comfort
Pillow Protector
$33.49, 2-pack

includes shipping and handling

$22.99, single pack

does not include shipping charges

Allergy Comfort
Mattress Protector
$64.99

includes shipping and handling

$99.99

does not include shipping charges

Allergy Comfort
Comforter Cover
$65.99

includes shipping and handling

$65.99

does not include shipping charges

* Allergy Comfort products are made with tightly woven poly/cotton blends to block allergens. These competing products use a vinyl membrane for that purpose. Prices based on survey for Queen size items taken in February 2007.

Air purifiers

Thank goodness for the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers’ Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) certification program for air purifiers. It greatly reduces the need for consumers to consider filters, fan size or other mechanical air purifier features. In a nutshell, a CADR indicates the amount of clean air that an air cleaner delivers. The higher the CADR score, the better. CADR measurements for dust are 10 to 400, tobacco smoke 10 to 450 and pollen 25 to 450.

Blueair™. Andrew asks if I know about the CADR-certified Blueair air purifier. When I look quizzical, he reports, “Blueair’s 500 and 600 series floor models have some of the highest CADR in the industry. They use HEPASilent™ filtration, generate no ozone, are Energy Star certified and come with an industry-high 10-year manufacturer’s limited warranty.”

Andrew suggests checking out model 510B with a 388 CADR for smoke, 377 for dust and 378 for pollen in rooms up to 580 square feet. The 510B is extra enticing from April 30 through May 31, with a bonus set of filters included and $100 off on costco.com.

Whirlpool Whispure AP45030S™ (right). A leading consumer magazine rates this HEPA Whirlpool

air purifier as a Quick Pick for rooms up to 500 square feet. It has a built-in noise-reduction system and CADR scores of 320 for smoke, 330 for dust and 330 for pollen. A special $30 off price is offered from April 30 through May 31 at costco.com. C

Vacuum cleaners

Vacuum cleaners come in a confusing array of shapes, sizes and technologies. I want one with powerful, balanced suction, a well-sealed housing unit so no dust particles escape and a sophisticated filtration system meant to capture mite droppings rather than circulate them back into the air via the exhaust.

IRIDIO PHOTOGRAPHY

I ask Costco buyers Shannon Axthelm and Andrew Rice to choose just two allergen-barrier vacuums out of the many models that are featured at Costco and costco.com.

Dyson DC14™. Shannon is a big fan of the Costco-exclusive bag-less Dyson DC14 Full Kit vacuum.

A vacuum whiz, she owns this upright herself and uses it on all floor surfaces. “Dyson reports that the air expelled from the DC14 has 150 times less bacteria and mold than the air sucked in,” Shannon notes. A high-efficiency particulate-arresting (HEPA) filter removes particles down to 0.1 micron ( remember, dust mite droppings are 6 or more microns), and an electrostatic filter traps carbon engine emissions that are created by vacuums.

I take the DC14 for a spin. It works effortlessly. Particularly impressive are the 17-foot telescoping wand to use under furniture, a mini-turbine head attachment for removal of stubborn pet hair, a five-year limited warranty and the long-term savings associated with never having to purchase bags or belts. And because the washable filter must dry before it’s reused, a spare is included.

Eureka Boss SmartVac 4870GZX™. Andrew points out the bag-equipped, upright Eureka Boss

SmartVac. The SmartVac was recently voted a best buy by a leading consumer magazine and also was awarded the prestigious Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval. He notes, “With the SmartVac you get everything you need without paying hundreds of dollars. It is a very smart purchase.”

I am impressed with the sealed HEPA filtration, which retains 99.97 percent of dust and allergens down to 0.3 microns, the viewable brush roller and a Costco value-added upholstery turbo brush and six additional bags.

DO NOT BE FOOLED by advertising agency stunts. A vacuum holding up a bowling ball has nothing to do with dust-filtration capability. The same goes for brands touting stupendous hypoallergenic properties. There are no U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations governing this term or how it is used.

Consumers deserve manufacturers that can provide independently tested backup data on all allergy-related claims— and Costco demands it. This fact alone should help Costco members breathe easier.

Pat Volchok sits on the advisory boards of The Healthy House Institute (www. healthyhouseinstitute.com) and the Housekeeping Channel (www.housekeeping channel.com).

What’s wh ere

HERE’S WHERE you can find these products in the warehouses and at costco.com.

Bedding products: Allergy Comfort products are available year-round at costco.com.

Vacuums: Dyson DC14 (item #913715), Eureka Boss SmartVac 4870GZX (item #916609) and many other brands are available year-round in the warehouses and at costco.com.

Air purifiers: Blueair (item #930214), Whirlpool Whispure AP45030S (item #843283) and other brands are available year-round at costco.com and in the warehouses.