These are my recommended filters for pet hair and dander:

• The best super high-efficiency filter: IQAir HealthPro Plus (costs about $900-$1200)
• The best long-term filter: Austin Air Pet Machine (costs about $800)
• The best mid-level filter: Alen BreatheSmart Air Purifier (costs about $530)
• The best budget filters: Winix 5300-2 (costs about $120)

How To Filter Pet Hair and Dander

Pet dander is not the hair or fur of the animal, but is old skin scales that are constantly shed. Animal dander is extremely lightweight and tiny in size (approximately 2.5 microns). It can stay airborne for hours.

Pets tend to shed a lot of dander, so you want a machine with a good pre-filter to stop pet hair from reaching the main HEPA filter.

HEPA stands for “high-efficiency particulate air” and is commonly found in most modern air purifiers.

So for the main filter, you want a reliable HEPA filter that can effectively trap all micron-size irritants such as pet hair, dander, and dust mites. The pre-filter reduces the workload of the HEPA filter and reduces the number of filter replacements required. So you want an effective and durable pre-filter that would be able to trap a large amount of pet hair before requiring cleaning or replacing.

Most Effective High-End Dander Filter: IQAir HealthPro Plus

IQAir filters are made in Switzerland. This company has a great reputation and it has been in business for 50 years — this is important because if your filter company goes out of business you won’t be able to purchase replacement filters.

The strengths of the IQ Filters:

• They have the best pre-filters in the industry (collect 90% of particulates). This relieves much of the load from the main filters
• The main filters are “HyperHEPA” filters — they exceed HEPA standards and filter ultrafine particles as small as 0.003 microns
• The filter also contains five pounds of activated carbon for gas and odor removal

The cons:

• They are expensive (units cost $900 to $1200)
• Replacement filters can be expensive if they are used in environments with dirty air
• Boxy appearance, weak wheels
• Somewhat noisy
• Works best when used in rooms that are 300 square feet or less

If you need the best air filter available, look to the IQAir HealthPro Plus. It costs about $900 on Amazon.

Most Efficient Filter Under $700: The Austin Air Pet Machine

For long-term use, the purifier I recommend is the Austin Air Pet Machine.

The strengths of this filter:

• It’s virtually maintenance-free for five years (a big plus in my opinion)
• It has a five-year prorated mechanical warranty and a five-year warranty on the replaceable filter media
• The filters are built in Buffalo, New York (except for the motor which is made in China) — the customer service comes from the New York headquarters

Possible cons:

• It is not a “smart machine” — it doesn’t have any automatic controls or air quality sensors
• Somewhat noisier than other filters
• Contains zeolite which does not work well in moist environments (don’t use in saunas or indoor pool areas)

I have Austin Air filters in my home because work well and they are virtually maintenance-free. If you are dealing with very dirty air,  you may need to clean the intake area of the filter every few months. Besides that, these filters will work reliably for five years before needing a replacement filter. But again, if you have very dirty air, you need to replace the filter in as little as two years.

In terms of filtration media, the Austin Air Pet Machine has four-stage filtering:

• Stage 1 – Large Particle Pre-filter – removes particles easily seen by the naked eye (e.g. dust and hair)
• Stage 2 – Medium Particle Pre-filter – removes molds, spores and pollen
• Stage 3 – 15 pounds of carbon and zeolite – reduces odors caused by pets and other chemicals, gases, and odors
• Stage 4 – 60 square feet of true medical grade HEPA – removes pet allergens such as dander and dust, as well as thousands of other micro-organisms (e.g. bacteria and viruses)

This filter excels at removing odors and gases, and it is a strong particulate filter too. These filters are not pretty but they are durable. They have a metal housing and are fairly heavy. They do not feature any smart controls.

The Pet Machine is also a bit noisier than comparable filters — this is because air must be pulled through 15 pounds of carbon and zeolite in the filter.

The Austin Air Pet Machine costs about $635 on Amazon.

Most Efficient Filter Under $500: Alen BreatheSmart Air Purifier

Strengths of this filter:

• Moves a lot of air (cleans about 300 square feet of air every 30 minutes)
• Offers a “forever guarantee” — basically if the filter fails, the company will ship a replacement filter to you for free
• Good customer service
• Filter changes are easy
• Attractive design

Possible cons:

• Filter does not offer true-HEPA performance (doesn’t fully remove micro-particles)
• Bright blue control lights may disturb you at night

The Alen company is another reliable filter manufacturer, headquartered in Texas. Their BreatheSmart Air Purifier is well-suited for pet dander filtration. This unit features a pre-filter that captures most pet hair and dander before it gets to the HEPA filter stage. It has a 1.5-pound carbon filter for odor removal.

Although Alen does not give out CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) numbers, we estimate this filter has an average CADR of 270. Most filters average around 150 CADR, so this number is impressive.

This filter is not “true HEPA” because it does not filter 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns. Instead, the company says it filters “up to 99% of .3 micron particles”. This may not be a concern to you if you are not particularly vulnerable to allergic reactions.

The company offers a “forever guarantee”. This is the fine print of the warranty — “If you’ve used your Alen air purifier for personal purposes in the United States and it quits operating under normal conditions, we guarantee to provide you the same or comparable refurbished purifier with free shipping. Just call us 512-436-0457 and you’ll be breathing pure air again before you know it. If your Alen air purifier is damaged by unconventional use or reasons, we will replace it for half the current retail price plus applicable sales tax and shipping.”

The Alen BreatheSmart Air Purifier costs around $480 on Amazon.

Most Efficient Filter Under $200: Winix 5300-2

Strengths of this filter:

• Inexpensive initial purchase
• Includes a true HEPA filter that captures 99.9% of airborne particles (down to .3 microns)
• Fairly quiet

Possible Cons:

• Not the best at removing odors
• Replacement filters are somewhat expensive ($100+)

Winix 5300-2 is an inexpensive filter that comes with a washable pre-filter that captures pet hair and larger airborne particles before they get to the main filter.

Winix is a Korean company that makes inexpensive filters that feature true HEPA filters. These filters capture 99.9% of airborne pollutants, pet dander, and allergens as small as 0.3 microns. The true HEPA filters set Winix apart from other Asian filter manufacturers.

To remove odors, Winix filters incorporate “PlasmaWave” technology. This is a plasma ion streamer that operates at low voltages. It creates very short-lived but powerful oxidants called “hydroxyls” — these are a safer replacement for ozone. Hydroxyls work at the molecular level, destroying ultrafine particles, chemical and odor molecules, and killing microorganisms.

Winix filters have a one-year warranty. The Ultimate Pet replacement cassette cartridge filter is about $10 (it must be purchased as a set).

The Winix 5300-2 is the bestselling air filter from Winix. This unit will do a good job removing pet dander too.

The post The Best Air Filters For Pet Hair and Dander appeared first on Reactual.

The Brightest LED Bulb Overall

The SANSI 65W LED Light Bulb is very bright, producing 10,000 lumens. Because it is a non-dimmable daylight-style bulb, it is probably best suited to garages and warehouses.

The Brightest “Warm White” LED Bulb

The SANSI 27W A21 Dimmable LED Light Bulb is a warm white bulb and produces 4000 lumens. I have one in the laundry room and it produces a very bright pleasing illumination. I wasn’t able to install it in a ceiling fan fixture, because it was slightly too large.

The Brightest Standard Size LED Bulb: Philips 5000 Lumen Bulb

The Philips 5000 LED Light Bulb is rated at 5000 lumens, making it the brightest standard-sized (A21) LED light bulb on the market. It uses 43 Watts and it has a 5000K color temperature (daylight white). It is suitable for outdoor areas and garages. If you need a warm white bulb for interiors, see the Philips bulb below.

The Brightest Standard Size Warm White LED Bulb

The Philips 100w Equivalent LED Bulb is another standard-size household bulb available. It uses 13.5 watts of power to produce 1500 lumens of warm white light. I have many of these in my home, and they produce excellent quality light (the CRI is 80). These bulbs are also dimmable and rated to last 22.8 years.

Bright LEDs: Few Notes On Color Quality

The Color Rendering Index (CRI) is a numerical system that rates the “color rendering” ability of light bulbs in comparison to natural daylight. If a light has a low color rendering index of 50, it does not render colors very well. If the lamp has a color rendering index of 80 – 95, which is very good to excellent.

The Color Temperature is expressed in Kelvin (K). Low color temperature implies warmer (more yellow/red) light while high color temperature implies a colder (more blue) light. Moreover, the “color temperature” of a lamp refers to how reddish, greenish, or bluish the lamp appears. If the lamp appears reddish, it has a lower color temperature (e.g., 2500K-3000K) and is considered to be “warm” in appearance. If the lamp appears to be bluish, it has a higher color temperature (e.g., 4000K-4500K) and is considered to be “cool” in appearance.

Warm White: 2500 K to 3000 K
Cool White: 4000 K to 4500 K
Daylight: 6200 K to 6800 K

The post The Brightest LED Bulb Of 2024 appeared first on Reactual.

• Mattress: The Love and Sleep Mattress by Nest Bedding is one of the most affordable non-toxic mattresses (a queen-sized mattress costs about $600). The mattresses are handmade in the USA and ship quickly.
• Comforter/Duvet: 100% Yak Wool Duvet by Healthline. Yak wool is ultrawarm & hypoallergenic. See this article for more details.
• Comforter Cover: 300 Threadcount Organic Cotton Sateen Duvet Cover by Coyuchi
• Sheets: 300 Treadcount Organic Sateen Sheet Set by Coyuchi or Magnolia Organic Cotton Sheets
• Pillow: 100% Natural Latex Pillow by OrganicTextiles
• Mattress Topper: Serenia Natural 100% Natural Latex Topper or Pure Green 100% Natural Latex Mattress Topper by Sleep On Latex
• Mattress Topper Cover: Sleep On Organic Mattress Topper (80% Organic Cotton, 20% Polyester)

All of these bedding items are non-toxic, and hypoallergenic (meaning they won’t trigger allergies).

The blankets and sheets are also thermal regulating (meaning they help your body at an optimum temperature).

I have all of the products in my bedroom and have enjoyed them over the years.

Why Choose Non-Toxic Bedding?

We spend about one-third of our lives in bed. So choosing the right bedding is quite important. Our body also regenerates itself during sleep, and we absorb substances through our skin and our lungs during this process.

To create a non-toxic bed we must ensure that the mattress, pillows, and sheets are free of toxins. Specifically, the aim here is to avoid:

• Fire-retardant chemicals (PBDEs)
• Formaldehyde
• Boric acid
• Toxic dyes
• Bleaches
• Pesticides & herbicides

Most conventional bedding contains many of these contaminants. Unfortunately, some chemicals are even deliberately introduced, such as the fire-retardant chemical PBDE (or “Polybrominated Diphenal Ether”). To buy a mattress in the U.S. that is free of the PDBE, you need permission from a doctor. This is even though PBDE has been banned by Europe, Canada, California, and the state of Washington.

It’s also a good idea to avoid synthetic materials. Natural fibers allow for changes in body temperature, because they do not reflect heat and because they can absorb moisture.

More Information

The rationale for choosing chemical-free, organic bedding can be found in the book Sleep Safe In A Toxic World (this book is a great source of information).

See also the activist website People For Clean Beds.

The post The Best Natural & Non-Toxic Bedding appeared first on Reactual.

Also available is the junior version, which is smaller and less expensive.

Another reliable budget choice is the Winix 5500-2 — this inexpensive filter is designed for odor removal.

Most air purifiers are designed to remove particles like dust, pollen, and pet dander from your home. However, the technology that makes for a good allergy machine is not similar to what you’ll need to remove odor.

Odors are gas molecules smaller than 0.3 microns, and many are as small as 0.001 microns. This means that particle filters (HEPA filters) will not trap the gas molecules because they are too small.

So basically, almost all the air filters on the market will remove little or no odor from the air.

These are the products that eliminate odors:

• An air filter that contains a lot of activated carbon, which is very good at adsorbing odors
• An air filter with zeolite, which is a natural mineral that is very good at adsorbing things
• For very problematic odors, you can use an ozone generator — ozone is active oxygen that breaks up odors quickly — but ozone is dangerous to inhale — so this generator should only be used in vacant homes when necessary

Other filtration methods work more gradually:

• You can put bowls or satchels of activated carbon, zeolite, or binchotan in a room — these raw materials will slowly absorb odors over time
• You can grow indoor plants in a room — they will clean the air gradually — see the book How To Grow Fresh Air for more information

But, if you want to remove odors quickly, these are my filter recommendations:

The Most Effective Odor Filter: Healthmate HM-400

I recommend the Healthmate HM-400 as the most effective filter for removing indoor odors. This filter uses 15 pounds of activated carbon and zeolite to remove odors and gases. It also includes another HEPA filter certified to remove 99.97% of all particles in the air over 0.3 microns.

Many filters remove particles from the air but are ineffective at odor removal. The Healthmate HM-400 is designed to remove odors, chemicals, and gases from the air. It incorporates 15 pounds of activated carbon and zeolite into the filter media. The sheer size of this material allows this filter to remove odors from the air quickly.

The Healthmate is also one of the cheapest to run in the long term because the replaceable filter is designed to last five years (most air filters require annual filter media replacement).

These filters are made in Buffalo, New York, and come with a 5-year mechanical warranty.

I’ve tested the Healthmate HM-400 in my home using a TES Air Quality monitor. This monitor measures VOCs or “Volatile Organic Compounds”. Put simply — VOCs are all the odor-producing chemicals suspended in the air. In my few informal tests, I found that the Healthmate could remove all traces of smoke odors from a room in about 45 minutes. I will be conducting further tests in the coming months.

The Best Budget Air Filter For Odors

If you need a budget air filter, consider these reliable filters that you can find for under $300:

• Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier: this filter contains carbon granules for odor removal and also produces ions for odor reduction — Winix is a reliable filter brand that has been in business since 1973 — the filter costs about $180
• Winix NK105: A WiFi-enabled filter from Winix that also contains a carbon-filter element — costs about $220

Best For Removing Embedded Odors

If you need to remove stubborn odors such as deeply embedded cigarette odors, I recommend using an Ozone Generator. These generators produce ozone gas which permeates everything in a room and effectively eliminates any odors present.

These devices sell for about $70. Important note — an ozone generator should not be used as a general air filter. Ozone will damage your lungs. They should only be used for odor “emergencies” and when a house is vacant.

Link: Ozone Generator

The post Three Air Filters That Remove Odors In The Home appeared first on Reactual.

In terms of heat retention and the ability to be used as filling, these are the warmest fibers by weight:

• Qiviut [Musk Ox Wool]
• Yak Wool
• Alpaca Wool
• Camel Wool
• Sheep’s Wool

For more details, see my article explaining why these wools are ultrawarm.

After testing duvets filled with Camel, Alpaca, and Merino wool, I found that Camel wool is indeed the warmest inside a comforter.

All of these wools contain no lanolin so they are hypoallergenic and odorless.

They have good moisture “wicking” properties. This means that moisture is absorbed by the fiber. This keeps sweat away from being released to the outside of the duvet.

This is the duvet I found to be the warmest:

The absolute warmest duvet on the market is the Qiviut duvet:

Alpaca Duvet

This Alpaca duvet I have tested and it is also very warm:

• Ave Maria 400 GSM Alpaca Wool Duvet/Comforter

The post The Warmest Wool Duvets (Qiviut, Alpaca and Camel Wool) appeared first on Reactual.

I have focused on blankets that are made of ultrawarm fibers like yak and cashmere. I’ve only listed blankets that contain at least 50% ultrawarm fibers.

See this article for a discussion about the advantages of these fibers — there’s also a summary at the end of the article.

Cashmere Throw Blankets

• 75% Cashmere & 25% Merino Throw Blanket by Cuddle Dreams – 73″ by 50″ – 470 GSM – $169
• 100% Cashmere Throw by State Cashmere – 100% pure Inner Mongolian cashmere – 60″ by 50″ — $200
• 100% Cashmere Travel Wrap by Love Cashmere – 65″ by 35″ (88cm by 165cm) – $259

Baby Alpaca Wool Throw Blankets

• 100% Baby Alpaca Wool Two-Sided Throw Blanket by Inca Fashions – 70″ by 51″ – $230
• 100% Baby Alpaca Blanket by Maloca Alpaca – 71″ by 51″ – $195
• 100% Baby Alpaca Throw Blanket by Inca Fashions – 71″ by 51″ – $180
• 100% Superfine Alpaca Blanket by Alpaca Warehouse – 90″ by 80″ – $150

Mohair Throw Blankets

• 100% Mohair Blanket by Brun De Vian-Tiran – 55″ by 71″ – $338
• 100% Mohair Blanket by Alpaca Blankets Co. – Queen – 102″ by 102″ – $435

Merino Wool Throw Blankets

• 100% Merino Wool Throw Blanket by Spencer and Whitney – $72

The post The Warmest 100% Wool Throw Blankets appeared first on Reactual.

Wool is a natural material that includes a crimp, which helps to hold in more heat than a material with an open weave. It also provides natural insulation.

They way in which a fabric holds moisture is also important. Natural fibers like wool, silk and cotton will all absorb water, whereas synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon do not.

Absorbent fabrics will tend to keep you quite comfortable, wicking moisture away from the skin and leaving a layer of warm, dry air.

These are the warmest 100% wool blankets available on the market:

Wool Blankets

• 100% Wool Blanket by Poyet Motte (France) – 33 microns/350 gsm (grams per square meter) – $146 (king size)
• Eco-Wise Washable Wool Blanket by Pendelton (USA) – $248 (king size)
• Princess Summer Weight 100% Merino Heirloom Blanket by John Atkinson (UK) – 90″ by 109″ – $258 (king size)
• Aristocrat Blanket, Cashmere and Lambs Wool Heirloom by John Atkinson (UK), King, 100″ by 109″ – 15% cashmere and 85% pure merino lambswool – $391 (king size)
• Baron Blanket, 100% Merino Wool Heirloom by John Atkinson (UK), King, 100″ by 109″ – $434 (king size)

Cashmere Blankets

• 100% Cashmere Blanket by Cashmere Boutique – 4 ply “A-grade” cashmere – 108″ x 90″ (king size) — $749
• 100% Cashmere Blanket by Himalayan Trading Company – 100% twill weave 2-ply Cashmere – 90″ x 108″ Size – $440

Camel Wool Blankets

• The Ispahan Blanket by Brun De Vian-Tiran – 100% camel wool, 530 g/m², king size (240cm by 260 cm), $1665
• The Khokan Blanket by Brun De Vian-Tiran – 100% camel wool, 390 g/m², king size (240 cm by 260 cm), $864
• 100% Baby Camel Hair Blanket by CashmereWool It – 400 g/m² – King Size – 108″ x 88″ – $1037

The post The Warmest 100% Wool Blankets For The Bed appeared first on Reactual.

Below 17.5µ the wool starts to feel buttery soft against the skin.

Here’s a guide to fineness grading:

• Fine grade (18.6 – 20μ)
• Ultrafine grade (15.5μ and below)
• Superfine grade (15.6 – 18.5μ)

These are the finest wool T-shirts I’ve found:

Men’s Short Sleeve T-Shirts — Ultrafine Merino

• 100% Merino 15.5 Micro Shirt by Loow — two-ply compact spun Italian ultrafine merino — 160 g/m² — $112
• 100% Merino 12 Micro T-Shirt by Loro Piana – $2150 (!)

Men’s Short Sleeve T-Shirts — Superfine Merino

• 100% Merino 16.5 Micron T-Shirt by Meriwool – 190 g/m² – $55 – best price for ultrafine merino
• 87% Merino 16.5 Micron T-Shirt by Proof – superfine merino from Global Merino, New Zealand – $88
• 87% Merino 16.5 Micron Short Sleeve Shirt by Arcteryx (Veilance) – 100% superfine merino – $150
• 100% Merino 16.5 Micron T-Shirt by Outlier – top capped MacKenzie 16.5 micron merino – 145 g/m² — $120
• 87% Merino 17.5 Micron T-Shirt by Ridge – superfine merino – 145 g/m² – $54
• 100% Merino 17.5 Micron T-Shirt by Minus33 — superfine merino — lightweight jersey knit – 170 g/m² — $64
• 100% Cashmere T-Shirt by Maison Cashmere – Loro Piana wool – $127

Men’s Long Sleeve T-Shirts – Superfine and Ultrafine Merino

• 100% Ultrafine Merino Crew Sweater by Jema — ultrafine 13.5 micron Saxon merino (wool known as Jemala) — $382
• 100% Merino Long Sleeve Shirt by Minus33 — 17.5 micron merino — 170 g/m² — $69
• 75% Merino Dreamweight Shirt by Outlier — 75% 16.5 micron merino, 25% nylon — 110 g/m² — $120
• 89% Merino Long Sleeve Shirt by Proof — 17.5 micron merino — superfine wool from Global Merino, New Zealand — $98
• Veilance Frame Shirt Long Sleeve Shirt by Arcteryx — 87% superfine merino, 13% nylon — 16.5 micron — $200

More About Modern Merino Wool

Merino wool has come a long way since the scratchy, thick sweaters of our childhood.

Ultrafine merino wool also feels amazing against your skin – no more scratchiness. The fine fibers make for an incredibly soft fabric that drapes beautifully over your body, never clinging or catching on to anything.

These ultrafine merino wool shirts are perfect for active people who want to stay comfortable on the trail or at work.

Merino wool is a versatile material. It’s warm in cold weather and cool when it’s hot outside. This ability to regulate body temperature makes Merino ideal for outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and skiing.

One of the biggest advantages of ultrafine merino wool shirts is their moisture-wicking properties. Merino fibers can absorb up to 30% of their weight in water while still feeling dry. This means that sweat from your body won’t hang around on your skin but will instead be absorbed by the shirt where it evaporates quickly.

Another benefit of ultrafine merino wool shirts is their odor-resistance capabilities. Merino fibers have natural antimicrobial properties which prevent bacteria from growing on them. This means that you can wear a shirt several times before needing to wash it without worrying about smelling bad.

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