Weddell Duo Shower Filter:
Unlike many shower filters, this Weddell filter is actually documented to work on removing many contaminants in your shower filter. It will make your skin and hair healthier.

Jaspr Air Filter:
The Jaspr filters the air in your home significantly better than most air filters. The filter designers figured out how to moves a lot of air through without making much noise. It also monitors air quality in real-time, and removes the air contaminants as soon as they are detected.

Venta Air Washer Humidifier:
This device combines good humidification and mild air purification for cleaner indoor air. Good if you have dry air in winter.

AquaTru Countertop Water Purifier or AquaTru Carafe Alkaline Mineral Boost Countertop Water Purifier:
These water purifiers use advanced multi-stage filtration to deliver pure water while the Alkaline Mineral Boost adds essential minerals.

Luxe Bidet Neo 185:
This bidet attachment stands out with a self-cleaning nozzle and easy installation for enhanced hygiene.

Our Place Titanium Always Pan Pro:
This frying pan stands out with a titanium nonstick surface that you don’t have worry about scratching.

Waterpik Cordless 2.0 Water Flosser:
This water flosser is clinically proven to remove up to 99.9% of plaque.

Philips Sonicare 9900 Electric Toothbrush:
This toothbrush stands out with AI-powered SenseIQ technology that adapts to your brushing style. Good for protecting your enamel.

Miele Classic C1 Bagged Canister Vacuum:
Renowned for its powerful suction and durability. Made in Germany.

Panda 3200 rpm Portable Spin Dryer:
This spin dryer offers efficient, gentle drying at high speeds. Spin drying is much more energy efficient than electric tumble drying. Spinning is also faster — it takes two to three minutes to get clothes to a “barely damp” state.

Sylvania LED TruWave Natural Series BR40 Light Bulb, Twilight Bulb, Koze Bulb, Hooga Red Sleep Light Bulb:
These bulbs are designed for health and wellness, offering natural light spectrums or sleep-enhancing red wavelengths.

ASUS HDR Monitor 4K:
This monitor stands out with 4K resolution and eye-protection technology for comfortable viewing.

Sttoke Leakproof Lid Shatterproof Tumbler:
These drink tumblers offer leakproof lids and shatterproof construction.

State Cashmere Throw Blanket:
This blanket is crafted from premium cashmere for luxurious softness and warmth.

Safavieh Natura Collection & nuLOOM Flat Weave Solid Tassel Area Rug:
These wool rugs stand out for their softness, durability, and eco-friendly, natural materials.

Naturepedic Organic Adjustable Latex Pillow:
This pillow offers adjustable latex fill and organic cotton cover for customizable, non-toxic comfort.

Shepherd’s Dream comforter:
Made from pure wool and organic cotton, this comforter stands out for its breathability and natural temperature regulation.

Redecker Tampico Fiber Exfoliating Massage Brush:
This brush uses natural tampico fibers for gentle exfoliation and improved circulation.

All Natural Latex Pillow With Organic Cotton Outer Covering:
This pillow stands out for its natural materials and hypoallergenic design, promoting restful sleep.

Yoloha XL Unity Cork Yoga Mat:
This thick, eco-friendly yoga mat is made from cork and latex for superior grip and comfort.

Thrive Bodyshield SPF 50 or Thinksport SPF 50+ Mineral Sunscreen:
These sunscreens use mineral-based ingredients for broad-spectrum protection without harsh chemicals.

The post A Curated List Of Healthy Home Products appeared first on Reactual.

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.

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.

The Details

It’s important to keep indoor humidity at an optimum level (45 to 65 percent). Dry air in the winter is one the main causes of sinus infections and sore throats. Dry air is also hard on the lungs and tends to cause dry skin.

The Venta Airwasher is a unique device that cleans and humidifies the air in your room by drawing air over a slowly rotating drum which is covered with water. This low-tech “cold evaporation” system is very efficient  — the Venta draws only seven watts on the highest setting.

I’ve been testing a Venta in my house for a couple of months now. It’s winter here, and the unit  has been running 24 hours a day on the second highest setting. On average it consumes about 1.5 gallon of water per day.

The Venta requires fewer refills than most humidifiers and fewer cleanings too. Most humidifiers require cleaning every third day, but the Venta requires a cleaning only every two weeks. In order to cut down on the cleanings, it relies on a proprietary chemical mixture. It comes with a two week supplies on the cleaning mixtures. For $20, you can purchase a 35 ounce replacement bottle that last four months.

The Venta Airwasher has a ten year warranty and each model is fully recyclable. It is manufactured in a facility powered entirely by wind energy in Germany.

The Venta Airwasher is available from Amazon for about $300.

The post The Most Energy Efficient Humidifier: The Venta Airwasher appeared first on Reactual.

The Details

Tower air filters, frequently using HEPA technology, are designed to reduce exposure to indoor irritants and allergens such as dust, cigarette smoke, pollen, pet dander, mold and mildew spores and other particulate matter. Effective air filtration is especially important for those with allergies or respiratory problems such as asthma. Studies show that those who suffer allergies are often sensitive to multiple allergens, making it nearly impossible to remove environmental triggers without the use of technology such as air filters using the HEPA technology.

HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters work by forcing air through a fine mesh designed to trap particulate that can escape standard filters found on HVAC systems. Many tower air filters contain a HEPA filter, and as air is pulled into the tower by a fan, it is pulled through the filter where particulate is trapped and then clean air is forced back out. HEPA filters are remarkably effective at eliminating environmental irritants, capturing 99.9% of airborne impurities 0.3 microns in diameter, or larger.

Consider the air change rate (ACH), which defines how many times the portable air filter will clean an entire room’s air during one hour. An ACH of 5, for example, indicates the air will be cleaned every 12 minutes.

Another factor to consider is the CADR ratings, which is the clean air delivery rate. This identifies how powerful a tower air filter is. CADR indicates how many cubic feet of air the unit can filter in one minute. You may see ratings for CADR related to irritants such as dust, pollen and smoke on the tower air filter’s packaging. Look for higher numbers if you have a large space, or consider purchasing more than one tower air filter. Here are the best standalone air filters.

The Best Overall Stand-Alone Air Filter: RxAIR Plus

For most people, a stand-alone air filter is a convenient way to cut down on air pollution and minimize annoying affects of allergies. For others, an air filter is a literal lifesaver, killing airborne bacteria and viruses. If you have a weak immune system, go with RxAIR Plus, an air purifier trusted by hospitals around the world.

This high end air purifier harnesses the germicidal ultraviolet light (UV-C) to clean the air as well as germs and viruses ranging from H1N1, TB, and the flu. In addition to a 99% elimination of airborne bacteria and viruses in a space of up to 800 sq. ft, the RxAir uses a system of traps and baffles to catch large particles such as pet dander and dust.

The unit comes with a 5 year warranty that places cartridge replacement. Replacement cartridges are available to keep the machine running at max efficiency even after 5 years. The RxAir Plus comes with a whisper-quiet fan that allows it to purify the air without causing a lot of disturbance, and you don’t have to worry about changing out the filters.

The Best Stand-Alone Air Filter For Value: GermGuardian True HEPA AC4825

This best-selling unit is an all-around good value, offering true HEPA filtration, a charcoal filter to reduce common odors, and UV-C light technology to kill bacteria and germs. The unit is Energy Star qualified, meaning it meets the strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US EPA.

Air cycles through three stages to ensure maximum effectiveness. First, air is filtered through a pre-filter and charcoal filter to capture large particles and remove odors. Then, air is filtered through the HEPA filter, capturing 99.97% of airborne particles larger than 0.3 microns. In the last stage, UV-C light kills airborne viruses and bacteria, and titanium dioxide destroys the molecules that cause odors. Common viruses and bacteria that can be killed by the UV-C light stage includes rhinovirus, E. coli and streptococcus, responsible for millions of illnesses each year.

One downside is that it does require an air filter change every 7 months. The GermGuardian tower air filter includes an indicator light that blinks when it’s time to replace the filter or bulb.

The Best Compact Stand-Alone Air Filter: Honeywell QuietClean Compact Tower Air Purifier

The compact Honeywell QuietClean weighs just 1 pound, is 12.6 x 17.8 x 10.5 inches, and has a built-in handle, making it easily transportable and ideally suited for any tight space, including a nightstand, table or you can place it on the floor. It is whisper quiet, has two speed settings that can be set via an easy control knob on the top of the unit, and a permanent, washable iFD filter.

IFD (intense field dielectric) filters are a honeycomb of hollow air channels with floors and ceilings alternately charged or grounded via embedded electrodes to create a powerful, polarized electrical field inside the air channels which can trap 99.99% of particulate matter 0.3 microns or larger, including virtually all viruses, bacteria and spores. The iFD filter can be removed from the unit, easily washed with water and reused, so it never needs replacing.

The Honeywell QuietClean has a CADR rating of 40, meaning it can filter 40 cubit feet of air per minute, ideal for smaller rooms up to 62 square feet. The energy efficient design requires only as much electricity as a small light bulb to run, reducing your energy costs as compared to many other models. Air is effectively filtered through the unit 5 times per hour.

The Best Standalone Air Filter For Allergies: Honeywell True HEPA Allergen Remover

The Honeywell True HEPA Allergen Remover tower air filter is the number one recommended model by allergists, and the Honeywell brand is recommended by 7 out of 10 physicians who recommend the purchase of an air filter. This portable unit weighs just 21 pounds, making it simple to carry from room to room via built in handles on the sides. It can circulate the air in a 21’ x 22’ room up to 5 times per hour, and has a powerful CADR rating of 300, meaning it can clean up to 300 cubic feet of air per minute. There is an activated carbon pre-filter to help reduce common household odors, such as those caused by pets or cooking.

The unit features easy tap electronic controls, 3 cleaning levels and a turbo clean setting. A timer can be set to shut off automatically after 2, 4 or 8 hours, and there are built in electronic filter replacement reminders. A light/LED dimmer control on the top of the unit makes it easy to determine the operating status even in the dark. This unit functions most efficiently in a medium to large sized room and includes a true HEPA filter, guaranteeing 99.97% of allergens and other irritating particulate will be removed from the indoor environment.

The post The Best Standalone Air Filters appeared first on Reactual.

• The GermGuardian AC482522 is the best portable air filter available
• One of the air filters doctors recommend most, the Honeywell True HEPA Air Purifier is the best air filter for allergies
• The Holmes Desktop Purifier is the best value portable air filter

The Details

A portable air filter is a device that is used to purify the air in a room of impurities and pollutants. Air filter statistics from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have shown that the air inside your home can be five to ten times dirtier than the air outside, and Americans spend an average of 90% of their lives indoors.

Portable air filters are intended to target specific contaminants, decreasing the levels in which they are detected in the room. In order to do this, the air is passed through one of more filters to remove dust, lint, germs and other pollutants. In a stationary (non-portable) purifier, the filter is inserted into the air return vents in a home. These materials include foam, fiberglass, cotton and synthetic fibers. A portable air filter is more versatile, and the same materials and methods are used in many of the best portable filters.

Some of the most popular air filter types are HEPA air purifiers, air filters that use activated carbon filters and others that use charged media filters. When purchasing a portable air filter with HEPA technology, it is important to look for one with a genuine HEPA filter, or “true” HEPA filter. Some may be advertised as “HEPA-like,” but these do not meet the high standards of a true HEPA filter.

Here are three of the best portable air filters on the market today.

The Best Overall Portable Air Filter: Germ Guardian AC4825

The GermGuardian AC482522 is just 22” in height and weighs a tiny 7 pounds, making it easily transportable from room to room. It features three fan speeds, is ultra-quiet and is best suited for medium sized rooms. The CADR rating is 100+, meaning it can clean more than 100 cubic feet of air in one minute.

This tower-like product from Guardian Technologies is the best available portable air filter on the market. The AC4825 uses three different filters that screen out almost all undesirable particles from the air by using multiple filters and systems.

First, the pre-filter uses activated carbon to remove odors and gases from the home. It also captures larger pieces of dust and pollen. The second filter is a True HEPA system that removes pet dander, dust mites, mold spores and pollen. True HEPA filters must meet strict guidelines to be classified as such. Therefore, you can be assured that the HEPA system in the GermGuardian filters out almost 100% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns. Lastly, the air is passed through short range UV light, also known as UV-C. This UV light is effective in killing germs and viruses such as E. coli and streptococcus.

The Best Portable Air Filter For Allergies: Honeywell Air Purifier

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