Recently, air fresheners have been in the news because of findings that they
contain chemicals that have proven harmful (such as causing liver and kidney
cancer in laboratory animals), and which have been shown to cause breathing
difficulties in humans, especially those with compromised lung function.
Both spray type and plug-in type air fresheners have been implicated.
DooDoo Voodoo's germ- and odor-killing action, along with its largely natural
and biodegradable ingredients, can help you attain the fresh-smelling home you
desire...without the negatives associated with the air fresheners that have
been in the news lately.
But you're not going to want to
treat your home with DooDoo Voodoo every day to keep it smelling fresh and
inviting. (Although, if we'd sure appreciate it if you did.)
We've found three other devices
and methods to be of great additional value. These are:
Air Purifiers And
Ionizers
Air purifiers come in a variety of types and with varying degrees of
filtration. We've tried many types and brands, and have recently been
very impressed with the Dr. Whitaker Neoair Plus Total Shield units available from
www.drwhitaker.com.
You can view a multi-page PDF about the Neoair Plus Total Shield by
clicking
here. They don't yet have a Total Shield page on their
site, so you might need to contact customer service to inquire or order. This is
a 5-stage unit that uses multiple techniques to provide what we consider to be
excellent air treatment. We bought two units and loved them so much that
we've purchased 4 additional units. Note: Neoair units are
widely available, but the Neoair Plus Total Shield unit is manufactured specifically for
Dr. Whitaker and is only available through his company. The other Neoair
units don't utilize the same 5th stage, which is carbon filtration (a primary
means of controlling odor, which is especially important to those of us with
animals).
Here's a link to the Neoair site's page
pertaining to the "plain" (4-stage, non-Dr. Whitaker) Neoair Plus, but we
really think the carbon filtration is important and would encourage you to
consider the Dr. Whitaker Neoair Plus Total Shield units. The Neoair
units were given a very high rating by
this site.
Ionizers, too, come
in a variety of styles and technology. Some units generate ozone, which
can be an effective air cleansing methodology, but which can irritate some
people, causing breathing problems, headaches, nausea and more. Other units only generate ions, which attach themselves to
particles in the air, thus making the particles fall to the floor. (The Neoair unit mentioned above is certified not to generate ozone, and does
feature ion generation as one of its 5 stages.) We have had good success
using ionizers from Ecoquest, specifically their Breeze units, of which we own
half a dozen or so (shown). Older models gave us repair issues, but
we've had great luck with the Breezes. Here's a link to an eBay search
for Ecoquest Breeze units:
http://search.ebay.com/Ecoquest-Breeze_W0QQfsopZ32QQfsooZ2QQrprZ138.
Ecoquest units are also available through distributors throughout the USA and
beyond. Some people, including
this site, give the Ecoquest units poor
marks, so do your homework. (The site also contains seemingly objective
reviews and user comments on all manner of air purifiers. We find it to
be a good resource during the decision-making process.)
Used
correctly, ionizers can be an important tool in your battle to keep your air
clean, fresh-smelling and healthy for people and pets, but they may not be
right for all customers.
UV Air Treatment
Units
Used correctly, UV light is highly effective at killing mold, mildew,
bacteria, viruses and more as they circulate through your air handling (HVAC)
system. We use a UV unit in our animal rescue facility and it really
helps keep the air healthier and fresher. We paid oodles for our unit
through our HVAC service provider, but you can also purchase a unit and, if
mechanically inclined, install it yourself in 15 minutes. Here's a link
to an affordable unit we located and purchased for our home (though we haven't
installed it yet):
http://www.amilair.com/products/BEUV2.php.
UV technology is reported to be mandatory for use in government buildings, so
consider implementing it in your facility, too.
Air Exchangers
Air exchangers trade inside air for outside air, which—at least in most
locales—is a good way to keep your inside air healthier and fresher. We
use an air exchanger in our rescue facility and have found it to be a useful
addition to our air handling system. These units aren't cheap, but can
really do a good job if kept clean and given the benefit of good ducting in
both directions. Here's a link to the results of a Google search:
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=t&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GZHZ_enUS239US239&q=air+exchangers.
Here's a link to a site
where you can purchase the same Aprilaire unit shown, which is the one we
use: http://www.alpinehomeair.com/viewproduct.cfm/productID/206/p/Aprilaire__8100_Perfectair_Air_Exchanger
Air-Quality
Testing
In addition to using the technologies discussed above, you might also want
to test your air quality to see if it contains harmful bacteria, viruses and
more. You can purchase do-it-yourself air-quality test kits at
http://www.airoasis.com.
You can also purchase ozone test badges. Scroll to the bottom of the
page to find the test kits and test badges. Shown is the result of an
air test we did in our basement before we implemented the
Neoair Plus Total Shield air purifier
mentioned above. Notice the large, white, fuzzy area to the right of
the darker area. Ewwww.
# # #
In an effort to keep your
environment as clean, fresh and healthy as possible, we urge you to consider
implementing one or more of these devices, all of which we've found to be
quite beneficial.
Note that we're not
affiliated with the companies mentioned on this page and that the opinions
expressed are not intended to be a substitute for professional advice,
medical advice and all that other stuff the lawyers always say. In
short, we assume no liability for your implementation of any of the devices
mentioned.
