Air Fresheners

Yesterday, I received an early birthday present from my friend on the east coast. She surprised me with the Thermax Mini-Max air freshener and purifier! I thought it was a very cool gift. She knows that I'm an air purifier lover, but my home already has a few of them, so she thought this Mini-Max would be a great idea - and it really was!

The Mini-Max works as a humidifier, vaporizer, air freshener, and air purifier all in one. I especially love the fact that it's a humidifier because I'm sick right now, and that has definitely helped with my coughing. The little air freshener smells so good, too! It comes with mulberry, Italian cream, eucalyptus/menthol and aqua blue scents, all of which smell fresh and clean - just the way I like my air!

Can an Air Purifier Get Rid of My Cat Odor?

I have cats; Link and Zelda. Well...they were kittens when we adopted them. My boyfriend I went to the shelter over a year ago for some kitty love; Someone special to fill that void in our lives like children would - minus the diaper-changing and college tuition savings. We had to visit the shelter a couple of times, since it had 500 puppy-eyed cats (LOL oxymoron) and we wanted to pick two kittens out. My BF and I decided that we needed two cats because, well, we thought it would be nice to keep them company when we're not around.

My home is about 900 sq. feet and I didn't really think two cats would be problematic. At the time I thought, "Hey, they're young...we'll train them to do whatever we want!" But, I was wrong about that. Despite wanting them to be "well-behaved", they're still cats. They do cat-things like eat Meow Mix and lounge in the sunlight. And the biggest habit that I'm sure all of us would wish away: they use the litter box.

Anyhow...with a 2 bedroom, 1 bath apartment...the bathroom has to be shared with the cats and it was a bit obvious to our guests that there was a litter box by the toilet. I began to get really concerned about the smell...so I had this genius idea that we should potty train them.

At first I thought..."Yes! They're using it right!" but you really had to be vigilant. It took a lot of effort to constantly clean up after them but I was determined that the training would take no more than 6 months. Link seemed to respond really well to the training and had no problem doing his business (yes that picture is of him doing #2...hence his "meh" expression), but it was hard to go to the next level with Zelda making so many mistakes. How did we know that she messed up? We caught her urinating on the couch a few times...and cat urine's concentrated...so the smell's very pungent. After two to three months of constantly washing cushions and gallons of Febreze, we converted back to the traditional kitty litter box but it didn't solve the odor problem one bit.

Most would think, "Oh, just get an air freshener," and I had one plugged in for weeks straight. The bathroom isn't roomy and the odor would get into the towels. The plug-ins only covered the underlying smell; The kind of smell that'd cause you to say..."Hey...it smells like ocean breeze, but...something smells funny still...what is it?"

So what next? Now that my couch smells like wonderful cat urine and the bathroom problem hasn't been solved, what other options do I have? I started researching information on air purifiers and found that carbon filters were pretty efficient at trapping odors.

Now, most people would go out to Walmart or something to find an air purifier, but their products usually aren't industrial grade. If you had your whole couch soaked in cat urine and your living space was condensed to a mere 900 ft...what could work? I borrowed my mother's ionized filter for awhile thinking that it'd do the job. It clearly helped with the danger and my cat-allergic friends were able to spend the night with no problems, but it didn't do anything for the smell. After I returned my mother's filter, I found out that ionized products can harm the environment and it doesn't feel all that great doing that.

I stayed in this limbo of washing cushions and spraying Frebreze every day. I was a bit too busy to keep it up and I was also looking for a new job. It started to become pretty frustrating and I wanted a solution, but didn't know much about investing in an air purifier. But thankfully, I was hired to an online company that researches and markets air purifiers. (Pure coincidence.)

At first, I was reluctant to shell out more than $100 for an air purifier. Most air purifiers from home retail stores cost around $100. But the biggest weakness to these cheaper models is that they're usually not dependable. I remember getting a wireless USB adapter from one of those stores and I had problems with the product after a week. My rule of thumb is: buy from the people who know it best...it'll save you the headache of having to replace/repair/exchange a poor product. I figured that it wouldn't be a bad idea to try out and invest in some high-quality products that I actually need at home.

So at the moment...I'm going to select an air purifier for my home, but I'm not sure on which one to get. I obviously want to have a bit of research done before I spend my money. I do know that there are a few specifications, though:

• something small and compact, not something the cats can tackle down
  
• has a washable filter or a cost-efficient filter
  
• under $300, lightweight (under 50 lbs.)
  
• has a design that compliments my home decor
  
• carbon filter (apparently these are the best for odors)
• relatively quiet (I already have computers, the cats' water filter, and machines buzzing around)
  

Germ Guardian Sanitizers Now at Air Purifier Home

Air Purifier Home is proud to now carry the Germ Guardian brand of sanitizers and air purifiers. Germ Guardian is on the cutting edge of home sanitation products. They have harnessed the power of UV-C light to create new options for air and surface purification. All Germ Guardian products offer heavy duty purification power that will keep friends and family safe and healthy. All their products have passed through rigorous testing from multiple third party testers, including the Harvard School of Public Health.

The Power of UV-C

UV-C is a magnetic waveform with a distinct frequency that helps eliminate 99.9% of germs. It uses its 253.7 wavelength to cause cell death and destroy specific DNA that allows for disease replication. By deactivating this DNA in dust mites, bacteria, viruses and other pathogens, you are eliminating their ability to multiply and cause disease. This works extremely effectively on all surfaces. Hospitals use UV-C light with a HEPA filter. This combination has been proven to provide the ultimate in air purification and sanitation.

Thoroughly Tested

Germ Guardian is always striving to be the best. Because of this, they hire multiple third party testing groups to not only validate their results but to show consumers that they are getting products that are leading the market in satisfation and results. Numerous well known agencies have tested and verified their results, including the prestigious Harvard School of Public Health.

Portable

Germ Guardian recognizes that germs are everywhere; in fact you probably need more protection when outside of your own house then in it. Hotel phones are a great example of how easily germs can be transferred. When using a phone hotel, you do not know how often or if they have ever been cleaned. Your hand, ear and mouth come within close contact making the transference of germs very easy. Many of Germ Guardian's products are lightweight and portable allowing you to get comprehensive protection and sanitation power wherever you may be.

Featured Products:

Germ Guardian AC6000 6-Stage Air Purifier

For comprehensive air purification and sanitation one can do no better then the Germ Guardian AC6000 6-stage air purifier. Multiple speeds, timer settings, a remote control and whisper quiet operation are just some of the features that come with this powerful machine. But at its core are its six stages of filtration. The process begins with a pre-filter that quickly removes all particles to large for the filtration process thereby keeping the filter and your air in pristine condition. The charcoal filter removes noxious odors and the PCO filter helps destroy microorganisms. But its most powerful combination is the HEPA filter and UV light. This filtration process is used in most hospitals. HEPA filtration removes 99.97% of particles like dust, dirt, dander and bacteria down to the 0.3 micron level. The UV light works in conjunction to remove diseases and germs thereby purifing and sterilizing your air. As if this weren’t enough the AC6000 also has the option of an ionizer that adds to the purification process, for a more thorough cleaning.

Germ Guardian LW18 UV-C Sanitizer Wand

The Germ Guardian LW18 UV-C sanitizer wand is a great example of the portable sterilization power of Germ Guardian. Able to be taken anywhere it is wireless and only weighs one pound. It uses its UV-C light to kill up to 99% of bacteria and viruses. This item is great for the home and when traveling. The bulb last for 76 years so you know you are getting the most out of it. All you have to do is hold the wand over an object for about 20 seconds at a distance of 2 inches and you instantly get a sanitized surface. This is great for toilets, showers, phones, sheets or just about anywhere you feel you need comprehensive protection. Best of all UV-C light is natural, thereby eliminating chemicals and their side effects from the equation.

Whats an AirPod?

Let’s face it, while extremely functional and often necessary air purifiers have not been known for their style. They are often large, clunky and not really designed to be placed on display. No matter where purifiers are placed they can often end up looking out of place. Another common problem with air purifiers is that they are generally stantionary items, leaving you purifier-less when you go out of town. What if you enjoy clean air and then have to travel to Los Angeles for work? Or even worst what if you return home from a vacation and discover that the air you have been breathing is littered with chemicals and toxins? Luckily Blueair a company known for their innovation, foresight and quality have developed the Blueair air purifier.

Blueair AirPod

The Blueair AirPod is an ergonomically and stylishly designed air purifier. Extremely compact it weighs only 1.7 pounds and has been specifically designed to add style and can travel with you wherever you go. All you have to do is plug it in and its ready for use. It comes with three different patterns, tree branches, waves and paisley. Not only is it super compact, it is also energy efficient. It has been Energy Star certified for its low energy consumption, in fact it uses less energy then a single light bulb.

It does its job too. It filters 99.97% of particles down to 0.1 microns. These include pollen, pet dander, mold spores, dust and other common household allergens. It is extremely environmentally safe. It uses 60% less material then air purifiers that give the same level of performance. It also uses 85% less energy than units with comparable efficiency and delivers clean air at 8 CADR per watt. That’s FOUR times the amount set by Energy Star. All components are 100% recyable including its packaging material. Its fully exposed HEPASilent Filter helps deliver better air, faster. Its 12 volt fan makes sure that air is constantly circulating throught the fiolter. Plus if you buy the model in pink they will donate 5% of their sales to Breast Cancer Research.