BIONAIRE 711D - Air Purifier Filter

Got exactly what I needed. Had previously ordered from another company, shipping AND item were more expensive and delivery took longer than this seller's.

Except for a minor dent (which did NOT effect usage), I would have rated it 5 stars.

Friedrich CP18G30

I bought this to replace a thru the wall GE 15,000 btu unit that had been in place for 15 years with 0 problems but suddenly died during the recent heat wave. Due to it's age I did not explore the option of repair and went for a new unit. The existing unit had cooled the entire 1st floor of my small house with no problems and when I shut a door to divide the 1st floor it kept both the office and bedroom which are right across from each other very cool at night on a low power saver option.

This 18,000 btu should have been more powerful but does not come anywhere near the cooling power of the old GE. It does cool the the 8 x 10 office but even on the lowest temp setting & top fan speed does not really push any cool air past that room. I had used PC Richards to survey and determine needed btu's before purchase and then paid them 300$ for installation so it is not installed incorrectly the unit is just not all that it should be.

If it was not for the fact that it is a wall unit and diffcult to take out I would return it. I am so sorry I did not try to fix the old one or used Amazon to purchase a model with reviews and done the install myself. I am now in the process of using Amazon to purchase a window AC for the bedroom sine this new unit does not do the job.

This new unit is also noisy, I would have thought newer units would be quieter than a 15+ year old AC but not so, I need to have the TV very loud to hear over it. I would be fine with the noise if it cooled more than the small room it is in.

The only good thing I can say is it does have a remote which the old one did not,but the instruction book does not give any instructions on what the symbols mean on the remote. When trying to use the remote I had to do a lot of expermenting to set it manually and then check what the remote showed. It does have a timer feature but again instructions so unclear I have yet to figure it it out.

I will never buy a Friedrich again and hope this may help folks looking to replace their thru the wall AC.

Magic American Corp/Homax Basement Odoreliminator Oeb21 Air Freshener

I had this awful musty/mildew/animal urine type smell in my kitchen. We did a little search and found that it originated in the basement. Air fresheners and sprays did nothing. Baking soda did nothing. It was awful. The summer heat and humidity made it even more powerful.

I found the Odor Eliminator for Homes at a hardware store and it came with a free closet one. I bought 3 and put the big ones in the basement room where the smell originates, we think. Then I put the closet ones in the drawers and cabinets in the corner where the odor is the strongest.

I've had them in for about 8 hours now and the smell is reduced GREATLY! I am very impressed!!!

Save 40% Off

Hamilton Beach 04290FS General Purpose Odor Removal Filter

These replacement filters are the all-purpose ones designed to go into the Febreze True Air plug-in. There are three unscented carbon filters to a package, along with three of the timer bubble packs. These filters will do a reasonable job for about six weeks of continuous use. If you want to get the most performance out of the Febreze True Air, go for the Hamilton Beach filters labeled for smokers or pet owners, those work much more effectively and last longer.

Bionaire A1260C Carbon Replacement Filters

The "Bionaire A1260C Carbon Replacement Filters" are for use for several models of the Bionaire Air Cleaners(see editorial review for model numbers). I have the Bionaire BAP1175 Quietech Hepa Air Cleaner(which by the way is a fabulous product in itself).

My air cleaner works on a 3 filter system. The first removes the larger particles from the air(it may be washed) Next,this one, is a carbon filter(very easy to install and remove) that traps odors. This works great. The carbon filter does a good job of removing dog smells, smoke and cooking odors as well. It is recommended to change these filters(there are 2) every 3-6 months(it may not be washed).These filters are fairly inexpensive to replace.The instruction manuel says you will know when to replace it, as "odor removal effectiveness will be noticeably reduced". That is exactly how I knew when to change my filters.Running it almost constantly, it was just short of the 3 months that I noticed they needed to be changed, but I attribute that to the house being closed up all summer with the A/C on. And by the way, after replacing the filters,on which I could also see all the dust they filtered, I noticed the difference within minutes!(even with the dog in the house). They are simple to change(I can finally do something I don't have to ask the menfolk to help with), and they come four in a pack, so your all set for the next time. They come in a plastic resealable bag and advise to keep the spares sealed up to maintain freshness. When I ordered, I noticed that they took just a little longer then the other items, so order early.

Oh and for those interested in the Hepa Air Cleaner Model BAP1175...the third filter is the hepa filter..This is already in the machine on arrival. This filter, according to the manuel, removes 99.97% of particulate as small as 0.3 microns in size. It filters smoke, dust, pollen mold spores, pet dander and "some" bacteria. And I believe it. Now these filters are quite a bit more expensive to replace, but they last quite a while, somewhere between 12-24 months. And you will know exactly when to replace it, because there is a great feature, a digital read out of how much filter life is left.After nearly 3 months mine still has about 87% life left. For more info on the air cleaner itself please see my review.

A great buy on a very good product and easy to get here at Amazon(as opposed to running around trying to find the model number I needed.)

Thanks....Laurie

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Hunter 30245 Quietflo Three-Speed

This is a current QuietFlo model and is all digital. Good filter system and a fairly quiet low speed. For the first 2-3 weeks, it gave off a slight plastic-type smell...I don't know if it was the charcoal pre-filter or the plastic housing. This odor is diminishing with time. I would buy another.

Hoover Platinum Lightweight Upright Vacuum

Hoover Platinum Lightweight Bagged Upright with Canister (UH30010COM) (3/14/09)

Overall, this is a terrific vacuum. The person who will be happiest with this combination is the person who: (1) wants a lightweight vacuum, (2) has mostly carpet in their home, (3) has carpeted stairs, and (4) uses attachments.

I liked my old vacuum, so using the LBU has been an eye-opening experience for me: I didn't realize how much effort I was exerting with my old upright with attachments not only heavier, but so much bending and stooping to change settings or get tools.

At 11 pounds, the LBU is 2 to 3 pounds heavierbut less expensive than competing models. Bonuses: it has a longer cord and a stair cleaning handle.

Competing models -

Hoover LBU, 11 lbs list $300/retail $300 (includes canister), 6 yr warranty

Riccar RSL5; 8 lbs list $710/ retail $500 (without canister), 3 yr warranty

Oreck XL Gold: 9 lbs list $600/ retail $500 (includes canister), 5/10 warranty

Oreck XL Platinum: 9 lbs list $800/ retail $600 (includes canister), 10 yr warranty

All of these uprights (including the LBU) are similar to commercial models, but you don't get the same auto carpet height adjustment, lifetime belt, HEPA filtration, and warranty on commercial models.

The supplementary canister has a strap and a 25 food cord. I didn't like it the first time I tried it, but the second time I adjusted the strap to fit me (DUH!), and then I LOVED it! The canister carries the crevice and brush attachments on board, so switching is easy, and the wand is extendable. (I don't use the floor tool, because I use a stick vac on my hardwoods.)

ADDED ADVICE (9/9/09): I have been using my machine about 6 months. About a month ago, I noticed that my machine was no longer expelling fresh smelling air. I assumed that although the bag was not completely full (after 5 months, in a 2800 sq ft mostly carpeted house), the dust from my 15/16yo carpets had clogged it up and so I replaced it (not bad...5 months for one bag). After replacing the bag, it still didn't smell as good as at first. Not nasty, just dusty. Hmmm. So I took out the new bag, vacuumed out the interior of the bag area (carefully, so I wouldn't damage anything), removed the base of the machine and cleaned and vacuumed that out as well (an advantage to a separate canister).

(Edit 11/13/09) That seemed to pretty much solve it for me, but I asked about it when I called about the battery for my Hoover Platinum Collection Linx Cordless Stick Vacuum) (see review), and was told that if you live in a very humid climate (like the Gulf Coast), then a cloth bag machine can develop a funky smell especially if stored in an unventilated area which can be treated by putting the vaccuum out in the sunshine on a hot, dry day. I was told NOT to use carpet fresh or other powders or spray fresheners (like Febreeze) because the product might build up over time and clog up the outer cloth bag.(END OF ADDED ADVICE)

If you want details about specific features, read on:

PROS

FINGERTIP CONTROLS Wonderful. Many models have this type of control now, and now that I have used it I wouldn't buy one that didn't have it.

HEPA SYSTEM Remarkable. My old vacuum was a HEPA model with HEPA bags, but there is no comparison to this model. The air on this vacuum comes out smelling fabulous. I bought and returned a top rated Kenmore canister that had the exact same amazingly clean exhaust (turns out I don't like using a canister), so I think this is the new hallmark of quality vacuums.

AUTO CARPET HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT Works beautifully. I used to have to stoop down to change the carpet height adjustment on different rugs, but the LBU self-adjustment really works no problem pushing vacuum over even the thickest pile.

CORD PLACEMENT Smart! It comes out the behind the top of the bag rather than the bottom. This means I have even more useable cord, because I don't have to hold part of the cord up to avoid running over it.

CLEANING ABILITY VERY effective carpet cleaner, my 15 year-old carpets look & feel (to bare feet) remarkably cleaner, and even look & feel newer. Excellent at removing pet hair from carpet. The upright is 5.5 amps with direct air flow, like the Riccar & Oreck models listed. The canister is 7 amps. (The combined total is listed in the product description very confusing. I suppose that Hoover thought consumers want a 12 amp machine, but amps are like gas mileage; if you get more suction for less amperage it's like getting better mileage. That's good, not bad. Plus you won't blow your fuses!)

EASILY MANEUVERABLE One expects this of a lightweight model, and all the models I tried turned easily and so forth, but the Riccar & Orecks I tried had to be kicked or tipped up over the edge of an area rug placed onto another carpet. In my home I have area rugs in several rooms on top of the wall-to-wall carpeting, and the LBU moves seamlessly over the edges (even on my thickest area rug) without needing a kick or an extra hard push.

LIFETIME LED HEADLIGHT Brilliant! (Literally!) It is brighter than any other light I have ever had on a vacuum, and is it actually aimed at the carpet! I think having the LEDs has allowed them to aim the light better than with a standard bulb. I am sure other LED equipped models are comparable, so look for this feature,

LIFETIME BELT YES! I've replaced SO many belts over the years and I won't have to do THAT anymore, thank goodness.

STAIR-CLEANING HANDLE Finally. It is comfortably shaped & works well. To use competitors' models on stairs, you have to hold them by the back tube, which I've tried, and it isn't nearly as easy as using the handle. However, see cons below.

CORD RELEASE (6/9/09 edit) I thought it didn't have one until another Amazon customer posted a commment to me (see comments) that it most certainly does; then I tried it again and VOILA! it does. Because I couldn't figure it out before, I got into the habit of just winding up the 35' cord on my arm and plopping it into the top cord holder. The LBU doesn't threaten to tip over at all when I do this, so it works just great and saves me yet another bend and stoop but it's a good feature to have, so I'm glad the engineers didn't leave it out.

CONS

STAIR-CLEANING HANDLE Good grief! I assume it really WAS necessary to vent the motor exhaust toward the stair-cleaning handle (!), so rather than curse the engineers, hold the handle on the right-hand side. It's big enough to do that, thank goodness. Or vacuum the stairs first, before the motor gets warm.

NO BRUSH ROLL ON/OFF Hmmm. This is in the description (and competitors' models are the same), so it means that the vacuum is intended ONLY for people with mostly carpet. (2/1/2011 edit: I have been told by other Amazon users that the brush roll does not touch the floor when put on a hard surface & so I need not worry about damaging my hardwood floors. I have occasionally used it on my hardwood and I have not seen any damage, but I am not sure about this. Up to you.) I have about 80/20 carpet/bare floor, so it works for me. I use a stick vac on my hardwood, and the other person I talked to that has hardwood floors and this vacuum says she doesn't care because her hardwood floors aren't new anyway. But if you have brand-spankin'-new hardwood floors, will you really want to use a brush-roll on them?

EXPENSIVE BAGS Really, $5 each? But they are huge, and they are the very high quality type with fabric-like paper, so we'll see. I used to have to change my old ones ($3) fairly often, so maybe this will work out the same or even cheaper.

CARRY-STRAP FOR CANISTER Not padded. Anyone know where I can buy a pad for a 1 ½ inch strap?

This review is longer than I would like, but since there are so few reviews out there as yet, I wanted to be thorough. Sorry for the length but hope this helps!

(7/19/2009 edit) By the way, the original price on this was $400 and now it has dropped to under $300! This is a terrific value at this price! I would be furious if I hadn't gotten a 20% discount in the first place!

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Pure Guardian H4500 144 Hour Ultrasonic Humidifier

When I first moved to the high mountains (8400') of Colorado, I used a wick-type humidifier constantly. I also had a nasty little cough that stayed with me for 18 months. Finally, I took my doctor's advice and junked the humidifier. End of cough, due to things growing in the unit. I have been shopping for humidifiers again for a while, and found them all to be lacking severely. Either they were the same type of filter construction that had caused my illness, or they were cheaply made, or low-capacity. This unit may have a tippy storage tank when turned upside-down to fill, but it is well made. The screw-on cap for the reservoir is sturdy and has a rubber gasket. There are carrying handles on the top and bottom of the water container to make it easy to manage, and it puts out a LOT of humidity. At 2/3 setting, it ran the humidity in my bedroom from 22 to 35% the first night, all while being completely silent. The (silent) piezo-electric ultrasonic element is the same as is used in the tweeters of my big PA speakers, and these are practically indestructible if kept clean. The huge water reservoir does mean that it is big, and the styling is retro, which is OK, I guess. More expensive units from the same manufacturer have useless and noisy digital features with the same overall construction. Overall, a solid five.

Update on 22Mar2012: This thing is great. The silver (yes, they impregnate the plastic with silver) added to the water chamber means that there is virtually no scum build-up inside. I did clean it once in the time I have had it. The little metal diaphragm of the ultrasonic element is brass not silver, so I do wipe that off every now and then, but this thing is fantastic. I always run filtered water in it. If you don't, you are either leaving the unfiltered residue in the tank, or blowing it out into your room! Give your sinuses, musical instruments and wood furniture a nice gift.

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Guardian Technologies FLT-4000 Replacement Filters

Overpriced? Maybe, maybe not. It depends on what you expect it to do. It works well in small rooms that do not have tons of dust, smoke, or mold. And it is quiet at least on the low speed.

But I've found it cheaper ($10 less per replacement filter) at a local Target store.

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Glade The Fragrance Collection Mini Candle-Sheer White Cotton-2 oz.

Candle burns very poorly. Scent is subtle and I wish I could smell it better but I can't because the wick barely burns. Disappointing. Guess sometimes you get what you pay for.

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William Ultrasonic Humidifier in Black

I recently moved to Aurora, Colorado (just outside Denver) and at 5,400 feet the humidity is extremely low. I noticed my skin began to itch, which it had not done before. My doctor advised moisturizing creams, which helped a bit, and an air humidifier. After a lot of investigating I narrowed my search to the Air-O-Swiss and the Williams. In fact, both units seemed remarkably similar with both using a "patented" ionic silver cube and a filter cartridge which seem visually identical. Both units provide warm and cool mist. Possibly the technology is licensed from Air-O-Swiss? The deciding factors for me were:

(a) the Air-O-Swiss listed a capacity of 650 sq. ft. and the Stadler 1,000 sq. ft. I have a very small house 850 sq. ft. which effectively makes the Stadler a whole house humidifier for me.

b) almost every review of the Air-O-Swiss commented on the inaccuracy of it's humidity meter and the only review I could find of the Stadler said it's meter was accurate.

THE GOOD: Assembly is a snap. The meter is close to accurate. The water tank is extremely easy to remove and fill. It is dark plastic, but the water level can be seen quite clearly. The tank capacity is sufficient for 9 hours of continual use. The machine is so silent that I have to listen closely at night to hear anything at all. Just a soft "ssshhh." The Control Panel is easy to see and use with many options and has a light to indicate no-water.

My skin itching stopped.

THE NOT SO GOOD: It is expensive and every source I could find had the same price. The filter cartridge needs to be replaced three or four times a year, depending on the hardness of your water, or when white dust accumulates on the unit or on a small mirror held to the fog. The ionic cube must also be replaced once a year. A testing strip is included and if your water has a hardness greater than 21 degrees dH, an ionic humidifier is not recommended. They suggest then using an impeller humidifier. The Desired Humidity cannot be set lower than 40%, but I found that setting it at 60% results in an actual humidity level of about 37% which is what I want anyway.

THE BAD: I couldn't find any.

SOME NOTES ON OPERATION: The instructions say not to place the Stadler Williams directly on the floor or next to heating. I went to Ace Hardware and found a small, plastic step stool for $12 that is 5" high. This keeps the unit off the rug and makes it easier to access when changing settings. If you have an chest of drawers in the room with space on top it should work equally well. A review of the Swiss-O-Air reported good results from soaking the ionic cube in water for 24 hours before initial use to increase effectiveness. I don't know if this is beneficial, but I did it and had no bad result.

I set my unit to Auto/Sleep

IMPORTANT: Several reviews of the Air-O-Swiss said that they used de-ionized water. The Stadler unit specifically recommends against this. It is designed to use with untreated water or with a drinking water filter system such as Brita. Using any additives are specifically warned against.

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Generic Dyson DC-07/DC-14 Replacement HEPA Filter

Not OEM, and does not come with rubber seal required for proper fit. I had to scrape off the old one and glue to the new filter, not what I expected.

Air Ionic Purifier LightningAir Air Sanitizer

i have been looking for a high powered ionic air cleaner for awhile, when i found this i knew it was the right one. it is an awesome machine. the air in my apt. smells like fresh air when i use it and my allergies don't bother me like they did before. i highly recomend this machine

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Holmes HM5305-UC Warm Mist Humidifier

I believe this item has received unfairly low ratings from other purchasers. Perhaps these reviews are from purchasers who have never owned a humidifier before, or who didn't bother to read the directions. I have owned three different humidifiers over the years, and this one has been overall the best.

I would agree the tank shape could stand some redesign. Like most humidifiers, you turn the tank upside down to refill, thus the top of the tank is best designed to conform to the shape of a tub or sink, so that it stays upright on its own while filling. This one does not do that, but it is still possible to prop it against the end of the tub to refill.

As for the other comments that have been made, of course it makes a gurgling noise. Water is dripping down into the base in order to be converted to steam. I have had the unfortunate experience of owning a humidifier that sounded like an 18-wheeler driving through my house--and believe me, this one is QUIET.

The only knocking noises I've heard were when the tank emptied while I was asleep and I didn't shut it off, AND I hadn't cleaned it in a very long time.

And of course the heating element is going to be hot right after you turn it off, and yes it could char a piece of wood if it came in contact with the heating element. The instructions CLEARLY STATE you must allow the heating element to cool before cleaning or refilling. I cannot imagine why someone would set something wet down on a wood table, or how the heating element came into contact with wood of one reviewer, as the heating element has a surrounding plastic framework that makes it difficult if not impossible to place anything directly against the heating element. Perhaps the user modified this plastic housing in some way.

Also, the tank cap has a mechanism that, together with the humidifier base, controls the amount of water that flows out of the tank. The only way this could malfunction and send water everywhere is if the cap was not screwed on properly (and just like a bottle of soda, if you don't screw the cap on properly, the bottle will leak), or if it is not placed on the base securely.

I have not found the recommended cleaning to be an issue. But then, I use the recommendations as a guideline, not a requirement. How much you cleaning you have to do depends on the condition of your water and your performance expectations.

The recommended "daily" cleaning is basically to remove the base reservoir and dump out any water and accumulated sediment. I actually only do this about once a week, and I have very hard water (lots of clay sediment and calcium. I cannot drink tap water, its that bad.) The recommended "weekly" cleaning is to fill the base reservoir with vinegar and soak for 20 mins, and wipe down the heating element and surrounding housing to remove any calcium deposits. I actually only do this about every 3 months. Sometimes I actually have to chisel off the calcium from the heating element! And with all this obviously poor maintenance, I have noticed no diminished performance!

I'm not sure what the 'reboot' requirement is, stated by one reviewer. The instructions clearly state that you should turn off the humidifier when you remove the tank for refilling, or when you are cleaning. This makes sense. Leaving it on without the heating element resting in a reservoir of water is like putting an empty pan on a hot stove burner. It will damage it. But turning it off for the few moments required for filling or cleaning is sufficient. No further effort is required. And I really don't understand how one is personally offended by an inanimate object.

As for the size of tank, and how long it lasts, that all depends on the settings you use, and the size of your room. The 36-hour timeframe advertised by the manufacturer is at the unit's lowest setting, as most manufacturers do. I keep mine set on low speed, with the humidity percentage at about 60%. This lasts 24 hrs. I definitely notice a humid feeling when walking into my bedroom where I keep the humidifer. My bedroom measures about 12' x 18', but I keep my bedroom door open always so the humidity isn't just staying in my bedroom alone. The packaging states accurately that this humidifier is intended to serve a medium-sized room, not a whole house or very large rooms.

I really love the fact that this model does not require filters. I've had humidifiers that require filters, and of course you can never find the filter when you need one, and they are often very expensive. I've also had a humidifier that advertised no filter required, then upon reading the fine print inside the box, learned that while a humidifier was not REQUIRED, it really needed one to function properly.

I replaced my last humidifier with this one because the lat model I owned had no controls other than on/off, and pumped out so much mist it soaked everything around it, and was a cold mist model that did not keep the calcium deposits inside the reservoir--everything that got soaked by the mist ended up with calcium residue on it that was impossible to remove.

All in all, a very good model. The only thing I would like better is a domed-top model that could rest easily in the tub for refilling.

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Crane 1 Gallon Humidifier

I only rate an item if it's extremely good, or really poor, and this item is great. We bought it for our daughter because she would cough at night. After we put it in her room it really reduced her coughing. It also doubles as a great night light. We liked it so much we bought a similar humidifier that was in the shape of a panda, but it was not nearly as good as the hello kitty product, and it didn't have the night light feature.

Save 20% Off

Go Berkey Kit - Portable Water Filter

I have had my portable "Go" Berkey for several months now and take it with me everywhere I travel. Hotels in the US, friends houses, foreign destinations everywhere! In fact, I like it so much, that I then purchased the "Big Berkey" that holds 2.25 gallons. I was so impressed with this, that I then purchased the Colossal "Crown" Berkey that holds 6.5 gallons! My 6 member family is happy with all three and they are an indispensable part of our lives. We emphasize copious water consumption and these the most logical, efficient and cost effective means of accomplishing this.

We have missionary friends in primitive areas of India and Africa who have also found the Berkey system to play a critical role in their lives. Everyone is happy with its performance.

Regarding those who say it "leaks", I can authoritatively say that the spigot only leaks for those who don't know how to "screw a lid on tight" or don't know how to properly connect a hose onto a faucet. The only "leak" issue that potential purchasers will need to be prepared for, is that it can be overfilled, causing the water to leak out between the upper and lower chambers.

Obviously, if the upper chamber is overfilled, it will cause the lower chamber to overfill, resulting in a overflow between the two. This is only a problem for those who are unprepared.

Screw on the spigot well and don't overfill, and you won't have any problems.

This is truly a professional product, that is NOT just a water filter it is a very sophisticated water purifier. It does what it is supposed to do and does it very, very well. It is exceptionally well built and performs flawlessly.

Don't be misled by those who are misinformed and don't know the basic fundamentals of how to screw on a faucet. I now own three of them and have no regrets.

It's operation is simple. It's performance is stellar. It's quality is unrivaled. And the end product is truly life saving!

Buy it with confidence. Use it with unbridled trust. Foreign workers all over the world depend on it and you can too!

BestAir VC-1 Magnetic Vent Cover

After reading lots of negative reviews on magnetic vent covers, I bought these BestAir Magnetic Vent Covers from a home improvement store by me. I was putting them on ceiling vents in my basement, so I was expecting them to fall off, and I would have to take them back. But, to my amazement, they did work! I even thought after air was blowing through the vents they would fall off, but they didn't. The best advice I can give is to cut them down so that they have maximum contact with the outside edge of the vent. They seem to need a lot of surface area contact in order for them to stay. But when they are cut correctly, they work perfectly. I rated them 4 stars instead of 5 because I have not owned them that long, and don't know how they perform over the long run.

Bionaire BAP815B-U Mini Tower Air Purifier

I've owned this Bionaire purifier for about 8 months and so far I have no complaints. This month the red check light went on which I assumed was to replace the filter. Filter replacement was very easy. Amazon sells the filters for $25 for a two pack which is a really good deal. I noticed nose stuffiness and allergy symptoms reduced within a month after I owned the product. It quickly removes smoke and other bad smells. I enjoy the 3 settings although I mostly use the medium and high settings. Some people are picky about noise but the medium setting is just a quiet hum and of course the high setting is a little louder but I find it useful for blocking out outside noise anyway. Overall, I think this is a good product for the price.

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106743/106753/106773 GE HEPA Air Cleaner Filter

The photo shown has two filters, only one comes with the order. They even have only one in the packaged product order when the air purifier takes two. I was shocked when the order came, $57 worth of filters seems like we could buy a new purifier.

Essick Air 697-500 Variable Speed Humidifier

I received this item just before Christmas 2009. Our house was so dry I was slowly pruning. At 1500 sq.ft. on the main floor with 9 foot ceilings it keeps us quite comfortable and does the job. Have been running it straight since early December and no mechanical problems. Be aware of the following:

LOOKS: This cabinet model looks better on the website than in person. It is a darker brown than shown (not as orange) but still a pleasing colour. It is made of plastic and has a woodgrain pattern, but doesn't quite live up to getting away with it, mostly because of the slightly warped top vent (yes, vents from top, cannot put stuff on top of here without blocking the ventilation). Ours comes out of the plastic hinge at the back and does not seat well in all grooves, but probably not noticeable to guests. It needs to sit with it's back against a wall, as the back of the unit is not covered by a nice woodgrain cover, although it is brown plastic. You also notice the black filter hooked on the outside back sucking "filtered" air into the unit. My favourite part is it's on four wheels, so it is very easy to move and vacuum around on my wood floors. Unless you have shag rug, it should also be fairly easy to move on a short pile rug.

CONTROLS: It has two dials "humidity control" and "variable airflow". The humidity control does not go by numbers (i.e. 50% 75%) so you don't really know the current level of your home; however it does allow you to set low / comfort zone / high arond the dial, and will toggle off when it reaches the desired humidity level set. We set ours 1/4 turn above the comfort zone and that works well. Note that setting it on high still doesn't peel your wallpaper, you can't even see the humidity coming out like you can on an ultrasonic BUT it does do the trick, as confirmed by the empty bottles I'm constantly refilling. The variable airflow dial goes from OFF/COMFORT ZONE (which starts immediately from off) to HIGH. This unit is LOUD!! When they say comfort zone they mean for your EARS. I only put it up to 12o'clock position (medium, I guess) when I'm out of the room, and any higher is just noisy with HIGH being like a battering ram. The comfort zone is best and since we situate it right by our kitchen/nook and living room we keep it low. (I know what you're thinking we have taken it apart and rechecked our setup, it is correct with nothing unusual accidentally left inside, no real reason it should be this loud. Only thing I can think of is plastic rumbling on four wheels with the echo of our hardwood floors maybe it won't be as much of an issue for you).

BOTTLES: There are two large 2.5 gallon bottles that rest on the left and right of inside cabinet. They are easy to fill and the unit comes with a tube to help you fill from your tap. Also comes with one small bottle of bacteriostatic additive to get you going. We use distilled water so we don't have the hard water build up in the bottom reservoir, you may want to use soft/distilled if you can get it or put an additive in to dissolve minerals. The bottles have handles on both top and bottom so when you turn them over to place them in it is easy to handle the weight. We don't spill any water when doing this and it's a great design. Also good are two "refill" lights that light up orange when each bottle is empty. They are easy to see through the grill on top as you're walking by, but not obtrusive. Very easy to refill while the other still is going, no need to turn unit off.

NOISE and PRICE: It's the only big drawback, and the price at $200 USD is steep for what it is. Would love to see real wood for that price, as there really isn't much to the unit but a small fan, filter, and plastic.

All in all, there aren't alot of different makes on the market to choose from, especially ones that don't look utilitarian. This will do what you're looking for but be aware if you have unusual dryness in your area and need to pump humidity with the control on HIGH, the noise from this baby will stop you from hearing your baby monitor and could keep you and baby up at night; otherwise, sleep soundly in the "Comfort Zone". Good luck with your purchase!

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Dirt Devil FeatherLite Cyclonic Canister Vacuum

My previous vacuum had those motorized brush heads. It was fine, but not having any carpets in the house, I felt I was simply using a machine that had features that I did not used to their full potential. All these features also had a weight that I had to drag around while vacuuming. With this Dirt evil canister model, I had all that I needed: lightweight to quickly pick up dust, dirt and a little bit of dog hair (I have a Lhasa Apso). It's extremly easy to empty as well! Its power cord is fine for me, as I have have read somewhere on the net that some users find of somewhat short. If you have one electric outlet per room, you should be fine. I find it's power to be more than adequate: I was able to pick up some of my dog's food pellets hidden in some corners. I got this item on special at 60$ and I'm more than happy with it! Makes vacuuming much easier, lighter and faster. This model might not be powerful enough if you have a heavy shedding dog... My mom has a Pembroke Welsh Corgi that sheds continually and she has a much more powerful model. All in all, this Dirt Devil model is most likely for people who don't have carpets and little to no pet hair to vacuum. Sound level for me was comparable or a little bit less noisy than my previous model (Pet Jaguar if you do not activate the power brush).

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Hello Kitty "Pretty Kitty Cat" Decorative Pillow

A few weeks ago I ordered the Protec DyanFilter Air Cleaning Humidifier Cartridges and I have to say that I am very satisfied with the price and the product.

I received them on time and I would truly recommend them to others. They are easy to install and last about 3 moths before having to replace them. Thanks so much.

JD

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Original Whirlpool 1183054 Filter

I was lead to believe I was buying a ORIGINAL WHIRLPOOL 1183054 FILTER but what I received was a similar filter with no Whirlbool box or Whirlpool markings or Whirlpool part number on the filter. Filter shipped has a Part number of RFF05503 has no other information on it and the filter itself was packaged only in a clear plastic bag with no product documentation. Makes you wonder where it was made and if is a true HEPA filter. Was I ripped off?

Microplane 38002 Professional Medium-Ribbon Two-Way Grater

The Microplane line of kitchen products has evolved over the past couple of years. This two way grater has:

* AN ALL-METAL FRAME--makes it awesomely durable for heavy duty use. For grating lots of carrots as additions to ground meat or to soups, this grater is tops.

* A RUBBER REST OPPOSITE THE HANDLE--makes it ergonomically more efficient, since you can rest the end on a cutting board or in a bowl, allowing you to use more pressure.

* A PROTECTIVE SHIELD FOR THE GRATING SURFACE--makes it easier to store safely.

* TWO-WAY GRATING--makes it faster, since cutting edges face both ways.

DOWNSIDE: Two way grating means that this grater is inherently less safe. Now you can cut yourself both ways! Also, unless you're "grating" something that melts under hot water, such as butter or chocolate, this two way cutting feature makes this model harder to clean: Bits of carrot or apple stuck between the "blades" cannot be removed by running your fingers the opposite direction from the cutting edge. A wooden toothpick or an old toothbrush (brush from side to side, not top to bottom) will do the trick.

BOTTOM LINE: This may well have a valued place in your kitchen, but it isn't the first one to buy.

Vent Mate Register Air & Dust Filters

I live in an apartment building and I used them to cover my kitchen vents. It amazing how much stuff they pick up. I always feel my kitchen is cleaner because of them