Church & Dwight 84017 Arm And Hammer Fridge Fresh

Yes, I've tried every product. From ones that promise to eliminate odors, to ones that promise to add a pleasant scent in a sort of 'sweep it under the rug' concept. I've tried everything. When it came right down to the facts, this is the ONE and ONLY product that effectively eliminates the odor of my stinky DIAPER PAIL. Yup, it's true! I've been a proud owner of an Arm & Hammer Diaper Pail for 2 1/2 years and have nothing but good things to say about it, and pretty much every other Arm & Hammer Product out there.

I share a room with my 2 1/2 year old. I can burn incense, open windows, use Febreeze or other room sprays, and every type of room Freshener available at my local Target, Wal Mart, etc. They all work to a degree. However, none of them actually eliminate the odor like this product does! One day, I purchased one of these discs for my bathroom since it worked so well on the nasty food smells (or better described as science experiments), I bought another one for the bathroom. It worked wonders there. Then I put one in my bedroom, next to my toddlers bed, in the closet where the dreadful smelly pail sits. I woke up the next morning and realized that the smell was gone!!! Seriously!!! I was shocked. As well as I wrap up some of those stinky 'bombs' my daughter makes in her diaper, nothing has ever come close to the effectiveness of this product. I'll be buying more, and will be gifting one to her daycare provider just to show off what a find I have using these! It will be a true test in a daycare setting with a group of half a dozen toddlers 'contributing' to the diaper pails all day long.

My mother uses Arm & Hammer, my mother before her, and so on. It works, so I'll continue the tradition!

BISSELL Lift-Off Floors & More

I received this item as part of the Amazon Reviewers program and put it through its paces after fully charging it for 16 hours prior to its first use. I managed 14 minutes of varied use: on Berber carpet, vinyl flooring, throw rugs, shag carpet, and concrete, using both the handheld alone and with it attached to the floor sweeper.

I first noted that that suction was compromised not by the battery as much as by the amount of debris collected in the handheld's bagless container. I emptied the collection bin three times, which was done easily by removing the handheld from the unit and depressing the button on the front to open the compartment. Removing the fabric 'cup' exposed the debris which was easily dumped out. The fabric cup does get dirty quickly, but can be rinsed and air dried.

The Positives... it's very lightweight, cordless, compact and maneuverable. The head of the vac pivots easily and is low enough in profile (about 3" off the ground) that it slides under chairs, dressers, couches, etc... with ease. I found this was great for getting dust bunnies out from under my bed! It seems to have pretty good suction overall, but best on vinyl flooring with the rotating brush head attachment. It will make quick work of my kitchen and bathroom floors.

The handheld portion is easy to remove and empty (it's where the debris is collected for the whole unit). The handheld remains on only when the 'on' trigger on the handle is depressed, thus you don't waste a charge. I liked using the handheld for a quick pick-up of rice that had spilled on my kitchen counter. It did get jammed (no suction) when I vacuumed up flower petals (dried) from a hanging fushia, but the jam was easily cleared with only my fingers.

This would work well for a small apartment with tiled, hardwood or vinyl flooring. It would also be great in an RV or boat, assuming you were not a 24-7 live aboard who had pets. I speak from experience; lived aboard a 38' sailboat with two cats n' a dog for 3 years.)

The Negatives...or at least the 'Not So Greats'.

The charging time versus the amount of user time you have with this vac is not good. Admittedly, you probably won't be using it for a whole house cleaning that takes 30 minutes or more, but what if you wanted to do so? You couldn't.

The suction is adequate for most jobs, but not for deep cleaning. I tried to vacuum up dog hair off my dog's bed, and could barely move it. This was after it was fully charged this was my first task and the vac failed me. I also took the handheld out to my car to get the stuff off the mats. It did a fair job, but without attachments, it was tough to get the suction focused enough to get into corners and/or to make flush contact and maximize the suction. When the vac is fully assembled and working on a hard surface the suction is at its best and did well, but it's truly not for upholstery or carpets with any depth to them.

No bracket to mount on the wall so that you can mount and charge it? That's an oversight on Bissell's part if you ask me. No big deal in the sense that I'm sure I can figure one out and/or buy something from Rubbermaid that will fit the bill, but it seemed odd to me that this unit didn't come with one.

If you do inadvertently suck up something 'wet'... the fabric cup in the handheld gets wet and gummy. It will still work, but like the old-style vacuums with bags, it gets messed up and then you lose suction and performance.

The bottom line... it's not for everyone or every household. It would be great for those with a need for quick clean-ups of small areas on hard surfaced flooring, or those who are vacationing in boats or RV's. Those hoping to make quick work of cleaning up a patio covered in artificial turf would also like it. However, for some like me, it may not be the best choice for everyday home use. I wouldn't recommend it for pet owners who hope to use the handheld to suction up hair off their furniture, but it probably would be OK for a quick pick-up of kitty litter of the bathroom floor. Assess your needs and buy accordingly!

UPDATE: 9/25/11

I find I go to this vac for quick sweeps off my kitchen and bathroom floors, and it does an adequate job. Berber carpets are OK too, but only for bits n' pieces. It's highly maneuverable, and lightweight.

Dog hair (I have 3, 2 of whom shed quite a bit with medium length hair...) tends to choke the intake, which is inside the handheld portion of the unit. It takes pulling the handheld off the frame and getting underneath the filter to unclog it and go on.

It's good for those quick sweeps, but I wouldn't recommend it for multi-pet owners or hair salons!

UPDATE: 12/27/12

With very light use, this vac has died.

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Berkey GSPRT Generic 22-Ounce Water Filter Sports Bottle

While I don't have a lab at my disposal to test the filtration/purification claims, I think it's important to have a few different water purification methods at your disposal. Whether you feel that iodine/chlorine bleach additives are more effective than physical filters...I believe it's a good idea to probably use a combination of methods.

Whether the area you're camping in is more conducive to UV, pasteurization, boiling, or iodine/chlorine bleach water treatments...I think it's a good idea to combine those methods with a physical filtration system. If you're pulling tap water in the US from "the grid" and not a well, it's most likely been treated with Chlorine Bleach already (unless it's post natural disaster / emergency, then assume the water in the tap is contaminated).

These bottles are great in that the filtration is part of the sport top. So, our family gameplan is to pull clear as water as possible (filtered through a cotton bandana or a coffee filter) into one container, treat it chemically, then pour the treated water into these filter bottles for a second layer of "water cleaning" and consume our water from this bottle.

May be overkill, but I'd rather be safe than sorry.

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AIR PURIFIER HUMIDIFIER

Great for my needs, not ideal for someone who needs a super humidifier or a super air cleaner. It is the size of a small cantaloupe, makes a lot of noise (soothing to me), and is useful on a 20m^2 area. However, it's perfect for small places like a room or an office. I just put it on my desk and watch it spin around. It works by rotating a porous cylinder inside the water and driving it up and back onto the walls. I don't see the water level drop much so I'm skeptical of it's "humidifier" properties but at least as a placebo it works cheerfully.

I woke up the first night without a sore throat, which used to be the case since my bed is right next to the heat radiator. Cool engineering but not to be used for tough work.

SoleusAir 8,000 BTU Window Air Conditioner

Overall, I am happy with this air conditioner. It does a good job of cooling my entire 1Bdr apartment (which is about 500 sq. feet). You can set the temperature and set it to Energy Saving mode and it will turn itself on and off as needed. Very nice indeed.

A/C is fairly loud, but not as loud as Kenmore 8000 BTU it has replaced. It doesn't wake me up at night when operating on energy save/low fan setting, so it's tolerable.

Controls are a little bit confusing at first and you should really read the manual to figure out exactly how each mode works. The remote is also a bit of a letdown as it seems to work half the time.

Pros:

Star Energy Certified

Maintains Set Temperature

Cools 1Bdr Apartment

Price

Cons:

Fairly Loud

Confusing Controls

Temperature Display in Fahrenheit Only

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Dimplex Sussex Electric Fireplace in White

This fireplace is the centerpiece to our living room (wish I could attach pictures)! We love the ambiance it creates and it does pump out some decent heat.

It shipped fast and arrived very well packaged. Assembly was easy but I had my brother in law helping (one person can do it). The mantel is hollow and very solid, nicely painted (no dings or scratches).

With the mantel assembled I was able to cut out the baseboard and push flush against the wall (caulked in the cracks on the side to make it look built in)...also with the mantel being hollow I was able to hide the cable box in the mantel and control using RF transmitter built into my TV.

Very happy with purchase and I feel $1,099 after price match was very reasonable considering the difference it brings to our living room.

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24x30x1 ULTRA 800 Allergen Reduction Air Filter 6-Pack

This is a great product made in the USA-if you are interested!!

It fit perfectly and the price made it a good value for us too!!!

I will order again from them:)

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Fantom HEPA Filter for Fantom Thunder

This filter is very hard to find and the shipper is quick on responding and has a very good price since they no longer make this particular type of vacuum. Purchased it for a family member who is very pleased with the performance of this filter.

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Oreck AirInstinct Medium Room HEPA Air Purifier

This is a great filter and actually cheaper to buy on amazon than the oreck online store. I bought one as a present, then the people i gave it to said it was so great i ordered one was well, and the filter is sleek and super quiet on high and low I can't hear this filter and offers different lights for how dirty the air is. I would recommend anyone to to purchase this item

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Shop-vac 903-98 HangUp® Wet/Dry Vacuum Cartridge Filter

I'm using this filter in my wall hung shop vac.Because this vac is used to collect sawdust from my small band saw and belt sander, it clogs fairly quickly, but the system works well and is very compact. Over the past eight years or so that the vac has been used this way, I found that by using a piece of 1/4-20 allthread, a few nuts and washers I could fit two filters together into my shop vacuum. This provided a 100% increase in filtering and lets me extend the time between service cleaning the vacuum tank and filters. I order the filter four at a time which gets me free shipping from Amazon, so this works out to be a pretty good deal. Four filters will last me three years or more depending on use.

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Multipurpose Bamboo Charcoal Air Freshener

• Air Filtration: Absorbs harmful chemicals and substances from the air.
• Deodorization: Eliminates odors from around the house in closets, bathrooms, fridge, laundry room, etc.
• Air Freshener: Releases negative ions to help freshen the air.
• Conductive: Absorbs leaking electromagnetic energy from appliances and electronics.
• Humidity Regulation: Balances humidity levels when used in enclosed spaces like a closet.

I had a nagging odor in my laundry room that was traveling into my other living spaces. I wanted something natural that was not a perfume and this seemed to fit the bill. After a few days, to my amazement, there was no trace of the odor. Not sure how this tiny little thing works, but I am impressed.

Interestingly, I got an email from Amazon with some instructions that were not included on the item's packaging, the most important of which is to shake it up a bit once a week. They probably need to update the packaging at some point to include these instructions.

I still use baking soda in the fridge, but would be curious to see if anyone is trying this in his/her fridge and what the experience is like.

Instruction for your reference:

1. Push in the tab that says Open on the top of the product. Then peel back and remove the cover.

2. Place the air freshener on a shelf, table, bookcase, etc.

3. You can also use it to control odors and bacteria in the refrigerator and pantry, or in a closet, drawer, basement, or other storage area.

4. Use in the bathroom, laundry room, or garage as well.

5. About every week or so, please gently shake your air freshener in order to mix the Activated Bamboo Carbon sachet inside the decorative round box.

6. Your air freshener should last 6-12 months.

7. To use as a Fruit & Veggie Saver, place in the refrigerator produce bin, or out on the counter in a COVERED bowl with fresh fruits.

Holmes HAPF115PDQ-U Multi Layer Replacement Filter

This filter isn't as good as the original filter it replaced. When I first bought the air purifier, it did a fantastic job of absorbing odor from the litter box. Now that the original filter is gone and I am using this replacement, there are times when the odor can overwhelm its capabilities.

I suspect it has something to do with the use of (more?) baking soda in the original filter. I have no idea if the replacement uses any.

Secondly, these filters are exceedingly difficult to find. Because none of the local retailers carry it anymore -including the store that sold me the air purifier -I have to buy it online.

Lastly, this filter is darned expensive!

The moral of the story: If you're buying an air purifier, make sure the filters are easily replaceable and at a reasonable price.

Alen T300 - Sleek Design Tower Air Purifier

This is a good air filter. I have pretty bad allergies, and when we first moved into this house it had brand new carpet and I would be miserable 5 minutes after walking in the door. I moved my T300 in from my previous apartment, and about a day later came back and had no allergy symptoms whatsoever.

PROS: -Cleans extremely well.

-Filters last longer than 6 months.

-Quiet on lower settings

CONS: -Have noticed a problem with the back cover. It takes some work to get the unit to recognize that the back cover is installed. Customer service told me I could adjust the sensor for it but haven't tried yet.

-Lamps are ridiculously expensive. Don't last. Don't buy them for sixty bucks! Get the Phillips PL5/UV at bulbman(dot)com for thirteen bucks! Its better and is the exact bulb specs for the T300...

-Noisy on "medium" and "high"

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Hamilton Beach TrueAir Room Odor Eliminator

I smoke. There I said it. I smoke in my little office while I work. At least, I don't drink while I work. Now that would be scary. Anyway, being a smoker doesn't preclude me from wanting a fresh-smelling space. I keep a glass of white vinegar around my workspace. It does work, just not as well. I also go broke buying those Glade Plug-Ins every few weeks.

So I figured, why not go for broke and try out this little doodad? I admit to being a bit skeptical at first. Could this doodad REALLY eradicate the residual smell that all my other `devices' couldn't?

Well...Yes! Granted, the doodad takes three filters, which can be pricey but honestly no more so than stocking up on the Plug-Ins. Also there are times when all I want to smell is fresh air, not fragrance masking the scent (or stench, if you will). By the way, the doodad works so quietly that, at first, I thought it wasn't working. Honestly, I smoke louder than it operates. Impressive, let me tell you.

A week later, I tested it out. I had a non-smoking friend walk in to my workspace. He asked, "did you stop smoking?" I answered in the only way I knew. I lit a cigarette and smirked.

Well done Hamilton Beach!

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Eureka The Boss Cordless Rechargeable Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

I was a bit skeptical about buying this because it only has 3-3/5 volts of power. I had a B&D Dustbuster and it didn't have the power to pick up anymore. I was going to buy a new battery pack for it and found out that I couldn't replace the battery in it. That didn't set too well with me so I looked around for one that I could replace the battery in and I came across this little Eureka model. I have had a big Eureka upright for a long time and I also have a very old Eureka cannister model that still works great, so I know Eureka is good. But I wondered how much power it could have with only 3-3/5 volts. Well let me tell you, it has a lot of power, even more than the Dustbuster. I like the pop up crevice tool also, it's a very convenient feature. The dustbin is very easy to empty and it has a permanent filter that is washable so no extra filters to buy. The charging base is a little awkward. It would be better to have one that it slides into easier, but that's not a big drawback. If you want something to clean up little messes I can recommend this one. I use it all over the house and it's worked like a champ. It's great for those little messes in the kitchen (no liquids though) and also for stairs or the car.

Essick Air ED11 910 Euro Console Style Humidifier

The unit performed well for the first year, but after the warranty expired it broke down and customer service was no help. It wasnt a simple part that broke but the motor was burnt out, which is bad quality and does not speak well of Essick for not getting it fixed or replaced.

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Dust Shroom, 8"

I was happy with this purchase and was glad to get the item, however the size of the opening was less than 8" and I needed an extra set of hands to get the boot around my 8" duct. For the price I paid, the item should at least fit.

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21x22x1 (20.5 x 21.5) Accumulair Emerald 1-Inch Filter

I have a hard time finding my size air filters in local stores so I was happy I found these here. They work great and last about 2.5 months in my house (low traffic). Filter is well built and true to size.

MERV 8 Fan Coil Air Filter 17x22x1

I am very impressed with these filters. I had a hard time finding the correct size for my air handler. The local big box stores do not carry this size. These fit perfectly. The filters are actually made by Purolator and should last around 90 days. The are priced fairly and are of better quality than other types of filters. I was skeptical of buying air filters online but I now highly recommend them.

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EdgeStar 14,000 BTU Stainless Steel Portable Air Conditioner

Ive had this unit for a few months. Now that its cold and I use it for heating I have to drain the water every hour! I called edgestar and they told me to build a platform to roll this thing onto. They didnt make a hose to help empty the water ether. If you want this for heat, look at another unit that comes with a drain hose.

16x25x5 MERV 8 Bryant Replacement Filter

I ordered 2 of these filters and was very disappointed. The quality was much worse than other aftermarket filters I have purchased. I installed one filter and it did not fit snugly like previous filters (yes it was the correct size). There were no foam strips included to fill gaps as with previous filters and they were much more needed here. I tried to remove filter and could not.The flimsy lightweight cardboard lattice across top & bottom of filter bulged and caught on filter housing and prevented removal without tearing the filter. Mind you this is a 5" filter not something thin. These are constructed from thinner cardboard than is found in my previous purchases. ALSO the folds in the filter material run length wise, contrary to the picture shown, cutting down on the amount of surface area and lessens the strength added by folds running the other way as in OEM and better aftermarket filters. A tight fit is essential to prevent blow-by and equipment damage. If I had not damaged the first filter upon removal, I would have returned purchase. Now I am stuck with two inferior filters one badly torn.

Smoke Buddy Junior- Personal Jr Air Filter By Smokebuddy

This is my second smoke buddy. The first one is a full size. I have had it for over six months and use it everyday. Still no smoke or smell.

The Jr. is perfect size for taking in your pocket. Compairable in size to a stuffed leather wallet. The mouth peice is a little easier to use than the full size.

Perfecy for stealth or staying inside without the smoke smell.

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Compact III 5 Stage

I got this for the office to use instead of bottled water. I have one at home (different manuf. but almost same setup) so I know I like the water much better than the tap, or even most bottled water. The installation instructions were a bit skimpy, but if you've done pumbing before and understand the idea of how the 6 filters of this RO systen works, it will not be a problem for you. I actually have an additional whole house filter and water softener, at the water main, before the water gets to my RO system.

In case you don't know the sequence of filtration, here it is: First, the water goes through 3 pre-filters (the clear tubes you see in the picture), then through the Reverse Osmosis filter membrane (above the pre-filters), then through an optional post-filter (to remove any remaining desolved solids), then finally through an activated Charcol filter (to remove any remaining taste/odors in the water), before it is stored in the tank. The tank pressure is very good. It will fill your glass of water in 5-10 sec. (about 2-3 times longer than tap water at full).

I was very surprised how fast this one makes water (a full tank in about 2 hours). Mine at home takes at least 4 times as long. Beware that this system does not include a dispensing faucet, but I got one from the same company with a phone call. I was surprised that the faucet was not included, but they explained that many of their customers use this system to filter water for their fish tank. Ah Hah!

One last thing, almost all RO systems waste a lot of water. Like around 7 gallon for each gallon you actually filter and store. Now that sounds like a lot, but think about how many gallons you actually will use daily, and then you will realize you waste more just flushing the toilet every day! Maybe you will be clever enough to store the post-filter water in a holding tank and use it for watering, washing, cleaning, etc. This water is not dirty water, it just has a higher concentration of desolved solids.

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Oreck XL Professional AIR PURIFIER AIRPB TRUMAN CELL TECHNOLOGY

I recently purchased this purifier, it being my second one. I had the original gray model for well over a year now and it has been working NON-STOP since I brought it home with no problems. I personally am not allergic to anything, or much, but I have a cat at home and it makes it difficult for family and friends that are allergic to cats to visit and stay with me. With this purifier, it made the cat a non-issue, hence the reason why I bought another unit. I was amazed at how well just one little unit worked so having two can't hurt. I've only had this unit for a few weeks but so far, so good. I prefer the look of this unit with it's black and brown (fake wood) panels but in the end, they both work well and serve their purpose (other than color, they're exactly the same). I highly recommend Oreck's purifiers, especially for their permanent filters (easy to clean and no need to replace).

LG Electronics DH404E Dehumidifier

I bought this when I was living in New Jersey. It is my first dehumidifier and I may have been expecting too much.

It removes plenty of moisture and works great. When the bucket is full it shuts itself off. You have the option of connecting it to a hose and let it run indefinitely with no water collection. Don't set it on max, because a room that is TOO dry is also uncomfortable. You can set it as low as 40% humidity, and can increase this in increments of 10% to Max.

Main problem is that it runs very hot. It will heat the room in which it is placed. On a hot humid day the last thing you want is a hotter dry day. This is not one of those units you would want to put in your bedroom.

It is not really quiet. I don't know if it is quieter than other dehumidifiers, but it produces the same amount of sound as a room air-conditioner.