If air at home seems to bother you, try to remove the sources of irritants first - Washington Post

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• If air at home seems to bother you, try to remove the sources of irritants first - Washington Post
• 3 Best Cabin Air Filters (2019) - The Drive
• 12 Big Mistakes That Lead to Mold and Mildew Growth - BobVila.com
• Molekule review: Clean air, clear breathing, and castles in the sky - iMore

If air at home seems to bother you, try to remove the sources of irritants first - Washington Post Posted: 29 Apr 2019 12:00 AM PDT By Jill U. Adams April 29 When spring arrives, it's a joy to open your windows and feel the fresh air. All too soon it will be summer and we'll shut ourselves in again. This ritual raises a question: Which is healthier — outdoor air or indoor air? They're related, of course. The air inside our homes originates from outside and can carry pollen or pollutants, such as those produced by combustion engines. Indoor sources might add to the mix with tobacco smoke, cooking, mold spores, dust and pet dander. A tightly sealed home may allow this mix of particulate matter to become more concentrated inside than out. For good health outcomes, "The key is to catch small particles," says Stuart Batterman, an environmental health scientist at the University of Michigan's School of Public Health. Particles that are 2.5 micrometers or smaller — called fine particles, particulate matter 2.5 or PM2.5 — are small enough to travel deep into the lungs and sometimes cross into the bloodstream. Fine particles are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency because they can cause health problems. High particulate matter may be associated with serious outcomes, such as asthma attacks, heart attacks and premature deaths in people with heart or lung disease. Those affected may experience airway irritation, difficulty breathing and coughing. The most vulnerable are those with asthma, particularly children because their airways are smaller, and elderly people who have respiratory conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or emphysema, or heart disease. The first things you should do is try to remove the source of irritants, says Brian Christman, a pulmonologist and spokesman for the American Lung Association. While air filters can be helpful, says Christman, who also is chief of medicine at Veterans Affairs' Tennessee Valley Health Care System in Nashville, "they're about number four or five on the list of things you can do about air quality." "If you're allergic to cats, and have five cats at home, an air filter won't help," he says. Short of getting rid of pets, you can keep them out of your bedroom. If mold is a problem, you'd want to dry out areas of dampness — whether that means fixing leaks or seepage or using an exhaust fan when you shower. Use the exhaust fan over your stove when you're cooking with high heat, such as grilling or stir-frying. Reducing the humidity of your home makes it less friendly for mold and dust mites. Specialized pillow and mattress covers can reduce dust mite exposure. Christman also suggests avoiding harsh cleaners such as ammonia and bleach. "Those things are hard on your airways, particularly if you have sensitive airways," he says. Stick to more natural cleaners such as vinegar and baking soda. After you've managed source control, a good air cleaner may help filter out what's left. Air cleaners can remove particulate matter from the air inside your home. There are two basic setups: a portable appliance or adapting a house- or building-wide HVAC system. The stand-alone appliances, also called air purifiers, circulate the air in a room and trap particles. If you have a forced air system of heating and cooling, that system does the same thing for all your rooms, and you can upgrade the system's filter to improve particle removal. A 2012 study tested portable air cleaners in low-income households of children with asthma. Air cleaners, when used in the children's bedroom, reduced particulate matter by an average of 50 percent. But families didn't use the devices consistently. Batterman, who co-wrote the study, says the portable air cleaners do produce some noise and people who use them do need to change the filters. "They do a reasonable job for a small area," he says, such as a bedroom. Those with forced air should take advantage of that system to clean the air throughout the house, Batterman says. You already have a filter; for cleaner air, you need to upgrade it to better catch small particles. And you need to change it regularly — every three months is a common recommendation. The cheapest filters are worthless for catching particles, Batterman says. He recommends a pleated filter with a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating of 13 or higher (so does the EPA). The MERV 13 filters cost about $15 to $20. The filter works whenever the system's fan is running and the windows are closed. That means during heating or air-conditioning season; or you can turn on fan mode. Newer thermostats have a mode that cycles the fan on and off, so you get the benefits of filtering without running the system constantly. "If you have a child with asthma or allergies, it's quite effective," Batterman says. And if you avoid one emergency room visit or a missed work day, then the more expensive filter has paid for itself. A couple of things to watch out for: Don't use air filters that have an electrical field. Called air ionizers or electronic filters, these create ozone, which is harmful for health. (Slightly off topic, but another invisible health hazard is radon. It's best to test your home; the greater Washington area is in a high-risk zone for radon.) Specific air-quality problems might provide additional reasons for filtering your home's air, such as wildfires. Air quality trouble spots can be viewed daily at an EPA website, AirNow.gov. But unless you have a health condition that requires you pay close attention to indoor air quality, you really don't need an air filter. Batterman says he's not a proponent of super clean spaces. Christman says regular dirt and dust are not bad for you. There's evidence that growing up in very clean environments is related to the rise in autoimmune and allergic disorders, although the precise culprits have not been identified. Read more Battling asthma can get harder, and scarier, as you age Hospitals find asthma hot spots more profitable to ignore than fix How many years do we lose to the air we breathe?

3 Best Cabin Air Filters (2019) - The Drive Posted: 30 Apr 2019 02:55 PM PDT Our top picks for the best cabin air filter will ensure that you constantly breathe fresh air in your car Getty Images The Drive and its partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. Read more. Cabin air filters are devices that clean the air that gets into a car's cabin. They are placed in a vehicle's ventilation system and trap particles of dust, moisture, soot, and even bugs. Cabin air filters are real lifesavers for people who hate to deal with the smell of dust, dirt, and exhaust fumes in their car. The downside is that they get clogged with time and you need to replace them. Our review will show you some of the best cabin filters on the market that are decent replacements for your clogged-up cabin filter. Best Cabin Air Filter Overall: FRAM CF10134 Best Value Cabin Air Filter: EPAuto CP285 Best Cabin Air Filter Honorable Mention: ACDelco CF188 Benefits of Cabin Air Filters Improve HVAC performance. If you have never replaced your factory cabin air filter, then chances are that it's clogged-up and your HVAC system is not supplying enough air to your car. The HVAC system may also be noisy. Consider buying a new cabin air filter to unclog your HVAC system and improve the life of its vital components. Get rid of bad odors. Do you get a musty smell coming out of your ventilation system every time you turn it on? You should consider getting a cabin air filter replacement that has activated carbon or charcoal that absorbs bad odors. It can improve the air quality in your car and help alleviate symptoms of motion sickness in some passengers. Reduce allergic reactions. If you are constantly sneezing, coughing, or wheezing whenever you are in a long drive, then you need new carbon air filters to take care of those allergies. The carbon air filter will trap dust, pollen, and other allergens that may affect your health. Types of Cabin Air Filters Charcoal Filters Charcoal cabin air filters filter out large and small particles and have coal as a special ingredient to get rid of terrible odors. The coal deposit can contain cigarette smoke that's within a car and prevent exhaust fumes from reaching the driver. Activated Carbon Cabin Filters Activated carbon filters typically work the same way as charcoal filters but have activated carbon as the special ingredient. Activated carbon absorbs harmful gases like carbon monoxide and other airborne contaminants that pass through the ventilation system. Particle Cabin Filters Particle cabin filters trap tiny particles that are as small as 0.3 microns before they enter your car. They are the best filters for filtering out pollen, dust, smoke, mold spores, bugs, strands of human hair, and other tiny debris. Electrostatic Filters The layers of the filter are electrostatically charged so that they can attract and hold ultra-fine particles. Electrostatic filters are good at filtering out cigarette smoke, exhaust fumes, spores, mold, bacteria, fungus, mildew, and diesel carbon. They are also good at controlling bad odors. Top Brands FRAM FRAM has been in the automotive market making top-notch products since 1932. It manufactures oil filters, PVC valves, fuel filters, and some of the best car interior air filters on the market. Its headquarters are in Lake Forest, Ill. Some of its top products are the FRAM CF10134 and FRAM CF10285. EPAuto EPAuto is a well-known manufacturer of top-quality panel air filters, cabin air filters, automotive tools, and automotive accessories. Its cabin air filters promote cleaner airflow, and you will find the EPAuto CP285 and EPAuto CP134 to be worth every penny. ACDelco ACDelco is a subsidiary brand of General Motors and is headquartered in Michigan. ACDelco has been in the automotive industry since 1916. It manufactures car batteries, oil filters, wiper blades, alternators, starters, air conditioning units, and air filters. One of its best-selling cabin air filters is the ACDelco CF188. K&N K&N is a renowned brand that manufactures oil filters, cold air intake systems, and washable cabin air filters that can last you up to 10 years. Its headquartered in Riverside, Calif. and has other operating facilities in Netherlands, England, and China. One of its best-selling products is the K&N VF2005 Washable & Reusable Cabin Air Filter. Cabin Air Filter Pricing Under $10: Most cabin air filters at this price range are good quality; the fact that they are cheap doesn't mean they are not durable. You will find some decent filters with activated carbon, charcoal, or electrostatic elements, and most are good for at least 12,000 miles. Above $10: This is the common price range for most cabin air filters, but the price barely shoots to more than $20 unless you are getting a pack of two or more. The filters are durable and made of high-quality materials. Just like the cheaper versions, the filters here come in all types including particle cabin filters with no special ingredients. Key Features Compatibility Cabin air filters are tailor-made to be a perfect fit for specific vehicles. Some brands claim to make universal fits, but different vehicle models have HVAC systems of different sizes, and the universal filter is just not practical. Therefore, you need to ensure that a filter is compatible with your vehicle's model, make, and the year before you commit to buying one. Protection Capabilities Look into the level of protection that the cabin air filter offers and see if it suits your needs. If you simply want to get rid of your allergies, then a particle filter will do just fine. However, if you are tired of all the bad odors from your AC unit, then you need something stronger that can absorb all the bad odors and leave your vehicle smelling fresh. Other Considerations Longevity: The average life of a cabin air filter is about one year or 12,000 miles. But that doesn't mean that you can't get a quality product that pushes over that limit. Some filters have a lifespan of 30,000 miles and some are strong enough to be reusable once you give them a good wash. Driving Conditions: The filter you go for will largely depend on your driving conditions. If you regularly drive through polluted urban environments, you need a cabin air filter that can get rid of musty odors and exhaust fumes. If you are in a rural environment and your main problem is dust, you could get a less complicated cabin air filter that only filters out dust and other allergens. Best Cabin Air Filter Reviews & Recommendations 2019 Best Cabin Air Filter Overall: FRAM CF10134 The FRAM CF10134 is our best pick as it keeps the cabin smelling better and fresher for longer. It filters out 98 percent of pollen, dust, and other air contaminants to prevent allergen-induced respiratory disorders. The filter also traps large and small particles that may damage critical parts of the engine. Within the first few weeks of use, you will notice improved airflow in your cabin and your car will smell and feel fresher. The filter uses carbon and Arm & Hammer baking soda to absorb odors that sip through the ventilation system. It's easy to install the filter, and you may find it to be sturdier than your original OEM filter. Moreover, this filter will give you up to 30,000 miles of wear life, and it's a solid choice for people living in rural and urban environments. The main drawback of the FRAM CF10134 is that it's not good at filtering out exhaust fumes. It's more efficient in trapping particles than filtering gases. The filter's gray color also makes it difficult to clean, as it's hard to spot dirt particles. It is also more expensive than other cabin air filters. Best Value Cabin Air Filter: EPAuto CP285 EPAuto CP285 is a car air conditioner filter that traps harmful contaminants that pass through your ventilation and make you cough, sneeze, or make your car smell musty. It removes dust, soot, pollen, fur, moisture, and other contaminants from the air and keeps it fresh for the driver and passengers. The filter is made of a quality material that is durable and can last you for 12 months without compromising on its performance. When it comes to its formulation, the filter contains activated carbon and baking soda, which all absorb funny odors from the ventilation system and promotes optimal airflow. The filter is easy to install and fits perfectly in its holding unit without leaving any gaps on the side. It also prevents premature wear of the vehicle's HVAC system. However, the filter has fewer folds (pleats) than other cabin air filters, meaning that it can't filter as much air as other models. The filter is also thick, which restricts airflow from the vents. The baking soda becomes useless after a few months, and you may start to notice the musty odors. This model is compatible with Lexus, Subaru, Scion, and Toyota cars. Best Cabin Air Filter Honorable Mention: ACDelco CF188 ACDelco CF188 is one of the best aftermarket air filters that trap 100 percent of large airborne particles. The product features advanced filter media technology, where the construction entails three layers of non-woven material that keeps pollen, dust, smoke and other pollutants from penetrating your HVAC system. The outer layer captures the large particles, the middle layer traps the small particles, and the final layer reinforces the filter to make it stable and durable. With this product, your car will always smell fresh, and you will be protected from harmful air pollutants. It also reduces deposits on the fan and prevents bacteria and mold from growing in the vents. The filter is easy to install and has an arrow pointing in the direction of airflow; you won't have to worry about installing it backward. One disadvantage of this ACDelco model is that it's not a carbon air filter and therefore doesn't effectively prevent bad smells. It also doesn't fit some of the vehicles advertised by the manufacturer. This product is a recommended OEM replacement for GM vehicles and can fit in a Buick, Cadillac, GMC, and a Chevrolet. Tips Clean your vents at least once a month and more so, during the cold seasons. When cold air flows through a hot engine, moisture droplets form in areas that receive little ventilation and promotes the growth of mold. That's how you get the musty smell coming from your HVAC system. Remember to replace your filters at least after every 15,000 miles. The longer your filters are in use, the more dirt they accumulate. Eventually, they will wear out. Old filters are not effective in preventing bad odors; they limit airflow in your vents and lead to window fogging. When replacing an old filter, always put cardboard underneath it before sliding it out. All the dirt from the old filter will fall on the cardboard, and you will avoid the extra work of having to clean the dirt off your ventilation system. FAQs Q: I have noticed that the level of airflow from my ventilation system reduces with time. What could be the problem? A: Your cabin air filters are probably full of dirt and need to be cleaned or replaced. Cabin air filters accumulate a lot of dust and dirt with time and the airflow automatically gets blocked. Clean the air filter if it's not worn out or consider buying a new filter if your old one is falling apart. Q: How often should I change my cabin air filter? A: Most manufacturers recommend that you change your cabin air filter after every 15,000 miles. You should also change it when you start to notice bad odors that won't go away or insufficient airflow from your vents even after you wash the filter. Q: I can't seem to locate my cabin air filter. Do all cars come with a factory cabin filter? A: Most cars built after the year 2000 have a cabin air filter. Some European luxury cars from 1980 were also built with a cabin air filter. An average car typically has only one cabin filter, but luxury models have up to three filters. The cabin air filter is located beneath the base of your vehicle's windshield or behind the glove box. Final Thoughts We went for the FRAM CF10134 as our top pick because it's the best filter to keep your vehicle smelling fresh and it gets rid of 98 percent of pollutants that cause allergic reactions. Our budget-friendly pick is the EPAuto CP285 since it's a decently priced carbon filter that improves the HVAC performance. Do you have any experience with the products in our review? Are they as good as we presented them to be? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. MORE TO READ

12 Big Mistakes That Lead to Mold and Mildew Growth - BobVila.com Posted: 01 May 2019 08:28 PM PDT Mold spores drift through the air, eventually settling on the floor, where they are easily kicked up by the feet of family members and pets. If the spores finally land somewhere moist and undisturbed, they are likely to begin growing and dividing; it takes mold just 24 to 48 hours to establish a colony once spores have found a warm, damp spot. Vacuum all flooring, particularly carpeting and area rugs, at least once a week to help remove mold spores from your home. Ideally, use a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter bag. istockphoto.com

Molekule review: Clean air, clear breathing, and castles in the sky - iMore Posted: 03 May 2019 09:00 AM PDT Sacramento, California is known as the "City of Trees" and is one of the top cities in the world with the most trees per-capita. I suffer from seasonal allergies and when March comes around, I'm miserable for about three months every year (I'm literally sneezing while writing this sentence). When I first heard about the Molekule air purifier, my interest was immediately piqued. Instead of using a traditional high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, it destroys pollutants at a molecular level, which the company says cleans the air better and keeps those pollutants from making it back into the air. Can this new technology truly help a seasonal allergy sufferer? Have I found the miracle cure for my spring sickness? I had to find out. Molekule Price: $799 Bottom line: This mini appliance does something no other air purifier does; it destroys pollutants instead of just collecting them. The Good Whisper quiet fan Adjust controls from your phone Beautiful design Subscription filter refills Filters are easy to replace Option of payment plan The Bad Large and heavy Very expensive Bells & Whistles Molekule: The features The Molekule air purifier is a large cylinder about two feet tall. It's got a fan at the bottom that pulls air up and a small pre-filter where larger particulates like dust are trapped. The air is then pushed up through Molekule's patented photoelectrochemical oxidation (PECO) filter, which is coated with nanoparticles that, when reacting to UV light, destroys pollutants at a molecular level. Things like pollen, pet dander, mold, bacteria, viruses, and VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Those last three are things that standard HEPA filters can't do at an efficient level (or at all in some cases). It zaps those tiny particulates like a bug zapper zaps bugs (only not loud ... and not gross). While running, Molekule is lit up with a blue light, which is the pollutant-killing rock star of this outfit. The clean air is then pushed out of vents on the top of the cylinder. Molekule has an onboard touch screen controller, which allows you to change the fan force and volume between silent, auto, and boost. In silent mode, the fan runs at its quietest speed, but still cleans the air. In auto mode, the fan runs at medium speed at all times and automatically adjusts for the size of the room. Boost mode allows you to push the fan to its highest speed to work fast and hard to clear the room. It's usually used after something like a room cleaning. The onboard touch screen also shows you the filters' current health, lets you turn on Dark Mode (which turns the lights off if you need total darkness), and makes it possible to turn Molekule on or off. At about 18 pounds and almost two feet tall, Molekule is practically an appliance. Luckily, it has its own carrying handle. If you want to move it from one room to another, you can pick it up and carry it with relative ease (if you're capable of lifting something that's 18 pounds). When your filters are ready to be changed (every three months for the pre-filter and every six months for the PECO filter), you'll be sent new ones via a subscription. It's important for the health and effectiveness of Molekule to sign up for the subscription filters. Currently, there is no other way to buy replacements and the filters are the most important part of the air purifier. A subscription costs $65 every six months and includes one PECO filter and two pre-filters. To replace the filters, you'll first turn off your Molekule, then press down on the cylinder and twist counter-clockwise. This lifts the top of the cylinder up so you can pull out the PECO filter from the top and open the drawer to pull out the pre-filter from the bottom. The pre-filter will be dirty, covered with dust, pollen, and other bits of stuff that has been drawn up from the fan. The PECO filter will be nearly clean. You won't even think it needs to be changed. That means it's working. Because it's destroying pollutants at a molecular level, you're not supposed to actually see what's left behind. Though it looks clean, the PECO filter still needs to be changed every six months if you want it to continue performing properly. Breathing clean Molekule: What I like When I first plugged the Molekule in and started it up, I immediately worried that it would be too loud and too bright to sleep with it running. I was wrong. At the auto level, Molekule runs quieter than a fan running on low. It's actually a very pleasant sounding white noise, but not at all room-filling. If you're particularly sensitive to noise and don't like the sound of the fan, you can actually set it to Silent Mode and it will run at its lowest speed. It will still filter the air, just not with as much gusto. I was completely surprised to discover that I could sleep with the blue glowing light just fine. As far as the blue light is concerned, I really didn't think I could sleep with it on. I can't sleep when my alarm clock numbers are too bright. This is a two-foot-tall cylinder that's emitting blue light for about a foot all the way around at the top. I was completely surprised to discover that I could sleep with the blue glowing light just fine. If the light does bother you, and I wouldn't blame you if it did, you can set Molekule to Dark mode, which turns the light off. You don't want to leave it off all the time because it's the light that actually kills the micro-pollutants. Through the companion app, you can actually schedule a time for it to turn off and on. That way, you don't have to worry about remembering to turn it back on and it won't keep you awake through the night. I change my house filters every six months because I know how important it is for filters to be clean. One of the most useful things about Molekule is its subscription service. Without even thinking or worrying about it, you'll receive a new set of filters every six months. You don't have to order anything, set a reminder, or even think about it for a second. The filters will just show up when you need them. With a contraption such as this, you might worry about how to change the filter, but frankly, it's a pleasant experience. The Molekule design makes replacing filters actually a little fun, or at least something that makes you feel smart. Speaking of design, Molekule looks like something Apple would make. It's like the Mac's hip, trendy younger sibling. Just as handsome, but actually a little bit cooler. When people see it in my house, they immediately ask, "What's that?" with the excited tone of a child seeing cotton candy for the first time. Does it work? Having started out as a complete skeptical, I've been won over. It's not perfect. I still wake up with a stuffy nose and runny eyes sometimes, but not nearly as often as I do without it. Considering how bad my hay fever normally gets, I'd say Molekule has helped me through my most difficult time of the year. My significant other caught a cold during my testing of Molekule. I'm not going to assume that it saved me from catching the same cold, but I will say that I didn't get sick. Molekule does destroy viruses, including those same little rhinoviruses that cause the common cold. $$$ Molekule: What I don't like Molekule is very big. It's more like an appliance. Obviously, in order to purify a 600 square-foot room, Molekule needs to be big. But there is no mini Molekule. Whether your room is 600 square feet or 150 square feet, you get a two-foot-tall cylinder. Once the company solidifies its place in the air purifying industry, maybe it'll design a smaller unit, but for now, you may have to reconfigure your bedroom in order to fit your Molekule. Though Molekule reduced my allergy symptoms, it didn't eliminate them altogether. Price is the biggest hurdle to face when deciding to purchase something that clearly works well. Is it worth $800 plus $130 per year for the rest of your life? That's a hard one to answer. Though Molekule definitely reduced my allergy symptoms, it didn't eliminate them altogether. If I was feeling particularly itchy eyes or a headache from my stuffed up nose, I couldn't just sit in my room for a half hour and suddenly stop feeling the symptoms. For $800, I kinda hoped it would. Bottomline Molekule air purifier 4 out of 5 Does it improve my quality of life? Yes. Is it a miracle cure for all allergies, no. For some people, Molekule is too much purifier for the price. If you've never really felt compelled to use an air purifier, you might consider going with something less expensive to begin with. HEPA filters do work, just not as good as Molekule. Molekule is for those people that have adverse reactions to airborne pollutants like pet dander, people who suffer from asthma and are particularly sensitive to VOCs, people that easily catch colds. If you've tried 10 different air purifiers, hoping to finally breathe well again and are always a little disappointed with the results, Molekule will probably be the 11th and final air purifier you get. For you, it's worth the price. Though you're paying a premium for Molekule, the company's founder and his family understand that price shouldn't be a barrier to better health. They do offer a payment plan for as low as $45 per month (depending on your credit). In the end, it's still a lot, but can be possible if you can't fork over $800 at one time. Molekule Price: $799 Bottom line: If you're tired of trying new air purifiers that promise the world, you may never by another one again once you've tried Molekule.

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