Home Health and fitness

AIRFREE P2000 Air Purifier review

As I continue to look at as many as possible air purifiers to combat the allergies that my kids and I battle against every season, I “jumped” at the opportunity to test and review another one. Let’s see how it stands up to the test.

What is it?

The AIRFREE P2000 is an air purifier that as per the manufacturer “destroys mold, dust mites, bacteria, viruses, pollens, pet dander, tobacco and other organic allergens”.

What’s in the box


In the box, you will find the AIRFREE P2000 Air purifier and the instruction booklet.

Design and features

The AIRFREE P2000 is a small compact air purifier that is made of sturdy plastic with a built-in power cord. It is approximately 10 inches high and 8 inches in diameter and weighs only 3 1/2 pounds. The manufacturer’s specs state that it is effective in any room up to 550 square feet, and it has a small enough footprint that I think would allow it to blend in well with almost any decor. It is filterless and completely silent and requires no maintenance.


At the back of the P2000, there is the brand name, a few air vents, a touch sensor above the brand name that controls the adjustability of the night light, and the power cord.


On the top of the P2000, there is an adjustable night light that as you increase the intensity via the touch sensor, goes from white light to an intense blue light.

Performance

After plugging in the AIRFREE P2000, I began to feel the difference after about 2 days. I normally suffer from allergies that include symptoms like watery and itching eyes, sneezing, and the occasional rash and runny nose. This air purifier seems to do a pretty good job and at remarkably reducing those symptoms. It is completely quiet, and the built-in night light is a plus. It is filterless, so there is no maintenance, but I do wonder how I would know if the filtering process ever failed, other than the possible clue if my symptoms return. Otherwise, the performance so far has been good, and I will keep paying attention to see how long it remains noticeably effective.

What I like

I like the compact size of the P2000, and the fact that it is filterless thus cost-effective, and completely silent.

What can be improved

In my opinion, the P2000 seemed to take almost 2 days before I began to feel its effectiveness, albeit that after that it did work quite well. Also, if it ever stopped working properly due to some unknown factor, there should be a display that could relay the status. Otherwise, as a filterless system with nothing to check, it would just be plugged in continuously as if working and regardless of its status.

Final thoughts

This is the second Air Purifier that I have tested since ditching my conventional HEPA air purifiers, and I must say that I am pleased with both devices. While the first one is simply amazing, more effective and more capable than the AIRFREE P2000, it also costs $800. For a room that is 200 to 300 square feet, this Air Purifier works quite well, and will now serve as the allergy deterrent in my living room.

Price: $269
Where to buy: The Air Purifier Store website and Amazon.
Source: The sample for this review was provided by The Air Purifier Store.

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AIRFREE P2000 Air Purifier review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 10, 2018 at 9:00 am.

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Molekule air purifier review

Each year, millions of people suffer from allergies, and for some, the reaction is so severe that it has a major impact on their quality of life and daily activities. I suffer from allergies every year, and the severity varies from year to year. This year, my allergies have been quite “nasty”, despite the use of 2 large and relatively expensive HEPA filters/air purifiers. When I got the opportunity to test and review the Molekule air purifier, I was very eager to try a new solution. So, here we go!!

What is it?

The Molekule Air Purifier is a new technology air purification system and experience, that has a clean and sophisticated look to match any décor.

What’s in the box


1 x Molekule Air Purifier
1 x Power cable
1 x Instruction manual

Specifications

DIMENSIONS: 23 inches in Height x 8.25 inches in Diameter
FILTER COST: Filters are provided on a subscription basis for $129 per year.
POWER CONSUMPTION: 20-85 W (110/220V)
NOISE LEVEL: Normal mode: – 42dBa (Hushed Conversation)
Silent mode: 30dBa (Whispered Conversation)
Turbo Boost: 55dBa (Normal Conversation)
WEIGHT: 18 lbs. (8 kg)

WARRANTY: 1 Year Limited Warranty

Design and features

The Molekule comes with a detachable, grounded power cord that plugs in underneath the device, and by design does not allow it to be accidentally plugged out. You will also immediately notice the nice leather handle that is a great touch and makes it easy to move around.

When you first power on the MoleKule, it goes through an initial startup process. Once that process is completed, you have the choice to select the room size.

When you touch the screen to select the room size, it moves to the next screen that offers 3 choices of room sizes to select. The choice of 200-400sqft (square feet) was appropriate for me and was used for this test.

Once you select the desired room size, the next screen that appears gives you the option to confirm or to go back and choose a different room size.

Once the room size is confirmed, the Molekule goes through a calibration process.

Once the calibration process is completed, there is then an initial “auto” cleaning process that may or may not be dependent on the size of the room selected.

Once the initial “auto” cleaning process is done, the Molekule defaults to the “auto” mode.

When you touch the screen, you have the option of two additional operational modes which are the silent mode, or the boost mode which is the most powerful, and loudest mode.

Swiping from right to left provides additional options to turn the surrounding blue LED light (nightlight) on or off, to change the mode, or to turn the Molekule off.

Function and performance

On the Molekule website, the company makes the following 2 major claims:

  • “Molekule destroys pollutants instead of just trapping them on filters where they can multiply and be released back into the air you breathe”
  • “Molekule destroys even harmful microscopic pollutants like viruses and VOCs that are 1000x smaller than HEPA filters can trap”

“Molekule’s patented technology, Photo Electrochemical Oxidation (PECO), works at the molecular level to eliminate indoor air pollution”. It includes removable filters that can be regularly replaced via their subscription-based filter replacement program.

When I first tried this air purifier, I was immediately impressed. When I first turned it on, within an hour I began to notice a major difference in the severity of my ongoing allergies. I usually have allergy symptoms like itchy and watery eyes, stuffed up and runny nose, and sneezing. Not too long thereafter, I was no longer suffering from any allergy symptoms while in that room. After trying the unit for several days, I moved it from my room into my kids’ room. This year it seems that my son is suffering less from allergies, but my daughter is suffering severely. I placed the Molekule in their room for the night just before they went to bed, and both kids slept peacefully without waking up during the night for Albuterol treatments, which they have to take every 4 hours when their allergies are severe. What was more remarkable, was that shortly after moving to the kids’ room, my allergies became significant again. I decided to test this further, so I spent some time in the same room as the kids, and once again my symptoms disappeared.

The Molekule operates well and relatively quiet no matter what mode it is in, although the “boost” mode does give off a low fan-like sound.

There is also an app that is available for both Android and ios that should allow you to control the Molekule, and monitor its performance. However, up to the time that I completed this review, I was unable to gain a successful connection despite carefully following the instructions.

I do plan to write an update to this review when it is time to change the filters, and at that time I will document the process and comment on the continued consistency of its performance.

What I like

I really like the design and finish of the Molekule and the choice of operational modes. I also love the fact that it has been super effective in relieving my allergy symptoms, as well as for my children. The Touchscreen operation is great, and the built-in handle makes it easy to move it from room to room.

What can be improved

The main issue that I find that needs improvement is the app and the ability to connect to the Molekule. I have tried numerous times and was unsuccessful,  and I eventually gave up since it has no impact on the great performance of the device.


It might have even been a better idea not to include an app. When I checked the app reviews in the ios app store, other users had submitted the same complaint.

Final thoughts

The Molekule Air Purifier is in my opinion, the best air purifier that I have ever tried. I have spent hundreds of dollars on air purifiers with Hepa filters, and on many other devices that turned out to be just gimmicks. While some of them helped my allergies, they ultimately failed to do so well enough that I felt satisfied. This air purifier has given me such relief when I am at home, that no one would even know that I suffer from chronic allergies. This has been the same result for my kids who have suffered from chronic allergies, and asthma as a result of the allergies. While the Molekule is much more expensive than any other air purifier that I have owned, it stands alone at the top of its class.

Price: $799
Where to buy: The Molekule Website
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Molekule

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Molekule air purifier review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 8, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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Allegro Sonic electric toothbrush review

Brushing your teeth twice a day can often seem like a chore.  I would often find myself ‘rushing through the job’ in an effort to just get it over with.  That inevitably lead to issues with my gums because I was not spending enough time brushing or just plain brushing the wrong way.  Since then I have been using an electronic toothbrush (Philips Sonicare) and have received some greatly improved results from my dental hygienist.   So I do have a love affair with my electronic toothbrush.  That being said, I am always looking to see if there is some way to improve on what I already have.  When I got the opportunity to review the Allegro Sonic Electric Toothbrush I jumped at it.  Let’s see if it is any better than my current toothbrush.

What is it?

The Allegro Sonic Toothbrush is exactly what it sounds like.  It is an electronic toothbrush a lot like the Philips Sonicare that I currently have.  It does have some added features that the Sonicare does not have.

Hardware Specs

  • Its charging cradle is part of the actual travel kit.  You simply add the clear plastic top and it is ready to pack in your suitcase.
  • Comes in white or black
  • The clear plastic top can act as a cup
  • The charging cradle includes a section that will both sanitize and dry your toothbrush head.
  • Wireless charging
  • IPX7 Waterproof
  • 3 cleaning modes – clean mode, sensitive mode, clean and white mode
  • Will give a short frequency vibration to indicate when you should switch to a different part of your mouth.  This ensures you spend the required amount of time in each area.

What’s in the box?

The above picture shows what comes inside the box.

  • Clear top cup cap for the charging/sanitizing station
  • The actual charging/sanitizing station
  • User manual
  • Thank you card
  • Electronic toothbrush with a silicone cap over the toothbrush mounting point
  • 1 brush head
  • USB charging cable

Design and features

The above picture shows the Allego on the left next to my Sonicare on the right.  You can see that the charging station and the actual toothbrush and brush head are slightly larger.  According to my dentist and contrary to popular opinion I do have a rather small mouth.  So the larger brush head on the Allegro made it seem a bit tougher for me to get it around the sides of my very back teeth.  The bristles on the Allegro brush head were also quite a bit softer than what I was used to.  I use the ‘diamond clean’ version on the Sonicare.  I checked and currently this brush head is the only one they offer at this time.  I think in the future if they were to offer different sizes and hardness levels that would be a great thing to have.   The actual toothbrush body is completely round.  This means when I put it down on the counter to get the toothpaste it had a tendency to want to roll away.  The Sonicare has a couple of notches that make it stay in place which is a feature that would be nice to have.

Of the three cleaning modes, the one that comes closes to the intensity of my Sonicare is the clean and white mode.  Part of that may be because the bristles are softer on the Allegro so the vibrations of the brush do not feel as intense as the Sonicare.  When I was done using it, my mouth felt as clean as  it would with the Sonicare but it is hard to tell.   I would tend to think because the vibrations were not as intense it would maybe not be cleaning as well.  I do know my hygienist said that when brushing with an electronic toothbrush you want to barely be holding it.  You just want the bristles to be hitting your teeth and gums and you should not be putting any real downward pressure.  Too much intense pressure can cause receding gums which is a whole other can of worms.  So maybe even though the vibrations were not as intense, I was still getting a good cleaning anyway.

The picture above is showing you the area where you would sanitize and dry the brush head.  The bottom part of the charger has a rubber cap on it.

You pull off the rubber cap and it exposes a slot where you place the brush head.

The brush head goes in as pictured above.  There is an automatic sensor that senses when the brush is in place and starts the UV light for sanitizing.  It will run for 15 minutes and the lights on the side turn slightly purple.   Once it is sanitized, it goes into a drying mode for another 15 minutes.

This picture shows the whole thing with the plastic cup on top.  I love that cap feature.  It will protect the toothbrush from the nasty germs floating around your bathroom.

What I like

I love that the entire charging station is the travel station.  My current toothbrush has a separate travel case that only closes when it wants to.  I also love that you can put that cup on top every time and protect your toothbrush from the environment.  I also love the sanitizing and drying feature.  I always hated having to pack up my toothbrush when it was wet to go travel.  Buying a pack of 3 brush heads was also economical at only $14.99 on Amazon.  I also love that it has the special vibration indicator to tell me when to move to a different section of my mouth when brushing.  That way I am sure I am spending the proper amount of time brushing.

What needs to be improved.

They definitely need to offer different types of brush heads.  Also adding a flat spot on the back of the toothbrush to keep it from rolling away would be a nice touch.  Finally, I really think they should include a plug adapter for the USB.  I don’t know many folks outside of my geek friends who would actually have a USB port in their bathroom.  Plugging it in on my computer just seemed rather funny.  I used the plug from one of my many other electronic devices and charged it that way.

Final thoughts

If you don’t already own an electronic toothbrush that you are happy with, I would recommend this one.  I am thinking that when the time comes to replace my existing one, some of the issues I mentioned earlier would be fixed and I would switch over to this toothbrush myself.

Price: $59.99
Where to Buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Allegro. Please visit their site for more info.

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Allegro Sonic electric toothbrush review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 7, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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The SCOSCHE RHYTHM24 Waterproof Armband Heart Rate Monitor knows every beat of your heart!

In our world today, the focus on health and wellness has increased, and we have become more health knowledgeable and health conscious. As a direct result, many manufacturers have responded to our desire for more intimate health information, by producing a large variety of gadgets and devices, that can monitor many aspects of our vital health information in real-time.

SCOSCHE Industries is one of the innovative companies that has now produced an armband heart rate monitor with several features and activity modes, in an effort to capture accurate biometric measurements.

The device called RHYTHM24, has an IP68 waterproof rating, a 24-hour battery life, several training/use zones, onboard data recording and a LED battery indicator. Heart rate profiles for activities such as swimming, running, and cycling are also built-in. With the use of Bluetooth, it can store and share the relevant health information with the multitude of smartwatches, tablets, Smartphones, etc, that are now a part of our daily lives.

According to SCOSCHE Industries, “RHYTHM24 integrates the latest advances in Valencell, Inc.’s PerformTek sensor technology which continuously measures heart rate to provide a highly accurate and consistent reading during virtually any exercise in nearly any physical environment. PerformTek sensor technology is clinically validated by leading research institutions and proven through extensive consumer testing”. The device is also compatible with many of the popular fitness apps, and the armbands are available in several colors to match your outfit of choice.

If you are interested in purchasing the SCOSCHE RHYTHM24, it is available at Amazon and other fitness product retailers for $99.99. You can also purchase additional armbands in different colors for $14.99

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The SCOSCHE RHYTHM24 Waterproof Armband Heart Rate Monitor knows every beat of your heart! originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 7, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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Utama Spice Danau Satu nebulizing essential oil diffuser review

If you’re interested in trying aromatherapy with essential oils, you will need a diffuser. This is a topic I’ve been aware of for a while now but had never tried until I was offered the opportunity to review the Danau Satu nebulizing essential oil diffuser from Utama Spice.

What is it?

The Danau Satu nebulizing essential oil diffuser is a small wood and glass device that diffuses essential oils (concentrated forms of herbs, spices, and plants) into the air to fill a room (up to 400 sq ft) with the aroma of the oil which can provide calming or other effects. The Danau Satu diffuser does not use water or heat so it is more effective at dispersing the aroma throughout a room or your home.

What’s in the box?

  • Danau Satu diffuser base
  • Glass reservoir
  • Glass cap
  • 2 eye droppers
  • USB power cable
  • USB AC power adapter
  • Manual

Design and features

This is the first essential oil diffuser that I’ve ever used, so I don’t have anything to compare to, but my first impression of the Danau Satu is that it has a very attractive minimalist design.

The base is made of wood, and the reservoir is made of clear blown glass.

There are two glass parts. The main reservoir and the glass cap which sits in the top of the reservoir to direct the diffused oil particles into the surrounding air.

There is a little bit of assembly that is required before you can use the Danau Satu diffuser. You press the pointed end of the reservoir into the wooden base. It’s important not to twist it into the rubber gasket in the base, but to just press it in place. The same goes for removing it when you need to clean it. You can wiggle it back and forth as you pull it out, but you shouldn’t twist it as it could break off in the base.

Once the reservoir is seated into the wooden base, you can plug in the included power cord, add a few drops of essential oil into the opening at the top of the glass reservoir, place the glass cap on top and then turn on the diffuser using the knob which rotates from low up to a high setting.

How does it work?

There is a glass nozzle and a microtube at the bottom of the reservoir that is connected to the tube that is pressed into the wooden base.

Air generated from the base enters the bottom of the reservoir and forces the oil to diffuse through the microtube and out through the glass cap.

A white LED glows from the base when the diffuser is turned on and a special timer diffuses the oil for 2 minutes and then turns off for 1 minute before turning back on for 2 minutes. This cycle continues for 2 hours before the diffuser turns off. Note that the LED does NOT turn off after 2 hours, but remains on.

While the diffuser is running, it does make a sound, but it’s not too loud or annoying.

Utama Spice included a small bottle of their Citronella essential oil with the diffuser so that I would have something to test. It’s important to only use pure essential oils that do not contain perfumes or other synthetic fragrances since you will be breathing in the oil particles. It’s also important not to use thicker oils like sandalwood, cypress, etc. which can clog of the microtubes.

It is pretty easy to clean the reservoir which needs to be done occasionally. The manual advises that you can put some alcohol in the reservoir and diffuse it for a few minutes to clean the microtubes or you can submerge the glass reservoir into a pan of hot water.

The Utama Spice Danau Satu nebulizing essential oil diffuser is very easy to use and easily filled my basement with a wonderful aroma. That said, I wasn’t able to use it very many times because I happened to read that some essential oils are toxic to cats and the citronella essential oil that they included with the diffuser was on the list of toxic oils that should not be used around a cat. Since I didn’t want to make my cat Max sick, I only tested the diffuser a few times with him outside at the time. I don’t have a lot of experience with essential oils, so I wasn’t sure how long the oil particles could “hang” around in the air. I didn’t think there would be any harm testing the unit with him outside, but it made me a little nervous that I could make him sick doing it very much, so I limited my testing.

What I like

  • Easy to use
  • Easy to clean
  • Attractive design

What needs to be improved

  • Box or manual should provide a warning that some oils are toxic to pets.

Final thoughts

There are many uses for essential oils for aromatherapy. Some oils can help with headaches, stress, insomnia, anxiety, and even some health problems. The Utama Spice Danau Satu nebulizing essential oil diffuser is an easy to use and attractive diffuser that will let you explore this type of therapy. Just make sure you read about all possible toxic issues for pets and even babies BEFORE you use any essential oils.

Price: $54.99
Where to buy: Utama Spice and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Utama Spice.

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Utama Spice Danau Satu nebulizing essential oil diffuser review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 4, 2018 at 4:53 pm.

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