Author: Dennis Reed

Dennis Reed Owner and Author @ BreatheBetterAir.org

Can I Use Essential Oil In An Air Purifier? 2021 Update

Essential oils are a great way of adding atmosphere and healing qualities to surrounding air in a room. And also there are many essential oils that have air purifying qualities.

Essential Oil Diffuser and Air Purifier

 

Though not an air purifier in the traditional sense in that it uses a filter to capture particulates ,
An Essential Oil Diffuser is Already an Air Purifier. By using the right essential oils can hinder the production of the germs and bacteria that trigger household allergies and allergy symptoms.

Essential oils like eucalyptus and lavender have anti bacterial properties that can help purify your air as well as add a fresh and calming atmosphere to the room.

Can I use essential oil in air purifier?

You can use essential oils in an air purifier in a specific air cleaner called an Air washer or Air revitalizer. This type of  air cleaner uses water to clean the air and provide their own essential oils to be used in the system. Unfortunately, with other types of air purifiers, there is no place to add essential oils.

 

Air Purifiers With Essential Oils

Air washers and revitalizers are both hybrid multi-tech machines that combine the air purifier with a humidifier and a essential oil diffuser. Sharp also has a bowl air purifier and air freshener product along the lines of the revitalizer.

The revitalizer is actually marketed as a air purifier, humidifier,  and a essential oil diffuser.

It has a unique bowl design that draws air into a chamber where the water is basically thrown around and against the inside of the bowl to clean the air. Check it out here.

The provided essential oil is added right into the water. The key word here is “provided”. Most essential oils wont work well as an additive to water.

When the air purification process is done, humid,  aromatic water exits the machine.

These machines are meant to be a jack of all trades type of appliance and as hybrid are probably not as good at doing any of its functions individually as they could be done by purchasing the right appliance for the purpose.

Essential Oils On Air Filter

Putting essential oils directly on the air filter of your home heating and air system can turn your ductwork into a whole house diffuser.

The HVAC (central heat and air conditioning unit) in your home is actually performing the function of an air purifier by filtering debris and germs(depending on the quality of the air filter) and dehumidifying when the AC is running.

The inside of the duct work running through your home is also notorious for being full of contaminants like mold spores and dust.

A great way to introduce aromatherapy to the filtration process of your HVAC is to add essential oils directly onto the surface of the filter when you replace it. 

How do you add essential oils to an air filter?

  1. Purchase a brand new replacement filter.
  2. And 15 to 20 drops of essential oil directly to the face of the filter.
  3. Install the filter like normal.

Recommended essential oils for your air filter:

Cinnamon oil.
Cinnamon will add a delicious fragrance to your home and has antibacterial properties that make it great as an additive to your air quality

Lemon oil.
Lemon smells great and it has germ and bacteria killing properties that make it a great whole house essential oil.

Eucalyptus and tea tree oil.
Eucalyptus and tea tree oils both aid with breathing better especially when there are other things in the air trying to make you congested

Diffuser vs. Air Purifier vs. Humidifier

The difference between a diffuser and an air purifier and a humidifier is how they affect air.
The diffuser disperses aromatherapy oils into the air
A humidifier disperses moisture into the air
And an air purifier filters contaminants from the air.

Take the Revitalizer for instance, as an air purifier, they’re much more limited at reducing household contaminants and odors then say an air purifier that uses a HEPA and carbon filter design.

As a humidifier, they are also limited and only really claim to lightly humidify the room as the air is being released from the machine.

As a diffuser, they do a good job of spreading out an aromatic scent throughout the room. They get a B+ for odors. But the essential oils that go in the unit are specially designed it may not have the same anti germ properties.

Air washers on the other hand do a much better job at cleaning the air than an air revitalizer. And even better than there air purifying capacity, they are one of the best humidifiers that money can buy. See it here.
But as for a diffuser, they are pretty much an afterthought. You can add scents to the water just like a revitalizer but they have to be the scents that they provide.

Can I use essential oil in air purifier
Diffuser and Humidifier Difference

The difference between a diffuser and a humidifier is that the purpose of diffuser is to disperse aromatic essential oils scents into the air.

Whereas a humidifier disperses water mist to add moisture or humidity to the air.

But..

Also there are many humidifiers that have a essential oil tray to add a few drops.

So essentially, the right humidifier is already a hybrid humidifier and diffuser.

If it weren’t for the climate, buying a humidifier with a essential oil tray would be a simple solution for everything.
Diffusers can be used anytime of the year where humidifiers are mostly only useful during the dry months of winter.

There are also some similarities between diffusers and humidifiers though,
both must be cleaned often in order to avoid the appearance of mold in the machine.
And both provided it’s the right kind of humidifier can disperse essential oils into the atmosphere.

But humidity can also facilitate dust mites and mold spores which is contrary to the reason you would want a essential oil diffuser.

Air revitalizer vs. Diffuser

A air revitalizer is a hybrid machine that combines and air purifier, a humidifier and diffuser in one.
A diffuser is specifically made to disperse essential oil scents into the air.

This may be a good solution if you need a humidifier running while you are diffusing essential oils,

But if your air is already humid enough,  you may not want to add a humidifier to the mix especially in the warmer months when the humidity is already high.

Diffuser and air purifier? Same time?

No. The reason is most air purifiers come with a carbon filter that is designed to adsorb odors.
Running an air purifier with a carbon filter and an essential oil diffuser at the same time will reduce the effectiveness of the diffuser.

Also, air purifiers most always have a HEPA filter installed. HEPA filters are very dense filters better woven together so as to not allow anything above .03 microns to filter through.

Though a HEPA filter it’s not likely to interfere with an aromatherapy diffuser,  being that the essential oils that go in the diffuser are oily, you may find that the HEPA filter in your air purifier will get extra grimy from filtering out oil from the air. And reduce the life of the filter.

Do diffusers clean the air?Do diffusers clean the air?

Yes they can. There are many essential oils that have air cleaning properties.
Eucalyptus oil for one is great for making breathing easier.

Essential oils are often placed in humidifiers to help the recipient be able to breathe better and get a good night sleep when they are feeling stuffy or have a cold.

Tea tree oil is another essential oil they can be used for many anti bacterial purposes including everything from taking the sting out of a mosquito bite to fighting airborne mold spores.

The reason it is possible for essential oils to help with air purification is because essential oils are plant based, and plants are one of the best way to naturally keep your air oxygenated and clean.

Plants are also a great way to add a little humidity to a dry room without going the distance of purchasing a humidifier. Believe it or not, just keeping your plants watered will actually humidify your air.

Summary

Adding essential oils to an air purifier is possible if you have the right type of air purifier. Either a Air Washer or an Air Revitalizer.

Because both of these air purifiers combine air purification with a humidifier, They also come with their own essential oil scents that you can add to the water.

But most air purifiers are not made to disperse essential oils and do not have any place to add them.

There are also many humidifiers though, that actually come with a tray to add essential oil drops and will act as a diffuser.

This is a good idea when you need a humidifier running, but a humidifier is not something you typically need to run all year long.

And though there are some air purification qualities that come with many essential oils, running an air purifier and a essential oil diffuser is not a good idea because most air purifiers reduce odors with activated carbon, which will also reduce the scent of the essential oils.

Kind of defeats the purpose.

Also anything that is oily in the air while the air purifier is running is going to absorb into the HEPA filter and potentially reducing the life of the filter.

The best of all worlds in one machine is probably the revitalizer.

But a diffuser or a humidifier or a air purifier is a much better machine individually then trying to combine them all into one unit.

 

Ceiling Fan Questions – (Is Bigger Always Better?)

In my house, there are ceiling fans running throughout the house just about all year long.

If one were to burn out, there is no doubt that we be shopping for one very quickly and probably have it up by at least the upcoming weekend.

And you might think since we rely on ceiling fans so heavily to keep the air in our house moving, that we would be ceiling fan experts.

Unfortunately that’s not the case. Whenever there’s a issue with a ceiling fan, Were running to the internet like everyone else.

Shopping for a new ceiling fan is not exactly intuitive especially when I’m looking at the ceiling at the vast selection no ceiling fans at Lowe’s.

And trying to figure out why a ceiling fan is making a racket is not exactly in my wheelhouse of skill sets.

So what I’ve compiled here is a few of the things that I’ve learned about ceiling fans that might be able to help you sort through some issues when you’re trying to deal with your own ceiling fan.

Or buying a new one.

What is the Purpose of a Ceiling Fan?

The purpose of a ceiling fan is to move the air in the room. Ceiling fans add a cooling effect to your body in the same way that an outdoor breeze helps cool you off while you were outside.

Ceiling fans do nothing to change the temperature though, they are simply blowing the air lightly or heavily depending on how you set it.

And just like the analogy of an outdoor breeze, if the temperature is warmer, you get a warmer breeze and if the temperatures cooler you get a cooler breeze. And if it’s a calm day, you get a slight breeze, and if it’s too windy day, you may get breezed over.

That is why a ceiling fan can work particularly well in conjunction with an air conditioner. With the AC running, the ceiling fan will blow a cooler breeze across your body and help you to cool off faster.

Is it Cheaper to Run a Fan or AC?

It cost much less to run a ceiling fan than it does in air conditioner so when the weather is warm and it doesn’t exactly make sense to run the air conditioner, the ceiling fan can move the air in the room and help add a slight breeze.

Is it Expensive to Run a Ceiling Fan?

A large ceiling fan uses about 70 to 90 Watts of energy. If you were to run it 24 hours , the cost would be around $1.90.

If you ran the central heat and air for 24 hours, a 3500 watt unit would cost you about $15 a day.

A pretty substantial difference.

So putting the right ceiling fans in your rooms makes a lot of sense economically and can help your AC do a more efficient job of cooling your home.

But…

Getting the right ceiling fan can be tricky when you have to wade through so many choices and styles,

Getting down to the nuts and bolts of what you need in a ceiling fan versus style can be a little intimidating especially if you’re shopping for a fan with your “live in” home decor expert.

What Type of Ceiling Fan Moves the Most Air?

Scientifically, a larger ceiling fan is going to move more air.
Longer blade length means more air that is being pushed down as the ceiling fan turns.

Airflow is measured in CFM (cubic feet per minute). You’ll find with a little shopping that a larger fan will have a larger CFM. It’s just that simple.

And economically speaking, it’s going to take less energy to to move the air when the span of the blades is longer.

Think about it this way. If you want more air flow out of a ceiling fan, you either get to turn the speed up or get a larger fan that moves more air at a lower speed.

It’s going to cost less for a larger fan at a low speed then a smaller ceiling fan cranked up on high.

Essentially a larger fan on a slow speed will move about the same air as a smaller ceiling fan on a high speed.

So from a practical viewpoint, choosing a larger fan with longer blades that you are intending to run on low, is a better choice when you’re looking for a new ceiling fan.

Some of the other benefits to choosing a larger fan are:

1.If you decide to change the blades,
Changing the blade fan size to a smaller blade is an option because the motor can easily handle less weight.

Where is a smaller fan usually does not have a large enough motor capacity to to be able to carry the additional load without adding strain that will eventually burn it out quicker.

2.  A larger ceiling fan gives you the option of being able to crank up the air flow whereas a smaller ceiling fan is already running at a high speed to get the air flow it has.

What is the Purpose of a Ceiling FanHow Many Blades on a Ceiling Fan Make the Best Air Flow?

Three blade ceiling fans create less drag which translates into more flow of air but they are generally much louder and meant to be used in rooms with taller ceiling heights.

Most homes in the western hemisphere have shorter ceiling heights which brings the ceiling fan closer to the people in the room.

Which means the noise level of the ceiling fan has to be manageable and in order to get a ceiling fan to be quieter, it has to have more blades.

Five blades is the standard for ceiling fans because of the give and take between air flow and noise levels.

Also home ceiling fans are almost always equipped with lighting fixtures and by necessity need to be closer to the people in the room to provide enough light.

Three blade fans are meant to be placed higher up and don’t usually come with a light fixture.

Can a Ceiling Fan be too Large for a Room?

A ceiling fan can be too large for a room when there is not enough clearance between the blades and anything else that is hanging on the wall or hanging from the ceiling.

The general rule of thumb is that you do not want to ceiling fan within a foot of anything that it could possibly come in contact with.

The other issue is that a big ceiling fan just may not fit the style of a room or just be too bulky.

Sure you could get a huge ceiling  fan and run it on low in a small room and get better airflow then you would a small ceiling fan but there is still things like aesthetics to consider.

Picking a ceiling fan with the largest cfm that meets the criteria of style also, is the way to get the best airflow and the biggest bang for your money.

Q&A

Are ceiling fan arms universal?

Ceiling fan arms are not universal. The best way to ensure that you are getting the proper replacement arm for your ceiling fan is to check the model number of your fan with the listing of which ceiling fans a package of replacement arms will accommodate.

Otherwise take the broken part with you to the hardware store and compare the hose to make sure that they will interchange.

Are ceiling fan down rods universal?

Ceiling fan down rods are generally not universal. Though many manufacturers use the same type of down rods, that is not always the case and it is suggested to check with the manufacturer to ensure that you are purchasing the right replacement.

Are ceiling fan blades interchangeable?

Ceiling fan blades are interchangeable for the most part. Most hardware stores carry a generic selection of ceiling fan blades that can be swapped out easily.
  Some ceiling fan blades will have a specific screw hole layout that you will not be able to find a generic replacement for. In that case you’ll have to go through the manufacturer.

What is a ceiling fan rated outlet box?

A ceiling fan rated outlet box is a electrical box that is designed to support the weight of a ceiling fan. A ceiling fan electrical box must be screwed securely to a stud inside of your framework. A large ceiling fan can weigh as much as 50 lb. Ensuring that it is fastened to the ceiling is vital.

What is the average weight of a ceiling fan?

The average weight of a ceiling fan is 20 to 50  lbs. The most a ceiling fan box can hold is 50 lb without it being marked otherwise. A medium sized ceiling fan with a lighting fixture and five blades weighs an average of 25 lb.

Our ceiling fan blades reversible?

Ceiling fan blades are generally reversible and painted a different color on the back side of the blade so that you can easily change the look of the ceiling fan by flipping the ceiling fan blades.

What is the button on a ceiling fan for?

The button on the ceiling fan is there to change the direction of the motor. The up or right position of the button will typically cause your ceiling fan to spin clockwise.

Which way should a ceiling fan turn in the summer?

Counterclockwise is the direction of a ceiling fan that pushes the air down and causes a cool breeze that can give you relief during the summer months.

What is the lowest ceiling height for a ceiling fan?

The lowest ceiling height that you can use a ceiling fan in is 8 ft.

Can a Wobbly Ceiling Fan Fall Off? (Probably Not? Can it?)

Can a Wobbly Ceiling Fan Fall Off?

A correctly installed ceiling fan will not fall however wobbly. Ceiling fans are by necessity secured to a stud via an electrical box. Without being attached to a stud, the weight of an average ceiling fan would be to much to stay up otherwise.

But that doesn’t mean all ceiling fans are attached correctly or the light fixture box that they are attached too is fastened to a stud correctly.

A good indicator on whether the installation was done right is how long the ceiling fan has been in place. If it’s been there for months and years, you can be sure it would have had much more of a problem than being wobbly by now.

if only other hand it’s a brand new ceiling fan, and or if you don’t trust the person who installed it, it’s well worth it too turn the fan off and make sure that it is fast and securely to a stud in the ceiling.

But that will usually not be the case.

A wobbly ceiling fan is most typically due to a bent blade holder or a blade holder that the screws have worked themselves loose on.

A wobbly ceiling fan is an unbalanced ceiling fan.

The easiest way a ceiling fan becomes unbalanced is that it has been hit and one of the fan blades has got out of sync because of a slight or even drastic bend in the fan holder.

I have seen ceiling fans begin to wobble after somebody decided to stop the ceiling fan with the broom. Even though the ceiling fan was off, it was still spinning, and trying to slow it down with the broom was enough to being one of the blades just enough that the fan begin to wobble.

All that to say, that it doesn’t take much to bend a fan blade on a ceiling fan.

How to Fix a Wobbly Ceiling Fan?

Fixing a wobbly ceiling fan is a lot of trial and error.

But it helps knowing the things that can cause it to start the wobble so that you can go through and make sure each part is working right.

1.  Parts have work themselves loose.

Ceiling fans have many parts on them that can just work themselves loose or out of position overtime because of the centrifugal Force associated with them.

The easiest thing to do is just work your way down from the top. And every point along this list, if you have done anything to adjust it, turn the fan on and see if the problem is solved.
( Make sure that you let the fan come to a stop and don’t try to stop it otherwise. You could easily make the problem worse.)

A. At the point that the ceiling fan meets the ceiling, take the casing off and check make sure that the ball that the ceiling fan hangs on is sitting down and it’s bracket and is not worked itself out of place.

B. While the casing is off, you can make sure that the box that the ceiling fan hanging bracket is screwed into is secure.

C. Wipe all the ceiling fan blades off. Ceiling fan blades tend to get very dusty. Sometimes Dusty enough that the added weight from the dust can throw the fan out of balance.

D. Tighten all the screws. There is generally three screws on each fan holder attaching the blades to the main hub of the ceiling fan.
Go through and make sure all the screws are tight.

E. If you’ve gone through and made sure everything was secure and tightened, then the problem is more likely to be a fan blade that is slightly bent.

To find out if one of your blade holders is bent, take a tape measure and measure from the ceiling down to the end of each blade. One of the blades will most likely be a little further down from the ceiling than the other ones.

1. The easiest way to fix a bent ceiling fan blade is to purchase new fan blade holders. Then just replace each one.

Though buying new family holders and replacement may be easy, it’s not the cheapest way.

2.  Purchase a ceiling fan balancing kit. ( You can find a free version of this below this section)

A balancing kit for a ceiling fan is a simple package of a weighted clip and a couple of small weights.

a. The first thing to do before you start applying the balancing kit is to number each ceiling fan blade by writing directly on them or putting a piece of tape on each one and writing on the tape.
This is an important step because you’re going to have to have a way to keep track of your progress as you go through each blade and check the balance.

b. Take the clip that comes in the package and put it on the first ceiling fan blade. (The one you marked with a 1). Turn the ceiling fan on and see if that took the wobble out. If it did not, go through the same process with each of the blades till you find the one that is out of balance.

c. Once you have found the ceiling fan blade that is out of balance, take the weights that came in the balancing package and tape one to the back of the fan blade that you found to be the culprit. (take the clip off). The second weight is included in case one weight is not quite enough to fix the problem.

how to balance a ceiling fan with coinsHow to Balance a Ceiling Fan with Coins?

Fixing a wobbly fan with pennies is the do it yourself version of a store-bought balancing kit.
Only it’s practically free except for the few pennies you’ll need to make it work.

To use this nifty ideal, you’ll have to have a few items that you can easily find around the house.
The first is pennies. You should probably find about 5 to start with. but you’re probably only going to end up using about three.
Some duct tape.
And a couple of potato chip bag clips if you really want to mimic the balancing kit.

Just like when you’re using a store-bought balancing kit, you want to clean and number each one of the ceiling fan blades before you start be able to keep up with which fan blade you tried in the process.

The ideal here is to take one of the potato chip bag clips and clip it on to the first ceiling fan blade. (The one you label number one)

Then turn the fan on and see if it made a difference in the wobbling. If it did,  great.
You’re practically done.

But if it didn’t, you’re going to want to repeat the process blade by blade to you find the one that is giving you the wobbling trouble.

Finally after you have decided which blade is the problem maker, you’ll take the chip clip off and put the pennies on the back side of the blade and tape them down with duct tape.

How many pennies? This is also up to trial and error. It may take two, it may take five. However many it takes, the ideal is to add enough weight to the one ceiling fan blade that is causing your fan to wobble so that it is balanced and working well again.

Also if you find the duct tape does not hold the pennies on, you might have to switch to some super glue and fasten them a lot better.

 
 

My Portable AC Keeps (5 Pain in the A** Issues)

Does your portable air conditioner have a few issues that keep coming up regardless of how many times you think you have the problem resolved?

A portable air conditioner can be a very useful way to keep cool when you want the ability to move the AC from room to room.

But it is no secret that portable does not exactly mean convenient when you’re talking about an AC.

And the number of issues that can keep coming up with a portable air conditioner may make it seem like it’s not worth it in the first place.

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Here is a list of some of the most popular issues that pop up with portable air conditioners.

1. Portable AC Keeps Turning Off

A portable air conditioner that keeps turning off is most likely getting too hot.
There are a few different reasons this could be happening.

a. Kink in the exhaust hose. If the exhaust hose is not positioned so that the heat expelling from the AC is not able to exhaust easily, heat will build up around the compressor eventually causing it to shut off.

Solution: Make sure the hose is not wound up or is kinked. Also, be sure that the hose is not being obstructed where the air exits.

b. Automatic shut-off is enabled. Make sure you don’t have the timer set to cut off the AC before you’re ready.

c. The temperature programmed into the thermostat has been reached.

d. Vent grates are clogged or obstructed.

The vents on the side of the AC are there to provide ventilation to the compressor and evaporative coil department inside the machine. If these get covered or clogged, the unit can overheat.

2. Portable Air Conditioner keeps filling up with water

All refrigerated air conditioners create condensation as the air is pulled across the cooling coils. That’s why there is a drain pan in the first place for the portable air conditioner.

If the pan keeps filling up with water, there are only a few things it could possibly be:

a. The air is extra humid. Humidity comes and goes and sometimes the humidity and the ambient air is extra high which means that you’re your portable AC is going to create that much more constant as it pulls the humidity out of the air.

b. Dry mode. Make sure that your unit is not in dry mode. Dry mode is specifically the dehumidification mode that extra humidity from the air. Sometimes the simplest answer is right in front of you. Maybe the thermostat has been changed to dry mode at some point and has gone unnoticed.

3. Broken mister. Most portable ACs evaporate the condensate at a rate that it is able to expel out the window along with the exhaust heat. If you have a portable AC that at one point never filled up with water, but now fills up quickly, there is probably a broken flinger that is not doing its job. Causing all the condensate to fill up the pan instead of being flung out the window.

3. Portable AC not cooling

 

 

a. Exhaust hose has come off either partially or all the way.
The exhaust air that is pumped out the window, as you know, is very hot and humid.
If the hose somehow comes unattached even partially, and you will have a mix of hot and cold air coming from the machine which will cancel the cool air.
b. Filter needs to be changed. The filter on an AC is the first place to look for just about every AC problem. If the filter is clogged, then there is no way for air to be pulled into the unit freely enough to condition the air and re-release it.
c. Exhaust hose is kinked or covered.
If the exhaust is not allowed to freely Flow away from the AC. The buildup of heat will cause diminished cooling.
d. Ventilation grates
The ventilation grates on the side and top of your portable AC are there to help cool the evaporative coil and compressor department.
If they are covered or gunked up, you will experience diminished cooling from your unit.
e. Faulty sensor
Portable air conditioners contain a sensor that measures the temperature of the air being pulled into the air conditioner so that the thermostat has a baseline to cool off of.
If the sensor goes bad or gets dirty, it can give a wrong reading that can either prevent your AC from getting cold enough or vice versa, making it too cold so that it freezes over.
If you’re a handy person, it’s not that hard of an operation to check the sensor. Otherwise, it’s not that hard to call a handyman over to check it for you.

 

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portable air conditioner keeps turning off4.Portable AC keeps freezing

 

a. Clean or replace the filter. A dirty filter will inhibit airflow. If the air is not capable of moving past the refrigerant coils fast enough, the humidity in the air will freeze instead of drain off.

b. Thermostat setting is too low.
If the thermostat is set too low, then the condensation that is supposed to drain or evaporate from the machine will freeze.
Solution: run the AC on the fan only to thaw out the coils.

c. High humidity
When you are experiencing higher than normal moisture in the air, the moisture in the air has a better chance of freezing before it is evaporated. This is especially so if you have a dirty filter.
Solution: run the unit on dry mode
The dehumidifier function (dry mode) is made to extract humidity out of the air faster.
Also when the humidity inside of the room is too high, often you will find that running the dehumidifier only is enough to bring the comfort of the room back to a decent spot.

6. Portable air conditioner keeps blowing the breaker.

 

 

a. A breaker shuts off when it is overloaded. That is the entire function of a breaker.

If the breaker is shutting off when the portable AC is started, there’s a good chance that you have too many appliances on one circuit.
Turning the breaker back on every time it snaps will cause it to eventually get to where it won’t stay on at all.

b. Unit is too small.

If the unit is too small you may find that it is running Non-Stop causing it to trip the breaker.

c. Turn the thermostat down

Turning the thermostat down may lessen the load on your breaker and allow the machine to keep running.

If you do not have an overloaded circuit and the AC continues to trigger the breaker, then you should call an electrician.

6.Portable AC keeps tripping the power strip.

Most surge protector power strips are not rated to be able to handle the startup of an AC. It is recommended that you never plug an AC into a power strip. Power strips are meant to be temporary solutions that are unplugged and stored afterward.

The same goes for using an extension cord with a portable AC. Most extension cords are not rated to be able to handle the surge of an AC compressor starting up. If you need to use an extension cord, be sure that it is rated to be able to handle a large appliance like an AC. 

Recap
Though a portable air conditioner can be a good idea when you want the convenience of being able to move an air conditioner from room to room, it’s important to remember that convenience doesn’t exactly mean “ease of use”.

Proper use, maintenance, and upkeep are the name of the game. As long as you keep your filter cleaned, the unit properly exhausted, and keep up with the drain, making sure the department isn’t filled and that it is not neglected to the point of growing mold, your unit should last a long time.

If window access is the primary reason that you’re thinking about purchasing a portable air conditioner, there are also evaporative portable air conditioners available that don’t require a window to vent out of. Just food for thought

Does Arctic Breeze Actually work?

With the arrival of summer and the immense heat, we have suffered in recent weeks. It is essential to have a solution that refreshes the environment of our home, office or the place where we are. An air conditioner is a good option in this situation. But everyone cannot afford AC. In that case, an air cooler will be a low-cost and effective solution to get rid of the summer heat. I have used several air coolers and the ArcticBreeze satisfied me. Does Arctic Breeze Actually work? Here, I will solve the inquiry according to my real-life experience and https://nerdknowbetter.com expert’s arcticbreeze review. Let’s dive into it.

Does Arctic Breeze Actually work?

Arctic Breeze not only cools but also purifies and humidifies the room. Plug with the power source, fill up with water and start the Arctic Breeze. It provides you 8 hours of non-stop cold and fresh air. Below, I have explained how the portable air cooler work:

Arctic Breeze extracts the warm air from the area where it is placed. It uses its powerful 3-speed fan that delivers cold and fresh air that provides ultimate comfort. It fights a constant battle against the summer heat with a continuous cold air supply without producing annoying machine sound. It is one of the most effective and economical solutions to combat hot days and nights. It uses a low power and you can run it through a USB cable.

ArcticBreeze Review 2020: Should I buy this Personal AC? | THE GADGETOFFICE

Special features of Arctic Breeze 

Arctic Breeze is the best solution for a small room in hot summer conditions. It has exclusive features and I have explained them below:

– Easy to use: Arctic Breeze is a simple solution to the sultry heat and has no side effects. With the control buttons, you can operate the mini air cooler easily.

– Adjustable: It has 3-speed fan settings to have the ideal airflow. You can modify the speed according to your need.

– It has 3 functions: You can use Arctic Breeze portable air conditioner as a dehumidifier, air purifier and conditioner. You can stay cold in the hot situation and stay safe from airborne particles.

– Portable: You can take Arctic Breeze with you anywhere. I use it in the office and sometimes on the train. No more sweating, luckily I just need a portable air conditioner to work quietly in front of the PC.

– Economic: It has no installation costs and does not consume disposable electricity like normal air conditioners. I have to admit I slightly abused it a few days, but my bill has remained virtually unchanged.

Specs of the Arctic Breeze

  • Arctic Breeze has a 20-speed adjustable setting.
  • Its 750 ml water tank delivers cold air for up to 8 hours.
  • 8 multi-color LED lights with setting options.
  • The fan has three-level intensities to control speed.
  • A USB power cable to run the Arctic Breeze.

Expert’s and user’s reviews

Here are some user’s reviews about Arctic Breeze to help you convince yourself of the effectiveness of this portable air cooler.

  1. I suffer a lot from the heat compared to other coworkers in my office. One of my college friends recommended an Arctic Breeze portable air conditioner, but I never trusted to buy it online. My friend gave it to me for my birthday and I’m satisfied with it.
  2. I thought this Arctic Breeze was a big hoax, but I convinced myself to buy it because of the positive reviews. I have to say that it does its job up to a couple of meters. It comes with a USB power cable. I like the feeling of freshness that lasts in the room even after turning it off.
  3. I have never suffered from the heat like last summer. During my pregnancy, I decided to buy this air conditioner because I was the one who suffered the heat most of all in the family. I would never have thought it was so good! It’s a good buy.
  4. We live in a small flat without enough ventilation. Summers are really hot hell, and not even a fan moving the air helps. So when I discovered Arctic Breeze, I didn’t think twice and bought it. Without a doubt, summer has saved us.

    Special features of Arctic Breeze
    Arctic Breeze Review [June] First Click To Read and Buy! 

    Arctic Breeze is the best solution for a small room in hot summer conditions. It has exclusive features and I have explained them below:

    – Easy to use: Arctic Breeze is a simple solution to the sultry heat and has no side effects. With the control buttons, you can operate the mini air cooler easily.

    – Adjustable: It has 3-speed fan settings to have the ideal airflow. You can modify the speed according to your need.

    – It has 3 functions: You can use Arctic Breeze portable air conditioner as a dehumidifier, air purifier and conditioner. You can stay cold in the hot situation and stay safe from airborne particles.

    – Portable: You can take Arctic Breeze with you anywhere. I use it in the office and sometimes on the train. No more sweating, luckily I just need a portable air conditioner to work quietly in front of the PC.

    – Economic: It has no installation costs and does not consume disposable electricity like normal air conditioners. I have to admit I slightly abused it a few days, but my bill has remained virtually unchanged.

  5. How to use the Arctic Breeze?
    arctic-breeze.com - Home | Facebook

    Arctic Breeze is quite simple and can be used in any room without having to do any holes in the walls.

    1. Just connect the USB cable to a power outlet, fill the tank and turn on the Arctic Breeze.
    2. Put ice in the tank instead of water for added freshness. It is important not to fill it completely. A glass of water is enough.
    3. I add a few drops of aroma to have a very fragrant environment.
    4. It is also possible to use Arctic Breeze to create a relaxing atmosphere by changing the colors of the LED lights.

    Where to buy Arctic Breeze?

    I have bought the Arctic Breeze from the official website to avoid buying imitations and fake products. If you buy it from here, you will also have access to very affordable offers up to 50% discount. If we compare it with the price of other air conditioners, without a doubt, the difference is more than remarkable.

    Final thoughts

    Arctic Breeze ensures relaxation during the hot summer season. It is enough for a medium room. Most of us have the question about the portable air cooler: Does Arctic Breeze Actually work? It really works. It effectively reduces the room heat level and purifies the atmosphere. Its colorful LED lights provide a charming environment in the room. It is a powerful and efficient replacement for traditional fans.

Why Good Ventilation Is Necessary in a Nail Salon?

Image Source: Air Purifier Geek

For doing nails, a nail salon is the best place. But have you ever thought about why

good ventilation is necessary in a nail salon? Well, let me explain why. If I am not
over exaggerating, the salon comes with a strong smell of different chemicals. All
these are used in the solution that is working to clean and shine your nails. You
will feel the strong odor whenever you go to the salon.

As many people gather in the salon, you have to think about the air quality in the
space. To avoid different health problems that are caused by the chemical vapors
and dust, your salon requires proper ventilation, be it a small one.

Why good ventilation is necessary in a nail salon? – it works

The nail salon is one of the rapidly growing businesses which is leading as a
multi billion-dollar industry. In a salon, you have to provide different services like
nail polishing, nail finish, hand and foot care treatments, etc.

So it is quite evident
that you have to use a huge amount of products like glues, removers, polishers and
the list goes on. All these products come with different chemicals and they have
other harmful side effects.

For this, you have to ensure good ventilation that will
provide quality air for your staff and customers in your beauty salon.
With proper ventilation, the contaminants will get removed for good. So no one
will suffer from breathing problems or allergy attacks.

Why Nail salon ventilation system is required

 

Before talking about nail salons, you have to know if nail salons are safe or not.
The fact is in the salon, all the staff and customers stay exposed to the
environment. We all know that the reused chemicals are reused in a salon on
various persons and workers also get exposed to those.

Thus, harmful bacteria
spread during exposure and people suffer from different skin problems, severe
allergy problems, and environmental diseases. All these problems occur only for a
poor ventilation system.

Now let’s talk about the chemicals that are common in the salon and responsiblefor hampering the air quality.

The chemicals are:
Toluene: This chemical is an essential ingredient in nail glue and nail polish. It is a
clear and colorless chemical. If you use this chemical at an excessive level, then
you will face dizziness, damage to the nervous system and more harm.
Formaldehyde: you will find formaldehyde in the nail polish. Overuse of this
chemical creates a problem in kin, eye and throat. Also, you may suffer from
severe allergic problems with this chemical.
Dibutyl Phthalate: This chemical is available in polish hardeners and nail polishes.
It is harmful to respiratory tracts and eyes.
Methacrylate Compounds: in the artificial fingernail, you will find this chemical. It
is prone to dermatitis, asthma and allergies.

So you can guess why you have to stay alert while using these chemicals in your
salon.

How the ventilation will work:

To ensure a protected environment in your salon, you have to keep knowledge
about Salon ventilation requirements. To improve the air quality, you have to work
on breathing space, building and space.

The breathing space:

You can invest in a capture system that stops the dust and vapors from going into
the salon. Thus, the breathing space gets better and all people in the salon will have
clean air to breathe.

Space in the salon:

Try the Nail salon air purifier to emit all the bad and strong smells from the salon.
It is better to use it in the opening time before starting the busy day.

Building space:

Invest in a Portable ventilation fan for nail salon building. This ventilation system
controls and improves the air quality of the salon building.

Legal requirements to install ventilation in the nail salon.

There are some legal requirements you have to follow to ensure good ventilation in
your salon.

Massachusetts State Building Code:

The building department prescribes this code. Per this code, the nail salon has to
use mechanical or natural ventilation for open air space.

Massachusetts Board of Cosmetology:

According to this regulation, every salon will have to ensure adequate and proper
ventilation.

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

OSHA works with health and protection in every workplace. Per this regulation,
the workplaces that work with different chemicals have to ensure proper exhaust
ventilation. There are OSHA limits that every salon has to follow; if not, different
health problems will occur among the people who work and take service from
there.

What to follow while installing good ventilation:

You have to follow some specific steps to make your salon environment clean and
healthy. The steps are:

Proper measurement of the salon

You have to install the right ventilation system that has the capacity to cover your
salon space. So before installing one, measure the salon in height and area.

Check out the floor or furniture:

There are some furniture and floors that tend to capture the environment, dust and
chemicals. So try to pick the items that capture the less environmental
contaminants and make sure they are frequently vacuumed.

Maintaining the aeration system:

You have to maintain the ventilation system properly to make sure of its longevity.
By cleaning it regularly, the air circulation will get better day by day and so will
your salon environment.

Conclusion:

If you are planning to set up a nail salon, make sure your salon has proper
ventilation. Maybe your partners will ask you why good ventilation is necessary in
a nail salon. Ensure you have proper knowledge about the system and the
regulation to make them understand the importance. By ensuring healthy and clean
air circulation in your salon, not only have you secured your and your worker’s
health but also for the customers. A healthy environment is very much required to
stay healthy and happy for a long time.

The Best Portable Space Heater? (Our Best 2 Recommendations)

What should you look for in a space heater?

Modern space heaters have many more features than the old steal rattling boxes that were a part of many households in the 80s and 90s.

Heaters these days are much more safe and effective.

Some of the features that you can expect to find on modern space heaters include:

360° or wide angle oscillation
Rapid room warm up
Cool to the touch
Safety precautions like:
Overheating shut down
Tip over shut off
Built-in timers
Remote control
Temperature sensors that adjust with the temperature in the room.
Smart capacity.

Honeywell HZ-445R

#2 Best Portable Space Heater

 

 

Honeywell builds heaters to last. I personally have owned a Honeywell tower heater that I have used every winter for 15 years.
Honeywell ceramic surround heat is a powerhouse.

I bought this heater for my daughter for Christmas. Out of the box, it looks pretty small but all you have to do is open her door and you realize how well this thing works.
It’s small size also makes it very handy to be able to carry back and forth to the bathroom or even her cubicle at work.

The fact that it is has an automatic shut off and is cool to the touch is a big plus, especially for me and my wife and knowing that it is being used in my daughter’s room.

Cons- Auto Shut Off  kicks in to fast with the heater on high

Check the Latest Price on Amazon

Atomic Smart Wifi

#3 Best Portable Space Heater

 

 

Like every other modern device, space heaters have made the transition into being a smart appliance.

Atomi works with a smart app which allows you to schedule the heater, change temperatures,  and alert you via your phone if the heater tips over.

It also works with Alexa and Google Assistant which makes it completely voice activated.
The unit does not need to be hooked up to the Internet to run though.

It’s standard basic features include being cool to the touch, tip over safety switch, and built-in timer.

Space heaters lend themselves to being smart appliances more then other types of appliances simply because of the safety element involved.

Atomi checks all the boxes to give you the rite of passage into a new world of space heaters. It also comes with a 3-year warranty.

Cons- Requires Alexa or Google Assistant

Check the Latest Price on Amazon

How to Choose The Right Humidifier

Humidifiers can be a lifesaver during the winter months when the air is extra dry.

Which can lead to all types of symptoms including difficulty breathing, dry mouth, dried and bloody noses as well as exasperate COPD and snoring.

Picking the right humidifier can be a little on the daunting side because of the wide selection and the amount of bells and whistles that can be purchased.

So what exactly do you need in a humidifier?

Of course certain features are necessary and many features can be considered necessary to the individual user.

But the main features that most people look for in a humidifier can be rounded up into just a few.

We will try to give you an ideal of exactly what you’re going to want to look for in a humidifier.

Quickly Jump to the Feature You’re Looking For:

Type

There are more than one type of humidifier. The main ones being the cool mist humidifier and the warm mist humidifier. The most popular is the Cool Mist Humidifier.

Cool mist humidifiers do exactly what they sound like. They emit a cool mist into the air to balance out the humidity levels in your room.

Mayo clinic has a popular web page that they report that cool mist humidifiers are more effective when dealing with cold symptoms.

  But cool mist humidifiers do not typically offer the capacity to add any type of essential oil or menthol cold additive that warm mist humidifiers do.

Combination warm and cool mist humidifiers are a good solution if you prefer the Best of both worlds.

The type of humidifier also includes the way the machine actually humidifies the room.

The 3 techniques primarily used are:

1.  Misting

2.  Ultrasonic. Ultrasonic humidifiers work through vibration that fills the air with water droplets by shaking.

3.  Vaporizing- These heat water to a boiling point to create steam.

Size and Square Footage

Humidifiers come with different size tanks.

The size of the tank not only determines how large of a square space you can expect a humidifier to work in, it also determines how often the tank will have to be refilled.

Which if you get a tank that is too small,  you will soon know what kind of hassle you have walked into.

Tank sizes rain from .9 gallons all the way up to 3 to 5  gallons.
A humidifier with a small tank will run from about 12 -16 hours.

Ease of Use

A. Easily to clean

One of the biggest determining factor and how easy A humidifier is to use is how easily it can be disassembled.

The reason for this is, humidifiers must be cleaned often and thoroughly to ensure that mold and bacteria is not accumulating in or around the humidifier.

One of the main features that can determine which humidifier you purchase is whether or not the machine can you taking apart easily and washed in the dishwasher.


b. Easy to fill

One thing you may not think about till you actually get ready to fill the tank and in a humidifier is how easy is it to fill the tank with water. An easy to fill humidifier should come equipped with a strong handle and the ability to fit underneath your faucet.

Noise Levels

Noise an important factor to think about when getting ready to purchase a humidifier. One of the main reasons that noise can be a issue with humidifiers is how close in proximity that you use the humidifier when you are sleeping.

Humidifiers can offer a great deal of relief when you are suffering from cold symptoms or sinus, especially when you are sleeping. But the noise level of some humidifiers can also be a hindrance to sleeping well.

On the flip side, the humming of a humidifier near your bed can also be considered a blanket of white noise that can aid in getting rest.

Whether you are a white noise or no noise type of person, many humidifiers come with intelligent sleep mode to make your humidifier run even quieter.

Auto Shut Off

Auto shut is a feature that will shut off your humidifier when it runs out of water. It is a feature designed to give you peace of mind that your humidifier is not going dry and continuing to run while you are gone or asleep.

Mist Control

Many humidifiers on the market today have the capacity to control the amount of Mist coming from the machine. This is a feature that was rarely found in the typical drug store table top humidifier you would purchase yester year.

The direction of the Mist can also be dialed in with a easy 360° nozzle that can be pointed anywhere you like without having to completely move the humidifier.

Humidistat

Though adding humidity in a dry and arid climate can be a source of relief inside of your home, the opposite can be true when there is too much humidity. It is possible to add too much humidity to the air even when the humidity level outside is zilch.

Having a built-in humidistat and humidity sensor with auto on and off functions can keep the humidity in your home to the exact level you set it.

Aromatherapy Tray

Aromatherapy can add all types of benefits to your lifestyle and create a healthy atmosphere as well as medicinal properties to your airstream.

Many humidifiers come with a essential oil tray to add your favorite oils into the mist coming from your humidifier

Smart App

As you probably already guessed, humidifiers have moved into the age of smart technology along with every other type of device.

Many humidifiers give you the capacity to monitor the humidity in your home via your phone, as well as offer you the capacity to schedule and turn your humidifier on or off through a smart app.

Self Cleaning

Self cleaning humidifiers or another step into the future that are making humidifiers safer.
Materials like mold resistant plastic are being used in the construction of humidifiers to keep mold and bacteria from becoming a issue inside of your humidifier and your ambient air.

Other self cleaning humidifiers use ultraviolet light inside of the water tank.
Anti mold and bacteria additives are also sold, that can help keep the water in your humidifier from he coming a germ farm and in turn, creating a germ farm in the air you are breathing.

4 Best Humidifiers of 2021

Quickly compare humidifiers

Levoit Hybrid Ultrasonic

Levoit is known for great air purifiers. Fortunately that’s not the only thing they excel in.

The levoit classic 200 is a humidifier that can run for 40 hours before having to fill it up again.

It has three mist settings and a dual 360° nozzle to aim the Mist in any direction you want without having to move the whole humidifier.

It also has a aromatherapy tray to add in your favorite essential oils.

The noise level is also whisper quiet.

Pros- 40 hours of continuous use and a aromatherapy tray

Cons- no humidistat and no remote control.

Click to Check the Latest Price on the Levoit Classic 200 Humidifier

Dyson am10 humidifier

The Dyson am10 contains a ultraviolet light the disinfects 99.9% of bacteria before the Mist is expelled into the room.

It has a high setting that can be used as a fan in the summer and censoring technology that will keep the humidity in the room even.

Typically Dyson gets the more on just about every appliance they design and build.
But this particular appliance has a ridiculous amount of bad reviews on Amazon.

At the price point that they sell this humidifier at, it can’t afford to have any downsides.

Pros- worry free and bacteria free noiseless humidification.

Cons- hard to clean and not as well constructed as you would expect for the price.

Click to Check the Latest Price on the Dysan AM10 Humidifier

Honeywell HCM 350w germ-free cool mist humidifier

This is another humidifier that contains a UV light.  Bacteria and mold production in humidifiers is one of the downsides of owning a humidifier. Solving this one issue can put a humidifier above the fold easily.

Honeywell have done just that, with this humidifier. Ultraviolet light contained in the humidifier kills 99.9% of the bacteria in the water before it has a chance to become part of the air you breathe.

This air purifier also has a large tank which holds one gallon of water and can run up to 24 hours on low. It’s evaporative technology makes it impossible to overhumidify a room which in itself removes the need for a humidistat.

It is also dishwasher safe and super easy to clean.

Pros- Bacteria free operation and dishwasher friendly.

Click to Check the Latest Price on the Honeywell HCM 350w Humidifier

Vicks Warm Mist vaporizer

Vicks vaporizer is a warm mist humidifier that is very good at what it does, which is to create warm steam.
It contains a tray to put Vick’s ointment or other menthol cold product.
The technology of how the machine create humidity by boiling water makes it antibacterial in nature.

Pros – Aromatherapy friendly and mold free operation.
Cons- create hot scalding water.

 
Click to Check the Latest Price on the Vicks Warm Mist Vaporizer

How to Remove Burnt Smell From Microwave

Recently the trend of spicy macaroni and cheese has hit the shelves and couldn’t be more popular at my house.

And with everyone at home from the recent crisis, it seems like around here,  macaroni and cheese is the only thing that kids want to eat.

And since the Mac n cheese comes in individual servings that you just add water to and microwave, it makes it a super easy way to keep the kids fed with something that they want anyway. Plus they can fix it themselves.

But this trend recently led to an event in my house that was funny to everyone because of what happened and who it happened to,

but it left a lingering burnt smell in the kitchen and in the microwave for weeks.

REMOVE BURNT SMELL FROM MICROWAVE


What happened?

My daughter decided to fix her some instant macaroni and cheese and forgot to put the water in it before she put it in the microwave.

It burned and smoked up the whole house. The smell was repugnant and lingered in the kitchen for about 3 days.

The smell in the microwave seemed to be permanent.

Now, I have smelled some burnt stuff in the microwave, and up till now I would have said that popcorn is the worst thing you can burn in the microwave, but I don’t believe that anymore.

The smell of burnt macaroni in the microwave, specifically macaroni that is dusted with the cheese flavoring without any water, is by far the worst smell I have ever encountered, burning something in the microwave.

The smell was so bad that my instant reaction was that we were going to just have to buy a new microwave. it really seemed that there was no getting the smell out.

But I did a little research on the internet and decided to try a few do-it-yourself solutions.

I tried boiling a glass of water with vinegar in it. No dice.

I tried washing the inside with vinegar. Still didn’t do the trick.

I scrubbed the inside with vinegar and baking soda. Nope.

The burnt smell was still there and continued for a few weeks.

I’d love to say that I kept with it and eventually found the miraculous cure for getting the smell out of burnt macaroni out of the microwave, but that’s not the case.

I blew it off.

But every time I used the microwave, the smell reminded that I was probably going to have to buy a new microwave soon.

It took someone else to come along and tackle the burnt smell problem to finally get rid of it.

My other older daughter in an uncommon move decided to clean the kitchen. She was in a mood to deep clean the house.

This is a person who has been attempting to clean her room going on years now.

But there she was , scrubbing and mopping and washing and wiping. Odd.

About this time, I decided to heat up my coffee in the microwave and realize that the smell was completely gone from the burnt macaroni incident.

I asked her how she got the burnt smell out of the microwave and she pulled out a little travel bottle of a concoction she had whipped up.

What was it?

Clean Microwave with Lemon

clean microwave with lemon

What is the best way to get the burnt smell out of a microwave?

Vinegar, Lemon Juice and Water

Specifically: 1/2 cup of water, 3/4 cup vinegar and a couple tablespoons of lemon juice. Both lemon juice and vinegar have a high pH and strong acid content making their alkalinity especially potent at removing stains and odors.

“Lemon” turns out to be the magic ingredient that I was missing.

Honestly I would not have believed it if I did not see it for myself since I’d already tried my own version of do-it-yourself cleaner that I had found on the internet.

But it was the real deal and I can’t deny that that simple recipe cleans the odor out of the microwave so well.

Now I’m on the Lemon train.

And I’ve been discovering a lot of things that lemon is good for.

It turns out lemon is actually very good for a multitude of cleaning duties.

 

1. Polishing Silverware with Lemon

The acidity of lemons makes it very effective at polishing and shining silverware. It also has a load of antibacterial properties that help leave your silverware safer as well.

Along the same lines, It is also excellent for shining up your chrome. Add a little salt to the lemon juice for extra strength and some grit to get down deep.

2.  Clean Coffee maker and Coffee pot with Lemon

Vinegar, lemon juice,  and water, will get all the coffee stain buildup out of the coffee maker by running the DIY cleaner through a couple of cycles.

The coffee pot may need to soak a bit in it. But the result will be a brand new shiny looking coffee pot when it’s cleaned up with care.

3. Use Lemon as Flea Repellent

As it turns out, fleas are repelled by the smell of lemon and vinegar. According to Hunker, boiling lemons, water, and instead of adding vinegar, add a bit of Rosemary.

This solution can be sprayed right onto your dog, put under their collar, or sprayed directly on your couch or rug, wherever your pets are hanging out and transporting fleas to.

4.  Get Rid of Ants and Roaches with Lemon

Ants and roaches are also repelled by the smell of lemon and vinegar. The solution can be sprayed all along the baseboards and window seals to help ward off the nasty insects.

That’s only a few uses you can get out of using vinegar, water, and lemon around the house.

Clothes whitening, dandruff, even as an all-natural anti toxin that will help clean out your gut, it seems the uses of vinegar and lemon are endless.

lemon for cleaningBut like anything else you see on the internet, make sure you do your due diligence and do a trial run before you go hog wild taking another person’s advice.
After all, if it were an over the counter cleaner, the directions would tell you to try it on a spot that you can hide before you spray it all over everything.