Category: Air Purifiers

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.

Negative Side Effects of Air Purifiers (11- Disadvantages)

Negative Side Effects of Air Purifiers

There’s no doubt that air purifiers are one of the most marketed items that you can find anywhere. The claims about the effectiveness of air purifiers seem to reach new heights every year. Some of the claims made by some advertisers make air purifier sound more gimmicky or scammy than an actual appliance that has a real function.

Whichever side of the fence you fall on, there is more than enough ammunition to argue your side. Here we’ve laid out what we think are the biggest negatives and side effects as well as advantages to owning an air purifier.

1. Air purifiers are Expensive

Air purifiers are one of the more expensive appliances available for purchase. The price tag on many air purifiers makes you wonder how they could come up with such an exorbitant price for a filtering machine.

2.  Replacement parts

Air purifiers require replacement parts.
Typically it’s the HEPA filter that you have to keep updated for the air purifier to work efficiently. But other air purifiers employ UV lights and modules that also have to be replaced yearly to keep the air purifier working right.

3.  It’s hard to tell if they’re working

Unless you’re having a problem with indoor allergies and can pinpoint the exact spot or room where the allergies tend to affect you the most, it’s hard to tell if an air purifier is actually working. Most of us just go along our daily lives breathing the air we’re givin with no real issues. Sometimes owning an air purifier so that we can say we are breathing healthier air is like taking a multivitamin. You know you need it, but you may not even ever be able to tell a difference in the way you are feeling by taking it.

4. Ozone

Air purifiers that clean the air with negative ions and UV tend to make ozone as a by-product. Whether you believe that ozone is straight from the devil or you don’t mind a little ozone if it is a necessary evil for reducing airborne viruses, the fact remains that breathing too much ozone can aggravate your lungs.

Which kind of defeats the point of getting a machine to help you breathe better.
Most ionic air purifiers create will below the amount of ozone that would be harmful. But there is the problem of putting to large of an ionic air purifier into too small of an area and getting a Overkill of 03.

Ozone also has a sharp odor that is reminiscent of bleach. Another defeats the point type of scenario. If you’re using an air purifier to help reduce odors then you  don’t exactly want a machine that adds an odor in return.

5. Make the Room Dusty

Air purifiers tend to make the area around the air purifier extra Dusty. And they’re purifiers that use negative ions can cause dust to settle throughout the whole area.

6.  Require Regular Maintenance

An air purifier with a dirty filter is not much use. In order for an air purifier to do its job correctly, the filters need to be cleaned and replaced regularly. Same goes with UV lights and modules. If they are not burning bright, then they will have to be replaced.

7.  Noisy

Most air purifiers are filtering machines that run similar to a fan that pulls dirty air and exhaust clean air. And just like a fan, they come with different speed settings that allow you to turn the fan up higher or lower. Many larger Hepa air purifiers advertise “white noise as part of their benefits

8.  Concentrate germs and bacteria

Air purifiers generally work like a fan in reverse that attempt to pull the allergens from the air into a filter. That makes the area around the air purifier that much more full of local debris in the air since the flow of the air is towards the air purifier. This is one of the reasons that sleeping next to an air purifier is not the best ideal.

9. Air purifiers can make allergies worse

Air purifiers can make allergies worse because they tend to pull the airborne  allergens in the room toward the air purifier. This can create a local area around the filter that is highly concentrated with airborne allergens.

10. Useless for immediate odors

Though there are many air purifier brands that do work well for removing odors, the fact is that air purifiers are pretty much useless to get rid of immediate odors. By immediate, I mean, fresh kitchen odors, chemical odors, or even someone blowing up the bathroom.
True, if you leave your carbon filter equipped air purifier with a stench in the house, you’ll come home to a fresher smelling area. But if you’re trying to get rid of a strong smell quick, good luck getting it done with an air purifier.

11. Useless for smoking

Along the same lines as strong cooking smells, you’re not going to have much luck clearing out the smell of smoke quickly. And if you were talking about a house that has a history of cigarette smoking, the lingering smell is not something that an air purifier will be able to get rid of very easily.
Cigarette and tobacco smoke tends to have a sticky residue texture to it that binds it to the furniture, curtains, walls, and floor.
Ozone generators are you usually used for these types of situations.

Advantages Of Air Purifiers

 

11 Ways in Which Air Purifiers Are Really Effective.

1.  Save you money

Allergies are big business. And getting relief from indoor allergies is not cheap.

Antihistamines can run you up to 40 bucks a pop at the local pharmacy. And to get the good stuff you have to have a prescription from a doctor.

Factor in the time missed from work and you get the point. Money and more money.

A quality air purifier can filter out as much as  97% of household allergens.

By capturing airborne allergens before they become a reason to see a doctor or a purchase medication, an air purifier can work to save you money.

2. Great for Babies

Babies are very susceptible to all types of allergens and bacteria.

Using a HEPA air cleaner with a activated carbon filter included will help your baby breathe better without introducing anything into the air that might have an adverse effect.

An Air purifier can also reduce the need for using germ sanitizing wipes in which chemicals can stick around much   longer than you might imagine.

Activated carbon in an air purifier can also help reduce the abundance of odors that can gather in the baby’s nursery or room.

Ozone producing air purifiers should be avoided to ensure that the babies developing lungs are not harmed.

There can be no doubt that clean air is important for a baby to grow strong.

do air purifiers work3. Government Statistics  

Statistics. You gotta love em.

But did you know that according to the CPSC Consumer Product Safety Commission,

Indoor air can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air even largest industrialized cities?

The same research found it people spend as much as 90% of their time indoors and that indoor air pollution is more of a health risk then outdoor air pollution.

Modern building techniques not only provide tightly sealed buildings to better ensure that the temperature remains a constant,

They also keep indoor air pollution sealed inside as well.

Do air purifiers work? Yes, The right air purifier can help you is your family avoid being a statistic.

4. Help Reduce Allergy Symptoms

Allergies affect us all at some point and for some of us, it can be downright miserable.
And the first line of defense is usually  to get an allergy medication.

Medications like antihistamines are expensive and most people experience side effects like fogginess and feeling drowsy when using them.

A high quality air purifier can work to filter as much as 97% airborne dust, pollen and pet dander, mold spores and bacteria before they have a chance to turn into an allergy problem.

5. Reduce Asthma Tiggers

Many of the same household allergens like dust mites and pollen, mold spores and pet dander can result in much worse symptoms for an asthma sufferer.

Airborne pollutants that otherwise may be the norm can result in narrowed airways and not being able to your catch your breath for an  asthmatic.

Reducing triggers that can cause an attack is essential for an asthma sufferer.

A good air purifier can go a long way to help reduce airborne asthma triggers.

6. Help Control Pet Dander

How many people have to alter their lives because they can’t exist in the same house as a cat?

Pet dander can produce awful symptoms in people that are allergic to it.

Uncontrollable sneezing and swollen eyes are typical for people allergic to dander.

What a lot of people do not know though, is that airborne pet dander can be controlled.

Dander is actually the bacteria left on a Pet’s fur after they lick and groom themselves.

Once it dries, it becomes airborne.

An air purifier with a true HEPA filter can work wonders when it comes to capturing pet dander out of the air.

7.  Germs and Bacteria Reduction

Controlling germs and viruses in the home is usually delegated to using antiseptic sprays and bleach wipes.

But according to the National Library of Medicine, there are air cleaning technologies that can leave viruses and bacteria inactive.

Bi polar ionization is a technology that when used in concert with a HEPA filter can effectively reduce germs and viruses in a room.

Adding an air purifier equipped with these technologies to your sanitizing arsenal can make a real difference when it comes to germs and viruses in your home.

8.  Mold Spores

A great deal of the population is allergic to mold spores.

Many of the problems that people have with mold or due to leaky pipes. Finding the area where the moisture is getting in and fixing it is the first step to control mold allergies.

But there are also many other areas that mold grow that are practically impossible to eliminate.

Though the use of an air purifier will not clean mold off of your walls, it can be very effective at reducing the populations of mold spores in your air.

One type of air purifier that is highly rated for reducing mold in the air is Photocatalytic Oxidation. Photocatalytic oxidation or PCO for short oxidizes mold spores and removes their ability to cause an allergic reaction. 

do air purifiers work for pet allergies9. Odors

Foul odors or not only annoying and off-putting, they can be symptomatic gases and fumes lingering in the area.

Activated carbon is a type of air cleaning technology that is able to adsorb the the VOCs and gases that are at the root of the odor and leave your house feeling fresh again.

 Do Air Purifiers Work? Yes, The Right Air Purifiers Really Work For Odors.

10. Help With Headaches

Dust in air can give you a headache. But it’s not just the dirt being kicked up in the air that’s the problem.

It’s what the dust is made up of.

Some of the ingredients that you can find in your average dust ball are dead skin cells, cockroach feces, dust mites, pollen and spores, and carcinogens from smoke.

No wonder you have a headache.

Intense smells can also give you a headache. Many people can develop an oversensitive sense of smell they can make even the smells like cologne and candles too strong.

An air purifier that uses a true HEPA filter and an activated carbon filter can be a game-changer when it comes to reducing airborne contaminants that cause headaches.

11. Help Manage COPD

Chronic Obstructed Pulmonary Disease or COPD is a lung disease that causes obstructed airflow to the lungs.

An air purifier is not a replacement for inhalers and other equipment for people with COPD but keeping the air as clean as possible is a must when everyday household allergens can interfere with catching your breathe.

Keeping quality air purifiers equipped with true HEPA and activated oxygen filters running throughout the home will help remove airborne irritants before they have a chance to be breathed in.

12. Chemicals and VOCs

VOCs are usually considered air pollution created by chemicals.

Many household products including hair spray, aerosol cleaners, nail polish remover, and crafting items like paint and glue can be toxic to breathe.

Other VOCs occur through off gassing, exhaust fumes, and cigarette smoke.

Symptoms of VOC exposure range from allergy type issues like sneezing and runny noses all the through sharp headaches and memory loss.

Air purifiers that contain a large weight of activated Carbon are what’s needed to combat Chemicals in the air.

Other technologies like PCO reduce VOCs as well. Be aware though that air purifiers that rely on creating a ionic reaction should be viewed more as a air cleaning treatment rather than a 24/7 filtering machine.

do air purifiers work for allergiesTo Sum It Up

Do air purifiers work? No doubt. Yes they work.

We have listed 12 ways and air purifier can work for you here but there are many more ways an purifier can enhance your life.

Sufferers of sleep apnea and snoring can you get a better night’s rest when there or less pollutants to breathe in you were are sleeping.

Also air purifiers are useful all year long.

Other appliances like air conditioners and heaters are only useful for about 3 to 5 months out of the year.

Humidifiers and dehumidifiers, same thing. About a 3-5 period where they are useful.

Good air quality is something you need every day of the year.

Do Air Purifiers Work? Really Work?
Yes.

 

Do Air Purifiers Need UV?

Ultraviolet light is highly effective at reducing mold and bacteria when it is targeted and allowed to remain focused on its intended target.

But the problem remains. How can that translate to cleaning air since there is no way to actually target air?

Are UV air purifiers effective? How so?

Do air purifiers need UV?

Most air purifiers work independently of UV and do not need or require UV to operate. The most common purpose of Ultraviolet light in an air purifier is as a method of sterilizing the filter to prevent it from becoming populated with live bacteria and germs.

But the air purifier will still work without the UV.

 But… Another type of UV air purifier that DOES require UV to work is Photo catalytic Oxidation. 

Also called PCO and tio2 air purification, these air purifiers create a reaction between Ultraviolet light and Titanium Oxide that produces an ionic plasma that kills mold spores and bacteria.
UV is central to the operation of these air cleaners and they will not work if the uv bulb is burned out.

Photocatalytic oxidation is commonly used in the Central AC ductwork. Which ties into the next way UV is used in air cleaning.

The third way UV is most commonly used in air purification is the HVAC system.

In this case, ultraviolet lamps are used to destroy mold and germs inside of the central heat and air system before they get a chance to enter into the home through the ductwork.

This is done by targeting the UV sterilizing lamp primarily onto the evaporative coils and drip pan in the air handler.

Though this method of air cleaning with Ultraviolet light works well,

It is not entirely necessary because both the AC coils and drip pan can be cleaned and maintained by making sure there is not any stoppage in the drain line that would cause moisture to build up in the drain pan and ultimately produce mold.
In other words it can be kept clean without the use of UV and ultraviolet light is not a component needed for a AC to run.

Photocatalytic induct air purifiers can also be inserted into the plenum and ductwork to destroy mold and bacteria inside of the air handler.

 This is one of the best uses of UV air purification because it essentially turns the HVAC Central Heat and Air system into a whole house air purifier. 

Though these UV induct air purifiers are usually on the expensive side, the expense does not even compare to what it would cost to place air purifiers throughout the house.

But there is one downside to this method is that the blower on the HVAC needs to stay on throughout the year.

Not too much of a problem in the winter and the off months but running the fan continuously when the AC is on does not allow the dehumidification function of the AC to work properly resulting in more humidity in the house.

The reason for this is that the condensation created in the air conditioning coils evaporates back into the house instead of exiting the house through the drain line.

One the main concerns when it comes to UV air purifiers is the danger of ozone being produced by the lamp.

 Which begs the question ” Does UV remove odors?” since ozone has a distinct sharp odor when it is created. 

The answer is the type of UV used in filtration air purifiers is not in the range to create ozone and is further protected by the type of glass that the UV is encased in.
This type of UV will help reduce the musty odors caused by mold and mildew without producing the smell of ozone.

PCO- tio2 UV induct air cleaners typically create more ozone because of the photocatalytic oxidation process. But the amount is below the .05 ppm acceptable level of ozone put in place by the EPA.

And though the musty smell of mold as well as other odors can be expected to be minimized with the UV PCO air purifiers, it is likely that the smell of ozone will be noticeable.

Many stand alone Photo Catalyst air purifiers like Molecule and Air Oasis use  a UV that creates little to no ozone.
But it is also worth noting that companies like Oasis that used full ozone UV bulbs in their machines in the past also were able to make the claim that their units cleaned up to 3000 sq ft.
But with reduced ozone bulbs have reduced the amount of air that can be cleaned to areas more like 300 to 500 sq ft.

Recap

 The typical UV air purifier is basically just a HEPA filter based air cleaner that has a ultraviolet light aimed at the filter to keep bacteria and germs from living and growing in the filter. 

 This type of air purifier can work without a UV lamp as it is not necessary to the primary function of the air purifier which is to filter contaminants from the air. 

But in the case of HVAC air purification and photo catalytic oxidation induct air purification, the UV is Central to the ability to function of the air purifier to clean the air.

If the UV Burns out on a photo catalytic oxidation air purifier then your air purifier will not work until the UV is replaced.

In the case of an HVAC UV system, the UV is basically used as a sterilizer targeted on areas of the air handler that can produce mold.

If the UV lamp is broken or burned out, it will not do anything to aid in the this process and will have to be replaced.

uv sterilizerDo I need a UV light for my air conditioner?

The air conditioning and heating system works independently from any type of UV device and does not need an Ultraviolet lamp to operate properly.

Out of the three methods in which UV is successfully utilized in air purification, PCO induct air purifiers make the most sense because they essentially turn your HVAC central heat and air unit into a whole house air purifier that cleans the air every time it cycles on and off.
The only downside is that it requires the fan on the AC to run continuously which can result in a humid house when the air conditioning is in use.

Does an Air Purifier Help with Mold Spores?

 Mold is a household problem, that if you find inside of your home, should be taken very seriously and dealt with very quickly.

Mold when it is left unchecked can cause more destruction than many people give it credit for and faster than you may have believed.

Mold can develop in as little as 24 hours once spores find moisture. Walls can be inundated very quickly because of how porous drywall is. It can call us and become a problem in 1 to 12 days.

It is also a problem that can exasperate allergies, respiratory issues, and trigger asthma attacks. According to this study, mold is instrumental in the development of asthma in children.

Does an Air Purifier Help with Mold?

An air purifier will help with allergy symptoms related and caused by mold because it can filter out the spores from the air that are breathable.

But mold itself is caused by an inappropriate source of moisture and dirt somewhere in the area.

And there will still be a constant supply of mold spores in the air til the source of the water is found and stopped.

Regardless, having clean air to breathe when you are dealing with a problem like mold is still essential, and a mold spore air purifier is perfect for that reason.

But in instances like a damp basement where moisture is more pervasive, using an air purifier is more like putting a Band-Aid on the problem instead of addressing the real issue.

An area that has excessive humidity like the basement would benefit more from a device like a dehumidifier rather than an air purifier, at least initially.

Though an air purifier can help reduce the mold spore count in the air, it will do nothing to fix the problem that is resulting in poor air quality caused by mold.

Unless the source of the mold is fixed and the air is dried out, using an air purifier for the mold is like taking an aspirin for a headache but never addressing the reason you are having headaches.

Thank God for the aspirin, but fixing the problem is better than covering it.

To sum it up, an air purifier will help reduce the amount of mold spores in the air and in doing so reduce the symptoms related to breathing mold spores, and it will also reduce the chance of mold growing somewhere else.

And with less mold spores traveling through the air, there are less chances of it finding a new place to start growing.

But it will not fix the original problem and until the source of moisture is found and stopped and the area is dried out, you will continue to have an issue in your home with mold.

Some people worry that using a air purifier with a HEPA filter to capture mold spores will cause mold to grow in their air purifier.

That is a real concern if the humidity in the room is so high that it even makes the HEPA filter in the air cleaner damp.

But that is usually not the case, and since it takes moisture for mold spores too began to colonize, as long as you keep your air purifier dry, you should not have a problem with mold growing inside or on the filter.

What Causes Mold in a House?

moldMold inside of the house is more likely to be caused by a leaking pipe or windowsill. A leaky roof is also a common place where moisture is finding it’s way inside the house.

A leaking windowsill is pretty easy to identify but finding a leaking pipe or a drip in the ceiling is not as easy and may require a professional.

If you suspect you have a leaking pipe inside of the wall, oftentimes you’ll see the paper on the outside of the drywall begin to bubble or the whole area starting to swell and feel softer to the touch than the rest of the wall.

Leaks from the ceiling are pretty much the same but since it’s harder to get up and feel of the ceiling, you can most likely identify moisture coming in by searching for discoloration in the ceiling.

Another way mold spores become part of the air stream in your home is through the HVAC system.

HVAC which stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning

Though the heating and air system is vital to your comfort,  especially in some climates, it also has the capacity to produce mold because of the presence of moisture and dirt located in a dark area inside of the air handler.

This can become an issue very quickly if not addressed. Mold spores inside of your ductwork can be distributed through your whole house every time the air handler kicks on.

If you have a musty smell coming from your vents or if you can identify mold around the vent, chances are your air handler is developed mold in it somewhere.
Two of the easiest things to check if you think this may be the case are the drip pan and the evaporative coils.

Condensation drip pans can get clogged , causing a buildup of moisture that can turn into mold and feed mold spores into the house via the duct.

Evaporative coils are the coils on an AC that absorb heat and cools it off with a refrigerant. In the process the coils produce condensation which which drips into a drainage pan.

Mold can start in the evaporator coils when the coils get dirty. At that point the AC has everything it needs to produce mold. Dirt, water, and darkness.

Checking and keeping the evaporative coils on the AC clean is one of the easiest things to do to avoid mold buildup inside of your HVAC.

evaporative coilsRecap

An air purifier can help with mold because it will reduce the mold spores in the air. Which in turn will reduce the amount of chances that spores can come in contact with any moisture in the house and at the same time create less chances of breathing in mold spores which can be a source of allergies and a trigger to asthma.
Less Mold Spores traveling through the house also means less new outbreaks of mold.

But though an air purifier can be a very good device to use when you have an issue with mold, it is only a supplementive solution and will not do anything to fix the original problem causing the mold.

Finding the source of the mold, fixing the problem and cleaning it up, as well as drying the area out are all things that are needed to help control mold and mold spores.

Why Does My Room Smell Musty?

Musty is a word that is sometimes used to describe the feeling you get from a stale or a stuffy room. It’s usually a smell that you just can’t quite put your finger on, but you know that there is something that is not quite right. But in most cases that “not quite right feeling” is the presence of mold and mildew.

Why Does My Room Smell Musty?

A musty smell in a room is an indicator that you have moisture coming in somewhere that along with dirt or grime has become a source of food and nutrition for mold and mildew to take root. Mold can take root and grow very fast when given the right ingredients. A musty smell should be taken seriously as a warning that there is an issue with mold close by.

I’ve had a personal experience with this.

In my neighborhood there was an issue with heavy rains that washed over the curbs and went up the driveway and eventually seeped into the backdoor of the house.

It didn’t seem like much at the time so we really didn’t do too much about it besides put some towels down to soak up the water. And it was the very back of the house that doesn’t get a lot of traffic anyway.

A couple of months later I noticed a rotten smell coming from that area.

I pulled out a bookshelf that was in that corner and pulled up the edge of the carpet only to find that dark green and black mold had spread heavily underneath the carpet and had made its way all over the wall and the back of the shelf, including all the books on it.

It was pretty shocking to see how much the mold had taken over.

We had to take the carpet up and remove and replace the drywall on that side of the room.

Luckily the mold did not turn out to be the dangerous Stachybotrys or black mold.

All that to say that if you have a musty smell in your room, it’s a situation that you should take seriously.

Mold can do more destruction than you may be giving it credit for. And do it much faster than you may think.

Mold can also exasperate allergies and is known to be a trigger for asthma.

What you are looking for in your room when you have a musty smell is an inappropriate source of moisture.

According to the National Library of Medicine , Mold spores are practically everywhere and there is really no way to get away from them or keep them out of your house. But without an adequate source of moisture, they cannot grow and colonize into a problem.

So the fundamental thing you’re looking for in the case of a musty smell is moisture and the supply of that moisture.

Wet moldy carpet

Why Does My Room Smell Musty in The Morning?

What could be some reasons your room smells musty?

  1. Wet carpet
  2. Wet drywall
  3. Window seals
  4. Excessive humidity
  5. Dew
  6. Leaves
  7. Moldy items in trash
  8. Moldy food laying around
  9. Mold inside of the HVAC duct work

1. Wet carpet

Remember that you are looking for the source of the moisture.

If you have wet carpet then the ideal is to figure out why it is wet.

Some reasons may be as simple as a soaking wet towel laying on the carpet or has there been a big spill that was not cleaned up?

If you have a large area that is damp, then there may be a leak that has sprung from a pipe beneath the flooring.

it will be worthwhile for you to peel the carpet back and make sure that your floor is not soaking wet beneath.

And if it is, you should make it a priority to have it fixed as soon as possible to avoid further damage and mold growth.

2.  Wet drywall

It can be a smell can be coming from the walls if a pipe inside of the wall has busted. Examine the walls and see if you can find any areas where they are bubbling, swelling, or peeling which would indicate that moisture has gotten inside of the drywall.

3.  Window seals

One area that moisture can get into the house easily is the windows. If the windows are not sealed properly, you can find moisture creeping in around the window. If it has been going on for a long time, you will also find the frame around the window rotting.

4. Excessive humidity

If you live in an area with a climate that is prone to high humidity, you may find that it is the humidity that is causing moisture to build up inside of your room. If this is the case, then mildew is probably showing up on your walls or ceiling somewhere.

This is the case in many basements. The level of humidity inside of the room causes condensation to build on the walls and create a natural food source for mold and mildew.

The best solution in that case is to use a dehumidifier to pull moisture out of the air so that it does not have a chance to become a problem in the form of mold.

Dew

5.  Dew

Many people claim to be more concerned with the dusty smell in their house in the morning time.

That morning musty smell is usually associated with the moisture that develops in the air in the early morning hours.

It’s the moisture that is commonly known as dew.

Dew can help turn the volume up on the smell of mold and mildew in the morning.

6.  Leaves

Leaves, specifically in the Autumn season can pile up in gutters and around the house and make an excellent environment for mold to take root. And once the mold has colonized inside of the leaves, any sort of rustling around caused by the wind or by kicking the leaves can unleash mold spores into the air.

7.  Moldy items in trash

Sometimes a musty smell is coming from a moldy item that has been thrown away and just sitting there stinking. The trash can is one of the first places to look when you smell something musty in your room.

8.  Moldy food laying around

Moldy food can cause a very pungent musty smell when it is laying out or in the trash can. Items like half eaten hamburgers and apple cores are best disposed of in the main kitchen area where the trash is taken out more frequently.
If you have a musty smell in your room, looking for any food that has been left out to mold is a good place to start.
Another place that you can find moldy musty smells is in the kitchen sink where the garbage disposal is. If the garbage disposal has not been cleaned properly in a while, you are liable to smell moldy food coming from there.

9. Mold in HVAC ductwork

If there is mold in your ductwork, you can be sure that it will be distributed throughout the house every time the heating or air conditioning comes on.

According to this study, mold can be commonly found inside of an air handler, specifically the wheel fan blades, the ductwork, and the cooling coil fins.

Another source of mold coming into the house through the ductwork is the evaporative coils. Dirty evaporative coils contain all the ingredients for mold to flourish and find its way inside of the house.

If you have a musty smell coming from your HVAC ductwork, cleaning the evaporative coils located on the outside section of your unit is a good place to start to reduce the volume of mold spores coming in.

Another trouble area for HVAC systems when it comes to mold is the drip pan. If the drip pan is not draining sufficiently, water can build up in the pan and become a source of mold.

Clearing any blockage from the drip pan to the outside drainage is also a good way to ensure that you do not have mold growing and coming in through your HVAC.

UV systems are often used to target areas like evaporative coils and drip pans so that mold does not have a chance to colonize and become a problem in your air quality.

Activated Carbon Filter-Do Charcoal Air Purifiers Work?

Regular charcoal vs activated charcoal

The difference between regular charcoal and activated charcoal is about 600°. Activated charcoal is regular charcoal that has been heated to a very high temperature and treated with steam or an acidic chemical to increase to increase surface area and porousness.

The way activated charcoal is used varies greatly from the way regular charcoal is used.
Regular charcoal is typically used for fuel or cooking. It also has excellent uses in drawing and artwork.
Activated charcoal is used for medicinal purposes to absorb toxins in the body. It is also a very effective filter for both water and Air.

Do Charcoal Air Purifiers work?

Charcoal air purifiers work by using activated carbon to adsorb gases like toluene and benzene from the air.
Because of activated charcoals ability to absorb VOC’s, (volatile organic compounds) charcoal air purifiers are exceptional at removing odors.

Activated carbon vs charcoal

Activated Carbon is a broad term that encompasses all types of materials such as coconut shell and charcoal.
Activated carbon is the equivalent of activated charcoal or activated coconut shell for that matter. The terms are used interchangeably and mean exactly the same thing.

Activated carbon vs charcoalWhat does a carbon filter do?

Carbon filtration is a process of using a large surface of activated charcoal to adsorb and remove contaminants either as a system for air purification or water purification.

How does a carbon filter work?

Activated Carbon has an unbelievably huge surface area filled with literally millions of pores and microscopic caves.

Airborne toxins or drinking water contaminants depending on the application are forced into the porous area intermolecularity.

When the pollutants enter the filter, they stick to the sides and get trapped in the vast cavernous filter.

What does activated carbon remove?

Activated carbon has a far reaching list of conditions and environments it is able to treat.

As an air filter it is responsible for removing VOCs, gases, odors, and dust mites.

As a water filter, it used to adsorb a host of impurities including chlorine and fluoride.

How long does activated carbon filter last?

An activated carbon filter should last anywhere from 3 to 6 months depending on what it is that is being filtered and the weight and density of the carbon that you are using.

Uses of activated charcoal

Activated charcoal has a whole range of uses other than filtering air.

Overdose
Activated charcoal as traditionally been used in cases of drug overdose or poisoning. When is this taking internally, poisons and toxins can bind to it to help get rid of the dangerous content.

Flatulence
Activated charcoal is used to help people with excessive gas and reduce abdominal pain related to gas.

Diarrhea

Recent studies have shown that activated charcoal can help prevent diarrhea by adsorbing the bacteria responsible for the diarrhea into the permeable surface of the charcoal.

Healthy gums

Activated charcoal has made its way into a whole slew of toothpaste and oral health products.
Many people claim that it helps with gingivitis because of its antiviral and any antifungal properties.

Facial cleanse

There are many facial cleansers that use activated carbon to help pull toxins and bacteria up out of the pores of the face so that is easier to clean your skin deeper.

Deodorant

Activated carbons ability to reduce odors makes it a great deodorant not only for your underarms but also in the refrigerator and your smelly shoes.

Drinking water

Using activated charcoal and your drinking water can help clean your water and reduce the many chemicals
and poisons like fluoride found in tap water.

Anti-aging

Eliminating toxins that are aging you from the inside out is the ideal.
Using activated carbon regularly can help you detox and feel younger.

Respiratory masks

Activated charcoal attracts and binds airborne contaminants and protects you from breathing in harmful airborne poisons.

Air purification

Most air purifiers come with a activated carbon filter that is coupled with a HEPA filter.

The HEPA filter is designed to capture airborne pollutants .03 microns and larger. But even though 03 microns maybe insanely small, there are other airborne pollutants like vocs and gases that are even smaller.

For these tiniest of contaminants, activated carbon filtration is used to absorb the gases into the large surface area of the filter.

Odors are one of the primary reasons people search for an air purifier.

But odors are one of the hardest things for air purifiers to remove. In order to remove odors, an air purifier must be equipped with an activated charcoal filter.

One of the benefits of having a carbon filter in your air purifier, if you want to look at it that way, is the fact that carbon has a sweet smell to it.
Some people even go as far as to say it smells like cookies or cake.
But regardless if that is something that you like or not, it is a good way of being able to identify when your carbon filter is ready to be exchanged.
Once that sweet smell is gone, your filter is pretty much at the end of its life.

How to clean A activated carbon filter.

Though you can clean it a little bit by soaking it, the density and the amount of pores that activated carbon has, makes it impossible to get very clean.

The truth is, you should factor in the cost of replacing the filters as part of the overall investment in purchasing an activated charcoal air purifier.

23-Highest Oxygen Producing Air Purifying Plants

Would you like to put your green thumb to work growing indoor plants that are not only beautiful but beneficial to your health and air quality?

Below we have compiled a list of 23 of the highest oxygen producing plants that clean the air and remove toxins.

highest oxygen producing plants

  1. Peace Lily
  2. Aloe Vera
  3. Mother-in-Law’s Tongue
  4. Areca Palm
  5. Gerbera Daisy
  6. Rubber Plant
  7. Weeping Fig
  8. Chrysanthemums

Plants that release oxygen at night

  1. Peace Lily
  2. Spider Plant
  3. Orchid
  4. Snake Plant

Indoor plants that clean the air and remove toxins

  1. Devil’s Ivory
  2. Peace Lily
  3. Boston Fern
  4. Aloe Vera
  5. Flamingo Flower
  6. Lady Palm
  7. English Ivy
  8. Snake Plant
  9. Dracaena
  10. Weeping Fig
  11. Dwarf Date Palm
  12. Spider Plant
  13. Rubber Plant
  14. Areca Palm
  15. Chinese Evergreen
  16. Bamboo Palm
  17. Philodendron
  18. Chrysanthemum
  19. Pineapple Plant
  20. Kimberly Queen Fern
  21. Gerbera Daisy
  22. Spider Plant
  23. Money Plant
  24. Orchid

Epipremnum aureum - Devil's Ivory/Golden Pathos1.Epipremnum aureum – Devil’s Ivory/Golden Pathos

It’s called devil’s ivy because it’s near impossible to kill and it retains its green color even in the dark.

Golden pathos as it’s also called is a highly oxygenating house plant that according to NASA’s study is natural air purifier responsible for removing such toxic substances as:

Pollutants removed

  • Benzene
  • Formaldehyde
  • Xylene
  • Trichloroethylene

Spathiphllum -Peace Lily2.Spathiphllum –Peace Lily

Peace lily basically means “spoon leaves” in Greek. But it is also become a recognized symbol for the resurrection of Jesus Christ and is popular during the Easter season and funerals.

Peace lily is also a top 10 NASA researched house plant that is responsible for air purification.

Pollutants removed

  • Benzene
  • Carbon Monoxide
  • Formaldehyde
  • Xylene
  • Trichloroethylene

Nephrolepis exaltata v. Bostoniesis - Boston fernNephrolepis exaltata v. Bostoniesis –
Boston fern

How did the Boston fern get its name?
Apparently a Floridian nurseryman named John sear loved the look of the common sword fern so much that he sent his friend located in Boston so many that it took on the name Boston fern. Ok then…

Boston fern is a Hardy house plant that makes the list of air purifying plants responsible for removing dangerous gases from the air.

Pollutants removed

  • Formaldehyde
  • Xylene

barbadensis -Aloe veraA. Carbadensis –Aloe vera

Aloe Vera is also called the burn plant because of its medicinal properties that lend it to being good for treating Burns.
It is easily the most popular of all “first aid plants” and there’s not too many of us that don’t at least have a bottle of Aloe Vera sunscreen somewhere.

It also makes the list of highly oxygenating plants that are capable of purifying the air.

Pollutants removed

  • Formaldehyde

Anthurium andraeanum -Flamingo LilyAnthurium andraeanum –Flamingo Lily

Flamingo Lily or flower is also known as painters palette. It’s striking beauty is its calling card. It’s red pointed leaves almost look like they have been painted with nail polish.

But beauty isn’t everything and flamingo flowers have another allure.
They are one of nature’s top air purifiers.

Pollutants removed

  • Toluene
  • Formaldehyde
  • Xylene
  • Ammonia

Rhapis excelsa - Lady PalmRhapis excelsa – Lady Palm

Lady Palm is also called bamboo palm because of its likeness to bamboo.

 Lady Palm makes an excellent and elegant house plant that grows best and like to heavy shade. And because of the denseness of it, it also makes a great privacy barrier.

As part of NASA’s indoor air plant plant study, Lady Palm has also been outed for its excellent natural air purification.

Pollutants removed

  • Formaldehyde
  • Xylene
  • Ammonia

Hedera helix - English IvyHedera helix – English Ivy

The English ivy is called exactly that if you are in North America, but if you are in it’s native environment, it would be called The Irish ivy or the Atlantic ivy.
Ivy is actually a word that means eternity, which can describe the evergreen nature of the English ivy well. It’s popularly known as a climber that can get up to 100 ft tall.

It also lands on NASA’s list of air purifying plants at number one. The top dog.

Pollutants removed

  • Formaldehyde
  • Benzene

Sansevieria -Mother-in-law's tongue / snake plantSansevieria –Mother-in-law’s tongue / snake plant

This plant has the most descriptive names that it goes by, and each one describe it very well.

Not only does the plant look like snakes that are being charmed and coming out of a basket, the leaves resemble swords that could fit right in St George’s hand.

Snake plant is one of those house plants that takes care of itself and needs very little attention.

It is also known to release oxygen at night making it a excellent house plant to keep in your bedroom.

Pollutants removed

  • Formaldehyde
  • Benzene
  • Xylene
  • Trichloroethylene

Dracaena Deremensis - Dracaena /Janet CraigDracaena Deremensis – Dracaena /Janet Craig

Dracaena is Greek for female dragon, which conjures images of a mythical origin. But the other name that goes by is Janet Craig. Which doesn’t exactly fit into the theme of a mystical fiery dragon.

But Miss Janet turns out to be a excellent house plant to help filter out airborne contaminants in your home.

Pollutants removed

  • Formaldehyde
  • Xylene
  • Trichloroethylene

Ficus Benjamina - weeping figFicus Benjamina – weeping fig

The Weeping fig gets its name from its sensitive temperament.
The ficus weeping fig is a delicate house plant that does not like to be moved. And when it does get moved, it’s leaves can start falling off like tears.

It is also said that Buddha became enlightened under a fig tree. Who knows?
But what we do know is that it is a excellent oxygenating house plant that can help purify your air.

Contaminants removed

  • Formaldehyde
  • Benzene
  • Trichloroethylene

Phoenix roebelenii - pygmy date palm/Dwarf Phoenix roebelenii – pygmy date palm/Dwarf 

Also called the dwarf date palm, the pygmy date is a much shorter palm tree hence the name pygmy which implies smaller.
One interesting feature that dwarf date palms have is what looks to be a pineapple at the base of the palms when it is pruned.

Dwarf date palms have been found to remove toxins from the air including:

  • Formaldehyde
  • Xylene

Chlorophytum comosum -Spider plantChlorophytum comosum –Spider plant

Spider plant is usually assumed to get its name from the spidery look of the plant. But the actual truth is entirely different.

Spider plant gets its name because it was once believed to be an antidote for spider bites. And not because anyone has ever been cured by a spider plant, but because it is easily mistaken for another plant, St Bernard’s Lily, that does have a history of being used as a treatment for spider bites…

Spider plants are one of the easiest plants to take care of which makes it a great house plant for beginners.

It also makes NASA’s list of natural household air purifiers with the capacity to filter:

  • Formaldehyde
  • Xylene

Ficus elastica - rubber plantFicus elastica – rubber plant

Rubber plan is another plant that you may assume that gets its name from the rubbery look of its leaves. Nope.

Rubber actually refers to the sap of the rubber plant that has a history of being used for making rubber.

One of the more striking plants, it can reach the ceiling within a few years with regular pruning.

As a indoor air purifying plant, it is able to help remove airborne contaminants like:

  • Benzene
  • Formaldehyde
  • Xylene
  • Trichloroethylene

Dypsis lutescens- butterfly Palm/ Areca palmDypsis lutescens- butterfly Palm/ Areca palm

The Areca palm there’s also called a butterfly Palm which gives a hint to how it is named. Its name is a reference to how it’s leaves bend upwards and flare around creating a butterfly look.

As part of NASA’s 50 household plants researched for their air purification qualities, Areca/ butterfly Palm is a large house plant that came in at the top of the list.

Contaminants removed

  • Carbon Monoxide
  • Benzene
  • Formaldehyde
  • Xylene
  • Trichloroethylene

Aglaonema modestum - Chinese evergreenAglaonema modestum – Chinese evergreen

Chinese evergreen is considered to be a good luck plant in its native China.
It is also called painted drop tongue or Silver Queen. Both which refer to its Silvery painted leaves with a green border.

Chinese evergreen makes an excellent apartment house plant because of it’s need of low-level light and it’s capacity as a natural air purifier.

Contaminants that the Chinese evergreen removes are:

  • Formaldehyde
  • Xylene

Chamaedorea seifrizii - Bamboo palmChamaedorea seifrizii – Bamboo palm

Bamboo palm resembles bamboo at the stems with rings around the trunk thus giving it it’s simple descriptive name. It’s leaves or distinctively deep green which give it a tropic foliage appearance.

Though not hard to take care of, they can easily outgrow you and get up to 12 ft tall.

As a natural air purifier, bamboo palm can filter the following airborne contaminants:

  • Benzene
  • Formaldehyde
  • Trichloroethylene

PhilodendronPhilodendron Philodendron

Philodendron goes by the name “Philodendron”. Who needs a nickname?

Philodendron is a beautiful plant with large imposing leaves. It also could be considered a “mothering” plant because it produces cataphylls that are leaves that are modified to protect new forming leaves.

It is one of NASA’s top 50 plants for removing formaldehyde in the home.

Chrysanthemums MumsChrysanthemums Mums

Chrysanthemums are known for their exquisite beauty and in some cultures symbolize long life and rebirth, but in some parts of Europe they symbolize death. And are only used and given out is a symbol of grief or bereavement.

With more heritage than your average floral, they have also become known as one of the best natural air purifiers for your home.

Keeping chrysanthemums around can help reduce airborne pollutants like:

  • Ammonia
  • Benzene
  • Formaldehyde
  • Xylene

Ananas Comosus Pineapple plantAnanas Comosus Pineapple plant

Pineapple, neither a pine or an apple. It’s actually a group of berries that have amalgamated. Pineapple plant can take up to 2 years to create one single pineapple.

The pineapple plant absorb CO2 and releases oxygen at night. This capacity to increase air quality at night has made it a “miracle cure” for snoring.

And if you’re lucky enough to live in a high altitude, you may eventually enjoy a slice of pineapple after you’ve had a good night’s sleep.

Nephrolepis obliterata -Kimberly Queen fernNephrolepis obliterata –Kimberly Queen fern

Kimberly Queen fern also goes by the name Australian sword fern and as you may have guessed it originates in Australia. Kimberly Queen is merely the trade name for the species.

Kimberly Queen fern grows best in high humidity so it’s capacity to reduce airborne pollutants that can be greater in areas with high humidity, make it not only a beautiful fanning plant but a excellent natural indoor air purifier.

Contaminants removed

  • Benzene
  • Formaldehyde

Gerbera jamesonii - gerbera daisyGerbera jamesonii – gerbera daisy

The Cabrera Daisy gets its name after a naturalist in the 1970s named Traugott Gerber. Who named after the German botanist, it was actually hey Scott’s man named Robert Jameson that was responsible for discovering the flower.

Gerbera daisies are not only bright and colorful they are great for filtering your air and release their oxygen at night.

Air pollutants removed

  • Benzene
  • Trichloroethylene

Crassula ovata- Money PlantCrassula ovata- Money Plant

The origins of how money plant gets its name range from the leaves look like silver dollars to the belief that the plant brings you luck which in turn brings you wealth.

Also called the jade plant, money plant absorbs CO2 and releases oxygen at night. It is also a NASA researched air purifier that can reduce chemicals like:

  • Benzene
  • Formaldehyde
  • Xylene
  • Toluene

Orchidaceae -OrchidOrchidaceae –Orchid

How did the orchid get its name? A little shocking.

The story goes that Orhis in Greek mythology was the son of a nymph and a satyr. On the occasion of a festival of Dionysus, he became belligerently drunk and attempted to rape a priestess. For this, the God’s turned him into a flower.

Orchids absorb carbon monoxide at night and release oxygen as well as filters xylene from the air.

Making them an excellent plant for your bedroom.

Does that mean that Orchis was repentant and decided to become a giver instead of a taker?

Do Snake Plants Clean The Air?

Snake plant Aka mother-in-law tongue Aka viper’s bowstring hemp Aka Sansevieria Trifasciata Aka Saint George’s sword Aka Dracaena Trifasciata(scientific)

Snake Plant NASA

Snake plant is one the plants that NASA found, as part of a clean air study in 1989, to have the capacity to purify air.
Out of the five gases tested, snake plant or mother-in-law’s tongue, remove four. Including benzene, formaldehyde, toluene, and trichloroethylene.

Remarkable for a house plant that is known to be one of the easiest plants to take care of.

Mother-in-law tongue plant benefits:

1. Absorb CO2 and and releases oxygen at night
2. Natural air purification
3. Does not need direct sunlight
4. Little watering
5. Durable- very hard to kill
6. Propagates easy
7. Unique and beautiful in your house.

Snake plant benefits in bedroomSnake plant benefits in bedroom


1. Release Oxygen at Night
Snake plants use a type of photosynthesis called Crassulacean acid metabolism which means they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen at night.
This makes the Sansevieria Trifasciata variety of plant very beneficial to your sleep health.
Keeping a snake plant or two in your bedroom to be the difference in you getting a good night’s sleep.

2.Natural Air Purifier
Snake plant or sometimes called viper’s bowstring hemp is a natural air purifier that can absorb dangerous gases like benzene and toluene out of your air.
It is a fact that people breathe deeper when they are sleeping. Snake plant in the bedroom can help you from breathing in dangerous toxins while you sleep.

3. Snake plant does not need direct sunlight.

In fact, placing it directly into the sun is a surefire way to kill it.
The bedroom is a room that rarely gets a lot of light. This makes for the perfect atmosphere for mother-in-law tongue to thrive.

4. Demands little water

Snake plant could be considered the camel of the plant universe. Different varieties of snake plant can go up to 6 weeks without needing a sip of water.

5. Hard to kill
It is said that you can’t kill Dracaena Sansevieria even if you tried. It is also often referred to as the ultimate beginners plant or starter package for someone who is just beginning to venture into the world of house plants.

6. Propagates easy
In my family, we share plants. Loading up the car with bits and pieces of plants, roots, leaves, and pits is as common is taking home leftovers from Thanksgiving.
Snake plant lends itself well to propagating and sharing with your friends and relatives.
Simply cut a healthy leaf off and put it in a container with just enough water to cover the bottom of the leaf. Once it starts rooting, plant it some pea Moss.

7. Unique and beautiful
What’s in the name? The many names given to Dracaena Trifasciata describe it’s outward allure.
Imagine snakes being charmed out of a basket or the strings on a bowed instrument for the wielding of St George’s sword. All names that describe the rich look of mother-in-law’s tongue reaching for the sky.

Snake plant disadvantageSnake plant disadvantage

Snake plant is such an easy to care for beautiful plant with such amazing health benefits like it’s capacity to purify air and oxygenate at night, that it’s hard to believe that there would be any such thing as a disadvantage to owning one.

Snake plant problems

1. Poisonous
2. Bugs
3. Fungus
4. Easy to overwater

 Is Mother-in-law tongue plant poisonous?

Mother-in-law tongue plant or snake plant can be toxic if ingested.
For people and especially children the symptoms are pretty light. Nausea and numbness or a bit of mouth discomfort is what you can expect. A light dermatological reaction can occur too.

Is snake plant toxic to cats and dogs?

But for your pets, the symptoms can be much harsher if the plan is ingested.
Snake plant is poisonous to pets and can cause vomiting and diarrhea along with excessive salivation and pain.

Snake plant bugs

Those snake plant is one of the easiest plants to take care of and is said to even thrive on neglect, they do get their share of bugs. And once the plant has bugs, if they are neglected can become badly infested.
Mealybugs and spider mites are the main pest to keep an eye out for. When caught early they can be washed off or picked off fairly easy.

 snake plant fungus

Root rot can produce bacteria that can destroy a plant from the inside out.
Snake plant fungus usually occurs because the plan has been overwatered and allowed to sit in the water till the roots have become mush.
The symptoms of snake rot fungus usually occur as brown or red leaf spots.

It is easy to over water snake plant

Snake plant or vipers bowstring hemp is extremely easy to over water.

Overwatered snake plantOverwatered snake plant

One of the dynamic things about a snake plant is the way it seems to be reaching for the sky all the time but when the Sansevieria is overwatered, those leaves will begin to droop.

When you overwater a snake plant, The Roots can become soggy and produce root rot which will cause the leaves to look less than vibrant.

How often to water snake plant?

The amount of time between waterings when it comes to the mother-in-law’s tongue can be varied.
The main point is to only water the snake plant when the top two to three inches of soil is dry. Completely dry.
Depending on where the plant sits that time period can be anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks. Once a month is a pretty good indicator or watching for the leaves to become slightly wilted.

How big do snake plants get?

Depending on the variety of mother-in-law tongue, the snake plant at its mature height can be anywhere from 6 in” up to 12 ft’ tall.

The shortest variety of snake plant is the “Futura Robusta” well the largest type of Sansevieria Trifasciata is the S. syuckyi.

Overview

The snake plant known by a different names including mother-in-law’s tongue and vipers bowstring hemp is a very interesting and awesome house plant to keep in your home and your bedroom.

The plant is known for its durability and ease of care. In fact the easiest way to kill it is to care for it too much.

The look of the snake plant is enough to want to place it in your home for the decor but it’s the other qualities that make this plant so appealing.

The qualities I’m referring to are it’s air purification capacities.

Snake plant is a NASA researched plant that is been shown to be a natural air purifier reducing harmful gases like formaldehyde, toulene, and benzene.

Snake plant is also has what is called Crassulacean acid metabolism. (CAM).
A big name for the fact that it absorbs carbon dioxide and releases oxygen at night.
Which means a more restful and healing night sleep.

Are Himalayan Salt Lamps a Hoax?

Himalayan salt lamps have gathered in popularity over the last few years.

And the truth is they are a pretty sharp-looking novelty item that can add to the ambience of a shaded room nicely.
But having a pinkish, orange and red lamp it’s not really enough to cause the kind of stir they have.
It’s unlikely so many people would be purchasing and hunting these things down if it were just for the look of them.

So why are Himalayan salt lamps so popular?

It’s the health benefits that are associated with using a salt lamp.

There are a number of claims being made about how Himalayan salt lamp can improve your health.

The claims include reducing allergies, lowering asthma triggers, and filtering germs and bacteria out of the air.

The two main health functions that Himalayan salt lamps supposedly perform are:

1.Produce Negative Ions
2.They are Hygroscopic

Himalayan salt lamp hoax?

“Himalayan salt lamps do not create any measurable amount of negative ions but they are conclusively hygroscopic because salt is known to pull moisture out of the air.
Are they a Hoax? 50/50.”

Now I am a skeptic. and certain things like salt lamps just lend themselves to skepticism.

But if you were to show me a study that proves Himalayan salt lamps could actually improve air quality, we can leave it at that.

But unfortunately there is not a single study that can be produced.

But like everything else to do with Himalayan salt lamps, I’ll try to make an educated guess.

Why is my salt lamp leaking waterOne of the biggest claims about Himalayan salt lamps is that they create negative ions.

My first question here is: “Have you ever seen the dust left behind by a negative ion generator?”

Negative ion generators are famous we’re leaving a blanket of dust on the walls and surfaces around around the machine.

It’s so popular they have a phrase that describes it. “Great Wall syndrome” is the effect of negatively charged ions combining with positively charged ions, and either falling to the surface or clinging to the walls.

This is not a effect you get with a Himalayan salt lamp.

Secondly, it’s not just negative ions that affect the mood or atmosphere in an area, it’s the sheer volume of them that makes the difference.

The fresh outdoor feeling you get from a thunderstorm rolling through is caused by an explosion of negative ions created by lightning ,and rain washing contaminants out of the air.

There is also a distinctive smell left behind by a thunderstorm. The smell is ozone.

Negative ionizers also create ozone and it is one of the reasons they come under fire as an air cleaning method.

“But Himalayan salt lamps, if they create negative ions at all, do not manufacture enough ions to leave behind any dust, much less create enough that would be considered the volume to change the atmosphere in a room, and they leave no noticeable smell of ozone behind whatsoever.”

Verdict: Every action has a counter reaction and Himalayan salt lamps don’t have any of the side effects of a negative ionizer simply because they do not ionize air.
( Butt least they don’t generate high levels of ozone as a by-product. That’s healthy!)

They Are Hygroscopic

On this point, I’m not quite as skeptical.

It is known that humidity droplets can actually be microscopic containers that carry air pollutants like bacteria and viruses and help them travel further through a room.

Humidity is also a natural food source for mold spores and dust mites which are known household allergens.

And we all know how miserable humidity can be in certain climates and times of the year.

Consider this:

Himalayan salt lamps are known to attract moisture.

And most concerns about pink Himalayan salt lamps are about the device leaking or melting.

In truth Himalayan salt lamps neither leak or melt.

The water the gatherers on and around a salt lamp is humidity pulled out of the air by the salt.

Seeing is believing.

Unlike the ionic air purifier claims that people make about Himalayan salt lamps which offer no proof either by leaving behind dust or the residual smell of ozone that negative ions create,

A Himalayan salt lamp leaving behind a puddle of water is a very noticeable side effect that can be construed as the salt pulling moisture from the air.

And it is also a fact that sodium chloride(salt) can be used as a dehumidifier and is often stored in the basement to help reduce the natural humidity typically found in the basement.

So on this point, I would have to concede,

“It is possible that a pink Himalayan salt lamp can help purify the air by absorbing potentially harmful humidity droplets from the air.”

Though it is possible, keeping a Himalayan salt lamp will not reduce the humidity in your home nearly as well as turning the air conditioner on or running a dehumidifier.

And as a ionizer, forget it.

Are Himalayan salt lamps safe for catsAre Himalayan salt lamps safe for cats?

The allure that salt lamps have for cats to lick them, potentially makes them a health hazard for felines and dogs if the lamp is placed where they can get to them.

The potential problem with keeping salt lamps around your animals is that salt can be very addicting for an animal to lick. And they will probably lick the salt till they’re sick or even worst case scenario, to the point of death.

That fact alone is enough to go with the fake version of Himalayan salt lamp in my house.

Why is my salt lamp leaking water?

Another issue that I rarely see people bringing up when it comes to Himalayan salt lamps is the maintenance involved to keep them.

I for one did not realize that you had to keep wiping them off or they would create a puddle underneath them.

It is actually suggested that you place a plastic bag over the salt lamp when it’s not in use so that it will not continue to pull moisture from the air and become sad.

(Yes, the moisture that gathers on the outside of the salt lamp is called crying. And they can get very sad if not attended to. Don’t be so insensitive.)

And the fact that they are so heavy and brittle is not something I anticipated.

Though they are very pretty and obviously add a nice ambience to the room.

I’m still glad I never bought a Himalayan salt lamp as a Christmas gift for someone without knowing how much attention they would need to give it.


On a positive note, if you happen to own a cow, Himalayan salt lamps make an excellent salt lick, chuck full of iron and minerals.
You may be sitting on a delicious glass of milk and didn’t even know it.

Also: Does a Humidifier Help With Dust?

What is an Ionizing Air Conditioner?

Air conditioning is something most of us take for granted. But few of us realize how lucky we are to have air conditioning. Combining the ability to sanitize and clean the air in a room with the same system that delivers cool air only seams logical.

What is an Ionizing Air Conditioner?

An Ionizing Air Conditioner is a air conditioner with a built in ionizer.

The Ion or Anion mode on an AC reduces indoor air pollutants like germs and bacteria by emitting negative and positive ions into a room.

When the AC ionizer is in operation, Plasma ions ( ions with both polarities)
surround airborne contaminants like viruses and effectively damage the cells and make them inactive.

It is interesting that the anion symbol on an ion air cooler is a pine tree. This probably is a reference to fact that negative ions exist in abundance in the forest.

Negative ions are also known to be in abundance at beaches. Negative ions are found in their highest after a thunderstorm. Lightning is where they source from.

Plasma Air Conditioner

Plasma Air Conditioners use a unique ionizing method that more efficient than standard negative ion generators and do not create detectable ozone as a by-product. Also called Bi Polarization because the Anion Air Cooler emits both negative and positive ions. 

Though only a couple or few years ago, Ion air conditioners seemed like the new rage. Models like the Sharp Plasma Air Conditioner and LG Residential mini split with Plasma Mode had amazing features, yet didn’t become the great sellers you would think they might have.

Regardless whether your air conditioning is equipped with an Air Ionizer, Bi Polar Plasma air purifiers are still available as induct HVAC air purifiers.

Plasma Induct air purifiers are actually more efficient than a mini split with a built in Ionizer.

Induct air purifiers use the existing HVAC ductwork to create a whole house air purifier.

Since the air inside of the house is already being circulated through the central heat and air system, it makes sense to clean the via the system that is distributing it.

Additionally, the HVAC itself is one of the main sources of indoor air pollution in the first place.

Because of the climate of moisture and darkness inside of the air handler, mold has everything it needs to become a issue inside of your system.

And once the air kicks on, mold spores and bacteria existing inside the unit are then moved around through your entire home.

Induct air purifiers clean the air at the source of the pollution and distribute clean air throughout.

ion air conditionerDoesn’t that mean you have to leave the fan running for the air purifier to work?

Yes.

There are expenses that come with come with leaving the fan running like an increased energy bill and more degradation through the filters since they are in use all the time.

But the cost between using a plasma ionizer in the HVAC compared to using HEPA filters in the HVAC is pretty small.

The reason is, central heat and air needs good airflow to work properly. HEPA filters are so dense that they tend to overworked the air conditioner.
Which leaves higher energy bills and a little lower life expectancy for the HVAC unit itself.

Another bonus to using induct ionizers is space that it goes any ozone created to dissipate without becoming an indoor air pollution problem itself.

Also stand-alone ionizers tend to make all the surfaces around the ion machine extra dusty.

The reason for that is that ions weigh more than dust. So when the ions that are emitted from the machine connect with the particulates in the air, they clump together and fall.

Grey Wall syndrome is a phrase that describes the dust that gathers on walls when an ionizer is present.

Induct ionization doesn’t have the same problem because the ionization process happens inside of the ductwork.

That doesn’t mean that it will not leave extra dust behind inside of the ductwork.

And unfortunately an ionizers in air purifiers do not filter dust so you will still be flipping the cost to have the ductwork cleaned out from time to time.

Air Ionizer
What Does Ozone Smell Like?