I am a physician and a homemaker.I am always looking for safe, effective, easy ways to clean.This product has been the answer for me in the following ways:
1.)Washing fruits and vegetables.Now I am finally following Rachel Ray's advice to wash everything when I bring it home from the grocery store.I pile in as much as the bowl (included with the system) will hold and rinse it briefly under the faucet to remove loose dirt.Then I fill the bowl with cool tap water and place it on the base.As I write this, I am processing 5 avocados, 4 tomatoes, and 2 peaches in the bowl.The cleaning cycle takes about 4 minutes, then you leave the produce in the water for another two minutes.The base unit counts down the time so you know when you're done.Finally, I use the bowl's lid, which has a built-in strainer, to drain the bowl.
There are a number of advantages to this method of washing produce.For me, the most important one is that I know that the produce is truly clean when the final beeper goes off.In the past I was never sure when I could stop rinsing my produce.This method is also a time-saver, since I can wash quite a bit of produce in each batch, and I can do other things while it is processing.Washing the produce when I bring it home from the store also makes it last longer, because the bacteria which cause decay are destroyed.Additionally, when I drain the water from the bowl into my sink, the super-oxygenated water helps to sanitize the sink.Finally, I don't have to wash the bowl, because it is sanitized with each use.
2.)Sanitizing my kids' orthodontic retainers, and the family's various toothbrushes, nail clippers, nail files, etc.I use the bowl for this.I wish I had had this when my kids were babies, because according to the instruction book it can be used to sanitize pacifiers, baby toys, and other baby paraphernalia.
3.)Sanitizing my kids' shower shoes and gear when they get back from camp or a field trip.I use the spray bottle, which is included with the system, for this.First I rinse the gear in my utility sink or with the hose outside.Then I fill the spray bottle with cool tap water.I place the bottle on the base, and start the processing cycle which takes about 2 minutes.Then you have 15 minutes to use the super-oxygenated water, after which it starts to break down into oxygen and water.The base unit counts down the 15 minutes, so you know when your time is up.I spray everything and let it dry in the sun.
There are several advantages to this method of sanitizing gear over my old way of using bleach and other cleaners.First, it is extremely effective.Second, there is no residue left on the gear (again, the super-oxygenated water breaks down into oxygen and water), so there is no rinsing.And third, I do not have to wear gloves.
4.)Cleaning my refrigerator inside and out.I use the spray bottle for this.I especially love the fact that no residue is left in the refrigerator, and there is no odd cleaning-product smell either.
5.)Kitchen countertops, sink, and cabinets.I have an under-mounted sink, and the thought of all the bacteria growing in the space between the countertop and the sink used to really bother me.In the past, I would fill my sink with hot water and bleach, but now I use the spray bottle.It is quick and easy, requires no rinsing, and there is no bleach smell or concern about getting bleach on my clothes.Plus there is a strong environmental benefit to avoiding bleach and the plastic bottles that bleach comes in.
6.)Bathrooms.In the past I used cleaning products that smelled terrible and that warn you to only use them in a well-ventilated area.It made bathroom-cleaning a dreaded chore.Now I use the spray bottle, and the job is quick and easy.I live in Florida, where mold and mildew are a big problem in the bathroom.We have had a particular problem with mildew growing in the toilet tanks (up where the flush mechanism is).This has been difficult to keep under control in the past, because bleach damages the rubber portions of the flush mechanism.The super-oxygenated water has not caused any damage, but has been extremely effective against the mildew.
I like the fact that no residue is left behind on surfaces, and the bathroom is truly sanitized.I will also note that although I have arthritis in my hands, the spray bottle is easy to use.
Other reviewers have mentioned getting an error code when trying to use the Lotus system.I have also had error codes in two situations, but I figured out how to deal with them.
The first error code I have encountered occurs when there is no water in the base.During processing, water circulates between the base and the attachment you have chosen (either the bowl or the spray bottle).Between uses, clean water remains in the base unit.However, when you are first starting out, or if you have emptied the base unit, it takes time to get water into the base unit.This is when I have had an F4 error code.I remove the attachment, fill the blue reservoir on the base with water, and then put the empty bowl on the base unit.Using a large measuring cup, I pour cool tap water directly over the valve system in the bottom of the bowl to get water to go through the valve into the base.Then I turn on the processing cycle and see if it will go.If not, I repeat these steps until it does.Normally you do not have to worry about this, because clean water will be left in the base between uses.
The second situation where I have encountered an error code is when washing fruits that shed tiny seeds or hairs, such as raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, and kiwi.I belive that there must be a sensor in the base that reads the water as dirty, and halts the processing.Even when I pre-rinsed these fruits, I still got an error code because you can't get rid of all the tiny seeds and hairs.I dealt with this situation by emptying the "dirty" water out of the base.Next, I get clean water into the base as described in the previous paragraph.Then I put clean water in the bowl and process it in the usual way.At the end of the processing cycle, I remove the bowl from the base and add the fruit to it.I let the fruit sit in there for two minutes before draining.This way, no seeds or hairs circulate through the base to create problems.This is actually the method that the instruction book suggests for meat, poultry, and seafood.
I highly recommend this product, and plan to give it to family members as Christmas gifts.Please note that I am not associated in any way with the company that makes this product.
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Tersano lotus LBU100 Sanitizing SystemProduct Description: The lotus system safely removes bacteria, viruses, and pesticides from food. It also sanitizes children's toys, teethers, and pacifiers with ease. Tap water treated with the lotus system cleans and sanitizes kitchens, bathrooms, and other high-risk surfaces and locations without harsh chemicals, fumes, or residue. Live Chemical Free with the lotus Sanitizing System Take a step towards healthier living! This amazing Sanitizing System from Tersano lets you turn on your faucet and treat your home to an effective sanitizer that safely wipes out germs, odors, stains, mold, mildew and pesticides -- all without chemicals.
When you use lotus, you turn ordinary tap water into the world's most powerful sanitizer in about two minutes, for a fraction of a penny. Studies have shown that ozone is 50-percent more powerful and more than 3,000 times faster acting on bacteria than chlorine -- at 100 times the strength. Water treated with this system will kill 99.9 percent of germs on any surface it contacts.
Use the lotus to clean countertops, appliances, floors, high chairs and other baby items, upholstery, windows, cutting boards, and any surface that attracts mold or mildew. Even carpet and laundry stains -- including red wine and pet stains -- are easy to remove, with no harsh fumes or residue. Lotus also eliminates germs and pesticides from your food. It even extends the shelf life of fruit and produce up to four times longer than if they've been rinsed with tap water.
The lotus system can even be used to freshen and deodorize pet areas, or other potentially smelly places. How It Works The system has two main purposes: (1). to disinfect surfaces and (2). to remove pesticides and kill germs on food. It does this using ordinary tap water.
The lotus patented Oxyshield technology infuses cold tap water with an extra oxygen atom, creating a natural sanitizer. By passing air through 4,500 volts of electricity, the lotus system splits oxygen molecules into atoms and forces this extra atom to combine and form super-oxygen, or ozone. The third oxygen atom becomes the sanitizing agent, a natural oxidant -- which kills bacteria and viruses, and neutralizes pesticides.
Using the lotus spray bottle, it takes about two to three minutes to turn tap water into antibacterial lotus water with 100-percent potential (this is indicated on the unit); and then it remains fully effective for about 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, the contents begin to revert to plain water. A countdown timer on the unit tells you when it's time to reload and recharge.
Once the tap water reaches its fully transformed potential (in about five minutes, if you're using the bowl), maximum bacteria and pesticide reduction is achieved after two minutes of soaking. That same helpful countdown timer tells you when your food is completely sanitized and cleansed of pesticide residues.
The lotus Sanitizing System was recognized as one of the Best Inventions of 2006 by
Time Magazine. It was also recognized by Donny Deutsch as The Big Idea of the Month.
Key Technical Specs:
FDA and USDA approved for food sanitation
UL and CSA tested and approved
EPA registered for produce and household surfaces
Non-abrasive; safe for use on non-porous surfaces
Kills 99.9-percent of: E. Coli
Salmonella
Staphylococcus aureus (Listeria)
K. Pneumonia
What's in the Box Sanitizing system includes the base unit, multi-purpose bowl with lid, trigger spray bottle, two microfiber cloths and one booster cartridge.
Warranty This product is covered by a limited one-year manufacturer's warranty.
Tersano's Tradition of Quality Technology and Elegant Design A Canadian developer of cutting-edge household sanitizing systems, Tersano is an innovative company that is changing the way the world thinks about cleaning chemicals -- and in the process, creating an entirely new market category. Tersano's state-of-the-art technology improves quality of life and delivers peace of mind by providing consumers tools with which to reduce, if not eliminate, the need for toxic chemicals in their homes. Tersano's designers have focused on creating systems that are simple and elegant -- products that anyone would be proud to have in the kitchen, bathroom or baby's room. Their engineers have applied exacting standards in producing quality robust products that are strong enough to meet even the most demanding family requirements.
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The filter is fine, but required some aggressive work with a hammer to make it fit my antique model.Compared to the previous replacement filter, this one had metal where the old one had fiberboard.I suppose this would be an upgrade, except that the designer apparently didn't consider the placement of some bolts on my 15 year old Healthmate; hence the need to put some serious dents into the filter.The previous replacement filter had the same problem, but the fiberboard had more give to it.It is my unscientific impression that the new filter is not as quiet out of the box as the previous replacement filter was (based on my 5 year old memory), but maybe it's just my machine getting older; or different room acoustics.Perhaps another owner can offer a second opinion.
