Can a Hepa Vacuum Cleaner Benefit Your Health?
June 16th, 2010 | 
Author: HEPA filters were originally developed in the 1940s and used in the Manhattan Project to prevent the spread of airborne radioactive contaminants. After the 1950s, HEPA filters were later commercialized and the term became trademarked and known as a generic term to describe any high efficient filter. Over the years, because of demands for improved air quality in various industries such as aerospace, pharmaceutical processing, and healthcare, HEPA filters became commonly used in these industries to help eliminate airborne particulates such as dust, dander, mold, and asbestos.
In order to be considered a True HEPA filter, a filter must be capable of removing at least 99.97% of particulates as small as 0.3 microns. Particles of this size are the most difficult to filter, and they are thus considered the most penetrating particle size, or MPPS. HEPA filters consist of a mat of randomly arranged fibers that target and trap small particles by one of the following three mechanisms:
1. Interception – When particulates follow a line of flow in the airstream within one radius of a fiber and sticks to it.
2. Impaction – When large particles cannot avoid the HEPA fibers and are forced to imbed in one, which also increases with diminishing fiber separation and higher air flow.
3. Diffusion – When an enhancing mechanism results from the collision with gas molecules by small particles, which are impeded and delayed through the HEPA fiber.
Therefore, because of the superior filtration abilities of HEPA filters, they are extremely effective at removing particulates from the air and from surfaces such as carpets and upholstery, and their use can help make the air we breathe significantly healthier. Because our indoor environment contains allergens, chemicals, gas, dust mites, mold, and other harmful microorganisms, the respiratory tract struggles and suffers daily from these harmful pollutants. Poor indoor air quality can also cause symptoms such as itchy eyes, headaches, digestive problems, fatigue, congestion, and many more chronic and acute diseases. In fact, studies have shown that more than every one in three adult, child, or infant suffers from allergies, asthma, or respiratory diseases, and currently, asthma is one of the leading causes of upper respiratory illnesses in children.
Today, most HEPA filters can be found in air purification systems and even vacuum cleaners. HEPA vacuum cleaners use HEPA filters as part of the filtration process, and they are extremely beneficial for asthma and allergy sufferers, as the HEPA media is able to trap the fine particles that can trigger asthma and allergy symptoms. For a HEPA filter in a vacuum cleaner to be effective at particle abatement, the vacuum cleaner should be designed so that all of the air that is drawn into the machine is passed through the filter, with none of the air leaking past. In addition, because of the density of a HEPA filter, a HEPA vacuum cleaner will need a more powerful motor to provide sufficient cleaning power.
There are essentially two basic styles of HEPA vacuums: canister and upright. HEPA canister vacuums usually have smaller, stronger cases that can roll along and follow behind you as you vacuum carpet, furniture, or the floor. A long hose attached to a HEPA canister vacuum cleaner will help you clean hard to reach places. HEPA canister vacuums also often feature detachable rug beaters that are more powerful when compared to those found on upright HEPA vacuums. When the electric motor powered rug beater on a canister vacuum cleaner stops working, the unit can still be used to clean other surfaces. Overall, for homes with mostly bare floors and sparse rugged areas, canister vacuums can help you move seamlessly from one area to the next without scratching your floors.
On the other hand, upright HEPA vacuums consist of a single unit that may or may not come with an attachment hose to help clean hard to reach areas with specialized vacuum tools. Upright HEPA vacuums may leak dusty air back into your home, and since the rug beater bar is permanently attached to the vacuum’s case, once this important component breaks, the entire vacuum will have to be replaced. However, if your home is mostly carpeted, a traditional upright HEPA vacuum may be a better choice, as its beater bar can better churn up dirt and dust embedded below the surface of your carpeting.
In terms of design differences, that are different styles of HEPA canister vacuums available, with the most common being those units with plastic cases utilizing a disposable dust collector bag made of plastic used to catch the dust from your carpet and into the vacuum cleaner. Keep in mind that with these types of models, dusty air may still leak through gaps in the plastic gases and even pass through the exhaust and back into your home environment.
When choosing a HEPA vacuum, also be sure to pay attention to the power of the model, as this is rated by its suction force in inches of water lift and by its air flow (in cfm). Anything with a 90 cfm or above is considered a powerful model and will effectively remove pollutants from your home. Also look to the position of where the HEPA filter is placed. HEPA filters in vacuums can be placed either before or after the motor, and some studies have suggested that a filter after the motor can help catch any fine carbon dust that is generated by the vacuum’s motor. Strong seals to prevent leakage are also extremely important in vacuums that the filters after the motor. Nevertheless, whether you choose a canister or upright HEPA vacuum cleaner, rest assured that it can help eliminate dust and dander from your home, and also alleviate your asthma-induced symptoms.
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Wooden furniture is not only beautiful but also elegant and practical
Wooden furniture is not only beautiful but also elegant and practical. Wooden furniture can turn a house into a home. If you have been living with below par flat pack furniture and budget wooden furniture you have been missing out on the prospect of having beautiful hand crafted fine wooden furniture. Fine wooden furniture looks beautiful and practical in any part of the home, but most definitely within the living area. Whether it is a whole makeover of the home or just adding a piece or two to your already elegant home, you will be sure to be happy that you have invested in fine wooden furniture.
There is a whole range of wooden living furniture that you have to choose from when deciding what to implement into the home. You can choose from, bookcases, dressers, chairs, sofas, desks and tables. Whatever you choose you will ultimately be happy with when you look around your home and see the elegance that has been placed into your home simply through the use of some wooden furniture. The pieces of furniture are made from the finest hardwoods including, Rosewood, Walnut, American Mahogany and American Oaks, these are the most beautiful woods available.
Fine hand crafted furniture gives off a certain aura that standard budget furniture does not. Your friends and family will enter your home to be wowed with how good furniture looks, and will most certainly be envious of you new furniture. It is also important that you keep optimum care for all of your furniture so that they do no diminish in how they perform or that they do not become weak.
Home Decorating Business Ideas
Though most women take much interest in home décor for some reason or other, what they are ignorant about the fact home décor can also be used as an ideal home based money making business opportunity.
If you are women with austere sense of space and beauty and some interior design experience to back you up, you can become home decor expert and offer home décor advice over the internet. You can become home décor consultants. You can also offer your home décor consultation service over the net to come up with some good home improvement ideas for those who look for some useful tips on the net and don’t have the budget to pay the interior decorators.
You can be an entrepreneur by venturing into a home based business by joining an affiliate program of online home décor store or outlet for selling their items.
Home décor business also offers some unique home based business opportunities on the net. You can take up them as a part time or spare time home-based business activity, which can turn out to the most ideal home based business for women. There are many home décor online stores which offer home based business opportunities to women, Milano Direct is one such home decor online store which has offered the best home based money making business opportunity to thousands of women on the net.
Besides the net there are some other home decorating business opportunities which can be taken up in your spare time. For example you can sign up as a sales representatives with a company specializing in home decor or home decorating products and have shows where you present the itemsâand sale them. You can offer these shows in your own home or go into other people’s homes. These shows can be a great deal of fun and a way to earn a handsome amount.
If you have a flair for interior decorating and are of independent nature you may want to start a home decorating business all your own. There can be a number of items you can specialize in like draperies, kitchen remodeling, carpeting, art and accessories, or color scheme choices, just to name a few, as the focus of your home decor business. The possibilities are endless plus you can also have your own home decorating ideas to integrate them for the home decor home business concept.
For starting the dome décor business the contacts with the following can be of much help:
⢠Interior designers
⢠Home builders and contractors
⢠Architects
⢠Art galleries
⢠Carpet companies
⢠Paint companies
⢠Antique dealers
⢠Lighting specialists
⢠Furniture stores and dealers
These contacts can help you to be in touch with the prospective clients. Which means you can get to work more quickly, and often with more upscale clients than you could reach on your own, especially when you’re just starting a home decor home business.
You don’t have to be a business person to make any plans for your home decor home business. You just have to think carefully and put in as much of research as you can. Learn what people are looking for right now in terms of interior decorating. Go to different furniture stores, home décor stores to see what they’re stocking. You can also talk with owners and also with the customers what’s hot and what items they would like to buy.
Only after you do proper research and clear what you want to get into you can go ahead with the formalities.
I wish you good luck in all of your ventures into the home décor business.
Bedroom Design – Design Your Dream Bedroom
The ideal room
Make a list of what you want from a bedroom. Do you need a room you can escape to, watch TV, work or just sleep in? Do you want a really big bed or lots of storage? Do you like a particular look? Be realistic about what you can achieve in the space you have.
The plan
Start by sketching a plan of the structural elements, like the chimney breast, windows and doors – basically the things that can’t be moved. Then experiment with the position of the key pieces – the bed, wardrobes, chests, remembering that you need space for drawers to open and to walk around the bed.
The bed
Go for the biggest bed you can. Disturbance from a partner is one of the commonest cause of sleep complaints. As to where to position it, most choose the obvious and put the headboard up against a wall, but a little lateral thinking might free up valuable wall space. Try moving your bed into the centre of the room and using the wall behind for a wardrobe with sliding doors. Even if you don’t believe in feng shui, it’s better to plan your room so your bed isn’t right behind the door as it can make the room feel quite closed in.
The built-in option
As fitted bedroom furniture goes from the floor to the ceiling, there are no gaps. This means less dusting and makes the most of awkward areas like sloping ceilings. Also when you use the full height of a wall you can create useful high cupboards for storing little used items like hats and extra bedding. What many people like about fitted bedrooms is the opportunity to choose their own co-ordinated scheme.
The freestanding option
If you like the look(and portability) of freestanding wardobes and chests, check they have the internal fittings you’ll need. Look at your clothes and decide what will be useful – drawers for folding jumpers, shelves for shoes and full-length hanging space for party dresses and winter coats. Take advantage of the trend for customising pieces to get the exact combination and look you want. For instance, BoConcept not only sells different-sized chests and wardrobes, you can also choose handles, legs and wood finish.
The inside of your wardrobe
Whether you go for a fitted or freestanding option, the secret to a relaxing bedroom can lie behind the cupboard doors. So devote as much time to planning the inside as you do to choosing the wardrobe itself. You’ll be amazed how many more closes you can fit in with double-height hanging rails, drawers with dividers and fully extendable drawers that mean you can get to things right at the back. Ikea and The Holding Company sell great space-saving accessories.
The flooring
As your bedroom gets much less traffic than other rooms, you can have more textured carpets – like a loop-pile – and choose paler shades than you might use downstairs. Wood floors – either solid or engineered – and laminates are becoming more popular in the bedroom and can be combined with underfloor heating. If you’re unsure about the minimalist look, add comfort by having a deep-pile rug next to the bed.
The lighting
Don’t leave the lighting to the end – particularly if you are going to need extra sockets or want to fit wall lights. The basic rule is that bedrooms need to be bright in the morning and atmospheric at night. Fitting a dimmer switch and having bedside lamps helps achieve this balance. You can also use lighting to highlight features, for instance, line the front of your wardrobes with discreet low-voltage downlighters.
The look
Your bedroom is one room in which you can give your personality full rein, so don’t be afraid to try out a scheme that might be a bit much in the living room. Glamour looks work well, with daring colour schemes and glam elements, like mirrored furniture, metallics and white leather. Or opt for dark woods for smart, grown-up luxury.
The atmosphere
Don’t forget that your bedroom should be a room in which you feel truly relaxed. That way you have much more chance of getting a good night’s sleep. If you must have a television or computer in your bedroom, create as much separation space between them and your sleeping area as you can. Ideally, it’s best to have them built in, so that they can be hidden away when not in use.
AO Safety 90541 WorkTunes AM/FM Hearing Protector with Digital Tuning and MP3 Input
- Hearing protector with integrated AM/FM radio and stereo input jack for optional MP3 players, scanners and more
- EPA noise reduction rating of 22 decibels–great for job sites, workshops, and lawn work
- Comfortable gel/foam cushions for extended wear; adjustable stainless steel headband
- Save up to 10 radio station presets; seek/scan and AM/FM toggle buttons; easy-to-read LCD
- Powered by 2 AA batteries (not included); 3.5mm male-to-male cable required for MP3 input (not included)
Product Description
Listen to music instead of your power tools! The built-in AM/FM tuner in these comfortable headphones now features an easy-to-read LCD display, seek/scan tuning buttons, a low-battery indicator, and the ability to pre-set up to ten different stations. Everything is designed for convenient radio browsing. For even more options, use the stereo input jack (cord included) to connect your iPod or other portable devices and scanners. Soft gel/foam ear pads and an adjustab… More >>
AO Safety 90541 WorkTunes AM/FM Hearing Protector with Digital Tuning and MP3 Input
