Cuisinart DCC-RWF1 Replacement Coffeemaker Water Save 94% Off

I purchased these filters from Amazon and am very happy with them. I really noticed an improved taste in my coffee. I think this is a great investment to help maintain the taste of the coffee and increase the lifespan of your coffee maker by reducing build-up from water minerals.

I live in Seoul, South Korea, where it is inadvisable to drink water directly from the tap. Unless, that is, your idea of a good time is to let a little amoebic dysentery cozy up and get friendly with your colon.

Okay, so, the water isn''t ALWAYS that scary to drink. Just, uh, just most of the time.

Even when the water doesn''t make you sick, it usually tastes like it''s been funneled through an old radiator. Coffeemakers, generally speaking, don''t include water filters because the brewing process ostensibly kills all of the harmful bacteria. But you can still taste the heavy-metal-goodness in every last drop of leaden java. Lip smacking!

Anyhoo, I purchased a Cuisinart Coffeemaker recently (oh, how I love that machine), and it came with a package of these little filter fellows, and let me tell you, they do the trick. Gone are the filamental-flavors, the taste of scalded electrical wire! All that''s left is pure watery goodness, the clean, crisp clarity of two spic-n-span H''s and one well-scrubbed O. Now, if this little wunder-filter can do THAT for the brackish dreck that passes for water in Seoul, imagine how much more effective it would be on YOUR water!

Uh. Assuming you also do not live in Seoul. Or, er, Mexico. And parts of Bangladesh. And most of Haiti. And also, maybe, Djibouti. (Although I think Djibouti''s been getting its act together with the public water works system these days, thanks to macro-economic reform programs. See the comments section below.)

NOTE: Some elements of the above review may have been exagerrated in order to titillate easily-titillated readers. Readers with tender sensibilities should not have read the previous review.

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Some time ago, I decided to stop using these expensive filters. I already have a Brita charcoal activated filter and use that filtered water directly into my Cuisinart. No problem and very good coffee. When I was using the small Cuisinart filters, I experienced a lot of problems with slow water feed resulting in steam and other problems. I decided, after spending some $16 on filters over a period of a year, that I was just wasting money on these filters. I cleaned the coffee maker after I stopped using the filters, am getting excellent coffee and no more slow water feed and a fine running coffee maker. The coffee tastes as good or better. But, please note that I am using filtered water just not filtering it in the coffee maker.

This year, I found that the filter serves another purpose which is to prevent the occasional overflowed coffee ground from clogging the feed line and preventing all of the water to pass through the filter so you end up with less cups of coffee output compared to cups of water input. With pure water, the filter will last a long time. The root cause of the slow water feed in the paragraph above turned out to be a clogged valve in the feed line.

It is very important when using this coffee maker to have the right grind size. Excessive number of fines can lead to clogging.

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Purchasing this three-pack gives great value. Purchasing online also eliminates trying to find this product, since it is not routinely stocked where one would normally purchase the coffee maker itself.

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Does a good job at improving the taste of the coffee, but more importantly to me is it also filters out coffee grinds that may accidently spill into the water chamber... a nice plus! Change the filter regularly and it will also extend the life of the coffee maker.

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Osmegen, Inc. 6000 Natural Magic Odor Blaster

This product is perfect for removing any odors in the house. I needed to get rid of a fish smell after cookingperfect!!

Worked awesome on a hand me down couch from a family member who had two dogs and occasionally smoked in the house. Sprayed the whole couch and let it dry out. No odor, did not harm the microfiber fabric.

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THIS PRODUCT RIDS SMELLS FROM THE FRYING WE SOMETIMES DO. THIS IS A PRODUCT THAT EATS THE ODORS RIGHT NOW.

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WaterSentinel WSAQ-1 Water Filter Set AQ-4025 Comparable

I am truly disappointed with this filter.

I have tried using it for the last 24 hours and it just does not preform.

The water comes out at barely a trickle and I have have no idea if it is

actually filtering anything.

I will return this filter and order the original manufacturer''s product.

Filters fit the same. Cost is alot less. Time will tell. I thought the water resistance was greater after installing these filters. No foul taste. Someone stated silicon smell. You better have water tested. I would like a report on the quality of the filter. Not just what somebody thinks. Thanks

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This brand seems to work fine as an alternative to the brand name Acquafilter. Fits perfect. You''ll need to supply your own waterproof grease as none is supplied in the box.

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This filter set fit my Aquasana filter perfectly. This filter lasts just as long as the branded version and delivers great tasting water for 6 months. The packaging is low key, and recycles easily.

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Bodum 1308-16 Columbia 8-Cup Stainless-Steel Thermal Press Pot Save 25% Off

Seems pricey but you''ll quickly forget about the $. It''s the very best coffee accessory I''ve ever purchased. The filter part of the french press is perfect. Makes a suction sound as you press it down because the fit is so precise. Virtually no coffee grounds make their way into your cup. And why didn''t someone think before of making an insulated french press? In use every day at our house.

French Press coffee has one downside, if you do not serve the whole pot when it is first made then it tends to be coolish. This pot can be a help. It is not perfect but it keeps the coffee warm-hot for awhile. I fill it full of hot tap water before I make the coffee in it and then the coffee stays warm longer. I think it is the best press on the market at this price.

The other thing to be aware of is that when these coffee pots are rated for 10-12 cups that they are something less. The cups they are talking about are four ounce cups. These coffee pots make 4 regular cups of coffee and no more. PS: This is a good way to cut your coffee shop bill.

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I''ve used this press daily for a number of years now. It is a great way to make the absolute best coffee every morning. I am convinced that there is no better way to make the best coffee. My wife and I also take it with us when we travel, so that we can continue to have our great coffee in the morning while we are traveling. After all these years and countless travel trips, it''s a bit dented and banged up, but it still makes great coffee every morning.

I have noticed that a number of reviewers have mentioned that the coffee doesn''t remain as hot as they would like. Here''s how I get around that problem.

First of all, I don''t think any french press design is really suited to keeping coffee hot for a long time. If you want that then perhaps you should stay with a Mr. Coffee or a percolator.

That being said, I do like to have my coffee hot for up to an hour each morning. I purchased the 8-cup Bodum and it produces just enough coffee for my wife and I to have a large mug of coffee, with enough left over for a warmup for each of us. If we''re wanting more coffee after this, then we simply brew a 2nd pot. It''s so easy to use the Bodum that it''s not a bother to brew a 2nd pot on these days. So, we''re not trying to keep hot coffee for a couple of hours in the morning. No french press can do that well.

When I want to make coffee in the morning, the first thing I do is fill the Bodum pot with hot tap water to warm it up a bit. Then I begin heating the water that will be used on the freshly ground coffee beans. When the water is ready for pouring over the grounds I empty the warm tap water, place my freshly ground coffee in the Bodum pot, then pour the near-boiling water over the grounds and let it set for 4 minutes.

One feature of the Bodum that is REALLY nice is that its press screen is very fine. Most french presses require that you use course grounds and they will not work very well with anything else (grounds that are too fine will slip past the press-screen and be in your coffee cup). But, coffee tastes better if you can use a finer ground coffee (not the course stuff). It''s a dilemma with other french presses, but NOT with the Bodum. The Bodum has a super-fine screen that allows you to use the finer ground coffee grinds. I would recommend that you use a high quality bean grinder though, so that the grounds are a CONSISTENT grind size (burr grinder and not a blade design) then you can use finer grinds with the Bodum than with other french presses.

Incidently, I''ve found a great burr grinder for grinding coffee for the Bodum Press. I bought a Capresso 565.03 Infinity Burr Grinder and use the "fine" setting for my Bodum. The result is that I get the most from my beans used in the Bodum.

Anyway, I''m sure grateful that I purchased the Bodum. It''s a great way to enjoy coffee.

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Yeah, like many coffee enthusiasts, I thought this thing would be the Shangri-La of french presses -a french press that keeps the coffee hot for hours. This is an idea whose time has come...but alas, disappointment has reared its ugly head.

As a french press, the pot works great. Nothing earth shattering, it works and it''s easy to clean. In other words, it works no better and no worse than a $20 french press.

The problem is the vacuum thermos feature, which is the reason this thing is so expensive. It does not keep the coffee hot very long at all. Yes, yes, I always preheat it with nice, hot 190 degree water. I add the coffee, turn the lid so that the little plastic cover is over the pour spout to prevent heat loss, and then....it''s cold in about 45 minutes. Now granted, this pot does retain heat a LITTLE longer than a regular glass french press, but its insulation qualities are nowhere near as good as my vacuum thermos or my travel mug, which is also vacuum thermos-y.

I think the biggest source of heat loss is in the lid. The lid has no insulation properties at all. It''s just a thin piece of metal over a think piece of plastic. So it basically defeats the purpose of the rest of the pot. The laws of thermodynamics dictate (here''s the only time in the past 10 years that I get to use my engineering degree) that heat energy will seek to equalize with its environment as easily as possible. In this case, the heat finds a get out of jail free card in the lid.

So, in conclusion, if you are hoping that this french press will keep your coffee warm for a couple of hours, you will be greatly disappointed. My suggestion, buy a $20 french press and knit yourself a nice sweater to go around it. Something tasteful and not too itchy.

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I''ve been using the 8-cup Columbia French Press since it was introduced. I prefer French Press coffee to the other brewing methods but one thing kept me from using my traditional glass Bodum press pot, and that was the multi-piece filter. That filter never failed to trap coffee grounds in between the layers and I was constantly taking it apart for cleaning, and in no time at all the mesh screen started to fray around the edges.

That was then, but the Columbia is now. My favorite feature in this new design is the one-piece filter. Yes, ONE PIECE! No more unscrewing the three layers for washing. This improvement was obviously needed and I wish they had done it much sooner.

Regarding the stainless steel construction, it is useful for keeping the water hot during the 4-minute brewing time, but don''t think of it as a carafe that you can just leave the coffee in. If you do, it will keep extracting the coffee from the grounds and you''ll wind up with an over-extracted, bitter brew. For me, the real advantage of the stainless steel is that I''m not going to break it. The traditional Bodum borosilicate glass is very easy to break.

And so, I highly recommend the Bodum Columbia press pot. And if Bodum ever creates a one-piece filter for their glass French presses (like the one SwissGold used to make), that will be another great Bodum achievement.

Enjoy the Columbia!

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Essick Air 427-300 2-Speed Evaporative Console Humidifier and Air Cleaner

Up here in the deep north it is essential to have humidifier if you have musical instruments, or anything made out of nice wood. I have tried several different options, and evaporative humidifiers are the best. This one has enough nice features to warrent an excellent rating. The main great feature is that it is easy to add water to the system. The tanks remove easily, and can be filled from the kitchen sink (they are too tall for filling in a bathroom sink). In the dead of winter expect to fill it daily, but fortunately this is big enough to only need filling once per day. Other nice features include a fan speed control (pump humidity in fast because you were gone all weekend and its dry), or quiet. At low speed settings you barely know its on. I also like the optional air cleaning evaporator. It apparently slows down air flow, but that seems trivial since the fan can simply be turned up.

Operationally its five stars all the way. My wife thinks its looks could be improved.i.e. it has a "too plasticy" look. Service (getting it operational) via telephone was concise and correct.

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Received this product, set it up and the humidity level knob wasn''t working correctly, it was put on at the manufacturer incorrectly, which is no fault of Amazon, just got a lemon.

So I decided instead of contacting Amazon, to contact Essick Air and they sent a replacement motor section.

Essick Air was very helpful and eager to assist.

Received new motor and set humidifier up again. After the first bottle ran out and was filled again, noticed it was running continuously, checked the water bottles and both were bone dry and so was the wick.

The empty bottle indicator lights did not come on, so not sure how long the unit ran without having water in the bottles or the wick.

I now just make sure to check the bottles every other day to ensure they have water in them.

I had the same brand unit for approximately 15+ years prior to purchasing this one and I can say that the craftmanship of this cabinet and all components fitting correctly has depleted.

Again, this is no fault of Amazon.

Other than what I have stated, it does do the job of putting humidity into the house. Just wish now, that I had contacted Amazon and requested to return this unit and have another sent.

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WINNER: After much deliberation and research for a quality humidifier, I took function over form in this model and am very glad I did. Some reviews commented on the "tacky plastic" housing but I didn''t think it an issue. If anything, it helps with the weight of the item and it''s easy to keep clean.

PERFORMANCE: The 2 fan speeds are just right. I turn it on high @ night to do most of it''s work and on low and comfortable setting during the day. The low fan setting is whisper quiet. I have it in my living room and don''t need to elevate the TV volume at all!

SET-UP: EASY! Just read the directions! Not as much space needed a I thought.

Added bonus: No distilled or soft water required. Not a luxury I have in my home so this unit wins again.

EASE OF USE: If you don''t think this is the simplest and most efficient investment then I wish you luck on your humidifier endeavors. It doesn''t have all the "bells and moderns whistles" of some models, but I also don''t have to fuss or worry about maintenance, refilling, or cleaning challenges. Tried and true model.

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It works in large spaces we have almost 2000 sq ft (one level). It is loud if you turn it on full blast. We turn it on when we are asleep or gone for errands and then turn it off. The large water container is awesome. We fill it about once a week and keep our house between 35 and 45 humidity. We also live in the desert. I highly recommend it. It is large -comparable to a small coffee table. If you want something with little maintenance and works in large spaces this is it. If you have a smaller space and want it to be quiet this is not it.

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Brita Water Filter Faucet System Save 31% Off

• Electronic Filter Life Indicator
• Convenient Spray Option

I bought this because it was cheap and i''m always on a budget as far as eating and college life goes. Works like a charm and you can easily attach it to the faucet. I havent bought a replacement filter yet, but let me tell you this: it tastes a helluva lot better than the fountain water downstairs. Get it if you''re thinking about it!

Note: it does leak a little when it is filtering water when you put the Brita switch on or off. I don''t know if I myself attached it wrong or something in the manufacturing.

Drinking clean(and better tasting) water because of it

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This is the exact same item, at nearly half the price, that sells in my nearby discount store. The packaging was a bit squished, but not being a gift, ...who cares! The pkg was soon tossed, after all. I''m drinking CLEAN tasting (& smelling) water for less!

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It was yellow and used. These people should be arrested. I bought this for our baby''s formula. They refunded my money, but still unacceptable. That''s why it''s so cheap it is used parts refurbished. Unethical and illegal.

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Very poor quality. Constantly "blew off" the faucet making a mess all over the kitchen. Needs to be redesigned or pulled off the market.

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This is THE WORST filter I''ve ever used.

Don''t waste your money.

BTW, I did not get mine from Amazon.

Bought this at the local ACE Hardware store.

But it doesn''t matter.

The contraption doesn''t stay on the faucet. The kit comes with 4 different washers/adapters.

NONE of them fit my faucet.

So, the unit is continually popping off the faucet.

Before it pops off... SURPRISE!!! WATER SPRAYS EVERYWHERE! Then .. BOOM!

Plus, the filter doesn''t last long, and within 3 months, the light stopped working.

Junk!

Must be "made in china".

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Fellowes Quiet Air Purifier with True HEPA Filter (AP-300PH) Save 51% Off

• Air purity sensor monitors the air quality and automatically adjusts the fan speed to keep your air purified
• True HEPA Filter safely removes 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns, including pollen, ragweed and other allergens, mold spores, dust mites, viruses, germs, pet dander, cigarette smoke and odors
• PlasmaTRUE Technology creates an ionized field to help safely remove airborne pollutants
• Purifies large sized rooms up to 300 square feet
• Ultra quiet operation

Length:: 2:01 Mins

I''ve had this air purifier around four months and it''s been in constant use in the bedroom. My video review explains more but in a nutshell, my perpetual morning stuffy nose was eliminated by this machine. I love it! Filters are easy to change (the carbon filter replacement light came on today after four months) and it is whisper quiet. Two thumbs way up for Fellowes Quiet Air Purifier with True HEPA Filter!

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This is my new favorite gadget in my home. I was actually concerned that this would be too quiet, but it turned out to be the perfect amount of ''white noise'' to lull me to sleep. Just to put it into perspective, though, this unit is much larger than my old Honeywell air purifier yet much less noisy. I would say that the Honeywell was more vibrational noise, and annoying enough to make it difficult to hear the TV, whereas the Fellowes is barely noticeable but enough to block out distracting noises that keep me from sleeping (like my neighbors in the apartment next door).

The air quality in my room has been great since the machine has been running. Pollen has been crazy high lately, but I have not had any problems to speak of. As for cleaning/changing the filter, it is too early for me to comment on this since I haven''t had it that long.

I will now try very hard to think of something negative (which, there isn''t much at all). For some reason, my cat likes to jump on top of the unit. Sometimes, when he jumps off of the unit, I noticed that the unit tends to ''fall forward'' because of the way the weight is distributed. It probably wouldn''t hurt the machine, since the air comes out the top in such a way that the air flow wouldn''t be blocked. Still, the unit probably could have been engineered in such a way that it was more balanced and less likely to tip over.

In summary, if you are looking for a high-end air purifier to improve your air quality, then look no further.

UPDATE (6/2/12): It has been about 3 months since I started using the product, and the red light has come on to tell me that it is now time to change the charcoal filter -the one that is supposed to filter larger dust particles. This is consistent with what the manual recommends, and the replacement filter is available through Amazon and seems to be at a reasonable price, so I think that it will be worth the cost and effort. Something tells me, though, that the unit doesn''t really detect that the filter is dirty. I suspect that there is simply a timer that signals when the unit has been running for three months!

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I bought this purifier for my bedroom to replace a purifier I thought was too loud. But this purifier is incredibly loud but not due to the fan--it''s due to the high pitched noises the PlasmaTRUE ionizer makes. Even on the high fan speed I can hear the PlasmaTRUE which means that to me it is essentially louder than the fan on any setting and so "low" mode is unbearably loud to me. It sounds like a quiet dentist drill to get an idea of the frequency. I''m not young enough to be able to hear the super high pitched text tones so I don''t know why I''m the first to complain about this. To top it off, PlasmaTRUE is impossible to disable. So this purifier was not able to stay in the bedroom. I''m still debating on whether to return it.

If you want more detail about PlasmaTRUE, I found this info in a pdf online:

"o What is PlasmaTRUETM Technology?


PlasmaTRUETM Technology creates electrical discharges that neutralize the smallest and most harmful impurities and pollutants at the molecular level.

o How do I know if the PlasmaTRUETM Technology is working?

The "+" and "-" signs contained in the blinking bubbles on your Indicator Screen indicate that the PlasmaTRUETM Technology is active. There is no way for the human eye to see the effect of PlasmaTRUETM.

o Is PlasmaTRUETM Technology harmful?


No PlasmaTRUETM Technology is safe and has been tested and validated per the latest regulation to show that it does not generate Ozone, as opposed to some competitors'' products

o Can I deactivate PlasmaTRUETM?

No, PlasmaTRUETM is always on.

o What is the difference between an ionizer and PlasmaTRUETM Technology?

There is no difference between an ionizer and PlasmaTRUETM Technology. Some ionizers produce Ozone that can be harmful to your health; however; PlasmaTRUETM Technology has been tested and validated per the latest regulation to show that it does not generate Ozone."

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I purchased this hoping the author of the featured critical review was just being super sensitive about the PlasmaTRUE ionizer noise since there weren''t any others that mention the noise. He is spot on though. My unit was delivered today and I noticed it as soon as I turned it on. The noise it produces is very obnoxious and I also don''t know how others aren''t hearing the same thing. Perhaps it''s a defect in only some units. My wife can barely notice it, but for me it''s deal breaker. I called Fellowes support and the nice CSR seemed oblivious about reports of high-frequency noise coming from the ionizer. He said a "clicking noise" is normal, but wasn''t sure about a high pitched whine. I described it as sounding like muted, but continuous cricket chirping. Phone support wasn''t much help and I didn''t feel like returning the unit, so I took things into my own hands.

The noise became so annoying to me that I disassembled the housing and started inspecting the components. At first I was thinking that the ionizer leads just needed a cleaning or something, but they looked fine (they''re just two small prongs in the upper left housing of the unit). I ended up removing the plug from the control board that powers the "Plasma Doctor WHO-1300" which is what they apparently re-brand as "PlasmaTRUE". The plug is behind the HEPA FILTER LED in the power control housing. Here some quick directions for doing this:

1. Unplug the unit and remove the filter cover.

2. Remove the top two screws that hold on the display panel and set the panel aside. It will still be tethered by the display panel control cable.

3. Remove the two screws that hold the black power control housing.

4. Lift up the power control housing and take the tape off that holds the display panel control cable in place.

5. The housing can be opened by hand enough where you can get to the power plug for the PlasmaTRUE (follow the black wire that runs along the outside of the bottom of the housing).

6. Using a pair of needle-nose pliers, disengage the securing latch and gently pull upwards.

7. Tuck the plug under the housing and reassemble.

The unit works fine with the PlasmaTRUE powered down. The PlasmaTRUE indicator on the display still functions and it appears it is just for show. I am a huge fan of everything else about this product. The HEPA filtering is outstanding, the air quality sensor/auto control is legit, and the fan noise is barely audible when it is on low. I can deal with not having ionization if it means truly quiet operation.

If it were $30 cheaper or if I could disable the PlasmaTRUE without taking the unit apart I would give it 4/5 stars (5/5 stars if it were quiet). As it stands now I give it 3/5 for having to spend 5 minutes to disengage the ionizer and not being able to have the feature without the noise driving me crazy.

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I purchased my Fellowes Quiet Air Purifier with True HEPA filter AP300PH about 4 weeks ago, and have been running it on the High setting 24/7 ever since. The first day I got it I ran it on the Turbo setting for about 3 hours to clean out my family room. It did a fantastic job! It is a little noisy on turbo, but DON''T let that stop you from purchasing it, because you hardly ever need to run it on Turbo!!! When it is on the High setting it sounds like a soft fan...Very Quiet!.....Most the time I don''t even realize it is on, and I don''t have to have the TV any louder either.

My indoor allergies have been SO much better since I purchased the AP300PH. Actually I have stopped having to use my NasalChrome nasal allergy spray, which I used to use several times a day. I have also stopped having to use an allergy mask, which I was having to use daily.

When I say I am thrilled with my purchase, I truly mean it!! I couldn''t be happier. I had a smaller, much noisier unit before this one, and didn''t run it much because it was so loud, even on low and it was supposed to be a quiet model....haha. So I returned it and got this unit.

Do yourselves a favor and buy this Air Purifier, you won''t be sorry!! An added bonus for me was the fact that nice clean air comes out the top of the unit like a gentle fan blowing fresh air.

I think this is the second review I have ever written, and I just can''t say enough good things about it!

It''s easy to move around, easy to open up to get to the pre-carbon filter and True HEPA filter when it''s time to replace them. Taking a look at mine, it doesn''t look like I will need to replace mine any time soon. Oh, by the way, my house is Extremely dusty and I have 3 dogs who shed a lot, so the AP300PH has a lot of allergens to deal with.

Ok.....I think I have said my piece. Go buy your own ;)

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Aquasana AQ-4035 Drinking Water Filter Replacement Save 1% Off

• Aquasana drinking water filters remove more contaminants at the best value
• Filters water under pressure over more than two million square feet of material
• At only 10¢/gal. on Water for Life, Aquasana is less expensive than pitcher filters
• Aquasana is less expensive than pitcher filters

For several years I was a very satisfied owner of the Aquasana under the counter filter system. The filters would last about five months until the water flow devolved into a trickle and needed to be replaced. At some point in 2011 Aquasana changed the filter design and the new filters clogged up after just a few weeks. I contacted the company and was told they had a problem with the glue used in the filters in one batch and they''d replace my filters for the cost of shipping. Fine. Well, the same thing happened again. Contacting the company once more I was told the filters had a new design and a pre-filter was now required. They shipped me the pre-filter. Once again, after about six weeks (and a 2nd pre-filter) water flow is virtually non-existent!

ENOUGH! I am done with Aquasana as I refuse to pay $50 every six weeks AND deal with the hassles of changing filters and pre-filters so often. What a shame. They''ve ruined what used to be an excellent system. If anyone knows of a system that actually works, please advise.

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These filters definitely work. However, we have to replace ours much more frequently than the suggested rate. The water stream slows significantly after about a month, and they never last two months. That adds up: The replacements are $60. Keep that in mind.

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I''ve been using this water filter system for drinking & shower purpose for last 4 yrs. Very happy with the results but the cartridge change procedure could be easier. I am bit scared to use the tools since its made of plastic. And with bare hands to loosen and after replacing cartridges tighten it again with the sharp plastic edges of the bottom of filter system(over the counter system), is quite pain. I wish they could redesign it for ease of replacing the cartridges.

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Great tasting water but filters only last about 3 months. And I use only about 1 gallon a day.

Also check out the comments section of the reviewers.

aeu wrote. Anyone notice that 5 of these comments were made on or around the same day? Each has one grammatical/spelling mistake and mindless non-sequitors. Looks like a shill pumping up the rating to me.

I TOTALLY AGREE.

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Live in the Caribbean and bought this filter to use as cooking water. The water here has a lot of clorine. Had the water tested and it came out perfect so I''m creating a system to hook this up to the water/icemaker of our GE refrigerator.

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Blueair 603 HepaSilent Air-Purification System

This was a really expensive purchase for us, but we felt we really needed it. We just moved and found out that the previous owners had multiple pets. We didn''t notice how bad it was till after we moved in and I suffered several asthma attacks in our bedroom. We found pet hair, dander and urine in the carpets and had to rip out some of them. I put this purifier in our bedroom and it seems to be helping quite a bit.

We also painted the kitchen and closets and stuck it in there over night to clear out the smells. You absolutely couldn''t smell a thing the next day!

Bought the smaller bluair for our new grandaughters room in Denver slight difference in the perception of the cleanliness of the air in the room, but the most noticeable difference was the lack of ANY dust accumulation on any of the surfaces in the room for months at a time.

We live in the forest at 9000 feet elevation in the Rockies, so there is not much pollution here but my better half despises dusting the house, so I bought the big unit to see if it would help with dusting at home. Now I will be purchasing two more units for the other two floors of our house.

Noisy on high speeds, but we run ours 24/7 on low speed and it does the job.

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Bought this for my hubby who really doesn''t like the noise of air cleaners. However, he now has COPD, and he''s now willing to have an air cleaner in the living room. As everyone says, on the first 2 speeds you can barely hear it. We actually use it on the 3rd speed. You can hear it, but it''s still a very mild hummm and doesn''t interfere with the TV. It''s helped my hubby''s cough a lot. I have other air cleaners, and this one is definitely remarkably quiet in comparison. I bought the open box one and got a heck of a deal.

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I did a bit of research, and went with this product. I could not be happier. I bought this out of desperation for a pet I love, recently diagnosed with Asthma. It was severe with 2-3 attacks a day. With the pet being only 8 years old, putting him to sleep was not an option as between attacks he was quite happy and functional. It was just that the vet stated any given attack could be fatal. After running this product for a week on the lowest setting, which is silent, he went down to 2 attacks a week. After two weeks 0 to 1 a week. This is not a coincidence, this is what has happened and I will never regret buying this product. It works, is attractive, easy to change filters when the time comes, covers a large area and does what it claims.

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I am highly allergic to animal dander and I have two dogs so I bought this air purifier and I leave it running 24/7. Its incredibly quiet and does an awesome job cleaning the air. I was so happy with it, that I bought a second one.

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Everpure EV9000-86 Designer Series Hot/Cold Drinking Water Faucet Save 26% Off

• Sleek lead-free, dual handle design
• Spring loaded hot shut off valve safety feature
• Insulated heat-resistant spout
• Aerator tip provides even, clear stream of filtered water
• 0.5 GPM flow

I purchased one of these and installed it. Construction quality appears to be good. The arched faucet top turns easily but isn''t firm, it wobbles a little, this appears to be part of the design. The faucet tube is well insulated so it doesn''t get hot when you are running the hot water, a nice feature. My one complaint is that the faucet sputters (not a steady stream) when aerator screen is in place. This is fairly dangerous when there is 200 degree water coming out and it is spattering all over and spitting up from the edges of the outlet. I removed the aerator screen and everything works well.

Of note, the mounting hole is 1" not 1-3/8" so plan accordingly. If you didn''t the escutcheon will cover the larger hole so you can get by. The hot in tube is 6 mm and the cold in tube is 1/4", pretty standard for these systems. Mounting was easy and the seal to the counter is an o-ring so it should be good.

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This faucet looded great when initially installed in November 2007. I purchased the brushed stainless steel version. After about 1-2 years it started to rust and pit. Also, it has always tended to drip even after stuting off several times. Initially I thought I had a defective one so I complained to Everpure and a distributor replaced with a new one. Unfortunately the same thing heppens on the new one replacement). Another thing to note is that the handles tend to become loose and wiggle around. I have to tighten them regularly.

I still have it in use today and I put up with the dripping because I like the way it matches my other faucets in the kitchen.

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KRUPS XP1500 Coffee Maker and Espresso Machine Combination Save 50% Off

I am a self-confessed coffee junkie. With or w/o the caffeine (pregnancy and such) I love the taste; and the taste of the coffee that I''ve brewed with this machine was great. Loved it, loved it, loved it. The machine was easy to use and looked pretty darn cool sitting there on my counter. The only issue that i have is that the espresso side seems to need some encouragement. The knobs need to be fiddled with a bit in order to get the espresso to start dripping (even after 10 minutes during a holiday party full of thirsty coffee drinkers). Thought that was just b/c my machine was so new, but it''s been doing that ever since the first use. Still, it''s not terribly difficult, and the coffee is oh-so-yummy!

If you want to make espresso like you''ll pay $2.00/shot at a coffee house, this machine isn''t for you. If you want a coffee pot/espresso combo in the $100 range, you will get the best value with this combo. I can make a very good latte with it, and a fairly decent shot of espresso -and very good coffee. The negative reviews I''ve read seem to be from two types: 1) Those who really need to spend more to get a beautiful golden crema-topped shot of espresso. I understand, but it can''t be had for this price. 2) Those who don''t know how to use it properly.

For a latte, you''ll need to have finely ground espresso, a stainless steel frothing pitcher, and cold milk (2% or non-fat work best). Remove the rubber end to the frothing nozzle -I never use it, and that may be one of the problems other reviewers have. Follow the instructions in the manual to fill your water reservoir and your espresso filter. Fill your frothing pitcher no more than halfway with milk. Turn the dial on the left to the "cup" setting, and as soon as your first drop of espresso falls, switch the dial to the frothing setting, and start frothing your milk. Keep the nozzle low in the pitcher, just heating -not frothing. Hold the pitcher in your hand and keep heating the milk until the pitcher is just about too hot to hold -(or you could buy a thermometer, but this works just as well, and for the price-conscious does the trick), then move the pitcher lower, letting the nozzle just skimming along the top of the milk. This will start your foam growing, and it will not take long before your pitcher is about to overflow. At that point, switch the dial back to the "cup" setting, and your espresso shot will fall. When all is done, pour your shot of espresso in a cup, add the milk, top with the foam, and add a little cocoa powder or cinnamon or your choice -and maybe even a drop or two of vanilla extract. You''re good to go. A delicious latte, at an extremely low price.

(I explained the above because the instructions in the manual are not that good, and I don''t have the time to build a how-to video. I hope it was helpful.)

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We love this machine. We have limited space and need to have both a coffee maker and a cappucino maker in that space. We have had none of the difficulties that others mention. But we did take the black plastic sleeve off of the frother and that has made a huge difference. With it on we got bubbles. Now we get great froth. And if we pack the espresso well we get an excellent crema. It is a $100 machine that makes both coffee and espresso. It is not going to be like a $1000 Starbucks machine. We set our expectations appropriately and were delighted.

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My wife doesn''t drink coffee, so it is appropriate to say "I" received the XP1500 as a wedding gift. Like others, the SECOND TIME I made espresso, the handle cracked on the espresso grounds holder from the normal pressure of turning it into place. Customer service assured me that they could do nothing unless I had the receipt. This was two years ago, and the machine was a brand new item, so there should have been no question to the age of the machine for warranty purposes, but I had no receipt since it was a wedding gift. They wouldn''t even pay the shipping for a new holder. In short, they wouldn''t budge, and if I wanted a new grounds holder, I would have to pay full cost to do so. So I kept it, being very careful over the last couple of years to not turn it too hard. Today, it broke further, rendering it useless. To be fair, I have tried to make espresso and cappucino many times, but I have never been able to get a truly good cup from this machine.

Other problems: the frother is too low. You need to angle the milk cup too much to be useful. A half cup of cold milk will turn into a counter full of frothed milk when it''s done.

You''re better off researching all products and choosing one that is made with better materials, has better reveiws for the quality of the resultant coffee, and going with a company that has BETTER CUSTOMER SUPPORT. There''s a reason that "customers who purchased this product also purchased..." "...REPLACEMENT ITEMS!!!"

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We replaced a Krup coffee/espresso combo which we purchased about 12 years ago. What a wonderful machine! Unfortunately, this model was no longer available. The model #985 was the recommended replacement. However, it doesn''t even come close.

1) The basket for the coffee filter is too small in diameter for the filter, causeing grounds to fall into the brew. The basket also leaks, giving you a countertop lake to start your morning.

2) The espresso is okay provided you don''t want a cappuccino. The froth attachment is so low and it is difficult to get the milk pitcher under the spigot. The milk froths very quickly, and your container is overflowing with foam while the milk is still cold. It''s okay only if you froth enough milk for 1, maybe 2 shots, but if you need milk for the full pot (4 shots), you''ll need to froth milk one-half at a time.

The pot is will soon be available for sale at our local Goodwill.

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Watts 500315 Counter-Top Drinking Water Filter Save 13% Off

• Reduces chlorine taste and odor, sand, silt, sediment, and rust
• Portable; operates by use of a diverter valve attached to the main sink faucet
• Fits on to small areas on the counter top
• Meets all plumbing codes
• Accepts all standard 10-inch replacement filter elements

This water filter is nice and VERY Easy to Install!! as for the hard to open I bought the

Watts wr-100 water filter wrench here on Amazon for 7.54 it opens ver easy with the correct tool.

The water taste very good and Clean!! I bought this for my son who lives in L.A. for $29.00

you can not beat the price and the cost of replacement filter at $10.00 what a deal!!!

I paid over $1.200.00 for the AQ-500 water ionzer. and after a year it clogged up on me.

it is under warranty but for the price!! the AQ water does taste better

but not by much for the price. as for the Health benifits of ionzed water Have yet to see it!

If I had to do it over again I would save the 1,150.00 and just buy this unit!!.

I still might buy one as a back-up for my own house!!

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THE GOOD

Just moved to a new town. Anywhere else around the area, my Britta would clean up the taste of bad water, but not here. Here it''s SO chlorinated, I needed something better.

After a lot of reading and research I was down to the Filtrete Under-the-counter unit and this unit. The Filtrete pro sounded like it had a strong flow and filtered down to .5, but after looking at it closer, it would be just my luck to have a connector pop out and cause water damage without me around. So, I decided on this.

I had it connected in under 5 minutes. I just needed a pair of pliers to loosen the faucet part which needed to be removed. The unit came with a needed adapter which worked perfect. I turned it on and after letting it run for a few minutes, I tried the water. AWESOME!!! Clorine smell and taste was GONE!

This thing works, and works well and I don''t have to worry about broken lines under the sink. The water flow remains good through the unit as well. I can also find many options in replacement filters because of its standard size. I love the quality and functionality of this unit.

THE BAD.

The problem was, upon closer inspection, there was a small bead of water coming from the units water output. At the bottom of the metal output piece (Which you can just pull out) there are 2 small, round O-rings, and one was pertruding. It was cracked, so only one O-ring was ok, and when I moved the water output, it beaded up.

I called the "Manufacturer", which sounds like it isn''t REALLY the manufacture, but a distributor, and was told they don''t have any parts, they get the unit assembled. The parts they DO carry they said, are all given to Amazon. SO.... they told me I should pack it back up, and send it back to Amazon.

What?!? I am suppose to ship the whole unit back, at MY expense, and have another unit sent, when a 5 cent part could be mailed out to me for the cost of a stamp. RIDICULOUS!!! Not too bright, or environmentally friendly. This is the problem with buying some things over the internet, from a place without a local retail outlet, but to save, we gamble...

Now I either ship it back, hunt online or drive to local hardware stores and look for something that COULD work as a replacement. Grrrrr.....

I finally went to Home Depot and found that they carried a package of #47 O-rings for a couple bucks that fit fine. All better now.

THE UGLY

This Item is Ugly as sin. It reminds me of my pool filter. I am going to make or find something to cover it.

OVERALL

For this price, it''s an AWESOME deal!!!

*** UPDATE 07-06-2012 ***

WOW time flies. I have had this filter now almost 3 years. It was used constantly for over a year, until I moved out of that City (YAY!!!). It then sat for about 6 months before I decided to hooked it up at my new place, so I wanted to open it to replace the filter.

I was expecting the worst. First, it''s not at all easy to open. I tried tapping it open with a hammer and a screw driver, on the bottom. I tried holding it between my legs and twisting hard. All attempts made me look silly. I eventually bought a cheapo Car Oil Filter changer wrench? at about $5.00, which worked perfectly. This, along with another pair of hands made it fairly easy to loosen.

When I opened it, I was surprised. It wasn''t as bad as I had thought it would be. After a year or more of use, and then sitting for 6 months, it was hardly dirty. I was expecting something that looked like the insides of an old Barroom Ice Maker, but it wasn''t even close. I ended up tossing the old filter, which still looked hardly used. This in itself was amazing, considering how gross tasting and smelling Fitchburg''s water was. The inside did show a little build up, and with its structural design, it had many nooks and crannies that needed cleaning out. I tried soap alone, but eventually I used a small screwdriver and paper towels to clean out the tough spots.

I already had purchased a Level 2. 10 Inch replacement filter for it, but I ended up stealing a piece of rubber off the old filter to make it fit snug. It went back together easily and in about 5 minutes of running it was as good as the first day I tasted it.

I just wish it wasn''t SOOO Ugly. I had an idea when I first got it, to hide it''s looks. I wanted to make a cover for it out of something waterproof and medium grey. Then I wanted to add big white eyes with black pupils and Large Dark Grey ears. That way it would look like an elephant. Maybe it would even make the kids drink more water? :)

Anyway, the way this thing is built, it should last generations. There are still things for sale out there well worth the cost, and this is one of them. And who-ever builds my Idea, I want the first (or second) one...

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This unit is just what one would expect. There''s nothing fancy here, just a good solid unit. Installation was easy. The unit came with a couple adapters so that it should fit most faucets. No tools were required to hook it up. The diverter valve is a little nicer than I''ve seen on some units.

The only downside is a trait which is shared with all counter-top filters and that is that it takes countertop space and can be knocked over if one is careless.

For the price and Amazon free shipping, I''d be hard-presed to find a better unit.

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I received this item and connected to faucet....water is coming out all around connection...not where it is suppose to come out!!!!! I called the company to see what to do, the woman I spoke with was trying to help me but when she realized this was an item from Amazon.com she couldn''t help me!! She transferred me to someone else, I just got a voicemail....I left a long detailed message but have yet to hear back from anyone, this was 5 days ago! I will try again next week to see if I can get this resolved before returning this item. Hopefully I will have better info next week and will write another review.

********

Tried several more times to call Watts (they never returned my call). Each time I called I would get put on hold for 15-20 minutes and was never able to talk to anyone about problem with unit..so I have returned item. Really was hoping to resolve this, I live in the country and on well water....guess I will continue to purchase bottled water!

:( ........

**********

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I read all the wonderful reviews and for its price it was a terrific choice ...at first. It''s very easy to install but after 6 months of use the water diverter valve no longer snaps back into place. But that''s minor.

Now after 6 months is time for the replacement filter. The wrench that''s needed to open the canister was not provided. Based on other recent reviews there''s no way to get it from Watts either. We don''t have a monkey wrench at home that''s large enough to fit around the entire canister.

I gave it a one-star because a good water filter shouldn''t be this difficult to replace a simple filter.

Either way I''m very disappointed that I now have to replace the entire unit after just 6 months of use.

Sidenote: I looked on the Watts website in Nov. 2009 and they still offered support for this unit. I looked in Jan. 2010 they no longer list this unit on their website. I wonder why?

+++++++++++

Update: March 5, 2013 Just an update, I purchased another water filter system "Purenex SS-1 Countertop Water Filter, Chrome" (back in January 2010) and it came with a wrench. We tried to use that wrench to open the Watts water filter because it''s about the same size. Unfortunately, it still wouldn''t open.

The wrench opened the Purenex water filter without any problems. We''ve had the Purenex since January 2010 and it opens fine. Nothing like the unopenable Watts system. If we truly wanted to open the Watts system we probably would have cracked the chrome casing while trying. Either way no water filter system should be this difficult to open.

Of course this was all back in 2009/2010.

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Jelmar #BK-2000 26OZ Clear Bath Cleaner EACH Save 17% Off

We have very hard water and even using a whole house water filter and a water softener, we still end up with deposits in our toilets. I bought this CLR Bath and Kitchen cleaner because it says "Quickly cuts through calcium, lime and hard water deposists, soap scum, dulling film and dirt". It doesn''t do anything. I sprayed into one of our toilets and it foamed. Then after letting it sit awhile, I brushed it, stains were still there. I have better luck using plain bleach. Perhaps the bottle that I bought just had water in it. I''m going to take it back to the store and get my money back. I have found that CLR products have always been way over-hyped and have never performed as advertised.

I had a ton of soap stains in the bath room. I thought this thing would be a miracle worker but it works just okay! I would say its no better than lysol in the Kitchen and Bath for the heavy price tag I would probably not buy this product again!

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Works great in removing the scale buildups. With thick scales I had to apply it multiple times and let is soak for a while.

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Had a lot of stains in the bath tub.Spayed clr on and let sit for about 15 mins.Then scrubbed with a brush. The stains came out pretty good.One more treatment should do it. I was surprised at the price amazon was advertising clr for.I found this bottle at lowes for $4.48.

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After seeing all of the commercials I splurged and purchased CLR for water spots on my bathroom shower door. This product did not work at all. All it seemed to do is dry out my hands and stink up the bathroom I used half the bottle and scrubbed let it sit no diffrence.

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Lime-A-Way Toilet Bowl Cleaner 12 pack of the 16 oz bottles

I have two old American Standard toilets (one from the 1950''s and the othe from the 1960''s have 1 1/2 baths). We have considerable mineral deposits in our water here in Virginia. My main bath toilet was not flushing properly (water flush would come right up to the top of the rim) because of all the accumulated lime deposits. It had never been cleaned for lime in all the years I had lived in the house (since the 70''s). I went on the internet and found this product. I drained the bowl and poured in enought of this (straight with no mixing) so the complete bottom of the bowl was covered and left stand overnight. I flushed the next morning and some of the lime had been dissolved. I next did the same application the next night with CLR. It got a little better. Did the Lime-A-Way for two more nights. Guess whet it dissolved completely all the lime. And for the first time I can see the porcelain in the bottom of the bowl. Now the toilet flushes perfectly. The plumber said that I was not getting enought water flow to flush the toilet. What a product. I had so much deposits that it took four applications to remove-the deposits had completely covered the bottom of the bowl and clogged the water inlet. But, it is worth it. I also used it on my other toilet in the 1/2 bath and left that overnight also, and it cleaned that out in the same manner. What a wonderful product!!! I wouod highly recommend this product. I bought it from Amazon as none of the stores here carried it. Now both toilets work perfectly.

This is a great toilet cleaner. There was a stain in the toilet when I moved into my new apartment. I used two different toilet cleaners, but none of them worked. I though I would just have to live with the stain, that is, until I tried Lime-A-Way. Not only did the stain completely come up, but Lime A-way destroyed all sorts of other dirt hidden under the toilet rim that the other cleaners had missed.

Highly recommended for a tough toilet stain!

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This product is fantastic! I had a very difficult mineral deposit ring around my toilet. I tried everything, all different types of cleaners and even steel wool with no luck. One try with this product took everything away instantly and now my toilet looks brand new again. Highly recommended!

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This cleaner is great. I used to use Clorox Toilet Cleaner with Bleach, but this is a superior product. I have hard water that often leaves rust and lime deposits. This cleaner takes care of the job. I cannot find it in local stores, but it is readily available online. One word of caution it is very powerful. Make sure that the window is open or that you are cleaning in a well-ventilated space.

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I have never before found a bowl cleaner that worked so well. I moved into my house and could not get the lime out from under the rim of a really old toilet. I applied Lime-A-Way and most of the lime was gone that first time even before I tried to scrub the rest away. Only a couple of applications and my toilet is as good as new.

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Sprite HO-WH-M Universal Shower Filter and 3 Setting Shower Head Save 35% Off

• Shower Chlorine-Free
• Softer Hair and Smoother Skin
• Breathe Easier and Healthier
• High Capacity Filter Including Massaging Shower Head
• Reversible Filter Cartridge model HOC

I also live in the DC area, and it''s funny to me how many of the reviews are from DC people. My problem was a little different. There''s a lot of iron, or iron bacteria in the water. It was staining my bathroom pink/red. Condensation would build up on the bathroom walls from the shower, and then red streaks would run down. It looked like the Amityville horror house! Also, the bathroom seemed particularly prone to mold, which required a lot of diligent cleaning.

I wasn''t sure if this shower filter could solve problems like this, but I figured for $40 it would be worth it to not have to clean the bathroom constantly. (also it was kind of embarrassing to have guests over). Well, sure enough it stopped the red buildup. What I wasn''t expecting was it also stopped the mold in it''s tracks. I guess their was something in the water feeding it? I don''t really know. With the filter you''re supposed to turn it over after 6 months, and then after a year replace it. Well, for me it only lasted a total of 6 months, but I think that might be because I have such terrible water quality. It''s still absolutely worth it and I highly recommend!

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Sprite High Output KDF Chlorine Massaging Shower Head and Filter

This fitler works great. It has made a big difference to our skin and hair, and so I am sure our overall health as well. I have one in each shower in my house.

However, after only two months the nut which joins the shower head to the filter unit broke on both. I contacted the seller who asked me to send them to him to see. I did all the way from Oregon to Rhode Is. at my expense. He looked at it and told me I must have smashed it somehow and that was that. All I asked was for a new shower head, as the filter was fine. I not only had to spend my own money to send the item back, but I then had to go out and buy new shower heads! I was very unhappy and so I cannot recommended buying from this seller.

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Same here, doubted it would work but wanted to try and bought a set of cholrine test strips along with it to check. Anyway, this actually does work!

The showerhead arrived even before the test strips and I could already breathe the difference in my bathroom, and started to be a believer.

After checking the results carefully though, I determined that it works very well for free chlorine, but NOT well for or in the presence of chloramines.

If you have high chloramine content, this isn''t ideal for you. Vitashower is better in that case (no it''s not a scam vitamins really are used for real dechlorination, look it up online).

Even if you have chloramines and it doesn''t remove everything, it does make the water feel better, so whatever else it is doing to the water feels good.

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-SHORT STORY... IF YOU''RE IN A HURRY --

The short story is that I''ve been using these filters for over 15 years and have no issues with them. I don''t shower in chlorinated water without one of these installed. I take mine all over the world for this reason (I am an avid traveller).

In my experience this product works well. No complaints. What''s more, my brother who has eczema finds his skin is 100% better when he uses these filters (I loaned him one and he wouldn''t give it back!). His skin clears up when he uses this filter.

Below is my full review which will interest you if you wish to learn more about these fiters, and surrounding issues with shower water, their usage, etc.

--THE CHLORINE ISSUE--

Chlorine is a known carcinogen. A little research on Google and PubMed will reveal that to you. If you''re checking out this product, you most likely already know that chlorine is toxic.

It is estimated that about 80% of the chlorine the average person takes in from water is via showing. So those people avoiding chlorine in their drinking water for health reasons would be wise to use a shower filter.

I''ve been using the Sprint filter for over 15 years (not the same one!! They last a long time, but not that long!! I wish).

I am very sensitive to chlorine. I can''t shower, for instance, in places like L.A. because they bathroom soon smells like a gas chamber to my sensitive nose.

This filter does not remove the chorine. Rather it binds the chlorine at an ionic level and effectively neutralises it.

--ABOUT KDF & CHLORGON FILTER MEDIA-(pasted from a website about KDF)

Kinetic Degradation Fluxion (KDF) is a high-purity copper-zinc formulation that uses a basic chemical process known as redox (oxidation/reduction) to remove chlorine, lead, mercury, iron, and hydrogen sulfide from water supplies. The process also has a mild anti-bacterial, algaecitic, and fungicitic, effect and may reduce the accumulation of lime scale. The KDF redox process works by exchanging electrons with contaminants. This "give and take" of electrons converts many contaminants into harmless components. During this reaction, electrons are transferred between molecules, and new compounds are created. Some harmful contaminants are changed into harmless components. Free chlorine, for instance, is changed into benign, water-soluble chloride salt, which is then carried harmlessly through the water supply. Many heavy metals such as copper, lead, mercury and others, react and bond with the KDF medium''s surface, thus being effectively removed from the water supply.

KDF process media will reduce or remove chlorine, iron, hydrogen sulfide, lead, mercury, magnesium, and chromium, and may inhibit the growth of bacteria, algae, and fungi. Redox media remove up to 98% of water-soluble cations (positively-charged ions) of lead, mercury, copper, nickel, chromium, and other dissolved metals. While removal rates depend on a number of factors, more than 98% of chlorine is removed by KDF in home water treatment systems (90% in shower water filters due to high flow rate).

With Sprite filters a substance called Chlorgon is also included in the KDF media, to increase the temperature range for effective chlorine removal.

--THE BENEFITS I NOTICE--

This shower filter from Sprite Industries makes a very noticeable difference to the levels of chlorine (and related toxic gases, such as chloroform) in the bathroom atmosphere. I got my first one 12 years ago when I moved to a town in New Zealand that was having issues with farm animal run-off getting into their water supply. They temporary solution was to greatly increase the level of chlorine treatment in the water. The water smelt so strong just washing my hands was a complete turn-off. I installed one of these filters and the problem was solved. No more toxic chlorine smell when showering.

I travel a lot and I take one of these filters with me every where. I install it where ever I go and need use a shower. It is usually very easy to remove the existing shower-head by hand, and screw this one on. I don''t find that plumbing tape is necessary.

My hair is nicer when I use filter water, and needs washing less often.

My skin does not get dry when I use filtered water. Otherwise I tend to get dryness on my shins, elbows, knees, and face. I don''t experience this when using this filter for my showers.

My brother has very sensitive skin. He tends to get eczema. His skin easily gets red, thin, broken, and itchy. This problems essentially went away after I gave him one of these shower filters. He couldn''t believe he had suffered so much for so many years, and the answer was so cheap and simple.

--TIPS and TRICKS--

Many modern showers have a hose that goes from the wall to a shower head that sits in an adjustable bracket. The idea being that you can lift it off the bracket by hand and shower any way you like. Usually, however, where the hose screws into the fitting on the wall is too close to the wall for the shower filter to screw in. What you can do is screw the hand piece off of the other end of the hose and put the filter on between the hose end and the hand-piece. Due to the way the threads go, the filter will be around the opposite way from usual, which is fine as the filter is bi-directional.

This trick also works well if the shower is above a bath tub and you wish to have a chlorine-free bath. You can install the filter as described above, but just leave off the shower head (or take it off) when you want a bath. The shower hose can dangle down into the bath tube and fill it (assuming it is fitter at a low enough height, which they usually are).

If you are going to take this filter with you travelling I recommend taking a small adjustable spanner/wrench or vice-grip with you. I''ve sometimes come across shower heads that I can not remove with my bare hands. Trying to find a wrench in the moment can be next to impossible, or at least a nuisance. One like this one should do the trick: Vice Grip 4WR 4-Inch Curved Jaw Locking Pliers with Wire Cutter or Crescent Adjustable Wrench 4 Inch (I am assuming that''ll open wide enough. I personally use a Vice-grip as it well even if the shower fitting nut has a rounded style to it.

--ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS--

I''ve been so happy with the performance of the Sprite filters, that I''ve never had the inclination to try any other brand or type. I have researched all the major kinds out there, and none convinced me to change. The Sprite was the most cost effective, and gets rated as having excellent results.

In recent months I have since looked at other shower filters on the market. The alternatives which stand out are the Aquasana AQ-4100 Deluxe Shower Water Filter System with Adjustable Showerhead and the Rainshow''r KDF Shower Filter With Massage Shower Head. Both are more expensive than the Sprite, and both can only be purchased with a shower head included (as far as I can tell). These other filters cost a lot more. Just the replacement cartridge for the Aquasana can be $40+. Are they any better? I can''t really say, as I have not used anything but the Sprite, but certainly worth looking into.

-DO YOU NEED THE SHOWER HEAD ALSO? SOMETHING TO CONSIDER --

The product you are looking at comes with a filter PLUS a high efficiency shower head.

The advantage of getting the shower head option (the product you are looking at) is that if you travel you may find where it is useful to have the filter AND the shower head. I find it has better output than many of the shower heads I come across. This is especially noticeable if the water pressure is relatively low, in which case the high efficiency shower head will make it seem like the pressure is MUCH stronger. It''s also more environmentally friendly, because you will use less water when showering.

HOWEVER, if you only intend to use this filter in your house AND you already know you want to keep your EXISTING shower head, there is really no foreseeable reason to buy it with a shower head. You can buy it without the shower head here: Sprite HO-WH High Output White Shower Filter, Polished White, Chrome, Gold

STILL NOT SURE? At the time I am writing this, the price difference is minimal (less than $5), so if you think these is ANY chance you might need or want the high efficiency shower head then I''d suggest you go ahead and get it.

--THE CARTRIDGES--

I find that the filter cartridge lasts me much longer than a year because it is just me and my partner using it, and my showers are relatively short and only every second day or so. They can last me for a couple of years before I notice the chlorine smell returning. Replacement cartridges are relatively cheap. Here''s an example: Sprite Filter Cartridge Replacement Model HOC For High-Output Filter Heads -just $13.56 plus free Prime shipping at the time I am writing this.

--WATER PRESSURE?--

In my experience, having used this on MANY showers around the world (I travel with on), this filter does not create any noticeable change in water pressure.

TIP: If the water pressure is very high, it is advisable to actually not put the shower pressure on full. If the pressure is too high you will get decreased performance from this (and any other) shower filter. Set the pressure at a level that is still enjoyable, but not blasting out -if you wish to maximise the amount of chlorine removal.

--FOUR STARS, ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT--

I gave have left one star off of this review simply because this product has not changed in the past 12 years and I think there is room for improvement. The most notable would be to include a convenient way to record on the filter when it was installed, and thus when it "might" need to be replaced. Better, would be a small built-in (resettable) flow meter or some way to indicate when it needs to be replaced. I realise, however, such an innovation may increase the price, but it would also ensure we get maximum usage of the filter, and minimum exposure to chlorine once it needs replacing.

--PATHOGENS, AN ISSUE ?? -(Added, in response to a question raised in the comments discussion on the review I wrote of this product WITHOUT the shower head)

One person raised concerns (in the comments) about this filter increasing pathogens in the water, based on the inaccurate idea that removing/rendering harmless the chlorine with KDF will result in a built up of pathogens in the shower head. This is a good point to address. Here is the information I shared in my reply:

Even if KDF did nothing to modify pathogen levels in the water, it is not going to directly result in an increase in such pathogens, as you have suggested. But, as it stands, KDF will actually kill most pathogens. Some manufacturers of carbon block drinking water filters will actually fill the central tube in these cylinder shaped filters with KDF granules. Partly because KDF helps with chlorine removal, etc., but ALSO because it will greatly increase the usable life-span of the carbon filter. A major issue issue with carbon filters for drinking water is that over time they can become a breeding ground of bacteria and pathogens, potentially making the water worse (from a pathogenic perspective) rather than better. Inclusion of KDF in the filter helps prevent or eliminate this issue.

Something I did not point out in my review is that KDF media will also kill bacteria, fungi, virus, etc. It will also reduce heavy metals (not really an issue for showering), and will also reduce hydrogen sulfide (usually harmless even for drinking, but is what gives some water sources a slight rotten egg smell).

Here''s a blurb on KDF from one of the manufactures of this material:

"KDF process media work to reduce or remove chlorine, iron, hydrogen sulfide, lead, mercury, calcium carbonate, magnesium, chromium, bacteria, algae, and fungi.

KDF media exchange electrons with contaminants, changing them into harmless components. During their reactions, electrons are transferred between molecules and new elements are created."

"KDF media control the build-up of bacteria, algae and fungi in organic based media such as GAC filters and in-line carbon filters, extending the life of the carbon as well as protecting downstream RO membranes and ion exchange resins form fouling.

KDF process media kill bacteria by direct electrochemical contact and by the flash formation of hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide, both of which interfere with a microorganism''s ability to function."

---

I trust this clears up any confusion about this.

A friend of mine in Colorado wrote a book many years ago called Don''t Drink The Water (without reading this book): The essential Guide to Our Contaminated Drinking Water and What You Can Do About It. I highly recommend reading it. He was the one who put me onto KDF about 12 years ago. Although I''ve been using the Sprite filter since the mid 1990''s, but didn''t really understand the ins-and-outs of KDF and the role it place in the Sprite filter doing its job.

Happy showering!

Jonathan

Traditional Naturopath, and author of Peace, Power, and Presence: A guide to Self Empowerment, Inner Peace, and Spiritual Enlightenment

>> To see more reviews on holistic books, super-foods, nutritional products, and other healthy-living and self-health products, check out my Amazon profile page.

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We moved out of the subs into the woods with a nasty smelling, high iron well water -- UGH

Even turning up the water softner to different levels, using rust removal salt, our water was awful.

My hair was flat and dull, my skin was dry and flaky, and if the water got in my eyes it burned.

And ewwwww... that smell.

I purchased a filter shower head and my shower was still turning orange and the water still smelled bad.

So I installed the Sprite shower head with filter, and noticed a difference right away.

All my issues were solved. Works so well with my funky well water.

Highly recommend this product, easy to install, no issues with water pressure and it works !!

The only complaint that I would have is that it makes the shower head much lower and you kind of have to play with adjusting the position to get it right.

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J.R. Watkins: Sink Set 2pc Save 24% Off

I purchased this because I liked the scent of the Aloe and Green Tea Hand Soap. What was I thinking to assume that the lotion would smell like the soap....??? Not.. Dare I say the lotion stinks... I will not purchase the set again, only the hand soap..

I really ordered this for the caddy to set on the kitchen counter. The caddy is really cheap and does not sit evenly. I already had the lotion and soap in the kitchen and in all the bathrooms. This is a really great brand of soap and lotion. I like all the different kinds, lemon, lavendar, orange. Just do not expect too much re the caddy.

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This set will fit perfectly in the guest bathroom of our home. The scent is light enough for various guests. A bit pricey though for the size...gggrrr...

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This powerhouse tandem soap & handlotion will blow your mind, and your senses. It''s not overpowering in any way. The soap is a mild soap, so there''s no drying of the skin no matter how many times a day you use it. When followed by the lotion, your hands become soft, and smell like lemon cookies, good enough to EAT! I''ve used many a soap/lotion combination, but none do what this combo does. The black metal caddy makes it look at home at any sink of your house. The only changes i would make would to be pack the soap a little better. It needs to stand up in the box, not lay down in it. I realize that is nearly impossible to keep the box in the right position during transit, but the right type of box would prevent the mess.

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The lemon smell is super. Without doubt. but the narrow shape of the bottles make it easy to tip over. Add to this that you have to remove the lotion to release the lid before using....kinda defeats the point of having a frame to keep it in. Would buy it again for the content, but will not buy as long as it is packaged in such an annoying shape.

Save 24% Off

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Essick Air 821-000 Digital Control Evaporative Console Humidifier

I''ve been using a large whole house or console humidifier for about 5 years. This is by far the easiest to refill out of any I have owned.

Pros-

Very Easy to refill No screw caps or tanks to carry.

Quiet in low mode

Large water reserve

Cons-

Lid is hard to get on right. Takes some time and patience, but you don''t have to take it off to refill the unit.

It is loud on the high setting.

Recently moved from New England to mid-Atlantic area. So although not as dry as the northeast, it gets dry when the temps go down. I hadn''t used it for 2 years but dragged it out of the attic when this December/January cold snap hit the D.C. area. It works as well as I remember.

Easy to fill. Just roll it over to the bathroom and use the handheld shower massager to fill it fast. You can also screw a hose adapter on to your kitchen sink and cut an old hose to 4 ft length to fill it really fast. I used a quick release adapter so I didn''t have to screw the hose on.

Holds 6 gallons and will dump 6 gallons in to the air over a 24 hour period, which is nice because I only have to fill it once a day (before bed usually). It''s nearly silent on low mode. Hygrometer is accurate and easy to set. I usually set it for 50 and it will shut off when the house gets to 55% (it''s a little off). Running it on high will dump a lot of moisture in the air quick. I just wouldn''t want to sit in the same room with it running on high.

I''ve had this one for at least 5 or 6 years and it''s reliable, easy to fill, great automatic function, runs long time. I gave up on the heat-type humidifiers and the ultrasonic. They are a pain in the butt compared to something like this (and won''t humidify an entire house).

Cleaning is a snap, about once a week you can just pour some humidifier cleaner in it and the anti-bacteria stuff, hit it with a sponge and rinse it out.

Automatic float function can be damaged if you''re not careful with it. It''s basically a foam block at the bottom with a piece of plastic going up to the float switch.

Oh one more thing...I''ve owned many humidifiers and always end up coming back to evaporation type humidifiers because they require the least amount of care. One thing to avoid...do not ever buy the type of evaporative humidifiers with the removable bottles (like the bigger BEMIS and Essick). I''ve owned a couple different of this bottle style and one thing is always certain, The bottles are a pain to fill, eventually leak, or come defective from the factory (holes on seams).

This console humidifier doesn''t have bottles. Just a big open container. It has wheels and is easy to roll. I highly recommend you get this style if you can roll your humidifier to a bathroom or kitchen. For kitchen, get a garden hose adapter and a 5ft length of hose, and you''ll fill it quick with no lifting. As I said before, I have a hand held shower nozzle in my bathroom next to the living room. I just roll this thing up to the tub and fill it with the hand held shower nozzle then roll it right back.

One more thing...since moving to D.C. the tank has stayed very clean after running 3 weeks pretty much non-stop. When in New England (also on town water there) I found it would crud up (brown gunk and sometimes mold) and the filter would gunk up quicker up there too. I suspect how much cleaning you have to do might be tied to the quality of your tap water. You could use distilled water but that would be a pain to buy, take home and fill.

Cleaning: I haven''t had to clean it yet (the tank) this winter. The rest could use some dusting (as you can see by my pics). I should probably use humidifier cleaner but I don''t. I bought Spray Nine cleaner (Home Depot as it and some hardware stores. I spray the whole interior tank, let it sit for ten minutes and rinse out in tub with hot water. Spray Nine is the best cleaner I''ve used and it will clean anything with a soak. Just make sure to rinse it really well with hot water so you don''t get foam when you fill the tank again. Oh and don''t clean it with the Spray Nine when the wick is in there or it will be foam city and you will have to throw out the wick.

I know this is a lengthy review, but there are so many crummy humidifiers on the market and this one is the best I''ve owned. I couldn''t quite make out from the package how the controls worked hence my detailed captioned pics and review. I hope this has helped you decide whether or not this is the unit for you.

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I had been searching for a humidifier (or humidifiers) for my 1900 SF house, and was excited when I came across this model, as it was compact and not ugly like the console humidifiers I have seen. Floor space in my house is somewhat limited, so I liked the fact that its upright design would allow flexibility in placement. Also, I''d had good luck with Bemis in the past (had two H12 console units, in black, which for some reason Bemis no longer offers), so I thought I''d give this a try. My intent was to order a second one if it worked well, since the output ratings on humidifiers are generally quite overstated and I knew I would need more capacity.

What a disappointment! The unit only has two speeds, and the high speed is LOUD. Now, I know that in order to put a lot of moisture in the air you have to have a pretty good fan blower, but this was ridiculous. Much louder than the H12 I''d had before. Also, the humidity setting only scrolls up, so you have to cycle all the way through to get back to the lowest setting. I guess that''s really more of a minor annoyance, but it was disappointing nonetheless.

But the real problem was that the unit just plain didn''t add moisture to the air. We left it running all night, and barely any water had evaporated by the next morning. In looking at the unit further, there is a major design flawunlike most humidifiers, which draw air into the unit through the wick (where it then picks up moisture), in this model the air is drawn in near the top, and also expelled at the top, while the wick is lower in the unit, so the majority of air just bypasses the wick.

I am returning this unit, and will have to bite the bullet and purchase another H12 console unit. I already own a Honeywell HCM-300T, but it''s only rated 3 gallons per day and used in my bedroom at night. I am waiting for it to "die" because I don''t like the fact that the cold air blows out of the BOTTOM of the unit, making an unpleasant draft on the floor. I did consider the Honeywell 6011i but don''t like the fact that it has two water bottles (less convenient), and also the air blows out the side rather than the top. Bemis will get my business after all, but I can''t believe they produced an inferior model like this.

UPDATEDecember 2012

Some of the comments suggested I hadn''t set up the unit properly, and disputed my description of the air flow. I purchased and returned the unit a long time ago, so it''s possible I missed something on the setupand the fact that it didn''t really add moisture to the air might point to that. However, the unit does not have any vents on the sides or lower down on the unityou can see that from the pictures. All of the air flow happens near the top of the unit, which logically would only dry out the top of the wick and would be a less efficient way of adding moisture to the air than if the air went through a greater portion of the wick. After I returned this unit, I purchased a Bemis/Essick H12 and a Kenmore 12 gallon unit (http://www.amazon.com/Kenmore-12-gal-Humidifier/dp/B001UFK9WI/ref=sr_1_12?s=appliances&ie=UTF8&qid=1356893546&sr=1-12&keywords=humidifier+12+gallon). Both of these units draw air through the entire wick and worked well for methough they, too, could be finicky in terms of placing the fan unit properly once refilled.

Ultimately, however, I ended up getting an Aprilaire whole house humidifier attached to my A/C ductwork (we have radiator heat). This solved all the hassles of console humidifiers for good!

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This humidifier is convenient to refill, easy to use. The problem is that the fan/motor rattles most of the time, and the noise is unbearable. The rattle persists on both low and high speeds. When the rattling stops, the sound is very tolerable, but the quiet does not last. Moving the unit from tile to linoleum made no difference. The Sears models are much quieter.

Another problem is that the filter was in place rather than in a sterile package, so it was dirty on arrival.

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I purchased this humidifier to replace a Lasko 1128 that had broken, and I''m in love.

First of all, no more holding awkward containers precisely under the tub''s water spigot--with this humidifier, just fill a bucket and pour it in--SO much easier!

The low speed is very quiet and still puts two to three gallons of water into the air daily. (The high speed is loud as people have said, but not any louder than the Lasko''s speeds 2 and 3. And the Laskos'' low speed was much noisier). On low, this humidifier keeps the room between 45 and 50%.

I like that this humidifier has a large reservoir to hold the water, so I could, in theory, skip a day in refilling it (Something I often did with the Lasko). I haven''t skipped a day though, because it is so easy to refill. Ah!

As to the other complaints, since I am always refilling it, I''m hoping not to run into problems with the shut-off. The "set the humidity you want" button does only scroll up--but who cares? You set it once and leave it (or, at least, I do...). The wick holder is very wimpy, as Nick has said. Overall, it''s still awesome because ease of use and performance are tops in my book.

Also Amazon got it to me in three days or something--crazy fast! Thanks, Amazon.

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