The AOS E2441 is a new top fill humidifier based on the principles of evaporation. In this system, the evaporator wick is saturated with the water in the water tank. The unit’s fan forces dry air in the room through the wet wick and releases the properly humidified air back into the room. Airflow through the unit permits an almost constant distribution of moisture. This is the only evaporation-based humidifier in our current offering of humidifiers.

With any new product offering, we check out the product in our store. I also tested this humidifier in my apartment. The air in my apartment is very dry which it makes it difficult to get a good night's sleep. During the winter months, I almost always wake up with my eyes stinging. I usually do not like to use a humidifier in my bedroom, because I am a very light sleeper. However, the AOS E2441 was surprisingly quiet. The simple operation of the fan did not keep me from falling asleep.

Probably, the best quality of this humidifier is how easy it is to fill up with water. You do not have to take the unit apart and fill it under the sink. You are able to fill a pitcher up with water and to take the water to the humidifier. The AOS E2441 claims to be the very first top-fill humidifier. There is a floating device that rises to the top of the unit when the tank is full. The float tip closes the opening as soon as the fill capacity is reached. One warning: be careful not to push on the float, because you will spill water out of the inner tank.

This new humidifier has a sleek design that minimizes its footprint in your bedroom or living area. The ability to fill the water in at the top of the unit and not have to wrangle with a water tank is a great feature. In short, the AOS E2441 combines simple, quiet operation with minimal energy use.

With the release of the new Miele S7 upright vacuum cleaners, our Miele experts have been fielding questions from fans about the benefits of the Miele canister vacuums versus the new upright vacuums. Traditionally, the distinction between canister vacuum cleaners and upright vacuum cleaners has been clear. There are a myriad of other factors to consider before purchasing a canister or upright, but we have generally recommended upright vacuum cleaners for consumers with more carpeting in their homes. Uprights generally work better on medium to deep pile carpeting. If you needed a cleaner for hard surfaces, we recommended a canister vacuum.

Miele’s introduction of the innovative S7 series has blurred the distinction between these two types of vacuum cleaners. In an attempt to bridge the gap between canisters and uprights, Miele canisters have been adapted to better handle all cleaning situations; at the same time, with the new S7, Miele has addressed the weaknesses of traditional uprights and has turned them into strengths. This article breaks down some of the differences between the Miele canisters and S7 uprights.

Everyday we receive e-mails with questions related to allergies, asthma, and our allergy relief products. Here is a question that we repeatedly are asked during the holiday season:

“I am considering getting a live Christmas tree, but I'm worried about my allergies. Is a Christmas tree safe for an allergy-friendly living room?”

During this time of year, many people begin to sniffle and to sneeze around Christmas trees. It can be so bad for allergy sufferers that they do not want to even decorate their living rooms. However, the tree generally is not the cause of these allergies. Instead, Christmas trees are prime areas for the accumulation of allergens like dust and mold spores.

Mold is a frequent culprit. Many Christmas trees are cut several months before December 25th. These trees usually are left outside in the winter rain. A wet tree left outside is an ideal breeding ground for mold spores.

Artificial trees have their own set of issues. Depending on how they are stored during the rest of the year, artificial trees will collect dust and mold. Dark garages, dusty attics, and damp basements are not good places for allergy sufferers or their Christmas trees. The porous surface of an artificial tree will bring all of these allergens into the home.

Here are two tips to dramatically reduce the allergens on either type of Christmas tree. If you use a live tree, shake it out thoroughly. Let the tree dry out for a few days before you bring it indoors. Secondly, if you are installing an artificial tree in the house, make sure to dust and clean it thoroughly with M-1 Sure Cote Mold and Mildew Resistant Sealant. When you store the artificial tree for the year, make sure that it is kept clean and dry.

Holiday decorating can cause all kinds of allergy flare-ups. Decorations stored in attics and basements can be covered in dust, mold spores, or dust mite allergens. Wash your hands thoroughly after unpacking them; and clean the decorations thoroughly before putting them up in your living space. Following these tips will help you breathe better and allow you to enjoy the holiday festivities.

The Christmas holiday season has many traditions that people follow like hanging stockings on the mantle, decorating a Christmas tree, leaving cookies out for Santa Claus, singing carols, etc. One of the best traditions is the Holiday Party. It is barely two weeks into December and I already have been to four of these social gatherings with friends, co-workers, and family. For most people, these are fun occasions to eat and drink to excess. However, for allergy sufferers and the parents of children with food allergies, the Holiday party scene can be a scary proposition. You must keep a careful eye for foods prepared with milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish , and shellfish.

I ran across this article from the web site for The Dallas Morning News. The short article, written by special contributor Kim Pierce, has some great tips on what party hosts can do to make their parties enjoyable for everyone in attendance.

We have all heard the saying, “If you build a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door.” This saying about innovation means that if you could improve a product that everyone uses, you would be able to make a fortune. The new Miele S7 vacuum cleaner is the better mousetrap of the upright vacuum cleaner marketplace. With its innovative features and improved styling, the new Miele S7 upright vacuum cleaner is threatening to take the U.S. vacuum market place by storm.

Most people like to use conventional upright vacuum cleaners; however, there is a basic flaw with the design of older uprights. The main problem or complaint is that the fixed wheels on conventional vacuums are designed to move in straight lines—backward and forward. Push, pull, push, pull, etc. You have to move behind the vacuum to maneuver it into proper cleaning position. Wasted motion and wasted time are big drawbacks in everyday use.

To solve that traditional movement problem, Miele’s team of engineers and designers has developed the Swivel-Neck body design. The body of the vacuum still is a one piece construction, but immediately above the vacuum head Miele has added a flexible swivel. By manipulating the handle with a turn of the wrist, the head will turn while the body is still moving forward. By combining the Swivel-Neck design with rotating front wheels, this innovative vacuum can make 90 degree turns.

How does the Swivel-Neck aid the user? This feature gives the user more mobility and flexibility when they are vacuuming. It allows for better turning and cornering around furniture. You can vacuum without having to move every piece of furniture. By allowing you to keep vacuuming and not constantly turning the machine on and off, you save time.

The new Miele S7 vacuums have the traditional look of an upright vacuum cleaner with the added convenience of improved movement. The Swivel-Neck design is just one of many new features that make the new Miele S7 one of the most innovative uprights in the industry.

This week USA Today launched an investigative report about toxic air in the environment around America’s schools. The newspaper used an Environmental Protection Agency model to examine the impact of industrial pollution on the air quality outside of over 100,000 schools in the United States. The special report is entitled the “Smokestack Effect.” One beneficial aspect of the report is that the web site gives the reader the ability to search for a specific school and see the results of the study for that school.

Scientists have known that kids are particularly susceptible to the dangers of breathing in harmful toxins and chemicals in the air. Kids, whose bodies are still growing and developing, breathe in more air in proportion to their body weight than adults do. Long term exposure during their time at school has a lasting impact. Some children develop asthma during adulthood that might be caused by early exposure to toxins.

Our company is focused on improving indoor air quality with air purifiers and other allergy relief products. We are concerned about the affects that pollution and other chemicals in the air have on our children and their ability to breathe better. This study is required reading, because the USA Today special report illuminates some of the hazards, the problems, and the future ramifications of pollution in the air surrounding the schools that our children are required to attend.

Are you trying to find the perfect gift for the allergy sufferer in your family? We know that allergy sufferers can breathe better by controlling their exposure to allergens. The best place to start this process is in the bedroom. One of the most helpful gifts that you can give this holiday season is a complete allergy relief bedding package. This bedding greatly reduces the person’s contact with allergy triggers like dust and mold.

During the holiday season, with any purchase of an Allergy Armor Ultra Complete Bedding Package, you will receive a free dust mite toy. These soft and washable toys are made by Giant Microbes. The dust mite toy is a great idea for a stocking stuffer that teaches about allergies.

Our Allergy Armor Ultra is our highest quality allergy relief bedding. The bedding is a breathable, membrane-free fabric that has the smallest pore size in the industry. Air is able to flow through our material, but allergens are trapped and cannot get through the fabric. This revolutionary design is a smooth and soft, 100% polyester blend. The Ultra bedding protects against dust mites, pet dander, and mold. A complete bedding package contains two Allergy Armor Ultra standard pillow covers, one Allergy Armor Ultra mattress cover, and one vinyl box spring cover. With the complete bedding package, you also receive a free Ultra standard allergy relief pillow cover.

Today, we had the opportunity to take a first look at one of the new Miele S7 upright vacuum cleaners. Needless to say, this series of Miele vacuums is very impressive. It is apparent that Miele did their homework and research before designing these uprights. The engineering and usability are superb. For allergy sufferers, all of the models in the series utilize Active HEPA filters in conjunction with completely sealed systems.

The five models in the S7 series are named after dances that are popular around the world. The Tango and the Bolero utilize automatic, finger tip suction control and electronic speed controls. The Calypso, the Salsa, and the Jazz are equipped with rotary speed controls. All Miele S7 upright models come standard with the revolutionary swivel head technology. This feature allows the user to turn the vacuum right and left simply with a turn of the wrist. This maneuverability allows you to vacuum around corners and around furniture.

Common features of all the models include: a convenient carrying handle, a long 39' cord, two powerful motors, a telescopic wand, three cleaning attachments, a 6" clearance to vacuum under furniture, an improved hood that stays attached when changing dust bags, a LED headlight, a spring loaded Powerbrush, and rubber wheels. These vacuums are built to last you for the next twenty years.

I am a canister vacuum fan, so my favorite design feature is the reinforced 14 foot long hose. The strong, durable hose attaches at the base of the vacuum. The hose locks in place to give the upright the same capabilities as a canister. You quickly can go from vacuuming the carpet to cleaning your drapes and upholstery with the wand attachments. This locking mechanism and the ingenious placement of the hose eliminates the concern of the vacuum tipping over when in the hose is in use.

The Miele S7 series is a bold, new entrant into the U.S. upright vacuum cleaner market. If you are looking for a powerful carpet cleaner with maneuverability and versatility, this is the vacuum cleaner for you.

For the past eight years, we have been recommending simple and healthy solutions for allergy sufferers. Our focus is on allergy avoidance and environmental control. We select and review all of our products based on that focus and philosophy. Even when you do your best to control your surroundings, there are specific times of the year when it seems like your nose is running and your eyes are watering on a daily basis. In our minds, the old adage is true: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

During the fall and winter months, a common cold can sometimes lead to inflammation or a condition called sinusitis. Sinusitis can last for an extended period and if not addressed can lead to a bacterial infection. Preventing sinusitis is important for breathing better. We have recommended for a long time alleviating sinus blockages with some simple easy treatments like a nasal wash or a netipot. Recently, experts at the Mayo Clinic have joined the fray, and they are recommending the exact same simple remedies! Check out this article from Reuters.

3M is famous for its office supplies and Post-It Notes, but they are making a name for themselves in the emerging indoor air quality marketplace. The 3M Furnace Filters have been flying off our shelves this fall. 3M has taken the ideas behind these top performing filters and they have developed a line of air purifiers. These air purifiers come in several sizes, but the most recent addition to our offering is the Ultra Quiet Small Bedroom air purifier.

The best attribute of this air purifier is its quiet operation. The Ultra Quiet Small Bedroom is the quietest air purifier for its size and price range. 3M created this air purifier with a modern design. The unit comes in a neutral white color that allows it to blend into any bedroom décor. The tower design takes up very little of the precious space in a small room. Also, Ultra Quiet Small Bedroom is very portable. It weighs only five pounds, and it easily can be moved within a room or within an apartment.

The Ultra Quiet Small Bedroom from 3M is ideal for rooms 100 square feet or less. If you are looking for an air purifier that improves your bedroom’s air quality without disturbing your sleep, you have to check out this new offering on our web site.