| Review
of
Nature's Miracle Allergen Blocker, made by
Nature's Miracle
(You can print this review in landscape mode, if you
want a hardcopy)
Reviewer:
Mark Lamendola
Sorry, but this review is mostly subjective. I just don't have much data on
which to base it. Some reasons why:
- I can't see or measure what this product does. Because I already
have a rigorous allergen reduction program, nothing new will take my
home environment below the irritation level (it's already there) so that
I can notice a difference. That doesn't mean this product doesn't work
(it does work, as I will explain below), just that I can't provide data
to show it does because the environment is not challenging enough.
- Short version of previous point: This product DOES reduce allergens,
but I can't quantify or even detect the effects.
- The ingredients panel contains a mystery ingredient. But I can (and
do, below) provide accurate commentary on the ingredients.
I did make some observations, which I will share:
- The spray operates reliably. I've used other spray products where
you make a couple of squirts and then the nozzle clogs.
- Unlike other reviewers, I found the fragrance to be strong. This may
be because I don't use any inorganic-chemically fragranced products (any
fragrances are from organic sources such as lavender) and thus have zero
"background noise."
- The previous point made, I also note that the smell diminishes
rather quickly. Returning to a sprayed area after 15 minutes, I can't
smell the fragrance.
- Though the fragrance did not annoy my sinuses, I did not like it.
- After spraying it around the queen's various catnapping spots (of
course, without her there at the time), I did not get any howls or meows
of protest. She is much more at peace with the fragrance than I am.
- It did not appear to stain, discolor, or in any way damage a variety
of fabrics on which it was tested. Generally, I sprayed into the air
above the fabric-covered surface rather than directly onto the fabric.
But, yes, it actually does work. Here's how I know. One way to reduce
airborne allergens is to clump them. You can do this with a spray bottle of
water or some light oil (e.g., citrus oil), or water with a little
surfactant added. I have been doing this for years. Gee, this product
contains water and a surfactant. Ergo, it works. I also contains some
mystery ingredient called Allergen Blocker Complex.
By spraying your clumping substance into the air, you cause airborne
particles to stick together and fall "out of suspension." But you must clean
up the clumped particles shortly thereafter or they'll break apart again and
you're back to where you started if you disturb the area (the windage of
walking past it is sufficient to disturb it).
I recommend using this product in combination with other allergen control
methods. For example:
- I assume you always use allergen-rated filters for your vacuum
cleaner; if not, get those. Sometimes, spray this in a room a few
minutes before vacuuming that room. I say sometimes, because I also use
baking soda to clean the carpet (apply an hour before vacuuming), and
you probably don't want to spray this on that powder.
- I also assume, if you are serious about pet dander, you have at
least a couple of floor-standing HEPA filters in your home (I have
several of these). Spray the air a few feet away from the intake side,
to cause particles to clump a bit and be more easily drawn into that
filter.
- I also assume, if you are serious about pet dander, you have a
"high-efficiency" (low particle size) filter for your HVAC system and
you have the fan on RUN rather than AUTO. And that you change (or clean,
as the case may be) this filter once it's discolored rather than waiting
until it's clogged. If your pet occupies one or two rooms more than any
other, use this spray a few feet from the cold air return(s) and then
vacuum after waiting a few minutes. That will remove particles that
would otherwise be drawn into your ductwork (where they become food for
allergen-producing mites, etc.) and then into your expensive filter.
The allergen in cat dander comes from the cat's saliva. So an alternative
to using some sort of dander control product is to just lick the cat
yourself. If anyone's trying this, let us all know how that turned out. As
for me, I'm content to let the cat handle that job and I'll deal with the
resulting dander. This product will help with that. Since the boss has no
problem with the fragrance, and she is very picky about fragrances, I'm
going to defer to her judgment on that issue and give Allergen Blocker a
free pass on it. I guess it's a case of "the cat-stomer is always right." |
