anyone use a UV cleaning wand?

[Beacon]

I never knew about these but just saw that a hotel chain has started to use them. Being somewhat germaphobic, it appealed to me right away! But has anyone used these and are they just a gimick or are they effective?

 

[ame]

I never knew about these but just saw that a hotel chain has started to use them. Being somewhat germaphobic, it appealed to me right away! But has anyone used these and are they just a gimick or are they effective?

My mom had one for their toothbrushes but I couldn't begin to guess about how effective that is.

 

[TravelingGal]

I check hotels for bed bugs and that's it. With all the people who go through their rooms, I really would rather not know because there is guaranteed to be icks in the room. In every room. Since I stay in hotels for business and can't get around it, I happily live in ignorance.

 

[diamondseeker2006]

I would be very afraid to have that! There are some things that it is better not to know!

 

[TravelingGal]

You also have to ask yourself...what would it accomplish if it really did work? Will you move room to room to room? If not, just stay there in a state of grossed-outness? And if you can't mentally bear it, how many times will you move rooms? What about if there isn't a "clean" one to be found? Will you move hotels? And so on?

There will be stuff not on beds, but chairs, carpets, etc where you can't just easily have them switched out.

 

[Beacon]

I think these things are designed to kill germs. From what I saw, they just hold this wand over the area (for example a pillow) and it kills all kinds of germs. I looked on Amazon and they sell them, including travel size. I kinda want one now but I am not sure if they are actually useful. However some reviews on amazon sounded positive.

I wondered if any PSers had one?

 

[TravelingGal]

I think these things are designed to kill germs. From what I saw, they just hold this wand over the area (for example a pillow) and it kills all kinds of germs. I looked on Amazon and they sell them, including travel size. I kinda want one now but I am not sure if they are actually useful. However some reviews on amazon sounded positive.

I wondered if any PSers had one?

Ah, got it...I thought it was to CHECK to see if there was anything. Well heck, try it. Amazon has a great return policy...just get it before you go to a hotel next.

 

[kenny]

Another stuoppid thing to screw with nature, making our immune systems weaker and super-germs stronger.

 

[Enerchi]

I check hotels for bed bugs and that's it. With all the people who go through their rooms, I really would rather not know because there is guaranteed to be icks in the room. In every room. Since I stay in hotels for business and can't get around it, I happily live in ignorance.

Glad to hear you do that TGal! I do that as well and my family roll their eyes like I'm some insane person (...it's possible... ) but its because of what I see in my job, that I know --- no one is immune from bed bugs in this modern age of travel. They've been around since ancient times - they aren't going to be eradicated in the near future!

 

[Jeweljunke]

Hahaha. Welcome to my world...whenever I stay in a hotel, I check under the sheet, at the edge of the mattress where it is stitched for any signs of bedbugs or bedbug droppings (small black spots), and I always keep my luggage in the bathtub, so there is no chance of them crawling into it at night. I know, I know, crazy. You can actually google bed bugs on mattress to see photos of what to look for. I really don't go crazy, just a little inspection and then I go to

 

[Enerchi]

Hahaha. Welcome to my world...whenever I stay in a hotel, I check under the sheet, at the edge of the mattress where it is stitched for any signs of bedbugs or bedbug droppings (small black spots), and I always keep my luggage in the bathtub, so there is no chance of them crawling into it at night. I know, I know, crazy. You can actually google bed bugs on mattress to see photos of what to look for. I really don't go crazy, just a little inspection and then I go to

Perfect Jeweljunke! You're right on track. I travel with mini flashlight and get along the bedframe as well (did I mention my family think I'm off my rocker??? but not bed bugs so.... who's crazy now, eh??) Also inspect the drawers beside the bed, any pictures or art above the bed too and if you can pull the headboard away from the wall - even better. Most hotel staff are trained to inspect on the actual mattress, but BB will prefer to be undisturbed, so they retreat to places that are less active - run your hand under the pictures/along the bottom of dresser drawers, edges/behind the headboard and never leave your suitcase on the floor close to a wall - use the luggage racks provided.

This is the website we refer people to - www.bedbugsinfo.ca

 

[Karl_K]

UV will kill germs but one powerful enough to be truly effective can not be sold to consumers except in an autoclave type system with safety cutouts to keep people from looking at them.
They are mostly a feel good item that might do a little good.

The stronger ones that go in your furnace are good at killing mold but against viruses and bacteria is mostly just hype. The air moves past them too fast to be effective against them. Mold however is much more susceptible to UV.

There are some air trap filtration systems that use UV and work great but they are huge $$$$$$.

 

[yssie]

I just take two sheets and a pillowcase and adjust the room temperature. I remember going to dozens of camps as a kid - I don't even want to imagine what those mattresses were infested with! - and I came out okay, so... I figure it's not likely to kill me now

 

[minousbijoux]

Okay, now I will never stay in another hotel as long as I live. Or I'll just sleep in the bathtub if I have to

 

[OCgirl]

I saw this in a catalog when I was on the plane yesterday
http://www.skymall.com/shopping/detail.htm?pid=204257644&c=10900

It looks.... Uncomfortable but hey.....

 

[Jeweljunke]

LOL. Way too funny.

 

[iLander]

UV does kill some viruses, but not sure it does anything to bacteria, you might want to google it.

If you live in a bright-sunshiny state, you can get quite a bit of UV in your house just by opening the window and letting the sun in.

I know there are some water filters that use a UV light, but that's because the water never sees the sunlight.