Moisture, allergens,
mildew and mold-- oh, my!
Let’s face it, there’s few things worse than a confined area where strong
aromas and unpleasant smells permeate the air. From stinky shoes, to musty
carpets, pet odors and more, there has to be a solution, right?
Your first thought may be to run to the store for a can of the current popular
air freshener. But wait! Do you really know what's inside those cans? Most odor
removers and air fresheners are packed full of chemicals, some of which can
agitate sensitive respiratory systems. Wouldn't you rather have clean air
without that risk?
As the modern consumer becomes more aware of what they are putting in their
home and what is in the air they breathe, several natural products have begun
to enter the market.
Then comes the question: how do you know which natural product is best? Plenty of new products can have the word 'green' in them, but are they really? What is the best natural clean air product?
To help you make the most informed decision, we review the most popular products, the underdogs, and the pros and cons of each. For this review, we're looking to improve the air in our homes with the help of the Breathe Green Charcoal Bag.
The Breathe Green
Charcoal Bag uses the natural power of activated bamboo charcoal to remove
allergens, moisture, and more from the air. Multiple studies have looked at the
power of charcoal to remove toxins and for air filtration; for activated charcoal,
the charcoal is exposed to heat in excess of 400 degrees. This causes the
charcoal to become porous, increasing the surface area available to clean your
air and trapping toxins within the pores.
Bamboo charcoal, especially, has been shown to remove harsh chemicals like
ammonia and formaldehyde from the air. Activated bamboo charcoal doesn't just
get the heavy hitters-- it can also remove smells caused by animals, allergens,
moisture, and more. No odors are safe with activated bamboo charcoal in your
corner.
For the best results, Breathe Green Eco, the manufacturer , recommends placing a breathe green charcoal bag in areas known for heavy odors and/or moisture in the air. They list examples like inside a gym bag, tucked away with your shoes, even placed in the refrigerator to absorb moisture and extend shelf life for your food. If you are dealing with specific allergens like dust mites, you can also hide the breathe green charcoal bag under couch cushions, mattresses, and other areas that collect dust.
Other areas for potentially heavy odor in the air include your car, closet, garage, bathroom, or other enclosed areas that trap smells.
In a word? Yes. The best part about activated charcoal bags is that they have science on their side. Several studies have reviewed the uses of activated charcoal, especially for air filtration, and they've all been positive and recommended further research for practical uses.
Science and research always works in stages. When a researcher sees a positive hypothesis, they recommend ''further research.' For products like activated charcoal, this means things like testing out the practical uses, seeing if any side effects are present, and checking safety. Charcoal, however, has been through several safety tests. It is a popular ingredient in health and beauty products, and many emergency rooms use charcoal for patients who have ingested a poisonous material.
Research has shown us that activated charcoal is great for air and water filtration, but not specifically set about in a linen bag. However, current customers speak to its success by rating and reviewing the product online.
Another positive to the Breathe Green Charcoal Bag is its longevity. Unlike canned fresheners that whittle away over time, a properly cared for charcoal bag can last two years. But what does 'properly cared for' mean?
Approximately once a month, your bag needs to spend some time in the sun-- generally an hour or two. The UV rays help eliminate trapped microbes in the charcoal, refreshing the bag for further use. Each bag consists of a biodegradable linen, which doesn't snag easily-- but you should still use caution to protect the casing.
But, wait! There's more! Your Breathe Green Charcoal Bag continues to be useful after those two years: simply slit open the linen and sprinkled the used charcoal into your soil (particularly any flower beds or gardens). That's right! Charcoal can help refresh your soil and then naturally degrades. It also helps trap carbon emissions.
While they can be a little hard to find on shelves, Breathe Green Charcoal Bags can be purchased from several major retailers online, as well as directly from the company. Current retailers include Walmart, Amazon, and Breathe Green Eco. You can select several different quantities (with buy X, get X free offers from the manufacturer), but the quantities vary by provider.
Let's face it: companies are going to do everything they can to convince you to buy their product. And reviewers know all the buzz words to get your attention. We get it-- we can be hard to trust. So, why don't we take a look at what the customers have said about their purchase? Thanks to the wonders of the internet, customers are happy to leave a rating or review for products they love and absolutely hate. We scoured online reviews from each retailer and a few comments on other reviewer sites to pick a few to share with you. Links are included if you want to read more.
"Our fur baby is quite allergic to dust mites (poor fella) and we have him on meds to deal with itching as well as using natural sprays. I was running out of hope trying to figure out ways to keep these mites under control when I came across the 3 (+2 free) deal. We ended up placing two under the mattress and low and behold, the next morning when Brutus jumped up on the bed we noticed he wasn’t itching like crazy. After that we decided to try them under the sofa cushions and living room rugs. I’d say he improved around 80% by this point and we were able to reduce his medications in half.” - Arleen C., Five stars
“I don’t know what kind of magic these things are or how they work but WOW lol I’m impressed. In just a few days the odors from our fridge are barely noticable. Clothes in our closet smell fresh and clean. Best of all? No chemicals or other scented junk that just masks the smell. Whatever this is actually neutralized what was causing the odor. Definitely on our “buy more” list. – Kevin, Five Stars.
“I’m not normally one to take time to leave a review, but I was so impressed with these that I couldn’t not. I picked these up online to try out. Ended up putting one in each of our small rooms. I’ll be honest, we have two dogs and while we love them, the house definitely gets a little funky smelling at times no matter how much I clean. One night with these in the house and I immediately noticed a difference when I came downstairs in the morning. I could barely notice any odor at all. Nothing short of impressive.” – Patricia D., Five Stars
While ratings were overwhelmingly five stars, a few negative ratings were sprinkled throughout. Some people complained that their bags arrived wet, while one customer noted the linen bag had a seam rip. A few did not smell a difference, though that doesn't speak to whether the breathe green charcoal bag was removing allergens.
Welcome to the TL;DR of this review. Where we answer what, exactly, are the benefits and downsides to the Breathe Green Charcoal Bag.
If allergens and odors have taken the air in your home hostage, then a breathe green charcoal bag may just be the product for you. With a high average rating and mostly positive review, customers seem quite pleased with these bags. The handy grommet in the upper corner allows you to hang the bags in areas harder to set them, and eco-friendly, bio-degradable design makes this product green in more than just name.
Breathe Green again with the Breathe Green Charcoal Bag.