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Frequently Asked Questions


1. Why should I buy Aspirac™ by AcarZero™?
2. Is steam is the way to kill any dust mites present in the mattress?
3. Is Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ an ordinary vacuum cleaner?
4. Is Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ like my carpet sweeper?
5. Why can't I use my vacuum cleaner/carpet sweeper? After all, it is even more powerful than the Aspirac™ by AcarZero™.
6. How deeply does the Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ clean?
7. If my vacuum cleaner has a HEPA filter, is it the same as Aspirac™ by AcarZero™?
8. My vacuum cleaner has nozzles that the manufacturer recommends for cleaning upholstery.
9. Can I also use Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ on other products or is it only suitable for mattresses?
10. What does cyclonic action mean?
11. Does Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ require a bag to collect the dirt?
12. What sort of maintenance does the unit require over the years, and what are the costs?
13. I used Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ and it cut out after approximately 30 minutes of use. Is this normal?
14. I have a hypo-allergenic mattress and pillow so I don't have a dust mite problem, do I?
15. I have purchased an Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ but I don't understand how the UV lamp works: it only goes on when I press one of the wheels and only remains on for a couple of seconds. Is it malfunctioning or is this normal?

 





1. Why should I buy Aspirac™ by AcarZero™?

The problems derived from allergies can range from simple, minor disorders, all the way to full-fledged reactions the severity of which varies from one individual to the next. Dust mites quickly colonize rooms because they feed on organic residues like human skin cells, hair and other similar materials. Their natural habitat is a nutrient-rich environment with a temperature ranging between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius and humidity around 70%. When we sleep, our bodies emit heat and moisture. Therefore we, ourselves, guarantee the perfect habitat for dust mites: a cosy, damp environment with a wealth of food... our own mattresses! Scientific research confirms that reducing the number of dust mites and limiting their proliferation helps counteract allergies.

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2. Is steam is the way to kill any dust mites present in the mattress?

No way! It is true that steam can kill dust mites (those it is actually able to reach) but it does not remove their remains, a source of food for the survivors. Moreover, as it penetrates into the mattress, the steam increases the temperature and moisture and the great paradox is that, in doing so, it creates the ideal conditions for dust mite proliferation. Finally, steam deteriorates the mattress construction materials, reducing mattress life.

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3. Is Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ an ordinary vacuum cleaner?

Not exactly. Indeed, along with the pneumatic action that removes dust mites, both alive and dead, and the residues of skin, hairs, dandruff, etc., Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ also exerts a mechanical function with its turbo brush, acting on the mattress fibres, delicately opening them up without damaging them so the vacuum suction can reach down to greater depths.

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4. Is Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ like my carpet sweeper?

No. A normal carpet sweeper is designed to clean carpets and floors which are surfaces much stiffer than a mattress. Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ is smaller than a conventional carpet sweeper and is ergonomic so it can adapt to the surfaces to be cleaned and act locally and thus reduces the amount of dust thrown off by a normal carpet sweeper to practically nil. Moreover, since the rotating brush of the best carpet sweepers is designed to remove sand and various materials from surfaces that are hard (such as floors) or very resistant (such as carpeting), it is fit with stiff bristles that can damage the mattress fabric, the weave of which is designed to ensure stretch and allow for high transpiration.

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5. Why can't I use my vacuum cleaner/carpet sweeper? After all, it is even more powerful than the Aspirac™ by AcarZero™.

Your conventional vacuum cleaner/carpet sweeper has greater suction power because it is designed for multi-purpose usage. However, tests have shown that excessive suction power violently draws mattress padding fibres toward the surface, pulling them out which obviously deteriorates the construction components and decreases product life. The good news is that the dust mites live in the surface-most layers (down to approximately 20/30 mm), where food, warmth and moisture are guaranteed. Thus it follows that lower power would be preferable - as long as it is efficient and calibrated like that provided by Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ - because it would guarantee effective removal of the dust mites without damaging mattress padding and fabric.

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6. How deeply does the Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ clean?

The suction power of the Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ is calibrated so that the pneumatic action effectively penetrates to a depth of 40-50 mm. However, the latest studies show that the dust mites are concentrated in the surface-most layers (down to approximately 20/30 mm), where food, warmth and moisture are guaranteed. Thus the calibrated power of the Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ is more than enough to ensure effective removal of dust mites and improve respiratory conditions for allergy sufferers.

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7. If my vacuum cleaner has a HEPA filter, is it the same as Aspirac™ by AcarZero™?

Only the filter is the same. The HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter is a particular filtration system able to trap the solid contaminants particles (or particulate matter) present in the air. It is the allergens contained in the air -sucked up by any vacuum cleaner and then thrown back into the environment - that trigger respiratory allergies. This type of filter is becoming quite widespread, particularly in high end units. The rest of the features, however, remain unchanged, thus they are still normal vacuum cleaners which are not specifically designed to clean the allergy sufferer's mattress and upholstery.

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8. My vacuum cleaner has nozzles that the manufacturer recommends for cleaning upholstery.

Remember, the nozzle is just the terminal portion of the vacuum cleaner: we must also consider the suction power, which must not be excessive, and whether or not it has a high efficiency HEPA filter able to trap the solid particles and pollutants in the air before it is returned to the environment after suction.

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9. Can I also use Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ on other products or is it only suitable for mattresses?

Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ was initially designed and developed for in-depth, damage-free cleaning of mattresses. However, given its characteristics, it is suitable for cleaning any type of fabric padded objects, from headboards to living room furniture, furry toys and books, the latter thanks to the brush with retractable bristles.

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10. What does cyclonic action mean?

Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ operates with cyclonic action: it takes up dust in the form of a eddy whirlwind and then deposits it directly at the bottom of the dirt cup, without the need for a bag. In a conventional vacuum cleaner the dust sucked up is conveyed into a collection bag. In some cases the suction is significantly limited by the amount of dust accumulated in the bag. In other types of units, the dust reaches the filter simply by the force of gravity. The cyclonic action of Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ is completely separate from the gathered dust; in other words, the fact that the dirt cup is full does not reduce the suction capacity. In addition, the particles are forcefully thrust into the dirt cup which is airtight and thus does not allow even the slightest leak. Finally, the cyclonic action forces the exiting air to pass through the HEPA filter so that the smallest particles (the allergy-causing elements) are trapped by the HEPA filter.

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11. Does Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ require a bag to collect the dirt?

Since Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ operates with cyclonic action, the dust sucked up is deposited directly at the bottom of the dirt cup, so no bag is needed. The dirt cup can be removed by simply pressing a button: you can remove the dust without a bag.

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12. What sort of maintenance does the unit require over the years, and what are the costs?

No cost whatsoever! Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ uses a washable, reusable HEPA filter that does ever needs replacement. Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ operates with cyclonic action, and thus does not use a bag; all you have to do is remove the dust cup and wash it...there are no additional costs.

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13. I used Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ and it cut out after approximately 30 minutes of use. Is this normal?

It could be. Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ has 2 safety systems. The first is related to overheating of the unit: when used at length, the motor in the Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ could overheat. Therefore the unit cuts out and, can be used again after a few minutes - that is, once the motor has cooled down. The second safety is linked to the filter system. When the HEPA filter is clogged (for example, by an excess of fine particles), the unit cuts out to prevent damaging the motor. In this case, removing and cleaning the HEPA filter will allow air to flow through once more and the unit can be turned back on.

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14. I have a hypo-allergenic mattress and pillow so I don't have a dust mite problem, do I?

Not exactly. The use of hypo-allergenic materials and fabric treatments helps reduce and slow down the proliferation of dust mites. Synthetic fibres (commonly used in hypo-allergenic mattresses and pillows) prevent the formation of nests and do not offer the dust mites suitable surfaces to settle in. However, our mattress or pillow can still be colonized by dust mites given the simple fact that we ourselves provide them with the food and environment they need. Therefore hypo-allergenic mattresses and pillows are certainly a good starting point for limiting the presence of dust mites, however, on their own they are not enough.

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15. I have purchased an Aspirac™ by AcarZero™ but I don't understand how the UV lamp works: it only goes on when I press one of the wheels and only remains on for a couple of seconds. Is it malfunctioning or is this normal?

The UV lamp is designed to remain on while the product is being used; that is when the wheels are set against the surfaces to be sanitized. To ensure user safety, lifting the Aspirac™ off the surface causes the light to go off within a few seconds. Therefore, what you indicate is perfectly normal.

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