Water & Air – Filter Systems News

November 15 is Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day, a time where we make room in our refrigerator for all of the holiday foods that will be prepared and consumed. Cleaning your refrigerator can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are 5 useful tips for refrigerator cleaning.

1. Wait until the day before grocery day as this is when there is the least amount of items that need to be moved around. This is a great time to check your inventory before making the shopping trip to see if you really need what is on your list. Also, be sure to shut off your refrigerator before starting the cleanup process.
2. Place removable parts in the sink such as racks, shelves and drawers and submerge in warm water and baking soda. While these pieces soak, take a cleaning rag (or toothbrush) with cleansing powder to brackets, gaskets and other hard-to-reach areas. Thoroughly dry all pieces to discourage unwelcome microbial guests.
3. Check your refrigerator filters during the cleanup process to see if it is time for them to be replaced. Both your refrigerator water filter and refrigerator air filter should generally be replaced every six months. Check your refrigerator model to see which refrigerator filters are compatible for your brand and browse through our assortment of refrigerator water filters and refrigerator air filters to make your purchase.
4. Organize the contents of your refrigerator to make them more accessible and visible. Food that is easily seen and reached is less likely to be overlooked and turn into a future source of odors. Speaking of odors…
5. Think ahead and take preventative action against future odors by using the Whirlpool Refrigerator Deodorizer. Eliminating odors is only one of its benefits, as it will also keep your food fresher for a longer period of time. Also, consider purchasing the Whirlpool Freezer Deodorizer and don’t forget to take time to go through your freezer and discard any old or expired food as well.

Clean the exterior of your refrigerator with whatever is appropriate for your refrigerators surface, which will vary depending on the color and finish you have. With the holidays approaching, now is a great opportunity to clean out your refrigerator. As a reminder, don’t wait until the last minute to place your orders for the upcoming holiday season.

Consumer Reports recently stated that refrigerator manufacturers, including GE, LG and Whirlpool, are adding new technological features that will help keep your food fresh longer. If you’re in the market for a new refrigerator, this may be something worth considering before you buy. Here are some highlights of the new features being added:

Whirlpool’s Freshflow Produce Preserver

This technology will be in select models, starting this year, and consists of ethylene absorption packets located in crisper drawers. These packets contain potassium permanganate, which neutralizes ethylene – a naturally occurring, odorless, harmless, tasteless gas, given off by fruits and veggies, causing them to ripen more quickly. Whirlpool claims that FreshFlow will make your produce last 25 percent longer, but the packets must be changed every six months.

GE ClimateKeeper Dual Evaporator System

As the old saying goes, “two heads are better than one.” The same goes for evaporators in your refrigerator. Older fridge models have one evaporator in the freezer, so that all of the cold air for the fresh food section in the refrigerator comes from the freezer. This causes the airflow from the fresh food section to mix with the air in the freezer. If you notice that your ice cubes taste like onion or broccoli, this may very well be why. (That, or you need to change your fridge filter.) With a dual evaporator system like GE’s ClimateKeeper, there are two evaporators, rather than one, so that the fresh food section and the freezer cool independently from one another. The humidity inside your fresh food drawers is also significantly higher, allowing fresh produce and unsealed foods to retain moisture and stay fresh longer.

Bosch VitaFresh Technology

With Bosch’s VitaFresh system, a high-tech lining inside your fresh food drawers works with climate sensors to maintain ideal temperature, humidity and air circulation, so that your food stays fresher longer. Bosch also claims that this technology also preserves vitamins and nutrients.

Viking’s Plasmacluster Ion Air Purifier

Similar to room air purifiers for the home, a Plasmacluster Ion air purifier inside your refrigerator helps eliminate odors associated with airborne pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, mold and fungi, helping your food to stay fresher, longer.

LG Push ‘N Seal Crisper Drawer

This drawer uses a vacuum to seal your produce inside, apparently keeping it crisp and fresh for longer.

Despite freshness claims from various refrigerator manufacturers, Consumer Reports recommends that you first look for a fridge that has excellent temperature performance. You can keep your produce fresh through proper food storage, eliminating the need for advanced refrigeration technology. And, of course, remember to replace your refrigerator water filter every six months.

If the water and ice that comes out of your fridge has started to taste funny, you may be in the market for a new refrigerator water filter. It’s important to know exactly what you need before buying. That’s why we’ve put together a quick refrigerator water filter buyer’s guide to help you decide. Before you choosing your filter, research to find out which filters are compatible with your refrigerator model. This should help you narrow down the huge list on FiltersFast.com to just a few selections. Once you’ve narrowed it down, make sure you know what needs to be removed from your water and ice, and choose accordingly.

Perhaps you don’t currently own a water filter. If that’s the case, our Simple Guide to Home Water Filters can help you decide which type of filter is best for your household.

There are certain things in life that we need to survive. Bottled water is not one of them. It’s costly to both the environment and to your wallet. Besides, why would you want to waste your money on that, when there are so many other more important needs that are way cheaper? For example:

Alcohol

Several recent news reports have revealed that booze is cheaper than bottled water in New Zealand, which is bad news for this binge drinking population… (or is it?) Regardless, it could be really bad news for bottled water companies. I know we say it all the time, but when it just makes more sense to spend the money on beer or wine, why would anyone pay for a plastic bottle of something they can get for free from a tap? Think about it…

Gasoline

As expensive as a gallon of gasoline is these days, believe it or not, it can be cheaper than a bottle of water, depending on what kind of water you drink. If you’re the kind who prefers Fiji over Evian (which we think is still pretty naive), you’re looking at spending more than $3 for a liter bottle. A gallon of gas is only $2-something in some parts of the U.S. You do the math…

Iced Tea

Water tastes even better with tea flavor in it, right? (I’m sure @toddx can back me up here.) Why would you want to buy bottled water when you can drink iced tea instead? A box of 100 Lipton tea bags is about the same price as 2-3 bottles of water from a vending machine, and you can choose to drink it sweetened, unsweetened, caffeinated, or decaffeinated, flavored with peach or lemon, or just plain – the possibilities are endless! Not only that; the production process for bottled water depletes so many of our earth’s resources – including water! And, as @toddx so kindly pointed out to us on Blog Action Day, “Without water, there can be no iced tea.” You don’t want that, do you?

Ramen Noodles

If you or your kids have ever attended college, you know what I mean when I say Ramen Noodles is an essential good. It’s practically how all of us survived through those regrettable years, right? (That, and alcohol, which, as you know now, is also cheaper than bottled water.) Depending on where you shop, you can get as many as 5 or 10 packs of Ramen Noodles for only $1. That’s over a week’s worth of food! Compare that to the price of a bottle of water… I think you see where I’m going with this.

Filtered Water

You may think we sound like a broken record, but we can’t emphasize it enough. Not only does drinking filtered water save our planet from the detrimental effects of plastic bottled water waste… it saves you money! And, these days, I can’t think of one person who’s not looking to save a buck or two. Okay, so maybe the previous four goods are not really that “essential” when it comes down to it, but, in our humble opinion, filtered tap water is. With regular tap water you run the risk of ingesting cancer-causing contaminants, and with bottled water… well, I don’t need to repeat myself do I? Drinking filtered water will help ensure the health of you and your loved ones.

Please do yourself and the rest of the world a favor by visiting Filters Fast online to purchase your water filter today. We have a huge selection of refrigerator water filters, faucet water filters, undersink filters, pitcher filters and countertop filters to suit your needs.

What if your drinking water could induce a sex change?

In some parts of the country, it can. According to a recent article in the Chicago Tribune, atrazine, an agricultural weedkiller has been found at high levels in drinking water during growing season in several Midwest farming states. Studies on the chemical have shown that exposure to small amounts can turn male frogs into female frogs.  It’s frightening to imagine what long-term exposure might do to humans.

This is not the first time sex-changing chemicals in water have raised concerns. In 2003, the Potomac River was found to contain large numbers of fish with intersex – a condition in which male fish develop premature egg cells. Further study attributed the condition to the presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals which mimic or block the production of hormones – chemicals found in pharmaceuticals, pesticides and herbicides like atrazine.

The degree to which these chemicals are harmful to humans is currently in debate. Manufacturers of atrazine maintain that their studies say the product is safe (not surprisingly.)  Outside studies, however, have raised enough alarm to move the Obama administration to further review the substance, which may lead to tighter restrictions.

Meanwhile, you continue to drink water polluted with atrazine (and who knows what else?). And by the time the government decides to take action you’ve developed…

Well, I won’t even go there.

Bottled water may seem like the answer, but the toxic BPA in many plastic bottles has been said to mimic estrogen, and is therefore also labeled a “gender bender.” Not to mention, bottled water is expensive. Looking for a solution that will save you money along with your sex organs?

Move to Europe, where they don’t spray atrazine. Or, better yet, just filter your water. (I bet you knew I was going to say that, didn’t you?) Jokes aside, Filters Fast carries several brands of refrigerator filters, undersink water filters and water faucet filters that remove large amounts of atrizine, as well as other pesticides and harmful chemicals, from your water. Before you buy, use this Watersafe All-in-One Drinking Water Test Kit to determine how much of these pollutants your water contains.