If you read this blog much at all, then you know one thing about me: I’m no brainiac. And so the science behind the following product briefing eludes me. But according to a recent issue of Popular Mechanics, which always tells the truth even at the risk of offending advertisers (just ask your dad), the Halo 3280 UVX vacuum really works!

And they’re not just talking about its sucking power, although apparently, that’s good too. They’re referring to the ultraviolet light that’s built into the vacuum, which does a ray-gun-like zapping of micro-organisms, such as fleas, dust mites, lice, mold, bacteria, and viruses, while you sweep your floors. This is the kind of stuff that exacerbates allergies and asthma.

The Halo isn’t just the invention of a bunch of domestic engineers with nothing much to do but add bizarre gizmos to their vacuum designs. Ho-ho, no! The company hired the services of Dr. James R. Bolton, a PhD in vacuumology (or somesuch) to test the effects of UV rays on the miniature vermin that populates your carpets but is so diabolical that you can’t see it. In a presentation of his findings to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, he concludes: “We have found that as little as one second of UVC from the Halo Ultraviolet Vacuum bulb chamber results in the death of the American dust mite (AHD) eggs, and five seconds resulted in nearly 100 percent mortality.” That is a serious death ray.

The bottom line is that millions of mites are trying to reproduce under your feet at this very moment. Are you going to take that sitting down? Well, if Dancing with the Stars has started, you might. But once the commercials come on, the Halo vacuum will enable you to go on a murderous rampage and protect your family’s lungs.

Posted on September 20th, 2008 by dian