Generate Ozone to Clean Produce
Lotus System Sanitizes, Deodorizes without Environmental Harm
The Lotus System changes oxygen to ozone for household cleaning. Will it remove odors from your home and kill germs/bacteria on food and surfaces? Find out.
Lotus Sanitizing System by Tersano
The lotus® patent® technology infuses cold tap water with an extra oxygen atom, creating a natural sanitizer (ozone or O3). By passing air through 4,500 volts of electricity, the lotus® system splits oxygen molecules into atoms and forces this extra atom to combine and form super-oxygen (you'll have to take them at their word – it's tough to test this out in a non-lab environment. The third oxygen atom becomes the sanitizing agent, a natural oxidant – which kills bacteria and viruses, and neutralizes pesticides. In effect, this is an ozone generator for home cleaning - a system used by major pharmaceutical plants for many years to sanitize surfaces and objects.
There are some EPA cautions about using ozone generators for air cleaners, but research turns up nothing about ill effects from super-oxygenating water and then cleaning with it. Tersano's system isn't the only one available, but its cost make it attractive, at about $149 as opposed to $200-$400 for others.
How Lotus Works
First-hand experience indicates the unit's biggest drawback is a large foot-print, making it not very convenient for counter-top storage in most kitchens – and it isn't all that attractive. The unit has a large base, a bowl about the size of a two-quart mixing bowl and a plastic spray bottle. If you don't have counter space to spare, it's a pain in the neck to haul the thing in and out each time you want to use it. Those dedicated to clean and, more to the point, to "green clean" may find that an okay trade off.
To use the system, you fill the bowl or bottle with tap water, push it onto the seat in the base. In the bowl, you add pre-washed vegetables, fruits, or other objects to be cleaned. Turn it on and wait for an indicator to tell you it's all done. About 5 minutes. Then drain, dry and you're done. You can fill the bottle, process it on the stand, and use that water to spray things you need sanitized around the house. Caution: you have a 15-minute window to use the water. Then it reverts to plain tap water again.
Tersano says there is no residue, no pollutants, and no need to wear protective gloves. Interestingly, when the water was sprayed on light infestations of mildew or mold, the stains faded or disappeared and did not return. There is a definite lessening of odor aorund teens' gym shoes, dog beds and upholstered furniture when treated. Not much liklihood of staining, since you're using, in effect, water – and there is zero perfume reaking through your home after use.
Results
Users report sanitizing orthodontic retainers, toothbrushes, nail clippers, nail files in the bowl. The instructions encourage adding pacifiers, baby toys, teethers and nursing bottles.
It's tricky to get up and running with the lotus system. Some instructions are not clear and the illustrations are vague. If you're busy when you unpack the product and think you'll pop it up and be off to the races, you'll be disappointed. It takes some reading and fumbling to get it right. You may get error messages from time to time that necessitate hauling out instructions and searching for an answer.
Over all, the system is theoretically capable of sanitizing. You will likely notice that treated produce doesn't mold or degrade as quickly as untreated. Bottom line, if you're finicky about the food you bring home, or highly committed to green cleaning, you may feel more secure with one of these around.
