Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q:- How does the Evaporative Air purifying gel work? 

 

A:- The evaporative gel is 100% natural with the key ingredient of Tea Tree known for its antibacterial and anti-fungal properties.  It is encapsulated in a unique suspension – a gel – that evaporates over time – lasting 2-3 months depending on the temperature and air-flow. As the gel evaporates into the air it breaks down the molecular wall structure of the mould spore stopping it from even starting. 

The gel can be placed near window frames where mould tends to start and more commonly used in bathrooms – just pop a tub on a ledge to work.   Purchase a tub size dependent on the size of the room. 

You will be left with an evaporated empty tub – just a little bit of dried jelly will be left that you just scoop out and then wash the tub – ready to be refilled with our 800gm refillable pouch or purchase a new tub

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Q:- How do you use the spray?

 

A:- The spray prevents mould and bacteria spores formingAlso kills e-coli, black mould, golden staph and dust mite. For home use, Target key areas hard to clean; showers, window sill corners and bathroom ceilings.  Spray onto a damp cloth when wiping to sanitise chopping boards, benches, surfaces and window frames. Our spray can be used in your showers, down plug holes, shoe storage areas, silicone seals (e.g. freezer/fridge), backs of curtains, yoga mats and window sills.  If using in a commercial situation – spray heat pump filters after cleaning and around air-conditioning intakes and coil filters. This is a strong spray and can be diluted up to 30% with water.

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Q:- We are renting a house with an internal Ensuite and poor ventilation - there is a skylight way up high and we had borrowed a ladder for the weekend.  I’ve been very ill from the effects of black mould before. So, we’ve not been sleeping in the main bedroom. Hoping to get it sorted once and for all with your product. We’ve now put a dome over the shower but there is residual mould odour. Do you have suggestions?  

A:-  Mould is very toxic to our bodies; a fact quite unknown by many.  The unique gel was formulated by Neil Jonsen in reaction to discovering he had poisoned his 18mth old son by cuddling him straight home from work in his clothes that were saturated with mould spores (Neil is an air-conditioning technician).  Little Nicholas was hospitalised for days having had serious vomiting attacks.  It’s an interesting story too long to tell in an email.   If you have a weakened immune system, you will be more susceptible to mould affecting your respiratory system.  Cleaning with ammonia-based products will also cause you problems. 

First of all, spray all infected areas with our liquid spray and leave for 2 hours.  That will kill all mould spores and allow you to clean without inhaling any bad bacteria. Our spray won’t clean away black dots impregnated in silicone and other porous surfaces – try using bicarbonate of soda mixed to a paste with vinegar. If you don’t have spots to worry about, just use the spray lightly in the bedroom (twist the nozzle to the fine spray, not jet) and spray everywhere, window ledges, lightly behind curtains, under the bed and your bare mattress …. If you find the spray too strong – you can dilute up to 30%.  Wipe down excess (bearing in mind there is oil in the spray so don’t overdo it. The scent of TTO will dissipate quite quickly.

Then use our evaporative gel – leaving a suitable sized pot in your bedroom to evaporate. (usually 230g).  This should last 2-3 months.  What the gel does is release the tea-tree vapour subtly over time, breaking down the molecular wall structure of the mould spore (kills e-coli, black mould, legionnaires and golden staph).  I found when I first started using the product, that the pong of mildew from the mattresses on our boat disappeared once I had the gel pots (under the bed) in place. 

The only other recommendation I have, because you have the skylight area out of normal reach, is to purchase one of our fan dispensers that will disperse the vapour more  effectively.

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Q:- How is this product better than a tea tree oil (of the same grade or better) in an essential oil burner

A:- You can use Tea Tree Oil in an essential oil burner as well.  However, the oil then oxidises and because it is heated loses efficacy.  It is better to use pure TTO in a diffuser rather than an oil burner for that reason.  (We now sell diffusers and TTO).  It is important to note that there are different medical properties and effects from Australian Tea Tree Oil versus New Zealand Manuka Oil.  NZ Manuka is medicinally better for skin related infections (and its scent is more ‘earthy’), whereas Australian TTO is good for killing moulds and bacteria and smells ‘fresh’.  Our product is 100% natural and incredibly effective.  Having the TTO suspended in an evaporative gel helps it last longer than using a diffuser for example a 50gm pot in a cupboard should last approximately 2 months.

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 Q:- Do your products have antiallergy properties, for example if I have dust-mites or pet allergies.?

A:- Tea tree oil is a natural inhibitor of dust-mite.  So, you would be quite safe using it and would most likely see a reduction in your dust-mite allergy because of it.  Our Tea Tree oil spray (which uses certified ATTIA pure oil) will kill dust mites, but only with a lot of spraying which I don’t recommend.  So, saying it is an inhibitor is more accurate.  The spray is safe around pets, but if you have a pet allergy, I am presuming you don’t have any!  The gel, which slowly evaporates isn’t strong – just pop a pottle on a shelf in your bathroom and it will stop the growth of mould and bacteria (or any room).  I have had some customers tell me they feel their asthma symptoms have decreased since using our products.

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Q:- I like your products very much. They have worked well for mould killing at my house. Just want to know where can I get your products at Auckland NZ except online ordering? Thanks!

A:- As you are in Auckland, you can purchase with us at the Go Green Expo which we exhibit at every year.  Otherwise online is your only option.  For direct inquiries email us at info@cleanfreshair.co.nz

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Q:- Hi there, are your products pet-friendly? Will it hurt my cat to have the ‘smell’ in the air? I'm thinking I could get the fan dispenser so he couldn't ‘get into it’. Thanks!

A:- As Tea Tree is a naturally occurring product and the oil used is certified pure I am confident you will find your pet absolutely fine around the product. The other ingredients are also natural.  I have a curious cat (Tonkinese) and have noticed nothing at all has changed with him since using both the spray and tubs of evaporative that are dotted about the house.  You could always use the fan dispenser as you suggest – this will not only expand the range and effectiveness of the product but inhibit any knocking over and thus spilling the product.  I have some dispensers screwed to the walls in my house as well.

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Q:- I see that the products can help with bacteria/fungi/moulds in the home, I was wondering what the products can do for dust mite allergies in the home? I have a friend who has had quite a lot of naturopathic treatment over the years for allergies, and she is wanting some lifestyle tips for reducing allergen exposure in the home, aside from the standard reduction of dust and keeping the place clean etc (my friend is living in a dusty home currently, and already tries to reduce the dust level.

A:- We do have one product that I believe would help your friend.  Our Tea Tree spray (Melaleuca Alternafolia).  I have put some information an article that proves TTO (which is different to Manuka/Kanuka oil) is effective in killing dust-mite at the bottom of this email. You need a lot of spray to kill the dust-mite so the reality of our spray is that it is a deterrent and as such should be combined with other attempts to kill off the little critters.:

  1. Lightly spray your bedding mattress every time you change the sheets – allow the mattress to air for as long as possible.
  2. Use the European system of bedding; rolling down the duvet to the foot of the bed each morning, thus allowing the mattress to breathe (we put a lot of moisture into our mattresses just by sleeping on them!)
  3. When washing bedding, add a tablespoon of our spray to the last rinse cycle. 
  4. Add a final extra (double rinse) to all washing cycles to remove washing detergents from clothing.
  5. Buy some dust-mite protector covers for all pillows and duvet cover
  6. Wash clothing and linen before using for the first time (removes formaldehyde)
  7. Use rugs instead carpet if possible.
  8. Lightly spray the backs of curtains and netting with our spray once a month. 
  9. Avoid feather duvets
  10. Put soft toys and cushions into the freezer (in a plastic bag) for 24 hrs (kills dust-mite)
  11. Alternatively put soft toys and cushions etc into the sun.
  12. Hoover regularly with good Hepa filters on your hoover – I recently invested in a robot vacuum because our central vac broke down.  It is fantastic, helps with getting the job done when you are doing other jobs, avoids the process of stirring up dust and breathing it in when vacuuming etc.  It goes under the bed where the hoover never managed to reach and I think is worth the investment….

Here’s a link from the National Centre for Biotechnology Information:                https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4751955/

The subject is:   Therapeutic Potential of Tea Tree Oil for Scabies.

It’s a long read but to fast track to the relevant section, please refer to the heading “Preliminary Data / Pilot Studies – Acaricidal Effects – where it says:

“In addition to its broader insecticidal activity, TTO has also demonstrated promising potential as an acaricide in numerous in vitro and in vivo exploratory studies. House dust mites (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) showed 100% mortality in vitro after exposure to a 10% TTO formulation.

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Q:- Do you have a shop in New Zealand and can I buy in Hong Kong?

A:-  We have an online e-commerce website. We do ship overseas and can accommodate any overseas order subject to shipping.  Because overseas orders don’t have our GST applied (Goods and Services Tax), the 15% reduction often covers the cost of shipping depending on destination. For direct inquiries email us at info@cleanfreshair.co.nz

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Q:- Hello I was reading your brochure on Environmental Air Solutions and it says floor area 1m2 -8m2 recommended size is 100g. So, for a cupboard where I continually can smell damp, but there is no leak or anything (just typical west Auckland wetness), would it work?  

A:- A 100gm pot will suit a cupboard perfectly.  As an indicator, a 100gm pot suits a typical sized cupboard up to a bathroom, a 230gm pot suits a bedroom.

The smell emitted is noticeable for the first few minutes but does not linger and isn’t overpowering – nonetheless most people love the fresh scent of Tea Tree Oil.  As the gel evaporates it works on any bacteria and mould spores present and stops their maturation.

You can refill any of our differently sized pots with our 800gm refillable pouch.

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 Q:- The ingredient lists 4 items:tea tree oil at a certain grade,emulsifier, filtered water, colourant (evaporative gel only) 

https://cleanfreshair.co.nz/pages/ingredients-list 

What are the ingredients of the colourant. I do not know what this is. 

A:- The colour (which is there for aesthetic purposes only) is: Hopper natural colours which are ‘colouring foodstuffs’ concentrates made from fruits and vegetables such as elderberries, pumpkins, carrots and red cabbage. Because they are colours extracted from nature, they are classified as food ingredients not ‘additives’. Additives are always represented by a number or an E-number. Hopper natural colours are derived using a water extraction process.  Solvents or chemicals are not used in the manufacturing process and they do not contain any artificial functional additives.

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 Q:- I would like to know what the difference in function is between the spray and the evaporative. Do they achieve the same result? Also, I would like to know how long should I expect the mould inhibiting function to last from a 100g evaporative in a bedroom?

 

A:- So to answer your questions regarding the 100gm container of evaporative gel. This is our smallest container and is only suitable for spaces up to 8m2. Typically useful for cupboards, wardrobes and small bathrooms.

For a bedroom – I would propose either a 100gm in a fan dispenser (lasting 4-6 weeks), otherwise a 230gm container (lasting 2-3 months) depending on the size of your bedroom.

What the evaporating vapour does is kill mould spores – it stops the molecular wall structure of the black mould spore forming including E-Coli, and Golden Staph, thus improving the quality of the air you breathe.

The spray on the other hand is very useful for instant sanitisation.  It will kill the same spores (including dust-mite), but requires you to spray when and where you wish.  I use it when cleaning – onto a damp cloth, around silicone seals in the shower, down plugholes, lightly on backs of curtains, a spritz around leather shoes etc.  I also use the spray when cleaning the filter on our heat pump, but otherwise put an evaporative tub above the heat pump.

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Q:- I purchased some evaporative tubs today. I've just opened them and some are liquid, while others are a gel/thick like consistency. I'm thinking the liquid ones are not right?  

A:- The gel doesn't have any synthetic stablisers. (yay). So the product going runny can happen when it gets either old (past 6 months) or gets exposed to temperature changes (stored in sunlight or over 25 deg C).  The gel is hydroscopic which means it can sometimes take up water from the atmosphere and cause it to go sloppy. It doesn’t mean that it doesn’t still work, but of course you run the risk of spilling it which is annoying.  If you can provide details of date purchased and how stored we would always be happy to replace if not supplied correctly.  

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Q:- Hi there I saw your stand at the North Shore home show possibly last year, anyhow we are heat pump /air con company & we offer servicing for all of our installations. I am interested Evaporative gel solution, we install a lot of ducted style units where access to the coil inside is not really possible due to all the duct work & thought installing an Evaporative gel solution tub in our return air could suck it through the system & kill any potential mould or bacteria. would this be a suitable use for this product? & if so would a refill once a year be enough? we typically offer an annual service on all our residential jobs. Thanks look forward to hearing from you

 

A:- The gel product we offer is ideal for the situation you describe.  It is made by an Air-Conditioning business in Cairns for the express purpose of their air-conditioning maintenance business and now, over the past few years is being utilised by homes owners  and businesses including two hospitals and hotel complexes. So yes our product is ideal for the servicing of your ducted units.  You would need to assess the air-flow exchange volumes in order to quantify the amount required.

 

Have a look at our website re. the article on Air Conditioning applications.

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Q:- We bought the tea tree dispenser from you and the spray. 

The spray works okay but the fan dispenser is a waste of time, doesn’t do much at all and lost its scent after about half a day. 

Just thought you might like to know. 

A:- Sorry to hear this, but possibly there is a reason. 

You won’t ‘smell’ the evaporative overly once the initial ‘blast’ from opening.  This is normal.  Most people don’t want it to be too strong and don’t be disappointed, because it is still working, it is still killing any mould spores that might be trying to take hold in that vicinity.  If you put your nose to the grill, you will smell the scent of Tea Tree… most people like that it isn’t overpowering. 

I have a dispenser in every room of my house (because I can of course), and we have no mould and personally I am breathing easier – I’ve had asthma all my life.  Give it a chance – what setting did you put it to?  Eg, on for 3 mins and off for one, daytime only…. (I think that is the best setting and allows the 100gm evaporative to last a bit longer).  If you saw my bread example, you will know it does work. 

If you would like a refund, please let me know.  I hate to think anyone isn’t happy with their purchase.  If you are happy to continue – let me send you another courtesy 100gm to put in when your current pot expires….   

I do appreciate that you responded to my email follow-up today and will take your comments on-board.

(Post comment; client happy and has re-ordered). :-)

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Q:- Am interested in your products for our office air-conditioning system.

1 x liquid spray EAS 750 ml

3 x containers say 400g (would this be ok for an office of size 50-60m sq).

How long would 400 g last?

Assume the 800 g refill fills the 400 g container twice.

A:- Strategically placed, the 400g containers will easily cover the area you suggest.  If there is good air-flow, even by heat pumps or air con units or just simply open windows, they will last 2-3 months.  If the air is more stagnant they will last longer, but will not reach all 4 corners of a room as effectively.  I would say you only need two x 400gm, not 3 x, depending on the shape of the room.

The 800gm refill packs are for refilling the tubs with evaporative gel.

As an alternative we also offer a fan dispenser (see our web page www.cleanfresh.co.nz) which holds the 100g.  You could place two or three in the room size you mention and just refill the tubs (which would last one month only on a setting of daylight hours, one hour on, one hour off).

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Q:- Can you give me some idea of what area your respective product sizes go with? i.e. 100g for small room say 10-12m2.

Am very interested if application is economical.

A:- For a typical bedroom size I suggest the 230gm or two 100gm tubs placed in opposite corners.  The 100gm is supposed to cover up to 8m2 and the 230gm 8-16m2.  Typically, these tubs last a minimum of one month and up to three months depending on air-flow, heat/dryness or the lack of!  Furthermore, a small tub placed on the window sill of any damp window areas works.  The spray solution is a further option when cleaning around aluminium window frames, tiles, shower-silicone areas etc.

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Q:- Many ask what is the difference between your TTO Liquid Spray and the Hydrosol spray?

A:- The key ingredient is the same, however the TTO Liquid Spray is stronger and more suited to mould applications including around window sills and targets difficult areas to manage. Our stronger TTO Spray is made directly with a much higher percentage of top quality ATTIA certified TTO mixed with distilled water and natural emulsifier.

Our Hydrosol, is a general purpose spray with the droplets of oil held in suspension.  The hydrosol is made from the vapour generated whilst distilling Tea Tree leaves and creating TTO.  Use as a 'spray and wipe' or as an additive when washing clothes.

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Q:- I run a Veterinary and need to know how effective this product is against bacteria?

A:- In conjunction with using our product with your heat pump sanitisation maintenance the following information applies to direct application to benches and operating tables:  page 2 refers to Susceptibility data for bacteria tested against M. alternifolia (Tea Tree Oil). The 21st Bacterial Species on page 2 is Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Knowing that the concentration of Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil in every EAS product is 10%, you will note that the MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) against the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria has a range of 1 – 8% with an MBC (Minimum Bactericidal Concentration) of 2 - >8%.

‘Clean Fresh Air’ exceeds the minimum and is therefore effective in the elimination of bacterium.

Our TTO spray can be used for not just air-conditioning heat-pump maintenance but sanitisation of pet benches prior examination, assists with smell and odour and can be used when preparing used cages for new pet patients.  The product has the endorsement of ATTIA (https://www.teatree.org.au/certified_members.php) and has been proven to effectively kill black mould, E-Coli and Golden Staph being an overall anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral agent.  All 100% natural.

This product has been designed, refined and proven by an Air Conditioning company manufacturer.

R:- Thanks for all the information you’ve supplied so well.   Unfortunately, I am not completely comfortable with using the tea-tree-based product because there is a small, but present risk of animals having a respiratory reaction to it. It is rare, but being a vet hospital, we of course have sick animals here constantly – which are more likely than other animals to react.  

(Response; - of course - your animal patients are first priority - use the best alternative hygienic sanitising products best suited to them - hopefully 100% natural). I would want the same for my pets.