subject: Air Filter For Manicurist---why You Need One And What It Should Be Able To Do [print this page] Performing manicures and pedicures in a salon on a regular basis can send volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) into the air. These evaporate from polish, remover, hardener, and other products can fill the air with fumes that can make eyes water, throats burn, and in severe cases cause dizziness and vomiting. An effective air filter for a successful manicurist needs to be able to do the following 5 things.
Remove Chemical Fumes---It is the chemicals that evaporate from many nail salon products that cause the air to smell so bad. Unfortunately, they do not go away in a timely manner on their own.
That's why so many salons open the doors and windows---to try to exhaust the fumes.
Unless you actively eliminate these odors, they can hang around in the air for hours. In order for a filter to get rid of them, it should be carbon-based. But to remove these kinds of chemicals the carbon filter should have an additive of potassium iodide to increase its effectiveness.
Remove Airborne Particles---Being able to have an air cleaner that can remove airborne particles in addition to the VOCs is a huge advantage. A unit that contains multiple sized filters for particles means one unit can do everything you need.
Ultimately this saves space and money.
Pre-filters (both large and medium sized) can remove the big particles, and a high efficiency particle arresting (or HEPA) can remove microscopic particles that are as small as .3 microns in size.
24 Hour Filtration---Cleaning the air around the clock is the most reliable way to keep fume levels down and air quality high. A filter with a split capacitor motor will able to run 24 hours a day, non-stop.
This will keep VOC levels low and allow you to feel good while you work. It will also allow your clients to really relax and enjoy the service you are providing with fewer side effects from the products being used.
Multiple Filtration Speeds---Peak times generate more fumes. Multiply the fumes from each procedure by the number of manicurists working and it is not hard to see that the potential for chemicals increases exponentially.
A filter needs to be able to deal with this increase in pollutants by stepping up the rate at which the air is filtered. High, medium, and low options will allow you to get more help when you need it, and turn it to low when you don't
A Filter That Can Move---Casters or wheels on a unit can really give you the most control over the air that is closest to you. By being able to roll the filter close to your station when you are doing a particularly smelling procedure or sending lots of nail dust into the air, you allow the cleaner to minimize the effect that these pollutants have on you, your client, and the rest of the salon.
Removing hazardous pollutants with continuous filtration is an effective, low maintenance, and non-invasive way to improve air quality and quality of life. Just think, you can start breathing clean air today.
