RAYCOP RS2 Fabric Purifier: Clean the Uncleanable

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An ad* says you should use Febreze on household items you can’t wash — things like pet beds, couch cushions, curtains, throw pillows, and fluffy throw blankets. Here’s the thing, though — spraying a deodorizer on those items does nothing more than mask odors. If you want to deep clean these things, you can use the RAYCOP RS2 Fabric Purifier.

Oh hai! I like to eat your dead skin and leave poop everywhere. Is that cool with you?

This cuddly creature is a house dust mite. They “feed on organic detritus, such as flakes of shed human skin, and flourish in the stable environment of dwellings.” (source) Furthermore, “House dust mites are a common cause of asthma and allergic symptoms worldwide. The mite’s gut contains potent digestive enzymes (notably proteases) that persist in their feces and are major inducers of allergic reactions such as wheezing. The mite’s exoskeleton can also contribute to allergic reactions. The European house dust mite (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) and the American house dust mite (Dermatophagoides farinae) are two different species, but are not necessarily confined to Europe or North America; a third species Euroglyphus maynei also occurs widely.”

The good news is that “unlike scabies mites or skin follicle mites, house dust mites do not burrow under the skin and are not parasitic.” Yay?

The RAYCOP RS2 Fabric Purifier was created to not only to eliminate dust mites from your home, but to also eliminate bacteria, viruses, and pollen. Watch this video to get an idea of how it works …

There are two RAYCOP allergen vacuum models available: the RS2, and the LITE. The LITE is described as being their entry-level model, with compact size and no-frills features, and the ability to be used “on a variety of fabrics, including clothes and yoga mats.” I was sent the RS2, which RAYCOP says is “sleek, sturdy, and rich in high-performance features. With 3 suction modes and a rotating brush, this is your best choice for the deepest clean of fabric surfaces in your home.” The third model shown in the picture below is the RX, their “top-of-the-line model boasting luxury features and stunning design,” which will be available in late 2017.

The RAYCOP RS2 Fabric Purifier Features:

  • Patented RayClean Technology®
  • 3x more effective at removing allergens than standard vacuum
  • 3 suction modes: delicate, normal and heavy
  • Ultraviolet light to eliminate harmful bacteria and virus’
  • Pulsating pads agitate and loosen dirt and dust mite matter
  • Rotating brush loosens surface dust and hair
  • HEPA filter traps and eliminates pollen, dust mite matter, and dirt
  • Dust box filter captures larger dust and dirt particles
  • Ultraviolet light active display and safety technology
  • Power safety lock
  • Overheating prevention mechanism

Included in the box are the RAYCOP RS2, a cleaning brush, a stand, and a spare dust box filter.

The RAYCOP RS2 Fabric Purifier measures approximately 15.25″ wide by 17″ long by 6.5″ tall (all measurements taken at the widest spots). The gray rectangle that you see near the bottom left is the power cord rewind button.

The retractable power cord is on the right side; the cable extends about 15′ or so.

The handle contains the power button and the various functions including (from top to bottom): alert to wash dust box filter; alert to replace Micro HEPA filter; Dust Box Lamp, Delicate, and Normal (the three purifying modes); and the lock lamp. The ring around the power button will glow red when the RS2 is locked, green when it’s in standby, and blue when you can start using or changing to the various modes.

The front of the RS2 has the dust box and filter. To remove it, you pull the ridges on both sides straight up with one hand.

This is where the dust and other detritus you vacuum up will go.

The stand gives you a place to set the RAYCOP RS2 Fabric Purifier down when it’s not in use.

On the underside of the RS2, you’ll find the micro-HEPA filter.

The last component worth mentioning is the underside, which contains the UV Lamp grill and frame and the surface brush.

According to RAYCOP, these are the results you can expect to see with the RS2. I guess all that’s left is for me to show what happened when I used it, right?

We’ll start with this fluffy brown sheepskin pillow that I bought last year. I love this thing; it’s soft, fluffy, and cuddly! But as you can probably tell by looking at it, it is not something that can ever go in the washing machine. I can comb it if my dog gets a burr in it, but until now, I really had no way to get it clean. So, it was first to undergo the RS2 treatment … and then I went ahead and did the fabric chair that it sits on.

The RAYCOP RS2 Fabric Purifier is substantial, but it is not too heavy to handle one-handed. When you turn it on, you can press the power button to cycle through the purification modes; I started with delicate, but soon figured that the heavy mode would work just fine. After cleaning these two items, I was a bit appalled to see the amount of dust collected and visible in the RS2’s viewing window, but it wasn’t too terrible … yet.

Next, I thought I’d tackle the beautiful Pendleton wool blanket that we keep at the foot of our bed. As far as I know, it is dry clean only, and we haven’t taken it in since we got it. I spread it out over the bed and did both sides. When the RAYCOP RS2 Fabric Purifier was passing over it, the blue UV light would shine and I knew it was working; when I lifted it up, the UV light would go out until it was placed down flat again; this is normal.

After doing the blanket, I ran the RAYCOP RS2 Fabric Purifier over the top of our comforter. Now I was starting to get really disturbed, as I could see a definite collection of funk gathering through the filter window.

That’s just NASTY.

Our housekeeper cleaned yesterday, and one of the things she always does is vacuum our mohair living room rug. I figured I’d run the RAYCOP RS2 Fabric Purifier over a bit of that, too. I did maybe 4 square feet before the “Wash Dust Box Filter” light came on. Fair enough.

Now was the moment of truth … what had the RAYCOP RS2 Fabric Purifier collected from my chair. pillow, bed, and a small bit of our living room rug? I could tell before I opened the filter box that it was going to be bad.

Ah jeez; I don’t even want to know!

RAYCOP suggests that to avoid dust from scattering everywhere, you submerge the dust box and the filter in a 9:1 mixture of water and detergent in the sink. After you’ve rinsed and cleaned them well, you should set them in a shaded area on a towel and allow them to dry.

After the filter and box have dried, you can pop them back into your RS2 and go again.

The RAYCOP RS2 Fabric Purifier obviously does a much better job of cleaning than my Dyson vacuum cleaner, and it works on items that I would never be able to use my vacuum on, anyway. Next up, I’m going to strip my bed and run the RS2 over my mattress; if we had an upholstered sofa, I’d do it, too. The RAYCOP RS2 Fabric Purifier can be used on sofas, chairs, curtains, sheets, comforters, blankets, area rugs that can’t be cleaned (we have a silk rug that is going to get the treatment, too), and other fabrics that you wouldn’t ordinarily be able to wash or dry clean.

This is easily one of the coolest cleaning contraptions that I’ve reviewed because there is no question of whether or not it is really cleaning the things you run it over — you see the proof in all of its disgusting glory.

If you have an asthma or allergy sufferer in your home, if you have pets, or if you just want to know that you are doing everything possible to keep dust and detritus out of your bed, off your furniture, and out of the air that you breathe, you need the RAYCOP RS2 Fabric Purifier.

The RAYCOP RS2 Fabric Purifier retails for $349.99, and it is available directly from the manufacturer and from Amazon [affiliate link].

Source: Manufacturer provided review sample

What I Like: Easy to operate; Easy to clean; Three different modes for different fabrics; Gets dust and other detritus off of your sleeping and sitting surfaces; The UV light is supposed to kill viruses and bacteria

What Needs Improvement: Nothing — it’s impressive

*Just for reference — in case you haven’t seen the Febreze ad I was talking about…

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About the Author

Judie Lipsett Stanford
Judie is the co-owner and Editor-in-Chief of Gear Diary, which she founded in September 2006. She got her start in 1999 writing software reviews at the now-defunct smaller.com; from mid-2000 through 2006, she wrote hardware reviews for and co-edited at The Gadgeteer. A recipient of the Sigma Kappa Colby Award for Technology, Judie has written for or been profiled by nationally known sites and magazines, and she has served on multiple industry hardware and software award panels. She is best known for her device-agnostic approach, enjoyment of exploring tech, gadgets, and gear, and her deep-diving, jargon-free reviews.