2020 has presented us with many challenges regarding how we can get through our days safely. One of the best things we can do for ourselves and others is to wear a mask, but those who wear glasses have to deal with our lenses fogging. Many of us are driving again or are back in our offices, and pollutants, bacteria, and other irritants are all around us. KeySmart has two new products to help, KeySmart FogBlock and KeySmart CleanLight Air.
KeySmart FogBlock
It didn’t really hit me how foggy my glasses could get when wearing a mask (or even how annoying foggy glasses could be) until the first time I stepped out of my vehicle with both my eyeglasses and a mask on to enter a grocery store. We were in the early months of summer, and it was hot and steamy — and my glasses immediately fogged with my mask as I entered the cooler store; they continued to fog as warm breath piped up to them from my mask — even with the mask’swire firmly adjusted to fit the bridge of my nose. The same thing has happened at (socially distanced) high school football games this fall; I’ll put my mask on before I step out of my warm vehicle, and the minute the cooler temperatures hit, the warm air piped up from my mask causes my glasses fog. KeySmart FogBlock takes care of that problem.
KeySmart FogBlock comes in a travel-friendly 1-ounce spray bottle. This non-toxic, anti-fog formula is safe to use on eyeglasses, sunglasses, and goggles, even if they have anti-reflective or non-reflective lenses. To apply, you clean your glasses with a microfiber cloth to remove any smudges, and then you spay the front and back of your lenses. One pump is generally enough to cover each lens’s side unless you’re dealing with goggles or oversized lenses.
The solution will create little bubbles on the lenses, but within a few minutes, they will disappear, and you’ll be left with clear, streak-free lenses that don’t fog while you are wearing your glasses and mask. KeySmart says that the formula will last for up to 24 hours, and I have found that true. Applying KeySmart FogBlock is a lot easier than the no-fog creams I have tried in the past; those required applying a small amount to the lenses, letting the cream dry, and then buffing the lenses clear. FogBlock is quick and easy to apply, and it works.
A single bottle of KeySmart FogBlock sells for $14.99; there are bulk discounts available when you buy two or more — if you buy two, you get one free for $29.98, you can buy three and get two free for $44.97, or you can buy four and get three free for $59.96). KeySmart FogBlock is available directly from the manufacturer and from Amazon [affiliate link]
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample
What I Like: Easy to apply: Fast drying; No need to buff after it’s dried; Lasts 24 hours; No more foggy eyeglasses or sunglasses when you are wearing a mask
What Needs Improvement: It seems expensive when you buy a single bottle, but the discounts on multiples make it a better deal
KeySmart CleanLight Air
If you are back in your office or spending time driving to and from work, the KeySmart CleanLight Air will be right up your alley. This microUSB-powered cylindrical aluminum air purifier will work in either your vehicle or in a small office space of up to 161 square feet. The CleanLight Air uses a combination of UV-C LED light’s rays to kill 99.99% of germs and bacteria and an H13 HEPA filter to act as a 360º air filter which removes 99% of particles including smoke, odors, dust, pet dander, total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), and air pollution.
Made to fit in a cupholder and measuring 6.7″ tall by 2.6″ wide and weighing 10.5 ounces, the CleanLight Air’s body is composed of water-resistant matte black aluminum, which helps keep it from being a fingerprint magnet. On its back, there is a power button, a USB port for plugging in and powering a mobile device, and a microUSB charging port. To turn the KeySmart CleanLight Air on, you press the power button. The air purifier’s blue UV-C light will come on automatically when the power button is pressed; there are two quiet fan speeds, which you can control by pressing the power button once more. A final press will turn the air-purifier off again.
On the top, there is an air outlet where the clean air produced exits. When the air purifier is turned on, the area circling the air outlet’s ring will glow a soft blue. There is a light “ozone” smell when the UV-C light is running, making the next feature quite handy.
The bottom is removable …
… so that you can access a small sponge built into the lid; on it, you can place a few drops of essential oil so that the purified air that you are producing smells amazing. Peppermint or eucalyptus seem like they would be excellent choices if you are using this in a vehicle. They smell great, and they are natural decongestants —- convenient during allergy season, which we have entered in full force here in West Texas.
The 360º HEPA filter can be removed for replacement after it’s reached its 500-hour lifespan. KeySmart also sells filter replacements for $9.99. They recommend changing the filter out every two to three months, based on TOVC and air pollution. At 500 hours, if you were to leave it running in your office for 8 hours a day, you’d get 62.5 days of use from each filter. If you use it only in your car and have a two-hour daily commute, it should last much longer (approximately 250 days).
The UV-C light is rated to last 10,000 hours, which would be a bit over three years if you are running it for 8 hours a day, but if you are using it in your car for just a couple of hours or so per day, it should last for much longer. I tested the air purifier by vaping CBD in its proximity, and I watched it pull the vapor right into the filter. Obviously, I don’t have Petri dishes to test whether the UV-C light is killing bacteria, but I will take their word for it.
We can’t control the air everywhere we go, but we can protect the air we breathe in our cars and on our desks — assuming you have a smaller office. The KeySmart ClearLight Air is an effective way to remove germs and other pollutants, and with the aromatherapy sponge, it can even make the air you are breathing smell better.
KeySmart CleanLight Air sells for $119.99; there are discounts available when you buy two or more — if you buy two, you 50% off the second one for $179.98, you can buy two and get one free for $239.98, or you can a ClearLight Air and a CleanLight Mini bundle for $134.99). The KeySmart CleanLight Air is available directly from the manufacturer and from Amazon [affiliate link].
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample
What I Like: Small enough to fit in a vehicle’s cup holder; Can purify the air in a space up to 161 square feet; The combination of UV-C light and a HEPA filter work double-time to remove germs, bacteria, smoke, odors, dust, pet dander, TVOC, and air pollution; Aromatherapy sponge allows you to add essential oil for clean air that smells wonderful; Built-in USB Type-A charging port is handy, since you have to give up a port to run the air purifier: Filters are rated to last for 500 hours, and the UV-C light is rated to last for 10,000 hours
What Needs Improvement: Nothing
