I tried to buy an air purifier online last year, during the fires. I wasn’t allowed to buy some models because they didn’t meet CA standards. Will these?
@tartanknickers CA doesn’t allow the “air cleaners” that aren’t much more than just an ozone generator. They don’t really clean the air and ozone is one of the components to smog.
@canneddirt and this explains the question raised in the write-up. There’s no feasible way to make an electronic Swiffer brush or mop that forces you into buying your refills from Swiffer themselves, so they needed to branch out into something that it wouldn’t be silly to make electronic.
It’s still being ambitious in the right-ish way. Just think, they could have come out with a Bluetooth sweeper instead, and it would have ended up on Meh so much faster.
@canneddirt Thank you for bringing that up. I didn’t notice the DRM protection and was just about to buy.
Everything I buy these days has some sort of digital protection scheme which must be defeated so I don’t have to pay ridiculous sums for consumables. Now that Dymo was pwned by Stamps.com even my stupid postage printer will start requiring serialized labels in July.
@canneddirt Once you’re out of filters, line the housing with regular Swiffer pads (or your preferred generic version), replace the fan with one of those two for $2 fans we all bought only because they were so cheap a couple weeks ago.
All you gotta do is replace the batteries when needed. Hmmm, I wonder if there’s a place one can get a boatload of super cheap batteries once in a while?
Easy peasy! - Except for the part where the AAA batteries of your fan will need to be replaced more often than your MacGyver’d filters.
@canneddirt Should have been clear in the description that it quits working, doesn’t just turn on a light, when it decides the filter is too old. Bad Swiffer! Bad MEH!
@canneddirt you know, for $34 and 5 months of allergy season coming up, i figure it’ll be worth it. I’m really bad at taking pills… maybe the drm thing can be h@xxx0rd in the future?
@actionPacked@canneddirt I’m surprised that I wasn’t able to find anyone defeating this DRM with a quick google. I feel like this one would have been as easy as defeating the Keurig one by chopping the tag off for just the chip…
Tempted to order one just to try to defeat the DRM.
I feel like this one would have been as easy as defeating the Keurig one by chopping the tag off for just the chip…
It’s probably not that easy. As an engineer, here’s what I would do if I were evil. It’s probably similar to how these work.
Each filter replacement would have an RFID chip with the general Swiffer code and a unique filter number. Once a given filter has been in the device for a certain number of hours, the fan would refuse to turn on again for that particular filter.
So just cutting off the tag with the chip and sticking it on your third-party or homemade filter replacement wouldn’t work because the device would recognize the filter number as one that has already logged the maximum number of hours.
So we need to create a coalition. The Chip Exchange Cooperative will organize a chip exchange to rotate previously used chips throughout the community. Since each Swiffer system only knows about the chips they’ve seen and used, and know nothing about the other chips in the Swifferverse.
Unfortunately, as a former engineer I recognize there is almost certainly a checksum bit on the chip. Call it the “previously_installed” bit. When a new filter is installed, the air purifier sets the value of that bit to true. Attempting to use that chip in any other air purifier will tell the system the filter is beyond it’s life cycle and the system will front an error code.
So, ya, I just talked myself out of The Chip Exchange Cooperative. Sorry for the interruption. Please resume your previous activities.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@ruouttaurmind Hah, yeah. After reading your first paragraph I was going to say that it’s possible they used a chip with a small amount of writeable space on it, like what’s in the Nintendo Amiibos.
In that case, the base device wouldn’t have to “remember” anything at all, just occasionally write to the chip with an updated run-time hours count, and check that value before accepting any refill.
Still possible to hack. But the install base on these is probably nowhere near large enough for there to be a motivated community to actually do so.
@The_Tim Well, I was just going to cut off the tag and leave it in the chip reader.
I anticipated that, and short of voiding the warranty on it and doing the simple thing and direct wiring the fan, I was wondering more how many entries the memory could handle. Could I trick it with 10-20 different chips to switch through? Or can I wipe the memory, with extended power loss, or maybe shorting the capacitor out.
@ongware As @ruouttaurmind and I mentioned just above, it’s likely that the base device has no “memory” at all, but rather that it writes a few bits of data to the chips in the replacement filters. In that case, your idea of cycling through chips would not work no matter how many you tried.
@ongware@ruouttaurmind@The_Tim If it writes to the chip, it should be easy enough to figure out what chip it is and either re-write it back to empty or get super cheap chips from China that can be fully erased and rewritten.
(I have a bit of an RFID hobby/addiction, including 3 RFID tags in my hands)
@j8048188 I went through that on my brother’s XYZ 3D printer (propriatary 3D filament). After scouring the interwebs I discovered a scheme which permitted us to reset the counter on the chip, then just refill the dispenser with inexpensive Hatchbox filament.
@actionPacked@canneddirt@ongware I’m in for two with the intent of finding a way to get around it. IF the chip reader is effectively just a switch that allows current to flow to the fan, I’d think it’d be pretty easy to bypass. But if the chip reader is part of a voltage regulator or something devious like that, it’ll be a lot harder.
@djslack I’ve currently got 3 tags surgically implanted. A group of my friends and I do some biohacking stuff, and RFID implants is one of those things. One has my work badge cloned to it, so I can open any doors with my hand. On the other hand, one tag gives you my business card. The second tag works as a hotel keycard or bus pass.
@djslack The process is easy and relatively painless. The tag is in a biosafe glass capsule and loaded into an 8-10 gauge needle, depending on the size of the capsule. The assembly comes sterilized and ready to go. So they just pinch to separate the skin from muscle, stick the needle in, and pull it out while pushing the plunger to put the tag in place. Takes less than a minute. You need to be careful with the injection site for a few days and take prenatal vitamins (even if you’re a guy) for about a month to encourage collagen growth. If you want to learn any more, I’d recommend checking out forum.dangerousthings.com for a decent discussion place, and their main site to learn about their products.
@j8048188@ongware@ruouttaurmind@The_Tim Not sure if it helps at all but decided to smash one of the filter chip housings to bit and get a look under her skirt. I can’t find much on the chip, I’m assuming it’s just a cheap microcontroller. I don’t have an osmelloscope so getting anything meaningful might be difficult. I’m thinking of maybe trying to check what it’s outputing when connected to base. Maybe it’s as simple as just driving a pin high or low to tell the base “It’s OK this guy gave us more money, let him pass”
Oh, hell, Meh. You’ve finally found my “sweet spot,” e.g. I fuck’ng HATE to dust. I don’t care at this point if the replacement filters require my SSN and a blood sample, as long as it just WORKS! So, ummm… thanks, I guess?
DRM on a cloth filter? That is the most blatant example of anti-consumer bs I think I have ever seen. This or the plastic coffee grounds holder with DRM. Maybe Nike should make that will beep randomly or refuse to stay tied unless you have on branded, chipped socks.
Here’s the problem: stuff doesn’t typically land up in here until it’s at or beyond EOL. So what happens when Swiffer stops manufacturing those chipped filters in a year? Or few months? Or they already have and the last supply is just now clearing through distribution channels? This thing will sit there collecting dust. And not the way it was designed to.
@squishybrain ha! I already do this with activated charcoal sheets filters on the back of a box fan, but lining it with swiffer pads is a great idea too!
I’m surprised he taped it to the blow side of the box fan though, instead of just placing it on the suck side and not having to tape it at all.
@dino2269@ruouttaurmind pushing and pulling air will full coverage will take the same amount to strain! Ruouttaurmind is right, preferiltering your air is the way to go imho
@snapster This actually upsets me, I expect more transparency from meh. There is no reason to expect this to have a chip on it. This should have been made clear, or better yet, not sold at all.
First gen is on amazon for $49 with 3 filters. Only difference between the gens seems to be that there is less parts on it to break, aka, the DRM and filter full modules…
Man I just replaced the filters in the Claritin air filters you sold years ago and those filters are good for a year. Those Claritin built by Sunbeam ones are loud as fuck but we keep them in the bedrooms and the hum helps put us to sleep.
So, the company that’s famous for selling disposable paper-towel mops to people too lazy to rinse out a re-usable one is now selling a non-HEPA proprietary paper filtered air “cleaner”? wow, in for zero. “Super quiet” means no air-flow, right?
So you have to buy proprietary filters that will cost you approximately $80 a year. Two year cost is $194 including the unit itself. Or or could buy a quality air purifier like this Honeywell with washable filters for $160 and not ever have to worry about chipped filters that may not be produced in the future. Yet they’ve sold 480 of these so far. Smh… https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-HFD-120-Q-QuietClean-Purifier-Permanent/dp/B000ANEPYO
@llangley Same thing. They both cycle air through a filter which collects the dust and/or particles. This thing is even called an ‘air cleaning system.’
Dang. I want one. I’m willing to pay for it. It would have been my 1st meh. And they didn’t have enough. Oh well, I’ll find something else useless on which to spend ciitbanks money.
The Amazon reviews say it’s essentially a dust collector, not an air purifier. I need to do a massive house clean, and that always stirs up dust to give me a serious allergy attack. I can’t wear masks for hours on end, so this seems like a good solution to the specific problem of dust.
I’m tempted to get in on this just to join the hacking effort. Unfortunately the olio smart watches were not a good start, but I bet this is an easier problem to solve.
@AlecWallace That would be too easy. As discussed above, it’s likely the chip itself is written to which in turn eventually disables the unit until a new filter/chip is inserted.
Managed to hold out until an hour before the changeover. But yeah, I need dis. chunky-partial-gopher. Which is funny, because one of our cats left me a dead gopher as a gift at the front door today.
Did anyone else buy this sucker (Literally)? Was supposed to come with extra filters for free… Nada… Zip Only the supplied one in this sealed factory box… I am sneezing already…:-(
Anyone else have the fun delivery of both packages basically traveling the same route, but then for some reason they parted ways so you ended up getting the filters while patiently waiting until the next day to hopefully get the system? Only a minor complaint since I won’t be able to actually get the thing set up until Monday or Tuesday, assuming it gets delivered tomorrow. Just kind of funny that they both were scanned in as at the same facility at 8:55PM Wednesday, then the cleaning system mysteriously went missing until this morning while the filters continued traveling.
Filters and unit came on same day, less than 5 minute setup no sound at all… so far so good great deal the fan and motor are well built,will buy more if they pop up again. the whole unit is well thought out and quality.
I’ll post my DRM hacks after I get a good run out of 1 filter. Easiest hack, apply power directly to the fan, bypass the “brains” altogether. But I’ll see if I can get an Ardiuno to replicate the filter chip comms… maybe…
@psantora Mine has started blinking, but I haven’t had any time to mess with it. Maybe this weekend I’ll fire up the ol’ noggin and see what I can find poking around.
@iisaintii@psantora@xenophod I heard people were just putting a piece of tape over the blinking light. That worked for my car engine warning light -Ta Da,
@iisaintii@therealjrn@xenophod The light blinks for about an additional month or so before the fan’s DRM kicks in and turns itself off. I haven’t found a workaround to “refurbish” the used filters… yet. Anyone else have ideas? Reposting from @TehMaliron above, here is an image of the chip https://imgur.com/a/FqnFtnp in case that helps.
@psantora@TehMaliron@therealjrn@xenophod
I haven’t figured it out. I took mine apart about a month ago to see how difficult rewiring the fan would be. IIRC, there was 5-7 wires going into the female side of where the chip is inserted.
Anyway, my wife wasn’t comfortable with me messing with it until we’ve used all the filters it came with. I wasn’t able to check out the fan-side electronics much beyond that.
@llangley@thesugarat@xenophod That was a lot of over explaining just to show how to cross patch the 2 motor wires directly to the power supply.
There was also talk elsewhere in the thread of the possibility of getting around the DRM by simply rotating through enough used chips to overflow the memory. Was anyone successful in trying that?
@kuoh Yes, it’s that simple. I just wanted to be thorough with explaining all of it for those who might not be as familiar with electronics. But, if you are… Keep fan power only and bypass the board by connecting ground wire to ground wire. You can actually leave the board in place and I think the lights will still flash like Kit from Knight Rider…
The filters are ridiculously easy to wash and without getting the chip wet. I’ve got two drying and I’m hoping that like some old DRM chipped printer ink cartridges, that the filter can only store 2 chips in memory before it thinks a chip is new. I will be back to see what you can come up with.
So, are you saying that if I have 2 units with 3 filters each, I might be able to rotate them from unit to unit until the wear out? That would be great! I’m almost afraid to use them now, for fear of not being able to get more filters. Doesn’t make sense, I know.
Please let us know ehst yoi discover. I’ll do my homework too.
I like it. Got it in factory box and that box was in brown package box. Two filters box inside factory box. Set up ok, but I have a question, on plastic film was a black rectangle rubber shape. Never told me what that is for, maybe protection for package
Just as a quick update/fyi I found that you can just plug the same chip back in and the fan will start right back up, albeit the light will continue to just sit there blinking for all eternity (I tabbed some nail polish over it so I can’t see it anymore). So, it seems the chip only functions as a “start” button of sorts and to work that light
Happy to report -
I checked back - started using mine in mid-May. Still running while blinking away. Think I’ll try washing the filter like @MotherTongue above, and hope for the best.
Anyone know if it’s important to keep the chip dry?
Breathing improved over night. Started with 3 units and I got 4 more ready to start when the change the filters on the original 3 units. Letting it go a bit longer since u don’t need to change as son as the light blinks. Live in Florida and had stuffed nose everyday. Not no more
You do not need the chip if you look at the wiring and apply the voltage from the power supply directly to the fan leads. You will loose the outside lights but the fan will work continuously until you decide to change the filter or wash the filter. You will no longer need the chip and obviously you are voiding your warranty, but you can get the Swiffer Continuous Air Cleaner for cheap enough. Better get them now before a Gen 3 comes out that makes it very difficult to open up.
@lancealot1 keep in mind, if it’s based on that 18min video on YouTube, you lose the auto “wind-down” fan speed feature as it will run on max 100% speed and noise if you do that mod.
I know I’m really late to this as I finally set it up and while it’s nice, I didn’t realize the extra filters were supposed to be a separate shipment that I never got. Did anyone else not get the extra 5 filters??
I ignore the flashing light…change filter every 2 months…replacement filters are available…cost a bit but breathing air that is a bit cleaner is great…can see just how bad the air was when comparing a new to the soiled
@Dmalenfant@therealjrn Someone gave a fix for not being able to wash the filter because of the chip. They said to bypass the chip wiring thingy. That’s the technical term. I’ll be trying that. It’s not like they’re hepa filters- they should be washable.
Anyone who has been washing the filters for these things can you offer any tips? Did you use laundry detergent to wash it? With just a water rinse mine came out almost as gray as it went in.
I’ve been looking at this financially. If your goal is clean floors with minimal work, a robot vacuum beats out a maid service. Even with a top of the line Roomba, you’ll make your money back over a maid service in a month. (Running the robot 3 days a week) After figuring that out, I really want one now.
I love this device although within a month the filter was done with and I cannot find replacements ANYWHERE!!! It also didn’t come with an extra one or the 5 extra that it should have. I want to keep using this because it does work but as it stands i have something i paid $40 for that had a 1x use!! Why on earth would they make and sell tons of these air cleaners but not make any filters for them?!?!?! Frustrating:(
Boy I hope the filters come soon I love you and be great to have a new filters I have 4 air cleaners the Swiffer is the most quiet machine yet and the cheapest if filters don’t come soon I’m going to try cleaning it I’ve been waiting two months for it to quit
This item worked well initially BUT the filters i ordered after the initial ones were used, DID NOT FIT OVER THE UNIT and kept tearing. I contacted the company ( with some difficulty) and THEY IMPLIED I WAS THE PROBLEM and must not be reading the instructions correctly. a POS!!
Can’t find filters. Love product, cost of filters every 30 days is a pain. Yes I do wash them but they will not work again on machine. I use old clean filter to dust
@SFTalkSF300 You can pull the chip reader out of the unit and reuse the filters as much as you want. Someone posted the YouTube video here with instructions- I can track it down if you want.
Specs
What’s in the Box?
1x Swiffer Air Cleaning System (2nd generation)
5x Air Filters
Price Comparison
2nd Gen Air Cleaning System: $74.99 at Amazon
Filters: $26.74 (for 2 2-packs) at Amazon
Warranty
3 Years Swiffer
Estimated Delivery
Tuesday, July 14th - Monday, July 20th
I tried to buy an air purifier online last year, during the fires. I wasn’t allowed to buy some models because they didn’t meet CA standards. Will these?
@tartanknickers Sometimes it’s better not to ask questions like that. Just click buy.
@tartanknickers Yes, according to the Amazon page.
@tartanknickers This says yes it does.
@tartanknickers Yes: “California Air Resources Board (CARB) certified.”
Thanks for the responses
i feel I’m a right lazy tit for not looking it up.
@tartanknickers CA doesn’t allow the “air cleaners” that aren’t much more than just an ozone generator. They don’t really clean the air and ozone is one of the components to smog.
looks like a google speaker, does it have bluetooth? obey commands?
@robson of your commands are “clean the air”, you will be satisfied.
@robson At 10” x 22" it’s a Mega Google Home!
“Hey Google, suck air.”
seriously considering this, but replacement filters appear to have a DRM chip on them. Not sure if I want to support such an anti-consumer stance.
@canneddirt that DRM chip thing is indeed a sucky way to treat customers. And send them to a competitor.
@canneddirt Is that like those ink cartridges that refuse to work if they ‘expire’?
@canneddirt That was the deciding point for me. It’s also why I avoid certain printer brands.
@canneddirt Agreed. I was about to buy but out due to DRM inside a cloth filter.
@PooltoyWolf yep, the fan won’t run unless the right chip is in the filter (and it hasn’t decided that one is dirty)
@canneddirt and this explains the question raised in the write-up. There’s no feasible way to make an electronic Swiffer brush or mop that forces you into buying your refills from Swiffer themselves, so they needed to branch out into something that it wouldn’t be silly to make electronic.
It’s still being ambitious in the right-ish way. Just think, they could have come out with a Bluetooth sweeper instead, and it would have ended up on Meh so much faster.
Good eye, btw!
@SnakeJG Ewwww no thanks! That’s just the type of seedy business practices that I try my best to avoid…thanks for the heads-up!
@canneddirt Thank you for bringing that up. I didn’t notice the DRM protection and was just about to buy.
Everything I buy these days has some sort of digital protection scheme which must be defeated so I don’t have to pay ridiculous sums for consumables. Now that Dymo was pwned by Stamps.com even my stupid postage printer will start requiring serialized labels in July.
@canneddirt Thank you.
(A problem with DRM is that if the manufacturer stops offering replacement filters in the future, users are completely SOL.)
@canneddirt Once you’re out of filters, line the housing with regular Swiffer pads (or your preferred generic version), replace the fan with one of those two for $2 fans we all bought only because they were so cheap a couple weeks ago.
All you gotta do is replace the batteries when needed. Hmmm, I wonder if there’s a place one can get a boatload of super cheap batteries once in a while?
Easy peasy! - Except for the part where the AAA batteries of your fan will need to be replaced more often than your MacGyver’d filters.
@canneddirt Should have been clear in the description that it quits working, doesn’t just turn on a light, when it decides the filter is too old. Bad Swiffer! Bad MEH!
@canneddirt I was mildly tempted by this. Thanks for the tip. That’s a HARD PASS from me on anything with microchipped refills.
/giphy nope octopus
@canneddirt you know, for $34 and 5 months of allergy season coming up, i figure it’ll be worth it. I’m really bad at taking pills… maybe the drm thing can be h@xxx0rd in the future?
@actionPacked @canneddirt I’m surprised that I wasn’t able to find anyone defeating this DRM with a quick google. I feel like this one would have been as easy as defeating the Keurig one by chopping the tag off for just the chip…
Tempted to order one just to try to defeat the DRM.
@canneddirt @RedOak I looked these up on Amazon and the gen 1 ones didn’t have the chip. I think you could buy one for maybe ten bucks more there.
@canneddirt
I was barely considering this item until I read your comment. Now it’s an absolutely not.
/giphy nope
@actionPacked @canneddirt @ongware
“Tempted to order one just to try to defeat the DRM.”
Hard same.
@ongware
It’s probably not that easy. As an engineer, here’s what I would do if I were evil. It’s probably similar to how these work.
Each filter replacement would have an RFID chip with the general Swiffer code and a unique filter number. Once a given filter has been in the device for a certain number of hours, the fan would refuse to turn on again for that particular filter.
So just cutting off the tag with the chip and sticking it on your third-party or homemade filter replacement wouldn’t work because the device would recognize the filter number as one that has already logged the maximum number of hours.
@The_Tim Hmm…
So we need to create a coalition. The Chip Exchange Cooperative will organize a chip exchange to rotate previously used chips throughout the community. Since each Swiffer system only knows about the chips they’ve seen and used, and know nothing about the other chips in the Swifferverse.
Unfortunately, as a former engineer I recognize there is almost certainly a checksum bit on the chip. Call it the “previously_installed” bit. When a new filter is installed, the air purifier sets the value of that bit to true. Attempting to use that chip in any other air purifier will tell the system the filter is beyond it’s life cycle and the system will front an error code.
So, ya, I just talked myself out of The Chip Exchange Cooperative. Sorry for the interruption. Please resume your previous activities.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@ruouttaurmind Hah, yeah. After reading your first paragraph I was going to say that it’s possible they used a chip with a small amount of writeable space on it, like what’s in the Nintendo Amiibos.
In that case, the base device wouldn’t have to “remember” anything at all, just occasionally write to the chip with an updated run-time hours count, and check that value before accepting any refill.
Still possible to hack. But the install base on these is probably nowhere near large enough for there to be a motivated community to actually do so.
@The_Tim Well, I was just going to cut off the tag and leave it in the chip reader.
I anticipated that, and short of voiding the warranty on it and doing the simple thing and direct wiring the fan, I was wondering more how many entries the memory could handle. Could I trick it with 10-20 different chips to switch through? Or can I wipe the memory, with extended power loss, or maybe shorting the capacitor out.
Sidebar, I missed getting one.
@ongware As @ruouttaurmind and I mentioned just above, it’s likely that the base device has no “memory” at all, but rather that it writes a few bits of data to the chips in the replacement filters. In that case, your idea of cycling through chips would not work no matter how many you tried.
@ongware @ruouttaurmind @The_Tim If it writes to the chip, it should be easy enough to figure out what chip it is and either re-write it back to empty or get super cheap chips from China that can be fully erased and rewritten.
(I have a bit of an RFID hobby/addiction, including 3 RFID tags in my hands)
@j8048188 I went through that on my brother’s XYZ 3D printer (propriatary 3D filament). After scouring the interwebs I discovered a scheme which permitted us to reset the counter on the chip, then just refill the dispenser with inexpensive Hatchbox filament.
@actionPacked @canneddirt @ongware I’m in for two with the intent of finding a way to get around it. IF the chip reader is effectively just a switch that allows current to flow to the fan, I’d think it’d be pretty easy to bypass. But if the chip reader is part of a voltage regulator or something devious like that, it’ll be a lot harder.
@j8048188 like, you’re holding 3 rfid tags, or like you’ve had 3 rfid tags surgically implanted?
@djslack I’ve currently got 3 tags surgically implanted. A group of my friends and I do some biohacking stuff, and RFID implants is one of those things. One has my work badge cloned to it, so I can open any doors with my hand. On the other hand, one tag gives you my business card. The second tag works as a hotel keycard or bus pass.
@j8048188 that’s pretty neat!
@djslack The process is easy and relatively painless. The tag is in a biosafe glass capsule and loaded into an 8-10 gauge needle, depending on the size of the capsule. The assembly comes sterilized and ready to go. So they just pinch to separate the skin from muscle, stick the needle in, and pull it out while pushing the plunger to put the tag in place. Takes less than a minute. You need to be careful with the injection site for a few days and take prenatal vitamins (even if you’re a guy) for about a month to encourage collagen growth. If you want to learn any more, I’d recommend checking out forum.dangerousthings.com for a decent discussion place, and their main site to learn about their products.
@j8048188 @ongware @ruouttaurmind @The_Tim Not sure if it helps at all but decided to smash one of the filter chip housings to bit and get a look under her skirt. I can’t find much on the chip, I’m assuming it’s just a cheap microcontroller. I don’t have an osmelloscope so getting anything meaningful might be difficult. I’m thinking of maybe trying to check what it’s outputing when connected to base. Maybe it’s as simple as just driving a pin high or low to tell the base “It’s OK this guy gave us more money, let him pass”
Images of insides, captured with a potato
Does it return to earth and land itself so it can be refueled and used again?
@shahnm Probably not, but I hear it will spectacularly crash on the moon while a nation watches.
Does it suck up cat hair?
@bfg9000 only when the cat rubs up against it
Oh, hell, Meh. You’ve finally found my “sweet spot,” e.g. I fuck’ng HATE to dust. I don’t care at this point if the replacement filters require my SSN and a blood sample, as long as it just WORKS! So, ummm… thanks, I guess?
@cbl_wv we have air cleaners (allergies). We still have dust, so there’s that.
How else do you sell leftover broom refills? You remarket them as air filters, of course. And you even reuse the advertising pictures.
How much power does the fantastic 4 watt nightlight use?
How about the really shitty 4 watt nightlight?
@djslack Heh. I came here to post this…
I like how it’s too good to touch the ground so it needs a stand but it’s still crap enough to find its way here
DRM on a cloth filter? That is the most blatant example of anti-consumer bs I think I have ever seen. This or the plastic coffee grounds holder with DRM. Maybe Nike should make
that will beep randomly or refuse to stay tied unless you have on branded, chipped socks.
@Jasonf1984 If you run on a non Nike branded treadmills then spikes will deploy inside the shoe.
Putting this next to my cat’s tree. Hopefully it will stop the insane shedding shrapnel. I swear I vacuum up an entire cat worth of hair every week.
Yep yep, this seems extremely useful and I bought two.
/giphy holistic-chancy-temper
@Dizavid Wait… why the fuck would anyone need two of these?
@djslack Clever, taking my usual shtick.
It’s simple, though. My house has more than one floor.
@Dizavid
@junebugwv2 Wow, these things last a long time actually. I only just now had to change one out.
Here’s the problem: stuff doesn’t typically land up in here until it’s at or beyond EOL. So what happens when Swiffer stops manufacturing those chipped filters in a year? Or few months? Or they already have and the last supply is just now clearing through distribution channels? This thing will sit there collecting dust. And not the way it was designed to.
@ruouttaurmind If I decide to purchase I am going to order a bunch of filters
@jmruru @ruouttaurmind
How much did you pay for your new Swiffer Air Cleaner? Wasn’t it from morning save.com???
@junebugwv2 these were sold on both MorningSave.com and Meh.com on April 17 2019 for $34
Most people in this forum post are probably from Meh.com
Hey! My “Meh button” click counter is back on the main page again.
Thanks Meh!
@mbimeh Yep!
https://meh.com/forum/topics/so-about-that-meh-face-calendar--stats
Sigh:
@squishybrain That’s got to be the quietest box fan on the planet. I’m more impressed with that than the bodged up HEPA filter.
@squishybrain ha! I already do this with activated charcoal sheets filters on the back of a box fan, but lining it with swiffer pads is a great idea too!
I’m surprised he taped it to the blow side of the box fan though, instead of just placing it on the suck side and not having to tape it at all.
@ongware Also, filtering the intake keeps the fan blades from collecting gunk, potentially increasing the overall effectiveness.
@ongware @ruouttaurmind fan motor is in the back so maybe scared that covering it up would cause to much heat and burn out fan?
@dino2269 @ruouttaurmind pushing and pulling air will full coverage will take the same amount to strain! Ruouttaurmind is right, preferiltering your air is the way to go imho
10x22" high that’s enormous!
@kalfaz
@snapster This actually upsets me, I expect more transparency from meh. There is no reason to expect this to have a chip on it. This should have been made clear, or better yet, not sold at all.
When did “twice” stop being a word?
What happened to the first generation?
Is this being cleared out to make room for the third?
And do they change the filters every generation so you have to “upgrade” when they stop selling the old filters?
@TheFLP These are all valid questions.
First gen is on amazon for $49 with 3 filters. Only difference between the gens seems to be that there is less parts on it to break, aka, the DRM and filter full modules…
Swiffer Continuous Clean System Captures Dirt, Dust and Dander to Keep Room Surfaces Clean 2X Longer https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0786QH327/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_x5TTCbB26146R
Man I just replaced the filters in the Claritin air filters you sold years ago and those filters are good for a year. Those Claritin built by Sunbeam ones are loud as fuck but we keep them in the bedrooms and the hum helps put us to sleep.
So, the company that’s famous for selling disposable paper-towel mops to people too lazy to rinse out a re-usable one is now selling a non-HEPA proprietary paper filtered air “cleaner”? wow, in for zero. “Super quiet” means no air-flow, right?
I had one of these when I lived as a Bubble-Boy. Let me just say, You do not want to be incased in a plastic cell and fart…
I have So. Much. Dust. Gonna try it and hopefully someone will come up with a hack before the filters run out…
@llangley
/giphy frivolous-abounding-lettuce
/image frivolous-abounding-lettuce
So, the filters have a chip. If all they do is keep the fan motor from running, bypass the chip reader and supply power directly to the motor.
Easy work-around.
I’ll be in for one when the 11 AM restart comes.
So you have to buy proprietary filters that will cost you approximately $80 a year. Two year cost is $194 including the unit itself. Or or could buy a quality air purifier like this Honeywell with washable filters for $160 and not ever have to worry about chipped filters that may not be produced in the future. Yet they’ve sold 480 of these so far. Smh…
https://www.amazon.com/Honeywell-HFD-120-Q-QuietClean-Purifier-Permanent/dp/B000ANEPYO
@cinoclav but isn’t this a dust collector vs an air purifier? In my mind they’re different things… Still hoping I can bypass the chip
@llangley Same thing. They both cycle air through a filter which collects the dust and/or particles. This thing is even called an ‘air cleaning system.’
/giphy malicious-rad-zebra
/giphy malicious-organic-salt
These guys think they’re Apple. I’m tired of forced obsolescence.
/giphy positive-forthright-lace
Did they only sell 34 of these that they’re sold out already?
@sarahtarah
/giphy addicted-inquisitive-porcupine
Should be easily hackable to bypass the chip…
@MostlyHarmless Let us know if you have any luck. I too might need to bypass the chip.
Whoa! That Mofo is huge!! Double as a scratching post? My cat will clog that sorry-ass filter quick AF. Good thing we get 48 ea.
@sterlingmark I hope you’re joking. It only comes with five filters in case you aren’t.
@RiotDemon Joking. See original description.
Dang. I want one. I’m willing to pay for it. It would have been my 1st meh. And they didn’t have enough. Oh well, I’ll find something else useless on which to spend ciitbanks money.
@gary566 Come back tonight, they’ll have another viable candidate.
The Amazon reviews say it’s essentially a dust collector, not an air purifier. I need to do a massive house clean, and that always stirs up dust to give me a serious allergy attack. I can’t wear masks for hours on end, so this seems like a good solution to the specific problem of dust.
let’s see how this works. I’m properly tense.
/giphy proper-tense-hamster
/giphy foolish-tilted-vessel
What did I just do!?!?
/giphy annoying-sugary-form
Just bought one, but all this talk about on-filter DRM has me wondering if i should just cancel.
Wow, wish I had known about the DRM, that’s awful on so many levels. Cancelling my double order now.
I’m tempted to get in on this just to join the hacking effort. Unfortunately the olio smart watches were not a good start, but I bet this is an easier problem to solve.
The chips don’t appear to be integrated into the filter in any real way. After you use a filter, cut off the chip, plug it in. DRM circumvented.
@AlecWallace That would be too easy. As discussed above, it’s likely the chip itself is written to which in turn eventually disables the unit until a new filter/chip is inserted.
@AlecWallace the chip has a timer and stops working after about a month
Managed to hold out until an hour before the changeover. But yeah, I need dis. chunky-partial-gopher. Which is funny, because one of our cats left me a dead gopher as a gift at the front door today.
Hey all - the extra filters for this shipped separately from the air cleaners.
If you ordered 1, you’ll have 2 tracking numbers.
If you ordered 2, you’ll have 3 tracking numbers.
If you ordered 3, you’ll have 4 tracking numbers.
@Thumperchick Oh good. I came here to whine about this.
Did anyone else buy this sucker (Literally)? Was supposed to come with extra filters for free… Nada… Zip Only the supplied one in this sealed factory box… I am sneezing already…:-(
@adam7 Read the conversation above you from @Thumperchick. The filters are being shipped separately.
@adam7 @Barney @Thumperchick but it’s waaaayyyyy up there.
@Ignorant Want me to read it to you?
@Barney
@Ignorant You know, not tonight, I have a headache.
I wish I would have ordered 3 of these.
@ChadP Looks like Morningsave has your back.
Anyone else have the fun delivery of both packages basically traveling the same route, but then for some reason they parted ways so you ended up getting the filters while patiently waiting until the next day to hopefully get the system? Only a minor complaint since I won’t be able to actually get the thing set up until Monday or Tuesday, assuming it gets delivered tomorrow. Just kind of funny that they both were scanned in as at the same facility at 8:55PM Wednesday, then the cleaning system mysteriously went missing until this morning while the filters continued traveling.
@wilstev I think I found the problem.
@wilstev Yep, filters came today. Hopefully system will come tomorrow, otherwise they might make nice outfits for my Alexa.
Filters and unit came on same day, less than 5 minute setup no sound at all… so far so good great deal the fan and motor are well built,will buy more if they pop up again. the whole unit is well thought out and quality.
@mellowirishgent Agreed!! Very easy to set up, seems really sturdy and so quiet!
Now if we could get working on that filter hack, pretty please??
@mellowirishgent hey boss, check out
I’ll post my DRM hacks after I get a good run out of 1 filter. Easiest hack, apply power directly to the fan, bypass the “brains” altogether. But I’ll see if I can get an Ardiuno to replicate the filter chip comms… maybe…
@xenophod Any further information on this? Starting to get to the end of my first filter and I’d love to find a way to re-use it after washing it out.
@psantora Mine has started blinking, but I haven’t had any time to mess with it. Maybe this weekend I’ll fire up the ol’ noggin and see what I can find poking around.
@xenophod thanks! Looking forward to it.
@psantora @xenophod
@xenophod @psantora sooooooooo any ideas?
@iisaintii @psantora @xenophod I heard people were just putting a piece of tape over the blinking light. That worked for my car engine warning light -Ta Da,
@iisaintii @therealjrn @xenophod The light blinks for about an additional month or so before the fan’s DRM kicks in and turns itself off. I haven’t found a workaround to “refurbish” the used filters… yet. Anyone else have ideas? Reposting from @TehMaliron above, here is an image of the chip https://imgur.com/a/FqnFtnp in case that helps.
@psantora @TehMaliron @therealjrn @xenophod
I haven’t figured it out. I took mine apart about a month ago to see how difficult rewiring the fan would be. IIRC, there was 5-7 wires going into the female side of where the chip is inserted.
Anyway, my wife wasn’t comfortable with me messing with it until we’ve used all the filters it came with. I wasn’t able to check out the fan-side electronics much beyond that.
@xenophod no ardiuno needed to hack this thing. For all of you that bought it…
@thesugarat @xenophod thanks!! Skip to about 7.10 for him to start working on it. I might actually be able to accomplish this
@llangley @thesugarat @xenophod That was a lot of over explaining just to show how to cross patch the 2 motor wires directly to the power supply.
There was also talk elsewhere in the thread of the possibility of getting around the DRM by simply rotating through enough used chips to overflow the memory. Was anyone successful in trying that?
KuoH
@kuoh Yes, it’s that simple. I just wanted to be thorough with explaining all of it for those who might not be as familiar with electronics. But, if you are… Keep fan power only and bypass the board by connecting ground wire to ground wire. You can actually leave the board in place and I think the lights will still flash like Kit from Knight Rider…
The filters are ridiculously easy to wash and without getting the chip wet. I’ve got two drying and I’m hoping that like some old DRM chipped printer ink cartridges, that the filter can only store 2 chips in memory before it thinks a chip is new. I will be back to see what you can come up with.
@MotherTongue
So, are you saying that if I have 2 units with 3 filters each, I might be able to rotate them from unit to unit until the wear out? That would be great! I’m almost afraid to use them now, for fear of not being able to get more filters. Doesn’t make sense, I know.
Please let us know ehst yoi discover. I’ll do my homework too.
I like it. Got it in factory box and that box was in brown package box. Two filters box inside factory box. Set up ok, but I have a question, on plastic film was a black rectangle rubber shape. Never told me what that is for, maybe protection for package
Just as a quick update/fyi I found that you can just plug the same chip back in and the fan will start right back up, albeit the light will continue to just sit there blinking for all eternity (I tabbed some nail polish over it so I can’t see it anymore). So, it seems the chip only functions as a “start” button of sorts and to work that light
@alchyilee Good to hear. Thanks!
Happy to report -
I checked back - started using mine in mid-May. Still running while blinking away. Think I’ll try washing the filter like @MotherTongue above, and hope for the best.
Anyone know if it’s important to keep the chip dry?
@kdemo Probably, since it’s electrical. Make sure it’s dry before plugging it back in at least.
Breathing improved over night. Started with 3 units and I got 4 more ready to start when the change the filters on the original 3 units. Letting it go a bit longer since u don’t need to change as son as the light blinks. Live in Florida and had stuffed nose everyday. Not no more
You do not need the chip if you look at the wiring and apply the voltage from the power supply directly to the fan leads. You will loose the outside lights but the fan will work continuously until you decide to change the filter or wash the filter. You will no longer need the chip and obviously you are voiding your warranty, but you can get the Swiffer Continuous Air Cleaner for cheap enough. Better get them now before a Gen 3 comes out that makes it very difficult to open up.
@lancealot1 I just ordered one from Morningsave. I may check this tip out after the filter goes. Thanks!
@lancealot1 keep in mind, if it’s based on that 18min video on YouTube, you lose the auto “wind-down” fan speed feature as it will run on max 100% speed and noise if you do that mod.
I know I’m really late to this as I finally set it up and while it’s nice, I didn’t realize the extra filters were supposed to be a separate shipment that I never got. Did anyone else not get the extra 5 filters??
Is it possible to get a notification when this item will be back in stock ? If yes please advise me thank you
@Gardenia21 Woot has them for a few bucks more.
https://home.woot.com/offers/swiffer-continuous-air-cleaning-system-17?ref=w_cnt_wp_1_27
I have a couple I bought at Meh’s sister site sitting in my front hall but it looks like they’re sold out.
@mediocrebot Hey, if you still had them I would have said so.
@sammydog01 ” I have a couple of them” of course you do. What don’t you have? Lol
@willdavi A jelly bean kicking machine for one.
@sammydog01 why didn’t you get one? I thought you did.
@sammydog01 Thank you found one cheaper on Amazon
I ignore the flashing light…change filter every 2 months…replacement filters are available…cost a bit but breathing air that is a bit cleaner is great…can see just how bad the air was when comparing a new to the soiled
@Dmalenfant Ya know…I’m just a yuge fan of the whole breathing thing in general.
It seems like I’ve been doing it all my life.
@Dmalenfant @therealjrn Someone gave a fix for not being able to wash the filter because of the chip. They said to bypass the chip wiring thingy. That’s the technical term. I’ll be trying that. It’s not like they’re hepa filters- they should be washable.
Are they planning to get more of these?
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I’m guessing if they can find more supply anywhere.
Anyone who has been washing the filters for these things can you offer any tips? Did you use laundry detergent to wash it? With just a water rinse mine came out almost as gray as it went in.
Don’t buy this product. Replacement Filters are not avaiable anywhere except for price gougers on eBay.
I’ve been looking at this financially. If your goal is clean floors with minimal work, a robot vacuum beats out a maid service. Even with a top of the line Roomba, you’ll make your money back over a maid service in a month. (Running the robot 3 days a week) After figuring that out, I really want one now.
Replacement filters are like extracting blood from a beet.
Refill for continuous clea
I love this device although within a month the filter was done with and I cannot find replacements ANYWHERE!!! It also didn’t come with an extra one or the 5 extra that it should have. I want to keep using this because it does work but as it stands i have something i paid $40 for that had a 1x use!! Why on earth would they make and sell tons of these air cleaners but not make any filters for them?!?!?! Frustrating:(
@KLeatherwood they should be available soon according to the company.
Boy I hope the filters come soon I love you and be great to have a new filters I have 4 air cleaners the Swiffer is the most quiet machine yet and the cheapest if filters don’t come soon I’m going to try cleaning it I’ve been waiting two months for it to quit
This item worked well initially BUT the filters i ordered after the initial ones were used, DID NOT FIT OVER THE UNIT and kept tearing. I contacted the company ( with some difficulty) and THEY IMPLIED I WAS THE PROBLEM and must not be reading the instructions correctly. a POS!!
Anyone who has been washing the filters for these things can you offer any tips?
@fmools I washed mine out in the sink with some dish soap and let it air dry.
Can’t find filters. Love product, cost of filters every 30 days is a pain. Yes I do wash them but they will not work again on machine. I use old clean filter to dust
@SFTalkSF300 You can pull the chip reader out of the unit and reuse the filters as much as you want. Someone posted the YouTube video here with instructions- I can track it down if you want.
Where could I get one to buy