# Does the Lotus Home Cleaning System Really Work? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 2, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-lotus-home-cleaning-system-really-work/548922 "2010-08-02T19:53:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mazinger\_z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@mazinger\_z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazinger_z)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-lotus-home-cleaning-system-really-work/548922/1 "2010-08-02T19:53:50Z")
I’m talking about the system from Terasano. Basically, it claims that by sending in 4500 volts through water, it creates O3 (ozone?) and this ozone is what is cleaning away dirt and grime. They also say that since O3 is not stable, it breaks back down to simple water. Is this true? I don’t see any contrary claims on a google search. How good of a cleaner is ozone/O3 as compared to, I don’t know…bleach, OTC cleaners, soap? I like the idea of not having harsh chemicals or its residue on my counters, especially as my fiancee leaves fruits and utensils sitting on it, immediately after cleaning. Also, the system is like $200, which is pretty expensive. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-lotus-home-cleaning-system-really-work/548922/2 "2010-08-02T20:04:00Z")
O3 is ozone yes, but ozone is considered an air pollutant when in the lower atmosphere and it can harm your respiratory system so I’m not sure how safe it is to use for cleaning nor am I sure HOW you’d use it as it’s a gas – dissolved in water I guess. It might have disinfectant properties (that’s essentially why it’s harmful), but I have no idea if it will actually remove dirt or grease. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2010, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-lotus-home-cleaning-system-really-work/548922/3 "2010-08-02T21:40:41Z")
> [@mazinger\_z](#): > > I’m talking about the system from Terasano. Basically, it claims that by sending in 4500 volts through water, it creates O3 (ozone?) and this ozone is what is cleaning away dirt and grime. They also say that since O3 is not stable, it breaks back down to simple water. Is this true? I don’t see any contrary claims on a google search. How good of a cleaner is ozone/O3 as compared to, I don’t know…bleach, OTC cleaners, soap? I like the idea of not having harsh chemicals or its residue on my counters, especially as my fiancee leaves fruits and utensils sitting on it, immediately after cleaning. Also, the system is like $200, which is pretty expensive. Well, if they say that ozone breaks down into water, then I would be immediately suspicious of everything else they said! 😕 ---
**Author:** ![mazinger\_z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@mazinger\_z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazinger_z)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-lotus-home-cleaning-system-really-work/548922/4 "2010-08-03T15:55:01Z")
> [@Canadjun](#): > > Well, if they say that ozone breaks down into water, then I would be immediately suspicious of everything else they said! 😕 Perhaps I mis-read that part. I believe the claim was that since oxygen is infused into the water, it is inherently unstable, leaving the water and extra oxygen behind as the solution(?) breaks down. But, I don’t see how ozone cleans anything. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-lotus-home-cleaning-system-really-work/548922/5 "2010-08-03T16:01:14Z")
I remember a fad for these a while back - early 90’s ish I think, and I wished at the time that I had bought one. Anyway, it always seemed to me that if the electrical charge infused an extra oxygen into the H20 then it must be making hydrogen peroxide. Which is good and safe to clean with, and does break down into water and oxygen if you leave it out in the light. It also bleaches most clothing and turns your skin white, and prickles. Still, if you wear gloves, it’s probably a great cleaning solution. Provided I’m correct about it’s being hydrogen peroxide. . . ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-lotus-home-cleaning-system-really-work/548922/6 "2010-08-03T16:36:41Z")
> [@mazinger\_z](#): > > Perhaps I mis-read that part. I believe the claim was that since oxygen is infused into the water, it is inherently unstable, leaving the water and extra oxygen behind as the solution(?) breaks down. But, I don’t see how ozone cleans anything. Ozone works a lot the way bleach does, so I can imagine it doing some cleaning. $200 worth? Probably not. And bleach doesn’t really clean grime anyway. That’s the water for the most part. The bleach just makes it white and kills microbes. Ozone does break down. It’s essentially a free radical, so you just need something to pull off that third oxygen atom and keep it. For what it’s worth, many hot tubs use ozonation to supplement chlorine or bromine to disinfect the water. With mine, it bubbles a small amount of ozone through the water. I don’t notice the smell of ozone, but it does a great job of maintaining clean water. (I still use a dose of chlorine to get it clean after each use). ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-lotus-home-cleaning-system-really-work/548922/7 "2010-08-03T20:55:41Z")
If you want to avoid chemical cleaners like bleach and the pre-made kitchen/bathroom sprays, you need just five things: Baking soda White vinegar Lemon Borax Club Soda There’s not much that can’t be cleaned with those. Check with [The Queen of Clean](http://queenofclean.com/free-stuff/five-must-have-cleaning-product/) for how to use them. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-lotus-home-cleaning-system-really-work/548922/8 "2010-08-03T21:20:25Z")
One concern I would have: My understanding is ozone can have an impact on plastic. How would it affect TVs, computers and other things with plastic parts? (do note though: I couldn’t get good clarification on the impact of ozone on plastic when I asked a year or two back.) ---
**Author:** ![chorpler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chorpler/32/2888_2.png) [@chorpler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chorpler)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-lotus-home-cleaning-system-really-work/548922/9 "2010-08-03T22:30:22Z")
I had an ozone “sponge cleaner” that I got for 9.99 at one of those "As Seen on TV" stores a while back. You were supposed to put your dirty sink sponge inside this little sponge-sized chamber, plug it in, and turn it on, and it was supposed to kill all the germs that were stinking up your sponge by using ozone. I don't know how well, or even if, it worked, because I lost the @#% thing the day I brought it home. Somehow I never lost the power adapter that plugged into the side, though … still have that puppy … In any case, I’m interested to hear how effective this kind of thing is. ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Luongo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Chris\_Luongo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chris_Luongo)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-lotus-home-cleaning-system-really-work/548922/10 "2010-08-04T05:48:07Z")
I was curious and after doing a little Googling, I think I’m going to call shenanigans on Tersano. 1. They seem to claim, or at least imply, that they have some kind of EPA certification. However, when you follow the link, it appears that the EPA simply has something about “pest control devices.” The Lotus system isn’t mentioned: [http://www.tersano.com/testresults.php](http://www.tersano.com/testresults.php) 1. It appears that even if it indeed works, ozonated water might be used for sanitizing things, but not for cleaning. Even if you might use it to sanitize a counter where you had cut some raw meat, I fail to see how you’d use it to clean things that are simply dirty: > [@](#): > > **From Wikipedia:** Ozonated water is used to launder clothes and to sanitize food, drinking water, and surfaces in the home. > **[Ozone | Applications](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozone#Applications_2)** > > The largest use of ozone is in the preparation of pharmaceuticals, synthetic lubricants, and many other commercially useful organic compounds, where it is used to sever carbon-carbon bonds. It can also be used for bleaching substances and for killing microorganisms in air and water sources. Many municipal drinking water systems kill bacteria with ozone instead of the more common chlorine. Ozone has a very high oxidation potential. Ozone does not form organochlorine compounds, n Although low level... 1. The Wikipedia article about Tersano is very brief, and is written more like an advertisment than anything else: > **[Tersano](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tersano)** > > Tersano Inc. is a privately held company based in Oldcastle, Ontario with offices and distribution centres throughout Canada, USA, Latin America, APAC and EMEA. > Established in 2001, Tersano develops and manufactures devices that produce Stabilized Aqueous Ozone (SAO) for personal and professional use. It serves clients in industries such as healthcare, education, manufacturing, and hospitality. Tersano was the first company to concurrently receive both the Green Seal 37 (for Industrial and Insti... 1. Although Amazon does show many good reviews, take a look at the 1- and 2-star reviews, most of them stating the product is built poorly: [http://www.amazon.com/Tersano-lotus-LBU100-Sanitizing-System/dp/B000P9MC2K](http://www.amazon.com/Tersano-lotus-LBU100-Sanitizing-System/dp/B000P9MC2K) (It is worth noting that the Amazon product description seems to be fairly honest----it doesn’t claim magical cleaning powers, and only states that the product is “registered” with the EPA.) 1. If you want to learn more, here’s a highly detailed article from the EPA about methods of using ozone to sanitize drinking water. Again, there’s not even the slightest hint that this water would help you with household cleaning: [http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw000/mdbp/pdf/alter/chapt\_3.pdf](http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw000/mdbp/pdf/alter/chapt_3.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Luongo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Chris\_Luongo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chris_Luongo)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-lotus-home-cleaning-system-really-work/548922/11 "2010-08-04T05:50:05Z")
> [@chorpler](#): > > I had an ozone “sponge cleaner” that I got for 9.99 at one of those "As Seen on TV" stores a while back. You were supposed to put your dirty sink sponge inside this little sponge-sized chamber, plug it in, and turn it on, and it was supposed to kill all the germs that were stinking up your sponge by using ozone. I don't know how well, or even if, it worked, because I lost the @#% thing the day I brought it home. Somehow I never lost the power adapter that plugged into the side, though … still have that puppy … > > In any case, I’m interested to hear how effective this kind of thing is. I’ve been putting my sponge in the microwave a couple of times a week. It never smells bad anymore. > **[Food & Recipes](https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/default.htm)** > > Healthy recipes for healthy meals, find thousands of delicious recipes. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-lotus-home-cleaning-system-really-work/548922/12 "2010-08-04T11:01:04Z")
> [@Chris\_Luongo](#): > > . . . > > 1. If you want to learn more, here’s a highly detailed article from the EPA about methods of using ozone to sanitize drinking water. Again, there’s not even the slightest hint that this water would help you with household cleaning: > > [http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw000/mdbp/pdf/alter/chapt\_3.pdf](http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw000/mdbp/pdf/alter/chapt_3.pdf) From that link: > [@](#): > > [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] > Ozone gas is highly corrosive and toxic. > [/SIZE][/FONT] Not exactly the gentle, environmentally safe cleaner they are advertising. I get a visual of a 1960’s horror flick with lotus flowers morphing into fanged mouths and rampaging about. . . . ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Luongo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Chris\_Luongo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chris_Luongo)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-the-lotus-home-cleaning-system-really-work/548922/13 "2010-08-04T15:39:30Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > > [@Chris\_Luongo](#): > > > > . . . > > > > 1. If you want to learn more, here’s a highly detailed article from the EPA about methods of using ozone to sanitize drinking water. Again, there’s not even the slightest hint that this water would help you with household cleaning: > > > > [http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw000/mdbp/pdf/alter/chapt\_3.pdf](http://www.epa.gov/ogwdw000/mdbp/pdf/alter/chapt_3.pdf) > > From that link: > > > [@](#): > > > > [FONT=Times New Roman][SIZE=3] > > Ozone gas is highly corrosive and toxic. > > [/SIZE][/FONT] > > Not exactly the gentle, environmentally safe cleaner they are advertising. I get a visual of a 1960’s horror flick with lotus flowers morphing into fanged mouths and rampaging about. . . . I was thinking that too, but I honestly lack the understanding and knowledge to make any comments about it. It appears that ozone in the air is certainly a problem: **Ozone Generators that are Sold as Air Cleaners** [http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html](http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html) Googling showed the phrase “bad nearby, good up high” or something along those lines. However, I can’t find anything to answer the question of whether ozone in the water is any kind of hazard. I’m guessing no, since public water supplies do this at least sometimes. Hopefully someone with more knowledge about this will come along.