Germ Guardian LW9 Mini UV-C Light Wand

by Germ Guardian

Product Features

• Germ-killing UV-C light
• Easy to use
• Small and compact
• Wide range of uses

Product Description

The Germ Guardian Mini UV-C Light Wand is for those that don't mess around with such important things as their health and well-being . You can either climb into that hotel bed or use that public toilet in fear of what's living on it, or you can kill the germs and restore cleanliness with this small, travel-sized device. Simply pass the wand over surfaces, and these microscopic invaders will meet their demise. Kills 99% of bacteria, viruses, mold and dust mites. UV-C light helps to eliminate germs on the surfaces of most household and personal items. The Mini UV-C Light Wand produces no ozone, includes an automatic shut-off, and cleans naturally without the use of hazardous chemicals.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 1.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B001IDZMFQ
• UPC: 895916000073
• Item model number: LW9
• Batteries: 4 AA batteries required.
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #47,148 in Health & Personal Care (See Top 100 in Health & Personal Care)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

93 of 93 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It works but there are some flaws..., June 5, 2009

By 

Mia (Hayward, CA, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Germ Guardian LW9 Mini UV-C Light Wand (Health and Beauty)

I purchased this wand about a month ago and performed an impromptu experiment. I collected some bacterium (E. coli and staph) on an agar plate. Half of the plate was exposed to the UV light of the wand while the other half wasn't. The plate was left to incubate at room temperature for 72 hours. At the end of the 72 hours there were 2 different and distinct colonies growing on the side of the plate that WAS NOT exposed to the UV wand. On the side that WAS exposed to the UV, there was one very small, round pink/salmon colored colony. After running a few chemical tests, the pink colony turned out to be gram positive and appeared cocci shaped under the microscope. I figured (though I could be wrong) that the colony must have been from an air born bacteria that landed on the plate after the exposure to UV. I came to this conclusion because: 1. Though bacteria appeared cocci shaped (staph is cocci shaped as well) under the microscope, it's colony looked nothing like the staph colony on the other side of the plate. 2. E. Coli is gram negative (and rod shaped under the microscope) and the pink/salmon colored colony was gram positive.

SO, to make a long review short, this little contraption works. The only thing that is keeping me from giving it 5 stars are the poor directions that come with it. Like the other reviewer stated, the directions that are in the box don't match. 1.) You must press and hold the power button for 5 seconds 2.) the LED will start blinking 3.) Once LED starts blinking, press the power button again 4.) there will be a 2 to 10 second pause and then the UV light will come on. Once you get past the frustration of getting the thing to come on, you'll find the perfect little gadget to carry in your purse. Wave this magic wand over that dubious looking toilet seat, put down a seat cover, and you'll be good to go.

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars OPERATION CONFUSING/NOT CONSISTENT, May 12, 2009

By 

O. J. Garza "Bigguyojg" (Deep South Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Germ Guardian LW9 Mini UV-C Light Wand (Health and Beauty)

Purchased this and on arrival inserted 4 new AA batteries. Instuctions not clear on proper operation. You must press button and wait for blinking light (the "warm up"), then when light stops blinking, (i.e. remains lit) it is ready to use. Does not tell you that you must press button while blinking to operate wand. Had to go to website to clarify. It has been VERY inconsistent in operation in that sometimes it will turn on, sometimes not, even when you follow instuctions. This can be extremely frustrating. When working, appears to emit uv light. Although bulb is recessed, there is no lens over it, meaning if you drop it and bulb breaks, you have a hazardous mercury issue. Be careful. BTW, if you have issues, the Customer Service at Germ Guardian requires you to leave a message, which in my case they have never returned my call.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars works fine, January 7, 2011

By 

Lynnette Hartwig "toolmaker" (Boston MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Germ Guardian LW9 Mini UV-C Light Wand (Health and Beauty)

I've had it about a year and it works fine, of course one can't see germs being destroyed so that's always an act of faith. It's handy. Some people think it's confusing to start.

It has a safety feature to prevent inadvertent turning on in a drawer. One pushes the button until the light blinks, about 3-5 seconds, then let up and press again for 1/2 sec. and release. Now it's on.

It needs to be held with the light strip pointed down, at more than a 60 degree or so slant it turns off, must have a mercury switch or something. It comes back on when oriented correctly.

The instructions state a very long time, 20 seconds per area I think, which could make doing a toilet or something take very long. However, the science is the same for UV light regardless of unit generating it, so if one unit says 5 sec. and another says 30 seconds, well the second one must own Energerizer stock.

Papers that come with the UV lights make it sound hazardous but after all this time I've held things in my hand while shining them and never even got a tan.

I like to shine my compacts, lipsticks, mascara brushes and makeup brushes, etc. every 2-3 weeks because I tend to break out. When I do this I don't break out; cause and effect are hard to tell, but if it is killing the bacteria then it has to be good. What I can say is before getting this unit, sometimes if I didn't use a makeup for a few weeks, upon opening it there was a slight odor, now there isn't. I move this unit slowly over my whole makeup drawer. I also shine tops of water bottles I re-use, handles on exercise equipment, phone and remote buttons.