HoMedicsUV Clean Portable Sanitizer – Rechargeable UV Light Sanitizer and Sterilizer Box - Kills 99.9% of Airborne Contaminates, Fits Masks, Makeup Brushes, Glasses, Cell Phones, Keys, Black

An absolutely FANTASTIC and INCREDIBLY cheap source ($5!!) of clean (low visible light output contamination) UVC light for a variety of purposes beyond sterilization of surfaces, most interestingly for the excitation of fluorescent minerals (see the three attached images - first image with manganocalcite, terlingua calcite, and willemite under normal visible light, then in fluorescing in darkness under the UVC from the Homedics sterilizer, then only the willemite and terlingua calcite phosphorescence in total darkness immediately after the UVC is switched off).Most shortwave UV lights for this purpose cost 10-20 times as much as this device (they must have made thousands of these things in anticipation of high demand during COVID, but now that practically no one cares about that anymore they're clearly trying to dump them here at any cost - so if you're an amateur scientist, their loss is your gain!). Of course, the device has to be modified to defeat the safety interlock and allow it to be turned on while open - this is easy with any magnet (ALWAYS WEAR POLYCARBONATE GOGGLE UV EYE PROTECTION WHILE USING THE MODIFIED DEVICE!). It has two LED emitters which produce around 50 milliwatts of UVC light total at 280 nanometers (10 nanometers FWHM bandwidth of the peak) right on the edge of the UVB range, and VERY little visible light emission. Don't expect it to be a bright source of light like a flashlight, it's very evenly diffuse, NOT very bright, and will only work to induce visible fluorescence of minerals in darkness, but it does work!Incidentally, the 280nm peak of UV emission (I personally measured it on a professional laboratory spectrometer) is WELL within the area of the germicidal effectiveness curve, even though it is some 25nm away from the typical mercury vapor lamp emission line at 255nm, and is definitely sterilizing surfaces exposed to its radiation very quickly. The device is well constructed, runs for 30 seconds after every power button press, can be reactivated again immediately, and recharges easily.HIGHLY recommended for the UV enthusiast and amateur scientist into fluorescence photography (the light output can be even further cleaned with ZWB filters). And at only about 5 bucks, what do you have to lose??

Either I wasn’t paying attention or a “little” nebulous on the setup. Nothing a few minutes did not resolve. Make sure to pull on the lid (it’s not obvious that it’s collapsed), push power button which flashes about 30 seconds for the cycle then turns off, charge port is concealed next to the power button, flip the phone to do both sides. EnSURE the “piece “ on end of zipper magnetically connects when closed or the unit will not operate. Apparently safety switch mechanism to protect the idiots from hurting themselves - nice feature.

Easy to use, good directions, charges fast, portable. You run the unit twice, once for each side of the phone. The time it is in the unit is very short. which makes me unsure of how effective it is - - but it may be standard time for these types units. I clean my phone let it dry and then I put in the unit. I am not sure how effective it is because there is no way to tell, but in the current climate it is an added cleaning step to bring peace of mind.

Product was easy to use, instructions were well written and easy to understand and follow. Once the device is charged, you simply place your phone in the device, and zip it closed. Be sure to connect the zipper to the magnet at the edge of the closure and to pull the pop up part all the way up; then press the button to turn it on. I placed my phone in the device with a video running and was able to capture blue light shining within the device for the advertised 30 seconds. Without a germ testing kit, I can’t speak to the efficacy of the light, but it appears to do as it claims. All in all, a little pricey, but if the light really does what it says it does, it’s well worth it.

The media could not be loaded. Bought my sanitizer in October and it's been acting up the past couple of weeks.The device has to be closed to work (fully zipped with the zipper on the magnet). Unfortunately, mine thinks it's open, so when I try to start it up it just flashes red. I re-zipped it, charged it, pressed the power button umpteen times—which usually does the trick—but it's still not working so I think it's finally done. So I got 8 months out of it. I'm kinda irritated it stopped working, but I paid less than $9 for it so 🫤🤷🏽‍♀️ I guess?

This thing is trash. I’ve had it for 3 years and I’ve gotten it to work MAYBE 4 times. It always lights up red like the zipper isn’t all the way closed. It’s nearly IMPOSSIBLE to line up the magnet on the case and the end of the zipper perfectly so it will work. I still keep it and try it once a week or so and still get bummed it doesn’t work. I’m ridiculous, it needs to go in the trash but I just always hope I’ll get lucky and it will sanitize my phone. Never any luck.

Works great and easy to use

I love this. So simple to use. Of course the true measure of this item is how 'clean' is it. Don't know. You just have to trust. Give it a shot.