Gone were the days when I nonchalantly shop at the neighborhood supermarket. Offhandishly and randomly pick my groceries for the week without second thoughts. That is when I am still in my home country (NTUC I love you!). Now living in the Middle Kingdom, I get free pork soup with all the floating pigs in the river; and can't even cry fowl with the avian flu (I just love a bad pun!). Worse than before, the running tap stinks of Chlorine!We battle with food scares on a daily basis. It is a miracle we are still standing, but then there is a saying; Whatever doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. True as the statement, we become more resilient by adapting. As the situation changes, we shift our eating habits in accordance. You guys get to eat the seasons' best, we eat the seasons' yet tainted!
Previously, there have been reports of canned foods being rigged with cancerous chemicals to prolong its shelf life. Everyone started preaching eating fresh produce and stayed away from canned stuff. Now we struggle with tainted poultry, and unfavorable rumors on fresh produce turn everyone green (bad pun alert!). Ironically, we scramble for imported canned stuff, eating the very thing we preached against just months ago.
Water - another point for contention. Because of the floating pig carcasses, the water source becomes tainted. And in efforts to clean up the already 'not so desirable' water, the authorities mixed huge amounts of chemicals into it. It was reported on the news and citizens are warned against consuming it untreated. We do not drink from the tap (wha-duh?!). It becomes almost a mandate to purchase bottled distill water for consumption. It's the showering and the washing that becomes an issue. I start getting dry, scratchy skin and wiry hair. I swear if the situation persists, we will slowly degenerate and start looking like the prehistoric man. Talk about reverse evolution!I can't possibly be ordering more distill water for baths and laundry (hmm...or can I...), so the immediate instinct is to search for a shower water filter on 淘宝网. I have no idea if such a product exists - in true seeker fashion, my prayers are answered. it exists!
The 3M (SFKC01-CN1) shower filter attaches at the shower mixer, where the flexi hose and shower head ought to be. Installation is almost a breeze.
I was idiotic enough to attach the filter without pulling out the safety caps at both ends; resulting to me staring blankly at the dry shower head for minutes before reading the user manual proper. Also it is unobtrusive enough to pass my aesthetic point of view.
Ok here comes the techy part. The filter system is simple, it works on activated charcoal which removes odor, and visible minerals in the water. It softens the water which makes it less harsh on the skin and clothes. Upon installation, it significantly reduces the scratchy feeling after the usual shower. The water smells less 'bleachy', and I no longer feel like I've stepped out of the swimming pool. Also the water pressure is surprisingly powerful, parallel to the 125psi specs. The manual suggests the filter to be changed every 6 months. You will definitely notice the need for a change as it becomes clogged n heavy with residue overtime. The water pressure becomes too weak to offer a good showering experience. In my opinion, a good shower involves strong jets of water blasting the skin till it gets red and veins pulsating. Intense huh?!I would love to post an accompanying picture of me or the kids showering with an ecstatic grin on the face. But due to strict censors, you just have to take my word for it. I don't want my blog to get shut down over a shower filter. So here's a nice picture of a cute kitty to curb your need for visual eye-candy.
Price wise, reasonable. Ranging from ¥230-300. You can get it from Yihaodian or 淘宝网. I perceive this product is made specific for China, as I am unable to find anything similar or close on 3M's official website (not even the all encompassing eBay or Amazon!)
I am unsure to the extend of how this product can protect us, but superficially, I feel safer with it. Well for all you know, with the amount of toxic exposure, we may start to develop mutant super powers like the X-men. Laugh you muggles; we will shoot lasers at you one day! Eh sorry, wrong movie. Lol!
Till the day I develop some super powers, I rate this product 3 stars. May the force be with you. Eh wrong movie again...
