The deodorant dispersion of the present invention includes (A) two or more powdery inorganic chemical adsorbents, (B) a dispersing agent, and (C) a dispersion medium, a content proportion of the component (A) is in a range from 10% to 30% by mass based on a total of the deodorant dispersion, a content proportion of the component (B) is in a range from 1% to 10% by mass based on a total of the deodorant dispersion, and a median particle diameter of a dispersoid is in a range from 0.1 m to 0.4 m. A gas adsorption capacity of the component (A) is preferably 25 mL/g or more.

To sterilize a sterilization filter unit with heated steam, minimize the heat load on the sterilization filter unit and extend the service life of the sterilization filter unit.

Heated steam is supplied to a sterilization filter unit that sterilizes supplied air, the temperature of the heated steam discharged from the sterilization filter unit is measured at predetermined time intervals, the F value is calculated from the measured temperature, and sterilization of the sterilization filter unit is ended when the F value reaches a target value.

An antimicrobial filter media, which includes a non-woven fabric; and an antimicrobial agent bound to the nonwoven fabric by a binder, the antimicrobial agent including silver sodium zirconium hydrogenphosphate and thiabendazole, and the silver sodium zirconium hydrogenphosphate and the thiabendazole are employed at a weight ratio of 1:1.5 to 1.5:1, to an air cleaner including the same, and to a process for preparing the same. The antimicrobial filter media includes silver sodium zirconium hydrogenphosphate and thiabendazole, as an antimicrobial agent, at a specific weight ratio. As a result, it is possible to effectively filter harmful microorganisms to supply purified air, to have excellent antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties at the same time, and to further enhance the durability and lifespan characteristics by virtue of excellent filter damage prevention effect.

A handle for an oral-care implement, the handle comprises an electrical motor arranged to drive an output element structured and configured to couple the handle and a head attachable to and detachable from the handle; and a microcontroller for controlling the motor and to cause the output element to vibrate in (a) at least one oral-hygiene mode during which the oral-care implement is being used for an oral-hygiene routine, wherein the output element is vibrating at a substantially constant frequency, and (b) a disinfection mode during which the handle is being disinfected, before or after being used for the oral-hygiene routine, wherein the output element is continuously vibrating at a modulated frequency alternating within a frequency range of between about 140 Hz and about 250 Hz, for a duration of the disinfection mode.

A water-based curable composition, for production of coatings having an antimicrobial property, contains at least one film-forming polymer, optionally at least one additive and/or at least one curing agent, and at least one up-conversion phosphor of the general formula (I): A.sub.1-x-y-zB*.sub.yB.sub.2SiO.sub.4:Ln.sup.1.sub.x,Ln.sup.2.sub.z. In the general formula (I), x=0.0001-0.0500; z=0.0000 or z=0.0001 to 0.3000 with the proviso that: y=x+z; A is selected from Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba; B is selected from Li, Na, K. Rb and Cs; B* is selected from Li, Na and K; and preferably B and B* are not the same. Additionally, Ln.sup.1 is selected from praseodymium (Pr), erbium (Er), and neodymium (Nd); and Ln.sup.2 is gadolinium (Gd). The phosphor, as a result of an aftertreatment, includes at least one material which has a band gap of greater than 6.0 electronvolts (eV) and is hydrolysis-stable.