ViaJet Travel Rechargeable Oral Irrigator

I'm changing my review because this model is so difficult to clean and almost immediately mold is in the seals making this thing USELESS. I called the manufacturer re: the mold and they said to just open it up and clean it but they were very dismissive. I didn't think it should become moldy so quickly when, after each use, the water was completely drained and it was left open to air out. I sprayed a light bleach solution into it but even so, you can still see the tiny line of black where the mold is just going to grow back. And, the cap to the tank broke off when I pulled it off and then I lost it. I'm pretty disappointed now in this item. I do not want to spray mold in my mouth.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *My previous review:Ok, so I bought the ViaJet Travel b/c I've had the ViaJet Pro for about 10 years old now. Although the Pro still works great, it is loud and I also wanted to conserve counter space.The travel model is small like I wanted, and rechargeable so no plug. (It has to be charged for 24 hrs before using.)I had one problem - installing the tips. After a call to OraTech (the manufacturer) I was able to install the tips. It does not say on the instructions, but to install the tips you must press the tip removal button and at the same time TWIST to push the tips all the way down. Push HARD! I was reluctant to do this without a phone call because I didn't want to "force" it and on the ViaJet Pro the tips just snap in - much more intuitive.So now I've used the Travel and I like it. The pressure is great, even for a rechargeable model. It's also much quieter than the Pro. However, it also takes a bit of getting used to. If you turn it certain ways, the water does not come out and this will just take some practice.I gave this 4 out of 5 because of the tip installation trouble and the issue with having a couple of places where the water did not come out if the angle was not right. All in all, a good purchase. And I still have my Pro as a backup :)

It's ok. useful but hard to learn to use. i prefer the kind that you use at home which is great.

Works as advertised. I use it when I traveled to Europe. Took charges from 240 while I was there.

handy to use, time will tell if it makes any difference

you need to twist your wrist to get all the teeth

worked better than I had expected.

I purchased this irrigator to use on my trips out of town.I recommend that you read the instructions before using it. They recommend completely charging it, using it until it is completely discharged, and repeating the process a couple of times. The first time I used it, the battery only lasted one time. The second time I charged it, the battery lasted almost a week. Now, the battery lasts over a week and a half. It did all of this at home, BEFORE I took it on a trip. I'm confident that if I had not followed the instructions, I would have damaged the battery and would not have been happy with the product.While I have not experienced a problem with my unit, I have disassembled the water reservoir from the pumping unit before packing it away for travel to avoid the possibility of creating a situation for mold growth. The instructions do not tell you how to take it apart, it just suggests that you do. I found that it can be taken apart by fully expanding the water reservoir so that it locks in place and then bending the reservoir/pump unit until the locking teeth disengage; this takes quite a bit of force, but the unit can take it.In use, I found that it was best if I tried to keep the irrigator as vertical as I could and leaning over the sink with the probe in my mouth. If I didn't operate it this way, the water pick-up tube would come out of the water and the unit would stop pumping.

DISAPPOINTING UPDATE: I went through two of these. On lasted 1 month, the other lasted 2 months. Five star rating downgraded to two.I was first familiar with this irrigator from its Panasonic incarnation in Europe. That version is nearly twice the price, comes (annoyingly) with one tip rather than two as here. The charger on it is a heavier unit that charges faster. This unit's charger is light, small, but charges more slowly.The winner in my opinion, is THIS one, no question.It is powerful, the charge lasts a long time, it is a clever travel-friendly design that is just as suitable for permanent home use, and modestly priced.I should say that I don't think any of these portable irrigators last a long time, but that seems to be the nature of the beast. Maybe this unit will prove me wrong on that. But in any event this certainly beats on all counts the other major contender, sold under ToiletTree and other names.An issue with the first unit I ordered was handled professionally by OraTec.