Earlier this year, I was plagued with a series of undiagnosable sore throats. While fortified with antihistamines and pain killers, it occurred to me that where I live, in Brooklyn Heights, is only a few feet from the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (it’s something I’m reminded of when I clean the soot from my windowsill).
The upshot? I started looking into air purifiers, and my research led me to a list of effective, compact, and attractive options (cross-checked through message boards and consumer reports alike). Here are our top 10 picks.
Above: The Dyson Pure Cool Link Air Purifier has a borosilicate glass HEPA filter that removes 99.9 percent of allergens and pollutants as small as 0.3 microns in size. It acts as a fan in the summer months and links to a Dyson app for remote control; $499 at Amazon.
Above: The Viktor Air Purifier from Stadler Form Swizz Style is a compact tabletop filter that removes up to 99.9 percent of harmful particles with five cleaning levels and a black carbon filter for odor; $399.99 at Horne.
Above: Designed by Swedish architects Claesson Koivisto Rune, the Blueair Classic Sense Air Purifier quietly removes 99.9 percent of airborne pollutants. The purifier is made from recycled glass and steel, and its filter is also recyclable; $399 from Blueair (a pink model is also available at ABC Carpet & Home).
Above: Muji’s Air Cleaner (model MJ-AP1) is currently only available in Japan. It works with a dust-collecting deodorizing filter and can sense both dust and odor; 39,000 Yen ($386) at Muji in Japan.
Above: The Alen BreatheSmart HEPA Air Purifier removes harmful particles from the air with the choice of four HEPA filter options: Pure removes dust and allergens, Silver removes bacteria and germs, OdorCell removes smoke and odor, and FreshPlus removes chemicals and VOCs. Prices start at $599 from Air Purifiers America.
Above: The Swiss Boneco P500 Air Purifier has three settings—Baby, Smog, and Allergy—for $317.11 at Amazon.
Above: The Austin Air Healthmate Junior Plus removes VOCs such as smoke and formaldehyde from the air and cleanses up to 700 square feet; $419 at ABC Carpet & Home.
Above: Designed by Naoto Fukasawa, Plus Minus Zero’s Air Filter uses an antibacterial HEPA filter with an anti-odor carbon filter. You can find the filter for $369 at Japan Trend Shop or by contacting Plus Minus Zero.
Above: Also from Blueair, the 203 Slim HepaSilent Air-Purification System has the same HEPA filter as the other Blueair purifiers with a slimmer profile that’s good for fitting into tight spaces; $329 at Amazon.
Above: The Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier has a true HEPA, PlasmaWave, and odor-reducing washable carbon filter. It’s $220.58 at Amazon.
Above: Our bonus pick: The portable wifi-enabled Molekule air purifier (from a San Francisco startup company of the same name), says its technology is capable of eliminating pollutants 1000 times smaller than what current filters can catch. The second batch (early adopters were able to get in on the $499 price; going forward, it will retail for $799) has already sold out; to join the waiting list, go to Molekule.
Looking to clean up your home environment? See our posts:
- 10 Easy Pieces: Household Water Filters
- 10 Easy Pieces: Organic Bed Pillows
- 10 Easy Pieces: Humidifiers
Have a Question or Comment About This Post?
Join the conversation