As I've found out, if you suffer from seasonal allergies, an air purifier is an absolute essential for the spring and summer months.

But, HVAC experts advise, the placement of your purifier is far more important than you may think, and the height at which you place it can make a drastic difference in its performance.

Here's everything you need to know about the best place to put an air purifier throughout the sunnier seasons.

Ian Palmer-Smith, appliance repair expert at Domestic & General, shares, 'As a general rule of thumb, you should place the air purifier five or six feet above the floor to ensure the correct airflow all around the purifier for optimum performance. Putting it on the floor would restrict the airflow and reduce performance.'

In my bedroom, where I use my best air purifier most often − the IKEA UPPÅTVIND Air Purifier − I place it on a chair at night, away from the walls. Now, I know that placing it on an even higher shelf will allow it to work even better.

Jordan Benjamin, owner and president of Done Rite Services, agrees. 'Dust, allergens, and other contaminants tend to circulate most around head level, so placing your air purifier around five to six feet above the floor allows it to pull air from an active air region and do its job in the most efficient way possible,' he advises. 'If you place an air purifier on the floor, you’re forcing the unit to deal with restricted air flow due to furniture, carpets, et cetera.'

As for where you should place an air purifier in a bedroom, in a kitchen, or anywhere else, Ian adds that there isn't a 'one size fits all' answer.

'But,' he emphasizes, 'they should be in an area with no obstructions and no sufficient flow of air, as well as always at least six inches away from any furniture or walls.'

And, Jordan adds, while many people use their air purifier around areas that tend to produce strong odors, like in or near a kitchen, bathroom, or cat litter box, it's important to remember that air purifiers are designed to do more than simply reduce odor.

'Their main purpose is to clean the air and improve indoor air quality, so don’t limit their placement to smelly areas,' he says. 'Whatever room you spend a lot of time in is a great candidate for an air purifier.'

What to Shop

Below, you can shop from a selection of our tried, tested, and recommended air purifiers for use all around the home.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet the Expert

If you're wondering how to choose the right air purifier for your home, our expert guide includes everything you need to know.

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With higher temperatures, increased pollen levels, and seasonal allergies to contend with in spring and summer, getting a good night's sleep can become difficult for the majority of people.

But, with the Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor, staying informed about your indoor air quality makes it easier than ever to make effective changes to maximise your comfort at home.

Here's why using one is the simplest way to avoid any common air quality mistakes.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Knowing about the things secretly polluting your air is one of the easiest routes to tackling them. That's why we recommend the Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor, which takes the guesswork out of keeping track of your indoor air quality, which, in turn, works to help you sleep better.

This is supported by extensive scientific research, which highlights that even microscopic particulates can impact how well (and how deeply) you sleep, leaving you feeling lethargic come morning.

Fortunately, using the Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor is simple − once up and running, the monitor will send accurate readings on particulate matter, VOCs, carbon monoxide, humidity, and temperature, straight to your phone. The device is also fitted with a handy LED light, which gives you an indication of your current indoor air quality at a glance.

From the app, you can also enable routines to turn your Alexa-enabled devices, such as air purifiers, dehumidifiers, and fans, on and off whenever the indoor air quality changes, to maximize your comfort at home and improve the air quality in your home, even when living in a city.

The more affordable price point is also why our Home Tech Editor, Dan Fauzi, recommends this particular monitor. 'I've seen plenty of air quality monitors,' they say, 'and, while effective, they're also often pretty expensive.

'This pick from Amazon, however, provides straightforward, easy-to-understand, and accurate readings, all for just under $70. It's so useful that it can be paired with your other Alexa-enabled devices, too, which is one of my top tips for setting up a smart home.'

What Shoppers Say

Over 3,000 shoppers agree with home tech pro, Dan, which is reflected in the product's five-star Amazon reviews.

'This little air quality monitor works great and gives me real peace of mind,' reads one recent review. 'It updates quickly, pairs easily with Alexa, and gives a clear breakdown of what’s happening in the room. I use it in my home to keep an eye on the overall air quality, and it’s been very reliable.

'The readings for particulates, VOCs, and humidity all respond fast. When cooking, cleaning, or opening the garage door, the monitor reacts almost instantly. It’s helpful to see exactly what’s causing changes in the air instead of guessing.'

Another deems it a 'powerhouse of useful information,' and continues, 'Setup was easy, and it integrates seamlessly with our Amazon smart thermostat and Alexa devices. I especially like how it helps balance temperature differences between upstairs and downstairs by influencing when the heat actually kicks on − it’s smart without being intrusive.

'The data it provides is clear and easy to understand, and everything syncs smoothly across the Alexa ecosystem. It just works, which is exactly what you want from a smart home device.'

Dan adds one useful piece of advice for getting the most out of your Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor. 'Always pair it with your best air purifier,' they say. 'This is one of the easiest ways to keep your indoor air quality score high. On test, the Shark NeverChange, available at Amazon, performed exceptionally well.'

More to Shop

To truly combat indoor air pollution, you need more than just an air quality monitor. Below, you can shop from a selection of highly-rated picks to work together for the ultimate clean air home.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Meet the Expert

If you're wondering how to keep your indoor air quality clean during a renovation, our expert-led guide has advice on everything you need to know.

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At this time of year, opening the windows and feeling the air move through your home can feel vital in overcoming rising humidity and heat. But if you suffer from allergies, doing so usually brings pollen indoors. That's where the 'Rain Cooling' method comes in.

Air quality experts have revealed that you can use the 20 minutes after April showers to your advantage, to ventilate your home without exposing your indoor space to the sharp rise in pollen counts, or running up huge AC bills.

As rain pulls airborne pollen down to the ground, there's a short period after it has rained when you can safely cool your home without pushing up your pollen exposure. Pairing this 'rain cooling' technique with one of the best air purifiers will easily create a refreshing and comfortable space.

How to Use the 20-Minute Rain Cooling Method

'When it rains, airborne pollen particles are pulled down to the ground. Once pollen gets wet, it clumps together and can no longer be airborne,' shares Phil Adkins, president of Adkins & Sons.

To allow fresh air into your home without triggering allergies, open your windows for 20 minutes or so after light rain has fallen. This is when airborne pollen counts will be at their lowest.

Then, to catch any pollen particles that may have seeped in, run your air purifier for 30-60 minutes. If you don't have one, I recommend the Shark NeverChange MAX – I use it at home, and its HEPA filtration and large, 1,400 sq. ft. coverage make it ideal for clearing pollen and other spring pollutants from your home's air.

Ventilating your home does more than freshen up your space. It cools your home without relying on your AC, which, in turn, reduces your energy bills. Opening your windows after light rainfall is an effective, money-saving solution that doesn't bring allergens into your home.

The Science

The Rain Cooling technique is particularly important in April as higher temperatures and rounds of heavy rainfall result in high pollen counts for much of the US, according to AccuWeather.

But there's a caveat. If you're allergic to other pollen types, this technique could actually exacerbate symptoms.

'People who are allergic to different types of grasses should be cautious about this approach,' reports Rick Hoskins, air quality expert and CEO of FilterKing. 'Rain will actually cause allergens in the grass to disperse into the air, likely worsening their allergies.'

'Only open the windows when it’s raining if you’re 100% positive your allergies are caused by pollen. If you are allergic to grass or weeds, keep them shut and use your HVAC system,' he continues.

Eli Zimmer, CEO of Luxaire HVAC Services, elaborates, 'Rain also encourages the release of pollen from plants. The heavier it rains, the more that gets released, so following or even during a heavy rain storm, there can actually be an increase in pollen.'

'If you really struggle with allergies, I would highly recommend installing window screens that are specifically designed to filter out more allergens,' he recommends.

What to Shop

Regardless of the type of pollen you're allergic to, these solutions have either been vetted first-hand by our product testing team or recommended by air quality experts to reduce your allergy symptoms at home.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Cleaning from top to bottom is a simple way of keeping pollutants under control during your spring cleaning, but having one of the best air purifiers at home will help year-round to keep your air quality high and bothersome pollutants low.

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I've run an air purifier at night for the last two years, as it drastically reduces my allergy and asthma symptoms. However, they can be loud, resulting in my needing earplugs. That is, until I started using the new 2-in-1 Blueair Mini Restful.

This almost-silent air purifier and sunrise alarm clock, which gently wakes me up with a warm light and soothing sounds, has become my go-to for reducing allergens, congestion, and neutralising sleep disturbances.

It's now my new best air purifier and a spring bedroom savior – small enough to fit on my nightstand, while quietly removing pollen and other allergens while I sleep. And right now, it's on offer for $60 less.

The Blueair Mini Restful Removes Allergens While Improving Your Sleep

After trying and failing for years to get my allergies under control, I found that the single most effective solution was to sleep with an air purifier running. I stopped waking up in the middle of the night with symptoms flaring, and I was breathing clearer, sleeping more deeply, and waking up feeling truly refreshed.

This has been especially important during spring and summer, where pollen is at its highest, and my windows are open during the day to let in the fresh air and ventilate my home.

But almost every air purifier, especially the bulky one I've been using, makes a noise at its quietest level, so I have ended up sleeping with earplugs in every night to not disturb my rest.

That's why I was so relieved to hear how virtually silent the Blueair Mini Restful is. It sits on my nightstand, so it's removing pollen, dust and household allergens directly where I sleep, while running so quietly that I have had to check multiple times that it's actually turned on.

And to aid my sleep quality, it's also a sunrise alarm clock, emitting a warm, gradually increasing glow that aligns with the body's natural circadian rhythms. I have been loving how gently this wakes me up, paired with soft sounds such as bird song or cute melodies, rather than my phone's blaring beeps.

The Blueair Mini Restful is discounted to $139.99 at Blueair.

More to Shop

The Blueair Mini Restful is the ultimate sleep companion for anyone who suffers from allergies, combining almost silent purification with gentle waking for a deeper rest.

If you want to consider other options, or perhaps keep your sunrise clock and air purifiers separate to free up space on your nightstand, here are six more recommendations.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Next, learn the expert sleep hacks to drift off easily, while avoiding the mistakes compromising your air quality.

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As an asthma and allergy sufferer, I couldn't live without my air purifier, but that hasn't stopped me from resenting how much space my bulky appliance takes up at home.

But IKEA has launched a subtle, minimalist solution that hides in plain sight: The IKEA STARKVIND air purifying table. Designed to blend into your space with dual functionality, it would work equally as well as a living room side table as it would a bedside table.

And with its natural oak finish, you wouldn't guess that this minimalist side table is purifying your air in the background. It's easily one of the best air purifiers to save precious floor space.

The IKEA STARKVIND is the perfect blend of style and function. By bringing the air purifier into a side table, which would look just as good in a living room as it would next to your bedside, you're not compromising on the huge benefits of air purification, but the space that's taken up can still be used to add to your interior and adorn your space.

I say this as a sufferer of asthma and allergies, as I feel these benefits every day at home. Air purifiers improve our indoor air quality by removing particles from household allergens like pollen and dander, as well as odors and pollution.

The IKEA STARKVIND can purify spaces up to 215 square feet, with a particle filter that is optimized to filter approximately 99.5% of smaller airborne particles such as dust and pollen.

And if paired with the $35 IKEA STARKVIND gas filter, the table will also be able to remove odors and harmful gases found in household substances, such as formaldehyde and the VOCs that can come from cleaning sprays, as well as outdoor smog and tobacco smoke.

Improving air quality at home benefits your health and well-being, and it isn't just about 'breathing cleaner', but removing damaging pollutants from your indoor air. This can result in healthier lungs, clearer skin, fewer viruses being spread, and reduced impact from the outdoor air pollution that can creep indoors when we start opening up windows at length in balmy spring weather.

And as it looks so stylish as a bedside table, the IKEA STARKVIND is the kind of smart tech that can improve your sleep. I use my air purifier every night, and I rarely wake up congested or with asthma flare-ups, but unfortunately, I've had to dedicate a significant portion of my bedroom to a bulky appliance that really stands out from the rest of my interior.

So, to have finally found one that can blend into my space so seamlessly is a major win.

To blend into your space naturally, you can hide the cable in one of the table legs, and the control is a subtle dial at the side of the table. Unless it's turned up to full, most people probably wouldn't even notice it's an appliance.

The STARKVIND Air Purifying Table is available at IKEA US and IKEA UK.

More to Shop

The IKEA STARKVIND is a rare marrying of style and function, one that actually comes with great benefit to the comfort and well-being we can feel at home, without cluttering the space with tech that stands out.

Here are a few more options to consider that can help improve your air quality at home.

All prices correct at time of publication.

Air purifiers are essential, but they're not the only step to take when improving your air quality and getting a better night's sleep.

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I live in a house with an open-plan kitchen-diner, and internal doors that have gaps, making cooking smells a constant pain in our daily life. They spread from the kitchen to the living room and waft upstairs.

As someone with the nose of a hound, cooking smells are my biggest pet peeve at home. We often air-dry clothes indoors to protect delicate items from shrinking in the dryer, and to save on energy bills over winter. But those two winter issues together, at a time when our home is lacking the usual natural ventilation we enjoy when the weather is warmer outside means I needed a better fix.

That’s why I’m glad to have tried the compact oneisall Double-sided air purifier from Amazon, which tackles these issues, and reduces the pet hair and dander floating around in our air with whisper-quiet operation whilst taking up minimal air space.

Why This Budget Air Purifier Has Impressed Me

To understand why it impressed, it’s key to share why I’d put off getting one of the best air purifiers I had my eye on for so long. My home is small, and we already have lots of appliances in most rooms for added comfort and functionality, including fans, portable air conditioning units, and multiple small cooking appliances.

I didn’t want to give up more floor or counter space for an item I thought I’d use intermittently, or deal with the sound I incorrectly thought an air purifier would have.

However, the oneisall purifier, available for fast delivery at Amazon, has made me eat my words. It’s quiet, even on its top speed, compact, light, and easy to move, and not only helps reduce cooking odors, but also keeps dust, pet hair, and dander under much better control, especially in my bedroom, where I needed it the most.

I’ve tested it in my home for a month and have been pleasantly surprised by the benefits it’s brought, which also included less dust gathering on surfaces.

It’s Great on Pet Hair

Its main strength, in my opinion, comes from its ability to grab pet hair and dander from the air and stop it from circulating or settling on surfaces. It does this on two washable filters that can be rinsed, dried, and reused. This saves from the long-term costs of having to replace them as often.

Dan Fauzi, our resident home technology editor and expert tester, explains, ‘This air purifier has an activated carbon filter – a rare feature in purifiers under $100, but an essential one when dealing with odors, as HEPA filters only capture particulate matter, not smells.

‘On paper, it has many of the specs that we see in purifiers that cost a lot more, such as the Coway Airmega Mighty, including automatic air quality detection, which means you can set it and forget it. It is impressive to see this much packed into a budget model!’

I mostly needed the dander and pet hair purification function in my bedroom, as during the daytime, my two cats, who shed a lot, love to groom themselves and sleep on my bed.

As I am allergic to them, this was triggering me at night. Usually, I keep them out of my bedroom as much as possible; however, since testing the oneisall air purifier, I let them in to see how effective the pet hair and dander collection is.

To my view, it’s very effective given that even with my cats sleeping on my bed and spending most of their day in my bedroom, my allergies are no longer triggering overnight. That benefit alone makes this a worthy spend.

I did, however, find that it couldn’t clear cooking smells from the entire lower floor of my house as I’d hoped, which measures around 500 square feet, but did just fine working room by room, and reducing odors in our kitchen-diner at the source, for instance, in around 15-20 mins. That positively impacted how much spread leaked out to the rest of the house.

Dan adds, ‘With a 118 CFM purification rate, this oneisall purifier is best for rooms that are roughly 180 to 250 square feet – not the 2,200 square feet claimed on the product spec. As a rule of thumb: You want the CFM to be around two-thirds of the room size.’

This test period has also coincided with my heating being broken (around two weeks on and off), so opening windows and improving ventilation naturally has been nearly impossible, as we were preserving all the heat we could.

I also found that no matter how high the cooking smells or how close the air purifier to the source of the smell, the indicator for particles remained below 7, which, to me, indicates the associated sensor may not be very sensitive. This doesn't impact functionality, only the information you are able to get from the unit.

For comparison, if I spray hairspray next to it, it remains at a 7. However, in my BYD Atto car, which had an advanced HEPA air purification system, when I turned on the air purification system and sprayed hairspray or sun protection spray on myself, the parts per million indicator would shoot into double or triple figures, and the auto-detect would amp up speed to clear it fast in about one minute.

Who It’s Good For

After testing this appliance in my compact home, I found that I loved its timer functions, whisper-quiet operation, multiple speed settings, and the option to turn off the running lights for less disturbance if used overnight.

It worked well on cooking smells in closed rooms, and though it didn’t facilitate that smell removal from my entire downstairs floor like a Shark Neverchange Air Purifier Max would, I was no longer having to re-wash air-drying laundry after cooking more odorous dinners.

It is fantastic for pet owners, whether that’s for tackling litter and food smells, pet hair, and dander, or all of the above. The washable filters collect hair visibly, and you can wash and dry them to reuse them quickly.

Setup was also quick and easy, taking just a few minutes to place the foam filters the right way around with clear instructions, and plug in to go. Plug yours in directly to the outlet, rather than on an extender, to avoid any potential issues or fire risks.

It’s also great for small space living as it’s compact and looks slick, with filters running on both sides for maximum air quality impact.

What to Shop

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Keeping a home clean with pets is an ongoing and never-ending task. I found investing in one of the best robot vacuum cleaners reduced my canister vacuum use by 90% and freed up hours every week I'd otherwise spend on cleaning my floors.

Spending more time indoors over winter means your home's air quality inevitably suffers. Everyday actions such as cooking, dusting, and burning candles release pollutants that become trapped in under-ventilated homes over the colder months, and can lead to leaving your space feeling and smelling stuffy.

But the Coway Airmega Mighty, discounted by $60 at Amazon right now, is the simple, compact, and affordable solution. It cleanses odors and harmful particles out of the air we breathe, creating a space that feels fresh and health-conscious without taking up lots of vital floor space.

It's one of the best air purifiers we've tested, thanks to its small size and rapid purification, and it was already an affordable option, even before this rare $60 reduction.

The Coway Airmega Mighty Will Banish Winter Smells from Cooking, Cleaning, and More Time Spent Indoors

I used to loathe how stuffy it gets over winter. Cooking fumes, vacuuming, and simply spending a lot of time in one space can accumulate some serious odors, and as opening your windows in winter isn't always an option, investing in an air purifier was how I fixed this issue in my home.

But while my purifier is an expensive and bulky model for larger spaces, the Coway Airmega Mighty is a slim, affordable choice that we loved on test. It's rarely discounted (it hasn't been on offer since the Black Friday period!) – and you'll be hard-pressed to find a better alternative for $169.99.

On test, Gabriella Dyson loved its odor reduction, writing, 'The room's 'catty' odor – which I thought I had gone nose blind to – was all but gone.'

It's so effective because it uses an activated charcoal filter, an essential when dealing with smells and certain gases, that can clear a room of musty odors in minutes.

When frying food, one of the worst for compromising your air quality at home, Gabriella noted how quickly the Airmega Mighty dealt with it, 'Within 30 seconds of frying food, the machine turned from blue (indicating clean air) to red (indicating highly polluted air).

'I was impressed to watch as the machine faded from red to dark purple and back to blue again over the course of a few short minutes. What’s more, it made light work of removing greasy odors from the air,' she wrote in her review.

As it's simultaneously trapping odors and pollutants, keeping it nearby when vacuuming, cooking, dusting, or sleeping will do more than make your home smell nicer – it helps to keep your air healthy to breathe.

That's because household allergens, VOCs, and other pollutants are circulated into the air daily. Something as insignificant as walking on a rug will kick dust into the air, and once it's airborne, it can't be vacuumed. It stays in the air until it is either breathed in or eventually settles on a surface.

And that's a useful way to imagine the air purifier: As a vacuum cleaner for the air. Our homes would quickly become unbearable to live in if we didn't have our best vacuums to pick up dust, hair, and other messes that cause odors, trigger allergies, and damage our floors.

The same goes for our air quality. The Coway Airmega Mighty has four-stage filtration, including the anti-odor charcoal filter and an anti-allergen HEPA filter. Cleaner air is released into your home, with smells and contaminants filtered out.

And take it from somebody who has spent more than 100 hours testing air purifiers: It makes a huge difference to invest in one that automatically senses air quality. You can set it and forget it, leaving it to purify your space in the background.

The Coway Airmega Mighty is discounted to $169.99 from $229.99 at Amazon.

More to Shop

Next, learn how the 'Open Kitchen Rule' will help banish cooking odors, even in winter.

With large parts of the US below freezing right now, many of us will be feeling the cold throes of winter, even inside our homes. Winter also brings with it the poorest indoor air quality all year, as we shut our windows and inhibit ventilation to retain heat.

The answer to both is the Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1, now discounted by $75 at Amazon, which purifies the air while simultaneously heating the room. It sets itself apart from regular space heaters as the air that's projected into the room has been cleansed of pollutants.

It's one of the best air purifiers we've tested at Homes & Gardens, and as it's also a fan for cooling down during summer, it offers tremendous value and saves space, giving you the function of three appliances in one compact unit.

It's low in stock, so act fast as I predict a sell-out!

The Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1 Will Beat the Winter Cold and Indoor Air Pollution

This time of year, we have to persevere through some of the lowest temperatures, and as a result, we become trapped indoors with airborne pollutants and odors from cooking, candles, pets, and the outdoor allergens we bring inside.

That's why we're such big fans of the Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1. In our review, we loved how quickly it could raise the temperature. In an 80 square foot room, it climbed four degrees Fahrenheit in just nine minutes, having a more noticeable effect than the portable space heaters our tester had used previously.

Air purifiers can cost around $200-400 by themselves – like the Shark NeverChange MAX, our favorite that costs $299.99 at SharkNinja. So, to get three appliances – a purifier, heater, and fan in one device – for a similar price is rare value, while using up just a third of the floor space that you'd need for all three appliances.

Other space heaters can actually worsen your air quality. As they are often fan-based, they can kick up dust, dander, and other household allergens that are set on surfaces, making them airborne, while also recirculating existing air pollutants.

And generally, winter is the worst season for indoor air pollution (as covered by Franciscan Health), as more time spent indoors and poor ventilation lead to increased exposure to allergens, cooking fumes, and pollutants from candles and heating. It's why your house can quickly feel 'stuffy' this time of year, and why people are urged to the great air reset after hosting over the holidays.

Instead, the Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1 heats the room while purifying the air at the same time. It means you can warm yourself up without risking poorer air quality.

It also allows you to heat individual rooms rather than the whole house, which I do as I work from home, to avoid unnecessarily skyrocketing my energy bill by heating the whole house when I'm the only person in.

And looking ahead past these colder months, having a fan will achieve similar results. You can cool yourself with pure, clean air that's projected directly towards you, and you won't have to turn the AC on every time the weather's hot.

A device that's three appliances in one, useful all year, and can save on your energy bills? That's a major win, especially with $75 off.

The Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1 is discounted to $325 at Amazon with limited stock left. It's also discounted at Best Buy for $365.

More to Shop

Here are a few more ways to beat the winter cold and protect your indoor air quality.

All prices correct at time of publication.

Next, find out the 12 ways to keep a home warm all day, and how to improve your air quality when living in a city.

After days of cooking, burning candles, and extra company, the air inside your home is more polluted than you might realize. That's why experts are urging homeowners to perform a ‘Great Air Reset’ on December 27 – a simple, three-step air clean-up.

Whether you’ve spent the holidays entertaining or simply keeping cozy with scented candles and a roaring fire, your air quality has likely taken a hit. Fine particles, smoke, and chemicals build up indoors, lingering long after guests have left.

Luckily, restoring air quality and freshness indoors doesn’t take much effort – and one of the best air purifiers can make all the difference. Our pros reveal how to quickly restore air quality before the new year.

Why Indoor Air Quality Worsens After Christmas Hosting

Dr. Lyndsey Darrow, professor of public health at the University of Nevada, Reno. explains, ‘Holiday activities including increased cooking, woodburning, burning candles or using other fragrance-emitting substances, such as essential oil diffusers, release particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other harmful air pollutants into our indoor environments.

‘These pollutants are known to be associated with both respiratory and cardiovascular problems like asthma and heart attacks, so doing what we can to minimize exposures to these pollutants is worthwhile.'

All the things we love about Christmas hosting can also add to indoor air pollution, explains Sam Simon, COO at ServiceMaster Restoration by Simons. From candles to cooking fumes, many of these pollutants are among the secret things polluting your air quality.

Sam says, 'Cooking a big meal releases fine particles, candles produce soot, and decorations that have been sitting in storage can kick up dust and allergens. Add a full house of guests and pets into the mix, and your indoor air can get pretty stale and heavy fast.’

In winter, the issue becomes worse because we ventilate less, and keeping windows closed traps contaminants inside. ‘It’s not only more chemicals and scents indoors, but also the fact that people rarely ventilate their homes, being afraid of losing heat,’ adds Megan Doser, owner and CEO at Doctor Fix It Plumbing, Heating, Cooling & Electric.

Even seemingly harmless habits, such as using air fresheners or burning incense, can worsen things. As Josh Locker of AUX AIR USA notes, ‘Homes may smell festive, but the air can actually be more polluted than before.’

If you’re using plug-ins or sprays, you could be making one of the classic mistakes, compromising air quality. Here are the three easy fixes you can action today for an easy air reset.

1. Ventilate with open windows

It might seem counterintuitive in winter, but opening your windows briefly each day is one of the easiest ways to improve indoor air. ‘A quick air exchange brings in fresh air and pushes out stale air,’ says Sam. Even a few minutes can help – just be strategic about timing, opening windows when outdoor pollution is low and the room is receiving sunshine to reduce heat loss.

Opening the windows is something you should do in winter, and shock ventilation, when it's only done for a few minutes, will preserve overall room temperature and help keep your house warm without turning up the heat, whilst crucially circulating fresh air inside rapidly.

If you live in an urban area, balancing warmth and ventilation can be tricky, but improving air quality when living in a city is essential. To stay warm, a portable heater like this Dreo Space Heater at Walmart will allow you to open the windows without feeling too icy.

2. Clean or Replace HVAC Filters

After weeks of cooking, entertaining, and decorating, your HVAC system has likely been working overtime. ‘That old filter is probably clogged,’ says Arthur. ‘Change it immediately – or even better, upgrade to a higher-efficiency filter like a MERV 11 or higher.’

You can find MERV 11 HVAC filters for different AC units at Home Depot.

Dirty filters not only reduce airflow but can also recirculate particles. ‘If you’re still taking down decorations and cleaning, you’re at a critical point for controlling pollutants,’ Arthur continues. Run your HVAC fan continuously during this time to pull more air through the filter.

It’s also smart to schedule a professional HVAC inspection. As Josh notes, winter is a great time since filters, ducts, and coils tend to collect more debris. A clean system helps prevent the common household items polluting your air from lingering longer than they should, and forgetting to do so is one of many home maintenance mistakes never to make in winter.

3. Use an Air Purifier

Once you’ve ventilated and changed filters, finish with an air purifier to capture residual pollutants. Air purifiers actively remove particulate matter, VOCs, and other harmful air pollutants from your home.

‘Run an air purifier if you have it,’ says Josh. ‘The good news is that it doesn’t require too much effort to reset your home’s air quality,’ he adds. It won't hurt to clean the air purifier, too, to make sure that it's running at maximum efficiency.

Look for ones with HEPA filters as they can remove fine particles, or activated carbon filters to deal with gases, smoke and odors.

What to Shop

Air purifiers are the single most effective solution to cleanse your indoor air quality, and in this sweet after-Christmas period, prices are often lower than usual, too.

Next, learn how to reset your home after Christmas with our expert cleaning checklist.

Over the past few years, I've really honed my cooking skills, and now I love nothing more than to serve up a feast for my nearest and dearest. But I don't have a massive home, and after cooking for my big family last Christmas, we all felt just how stuffy and smelly the house became.

And as it's the middle of winter, no one really wants to be opening the windows, but did you know that aside from odors, cooking also releases VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), formaldehyde, and other pollutants into your space?

That's why I started using the Shark NeverChange MAX, which is discounted by $120 right now for Cyber Week. It's the best air purifier we've tested, and now my hours-long cooking sessions don't fill the house with harmful or odorful air.

The Shark NeverChange Air Purifier MAX Quickly Removes Smells and Harmful Pollutants

If you haven't had the privilege of using an air purifier before, you might not realize just how fresh it makes your indoor air. Since I started testing them for Homes & Gardens, and now use my favorite Shark NeverChange MAX daily, my space always has clean, breathable air. It's like being outside on a clear summer's day.

The NeverChange MAX works by pulling in air, filtering out the particles within it, then releasing clean, purified air back into the room. These particles – whether allergens, VOCs, or gases – are what contribute to your home feeling stuffy after cooking, and why smells can linger in the air for so long.

This is why it's one of the most effective ways to quickly remove cooking odors. As the NeverChange MAX covers spaces up to 1,400 square feet, it can pull air from the corners of even the biggest rooms – as NKBA research found that the average kitchen size in the US is approximately 161 square feet.

When it comes specifically to smells, the NeverChange MAX has an activated charcoal filter, which uses a process called adsorption to trap odor molecules on the filter's surface.

Not many air purifiers at this price point have activated charcoal filters, and they rarely have such a large room coverage. Typically, you'd expect a sub-$300 air purifier to just have a HEPA filter – which the NeverChange MAX also has – and cover around 500 square feet. The Coway Airmega Mighty [at Amazon] is one such example, and a great alternative if you'd rather spend a little less.

If you're skeptical about spending this much on an air purifier, the Shark one also has a money-saving feature you won't find in other models: Washable pre-filters that protect the inner filter for up to five years. This can save you at least $300 in replacement filter costs if you wash the filter every 1-2 months as advised by the manufacturer.

So, to see the NeverChange MAX discounted to this price is an absolute steal, especially as it comes with a free, portable Shark FlexBreeze that is the most powerful – and quiet – fan we've ever tested.

Use the two in tandem, and you won't have to worry about cooking stuffiness ever again. The FlexBreeze can quickly send air away from the kitchen, towards the purifier that will suck away the odors and harmful pollutants.

The Shark NeverChange MAX is available for $279.99 at SharkNinja.

More to Shop

Here are a few more solutions to keep your home fresh and breathable after hosting big family dinners, that we've tested and use at home ourselves.

All prices correct at time of publication.

Next, learn the common mistakes compromising your air quality, and how to improve air quality when living in a city.

As festivities ramp up, colder, wetter weather and more cooking indoors can mean more condensation and subsequent mold.

Not only does this look unsightly, but it can actually cause significant musty odors and issues to your health and home, all of which you'll want to avoid ahead of holiday hosting. That's why we recommend snapping up the number one bestselling Levoit Core 300 Air Purifier, available at Amazon before December's in full swing, which is now at its lowest ever price.

Here's why it's perfect for freshening common Christmas odors and reducing the risk of mold.

This Levoit Core 300 Air Purifier is Now at Its Lowest Ever Price

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

One of the most important holiday hosting tips is to ensure your home smells welcoming, lighting one of your best candles, for example, and looks clean, without any presence of mold and mildew, or musty odors that may cause.

Undoubtedly, using one of the best air purifiers is one of the most effective ways to do both, and the Levoit Core 300 Air Purifier, available at Amazon, was included in our guide as our best budget pick – and now the price just got even lower.

Yes, air purifiers do help with mold and mildew, as well as improve the air quality of your home, even if you live in a city and are spending the holidays at home.

Equally as important, bad smells are one of the first things guests instantly notice in your home at Christmas, but with this high-quality, high-performance air purifier, 99.97 per cent of airborne particulates are removed with ease, helping to freshen your space and make your home smell nice.

Suitable for cleaning rooms up to 1,073 square feet, with a HEPA-grade filter, this air purifier also uses whisper-quiet technology, at only 24 decibels, in Sleep Mode, meaning you can even run it overnight.

In fact, using an air purifier in their bedroom helped to combat the common allergens our home tech editor, Dan Fauzi, was suffering from. In general, air purifiers help with allergies by keeping indoor air clean and harmful pollutants out.

This particular model also features a variety of replacement filters you can choose from to best suit your needs, with a Toxin Absorber Filter for smog, toxins, and VOCs, a Smoke Remover Filter for smoke and other particulates, and the Pet Allergy Filter to capture fur and dander and absorb any unpleasant odors caused by living with pets.

As an air purifier user and lover, Dan, who has allergies and asthma, says that this deal is one of the best they've ever seen, and a great chance to pick up one of our top-rated models at a reduced price.

'This is a best seller for a reason,' Dan advises, 'and picking it up now means your home will smell fresh all season long. I run mine most days, but particularly when I'm having friends or family over. Nothing works better to quickly make your home smell nice, which is why using one is one of the things people with nice-smelling living rooms always do, where we tend to host, and the trick works just as well anywhere else around the home, too.'

Dan's not the only one who recommends snapping up this air purifier, either, with over 109,500 shoppers leaving glowing five-star reviews.

'Phenomenal product!,' reads a recent one from Livi. 'My dorm has a serious, unfixable black mold problem, and this has made such a difference! I haven't gotten sick at all. It's very quiet on both the first and second settings, and the last setting offers pleasant white noise for sleep or to drown out neighbors when standing close enough.

'The output from the filter and fan also creates more airflow for a small space, which generally keeps things a little bit cooler. Also, it keeps out any nasty odors from an old building and communal areas, which is a great help! All of the mustiness of the building disappears the moment I open my door. It's very light – I had to carry it across campus and it gave me no trouble, and it fits neatly on a fairly large desk. Great for the price!!'

A second, from Albert, comments on the 'very clean air' it provides.

'Purchased this unit specifically to mitigate allergens from outside as well as from my Siberian Husky for a good night's sleep,' they say. 'The single unit works extremely well, cleaning a 9'x9' bedroom with the door closed. My air quality meter shows AQI dropped from 80 down to 1 (extremely good air) with PM10, PM2.5, and PM1.0 [which refer to particulates] counts in single digits.

'The room just smells fresh! The unit additionally has enough power for my adjacent 12'x12' living room, but I usually limit it to the bedroom. I've run the unit on medium and high settings almost constantly (4 months) without issue.

'For noise, you'll hear it running, but I would describe it as a "soft" white noise – very suitable in my opinion for sleeping,' they add, concluding, 'I feel the unit is a great value and will likely purchase a second unit.'

So, as a non-toxic way to make your home smell nice, the Levoit Core 300 Air Purifier, available at Amazon, is the perfect product. Grab it now at a reduced price while stocks last.

What to Shop

Meet the Expert

Spoilt for choice? Learn how to choose the right air purifier for your home with advice from our experts.

Just because our windows and doors are closed more often now that summer's over, we don't have to be trapped inside with musty, stale air and odors. An air purifier is all you need to suck away unpleasant smells and cooking gases, as well as remove pollutants and viruses from your air.

Amazon Renewed is selling a refurbished version of the Shark NeverChange Air Purifier MAX for just $187.99. That's almost $200 less than the retail price on the best air purifier we've tested at Homes & Gardens.

I've been using the Shark NeverChange MAX for over a year, and it still works as quickly as it did when I first unboxed it. Here's why it's our favorite, and why refurbished picks are a great way to get stellar tech at affordable prices.

Why I rank the Shark NeverChange Air Purifier MAX above all others

The Shark NeverChange MAX works by pulling in air, trapping the particles within it, then releasing cleaner air back into your space. This is how it's able to capture common household allergens like dust, pollen and dander, using a HEPA filter just like the best vacuums.

And when it comes to gases, odors, and smoke, the air purifier uses an activated charcoal filter that removes these non-solid particles. I use the NeverChange MAX almost every day, and it works rapidly to remove smells from a room (sometimes I forget to turn it off when lighting an incense, then act surprised when I can't smell anything).

Typically, an air purifier with this functionality costs anywhere from $250 to $500+, as you can see with the Molekule Air Mini+, which covers a smaller area. So, this refurbished model, which has been restored to full working order, is a welcome loophole to save big on one of the highest-performing purifiers you can buy.

And what's more, thanks to its protective pre-filters, you won't have to replace the main HEPA and charcoal filter for up to five years, saving $100s on recurring filter costs that you'd have to buy with other models.

The NeverChange MAX can cover a huge 1,400 square feet, which gives it the airflow and purification speed necessary to cleanse multiple rooms at once.

Honestly, I couldn't recommend it more. Don't be put off by the fact that it's refurbished. When stores refurbish old appliances, they meet incredibly strict standards so that they can be sold as the same product as the original. It comes with a sealed, brand-new HEPA filter.

The refurbished Shark NeverChange Air Purifier MAX is available for $187.99 at Amazon.

More to shop

Shopping around? Here are three more of our favorite air purifiers from the 17 we've tested at Homes & Gardens.

All prices were correct at time of publication.

Next, see why we rate the best vacuums for pet hair so highly.

Now that the colder months are upon us, it's time to shut the windows and keep the precious warmth in. But that shouldn't mean saying goodbye to fresh air.

Instead of ventilating your home, an air purifier will remove musty smells and cooking fumes, so that you're breathing clean, purified air all day long.

The Levoit Core 300 is on offer for just $84.99 at Target, and it's one of the best air purifiers we've tested that can easily tackle smoke, odor, and gas, along with the other pollutants and allergens that live in our indoor spaces, without spending a premium.

Why you should buy this budget-friendly air purifier for fall

Of the 17 air purifiers we've tested at Homes & Gardens, the Levoit Core 300 is our top budget pick. It costs $200-300 less than others with similar features, and does a stellar job of improving your air quality.

Whether you're cooking, freshening up a bedroom, or removing odors from a pet bed or litter tray, the Levoit Core 300 can quickly handle the task, while being compact enough to move from room to room easily.

It's easy to compare the benefits of plants vs air purifiers. However, while houseplants can certainly help, nothing's more effective than the multiple layers of filtration that an air purifier provides.

The Levoit Core 300 has three-stage filtration, including an activated charcoal for gases and odors, a HEPA filter, and a pre-filter. These are the essentials to remove smells, pollutants, and common household allergens from the air.

It can also run as quietly as 28 decibels, quieter than most purifiers, making it ideal for bedrooms and living rooms where loud noises can be distracting.

The Levoit Core 300 is available for $84.99 at Target.

More to shop

Considering other options? Here are six more of our favorite air purifiers with more advanced features and larger coverage.

All prices were correct at time of publication.

Next, learn the mistakes compromising your air quality at home.

Imagine waking to a home that’s already vacuumed, with clean air and your favorite music playing – without needing a single command. That’s the promise of new AI in the home: Intelligent systems that keep learning and act on your behalf.

Unlike routine-based smart devices, AI uses behavioral patterns and environmental data to adapt device actions in real time. It collaborates across systems, lightens mental load, and quietly makes life easier.

Here, learn more about the smart home must-haves with integrated AI that can transform daily life – and why it’s already more common than you think.

4 smart ways to use AI at home without lifting a finger

1. Ambiance

AI is rethinking how we control home ambiance, say experts.

‘Ambient intelligence is an emerging concept where devices passively understand who’s there and what they need – without commands or wearables,’ says Amod Kant Agrawal, applied scientist at Amazon.

This new tech doesn’t just respond, it anticipates. Wireless signals detect gestures and patterns, allowing systems to follow you with music or adjust lights based on activity, time of day, or even your tone of voice. You’ll find many of these developments in today’s smart home trends.

Samsung’s upcoming Ballie robot, for instance, projects images, feeds pets, and controls connected appliances as it moves with you. It’s a major leap from the routine-based systems in earlier smart tech gadgets.

Russell Goldman, interior designer at More Wow Design, explains, ‘AI adapts to our behavior. It knows when to dim the lights, play music to match your mood, or reduce allergens overnight. It’s perceptive, not programmed.’

2. Cleaning

Cleaning has become smarter and more intuitive. ‘AI learns patterns and adjusts over time – it doesn’t just follow fixed commands,’ says Patrice Williams Lindo, CEO at Career Nomad.

Many of the models in our best robot vacuums guide, including the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+, use cameras and LiDAR mapping to recognize objects such as cords or pet waste. ‘It’s not just reacting – it’s deciding,’ Patrice explains.

Roborock’s latest robot goes further with a mechanical arm that clears obstacles, informed by AI object detection. It solves one of the most persistent frustrations: Having to pre-clean your floor for the robot.

Air quality is evolving, too. ‘AI-driven purifiers now predict changes based on cooking habits or pollen levels and adjust automatically,’ Patrice says. And as we've discovered from testing the best air purifiers, this hands-free feature is becoming increasingly common.

3. Energy

Energy efficiency is one of AI’s most practical benefits. ‘AI maps when people are home, adjusts heating and cooling, and even times it to cheaper electricity rates,’ says Patrice. Ecobee’s Eco+ feature is a standout example – learning patterns and adapting in real time.

Russell Goldman sees the future in cross-system collaboration, ‘Your energy monitor will inform your thermostat. Your wellness tracker will inform lighting and air quality. AI isn’t isolated – it’s becoming a responsive network.’

This connected thinking is central to setting up a smart home. It’s also a major contributor to lower bills, especially when combined with smart plugs and appliance monitoring, which are helpful when cutting energy bills.

Looking ahead, Russell predicts AI-first design, ‘We’ll stop layering tech onto homes and start building homes for AI where even layout and airflow respond dynamically to our routines.’

4. Security

Traditional security systems alert you to motion, whereas AI systems tell you what’s happening. ‘Ring’s new AI-generated alerts describe scenes – like “A person is walking up the steps with a black dog” – reducing false alarms and adding clarity,’ says Patrice.

Devices like the eufy Security Video Doorbell E340 distinguish between people, packages, pets, and cars, and process data on-device, keeping footage private. These features are fast becoming standard across the best home security measures.

Amod points to passive sensing as a key upgrade, ‘Systems can track your phone or smartwatch and unlock doors as you approach – like keyless car entry, but for the home.’

Renters can benefit too. Many renter-safe home security systems now offer AI-powered features without requiring permanent fixtures. And for guidance, a military dad’s top security picks offer simple, effective upgrades with AI baked in.

Next, learn the smart kitchen tech that can transform your cooking, and the smart bedroom tech to improve sleep.

If you value clean air at home, an air purifier is essential. And Coway's are among the best-performing and most reasonably priced in the market.

Right now, you can get the Coway Airmega Mighty for just $154.99 – but it's only available for Prime members. If you're not a member, don't worry, you can sign up for a month's free trial to Amazon Prime and cancel it anytime.

Besides being able to access the deal, the bonus is you'll be set to go for the first four-day Amazon Prime Day event happening on July 8-11, along with taking home one of the best air purifiers we've tested at Homes & Gardens.

Why we love the Coway Airmega Mighty

The Airmega Mighty can cover spaces up to 361 square feet. So, any large bedroom or moderate-sized living room can have its air completely cleansed by the purifier's air flow.

During testing, the Airmega Mighty almost eliminated our tester's pet allergies. As a fellow allergy and asthma sufferer, I can personally attest to how well a bedroom air purifier can reduce these symptoms.

Tester Gabriella Dyson also tried it out while cooking, positioning the purifier a few feet from the stove when cooking. The purifier automatically detected poor air quality within 30 seconds and restored it to clean air in under half an hour while neutralizing kitchen odors.

Personally, I'm a big fan of the box design. Most air purifiers are large, cylindrical devices that take up a fair amount of floor space, especially when considering the best place to put an air purifier is central to a room. But the Airmega Mighty is flatter, easier to conceal, and neutral to blend into living room aesthetics.

Buy the Coway Airmega Mighty for $154.99 at Amazon.

Sign up for a free Amazon Prime membership and enjoy countless discounts across the four-day Prime Day.

What to shop

Want to shop around? We've tested 17 air purifiers with excellent features and tried-and-tested performance.

All prices correct at time of publication.

Next, learn how to choose an air purifier, and compare the natural cleansing properties of air purifiers vs plants.

As temperatures soar across the US this summer, staying cool has never felt more urgent. And while air conditioning is effective, it isn't the most cost-effective solution, especially during a long heatwave.

That's where an air purifying tower fan comes in. Combining one of the best fans with one of the best air purifiers results in an appliance that can rapidly cool you down while cleansing the air of pollution and allergens, while using up much less energy than your AC.

I've been using the Dreo Air Purifying Tower Fan MC710S for almost a year, and it's saved the day countless times during heat waves. It has also banished harmful gases and pollutants, reducing my allergies to virtually none.

Why I love this Dreo air purifying tower fan

The only downside to using a fan is the fact that it blows dust and other common household allergens into the air, worsening your allergy and asthma symptoms.

However, Dreo's combination of a fan and air purifier gives you the best of both: you can cool down in a heatwave and cleanse the air of harmful pollutants. And as the fan creates a breeze, it can pull pollen, dander, smoke, and other particles from further parts of the room.

A major benefit is improving air quality when living in a city or anywhere with outdoor pollution, as opening the windows to improve your home's ventilation can bring in air that's dangerous to breathe.

It's also a savior when cooking, as you can keep the kitchen cool while removing harmful cooking gases from the air. Ignoring VOCs from cooking is one of the more surprising mistakes compromising your air quality.

But perhaps most important: sleep. Sleeping with a fan on at night can be comforting, especially in the sweltering heat, but it can affect your breathing and dry your throat if you're inhaling dust. The Dreo purifying fan can blow clean air all night, thanks to its True HEPA filter that captures 99.9% of pollutants.

Another great feature is its dual motor, meaning you don't have to run the fan and purifier at the same time. If your air quality is good and you just need a breeze, or if it's a cold day but the air quality is poor, the MC710S can adjust to that, and do it automatically if you set it to.

I've been using the Dreo MC710S for just under a year, and it's been a lifesaver during the hot days of summer when allergy season is in full swing. I also love its app connectivity and the complete customization I get over every setting.

Buy the Dreo Air Purifying Tower Fan MC710S for $299.99 with code AOD15.

What to shop

Not what you're looking for? We've tested 22 fans and air purifiers at Homes & Gardens and can recommend plenty more.

All prices were correct at time of publication.

Next, learn what not to do in a heatwave, and the home remedies to stay cool without spending.

Cleaner indoor air, whether from an air purifier or an air ionizer, is fast becoming a household essential. From allergens and pollution to smoke and VOCs, there’s growing awareness about what’s floating around in our homes – and how to tackle it.

Both purifiers and ionizers sound similar, but experts warn that the differences between them are important when deciding to invest in your health.

After spending more than 100 hours testing the best air purifiers in my own home, here I compare the two technologies side by side to help you decide which option is safest and most effective for your space.

Air purifiers vs. air ionizers

I caught up with HVAC and air purifier industry experts, for the full low-down on air purifiers and air ionizers.

What's the difference?

Kelly Russum, owner of KC’s 23 ½ Hour Plumbing & Air Conditioning, begins, ‘Air purifiers act like vacuums, ionizers act like magnets. Purifiers physically trap pollutants such as dust, dander, and pollen using HEPA or carbon filters. Ionizers, on the other hand, release charged ions into the air that bind to airborne particles, causing them to fall or stick to surfaces.’

It's an important distinction. What air purifiers do is physically remove pollutants from your home by trapping them in replaceable filters, almost like a vacuum cleaner for the air. Many models include activated carbon filters to target odors and gases like VOCs – a method also used in professional-grade systems, and are often confused when comparing air scrubbers vs air purifiers.

In contrast, ionizers don’t remove particles – they displace them. Negative ions attach to pollutants, making them heavy enough to fall from the air. As Lane Martin, co-founder of Modern PURAIR, explains, ‘You’re not really removing the particles, just getting them out of the air temporarily.’

It’s also worth noting that particles dislodged by ionizers tend to settle on floors, shelves, and other surfaces, meaning you’ll still need to clean them up manually. This is important to remember, alongside other air quality mistakes at home, such as ignoring dust buildup or failing to vacuum soft furnishings. The Black+Decker dustbuster furbuster at Amazon is perfect for vacuuming sofas and upholstery thanks to its powerful, handheld design that we awarded 4.5 stars on test.

Dr. Jaspreet Dhau, vice president of research development at Molekule, adds a further note of caution, ‘Ionizers work to remove pollutants by electrically charging airborne particles. However, ozone is a very gangrenous and toxic compound and a lung irritant even at low concentrations.’ It’s a side effect of many ionizing processes – and one that shouldn’t be overlooked when deciding on an air ionizer.

Which is best for me?

Choosing between an air purifier and an ionizer largely depends on your health and your home's priorities.

If you suffer from allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions, experts overwhelmingly recommend air purifiers. Kelly Russum says, ‘Air purifiers give tangible and visible results. You see the filters fill up, and they’re excellent at capturing allergens, mold spores, and even bad smells.’

Air purifiers are also highly effective when paired with other lifestyle changes, such as removing household items that pollute your air and improving ventilation. For urban homes, they’re especially helpful in efforts to improve air quality when living in a city.

On the other hand, ionizers offer low-maintenance convenience. With no filters to change, they’re quieter and cheaper to run. They can also help with ultra-fine particles, such as smoke.

But as Dr. Dhau warns, ‘Ozone is a toxic lung irritant,’ and ionizers that emit it are best avoided in homes with children, pets, or anyone with respiratory sensitivities. Having an indoor air quality monitor, available at Walmart, can help you stay on top of indoor irritants.

‘If you want an ionizer,’ advises Kelly Russum, ‘you need to choose models that meet California’s CARB ozone emission limits.’ These are certified to release little or no ozone – a vital consideration, especially in small or poorly ventilated rooms. This Lasko Tower Fan and Ionizer at Walmart is officially certified to meet these standards.

Some people consider using both devices or purchasing models that combine the two. However, Russum argues this is often unnecessary: ‘There’s no need to knock down pollution and push it to surfaces, if you can just get rid of it with a purifier.’

What to shop

You can find air ionizers ranging from $40 to $200+ at Walmart and Amazon to suit different homes. Here are our top three air purifiers from the 17 we've tested. All prices correct at time of publication.

Meet the experts

Next, learn how to choose an air purifier, and compare how they stack up against more natural solutions, such as air purifiers vs plants.

Whether it's removing pollen, pet hair, or pollution, improving your home's air quality will be a boon for your well-being. But how do air purifiers vs. plants measure up?

Plants naturally absorb gases and release oxygen, and they've been doing this self-sufficiently for millennia. But now, we have the best air purifiers that actively pull in contaminated air and release purified air, more swiftly than a plant could.

Which one works best, and can you get away with using plants instead of a new device? At Homes & Gardens, we've spent years testing purifiers and living with air-purifying houseplants. So, here's the full low-down on creating a healthy space using natural helpers or smart devices – or both.

Air purifiers vs plants

I've spent 100+ hours testing air purifiers and know the ins and outs of how they work. I also caught up with horticulturists and HVAC specialists to find out exactly whether air purifiers or air-cleaning indoor plants are best for your space.

What's the difference?

Air purifiers and plants both aim to improve indoor air, but how they do it – and how well – is very different.

‘Air purifiers are designed to actively remove airborne contaminants – things like dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke particles, and even VOCs,’ says Lane Martin, co-founder of Modern PURAIR. ‘They often use HEPA or carbon filters, which are far more efficient at capturing microscopic particles than any houseplant could manage.’

If you’re wondering what an air purifier does, imagine a vacuum cleaner for the air – it pulls in polluted air and pushes out cleaner air. Houseplants, by contrast, rely on slower biological processes.

Tammy Sons, horticulture expert and founder of plant store TN Nursery, explains that plants such as peace lilies and spider plants can remove toxins, including benzene and formaldehyde, but they operate at a slower pace.

‘Houseplants offer electricity-free charm and connect people to nature, but they’re not as swift as purifiers at removing smoke or gas particles,’ she says.

Biologist and EARTHDAY associate director Aidan Charron agrees: ‘You’d need like 100 plants per room to make a real dent in your air quality,’ he says. ‘A decent HEPA filter can remove 99.97% of particles – plants just can’t compete with that efficiency.’

Still, that doesn’t mean plants don’t help. They may not scrub the air as fast as a purifier, but they add humidity, bring a natural aesthetic and improve air quality indoors more gently.

Air quality monitors can help you measure what’s in your indoor air and track how much either option is helping, if you prefer a more data-driven approach.

Which is best for me?

Choosing between air purifiers vs. plants depends on your needs and how you live.

‘If you’re someone who enjoys caring for plants and just wants to freshen up a room, houseplants are a lovely addition,’ says Lane. ‘But if air quality is a concern – maybe you live near a busy road, you have pets, or someone has allergies – then an air purifier is the more reliable solution.’

If allergies, asthma or smoke are a concern, it’s best to know how to choose the right air purifier for your home and the best place to put an air purifier.

Speaking from my own experience, having an air purifier in the bedroom has made a huge difference in my sleep quality, almost eliminating my asthma and allergy symptoms.

Traffic fumes and outdoor pollutants can make their way inside, too. A purifier may be essential here as it's one of the best ways to improve indoor air quality when living in a city.

That said, houseplants come with unique benefits, and they help to create a non-toxic home. ‘Plants are the ultimate multitaskers,’ says Aidan. ‘They add humidity, look great, and some even smell good. And they do it all without electricity.’

Tammy adds, ‘Plants promote vitality and create a tranquil environment with natural fragrance. Those who find meaning in nurturing living things will love the slow, steady presence of greenery.’

Looking for a place to start? One of the best air-cleaning plants is the peace lily. Here’s where to place a peace lily to get the most from its air-purifying potential.

The best air might just come from combining the two. Let your purifier clean while your plants bring the calm. Just be aware of common indoor plant mistakes like overwatering, poor placement, or choosing toxic species for pets.

Next, learn the non-toxic ways to make your home smell nice, and the common household items that are polluting your air.

As summer sets in, sleeping with a fan on can feel like the only way to get through a hot, sticky night. It’s a simple, energy-saving solution – and the white noise can be soothing, too.

But while the best fans offers immediate relief, it may be causing more harm than good. According to experts, the airflow can aggravate allergies, dry out skin, and even disrupt your sleep.

So should we stop using fans overnight altogether? Not necessarily – but it’s worth knowing the risks, and how to get around them.

Can you sleep with a fan on overnight?

In short, yes – but it’s not ideal for everyone. While fans create a cooling breeze, they also stir up dust, pollen and dry air, which can irritate the skin and airways.

‘Fans can dehydrate your throat and nostrils,’ says Dr Emma Lin, sleep medicine physician and co-founder of ReadyO2. ‘They circulate dust and pollen, which might cause sneezing or coughing,’ she adds, highlighting the effects of letting common household allergens build up at home.

If you’ve ever woken up with a dry throat, itchy eyes or blocked sinuses, the fan could be to blame. Dr Hussain Ahmad, a consultant at Click2Pharmacy, explains: ‘Fans blow around allergens and dry out the air, which can make allergies worse and dry your skin.’

'If the air's already dry, fans can cause dry skin, dry eyes, or even dry out your nose and throat, which might leave you waking up with a scratchy throat or blocked sinuses,' he adds.

Even healthy sleepers can experience discomfort from overnight airflow, especially if the fan is pointing directly at the face. Over time, this dryness can affect sleep quality and increase sensitivity to airborne irritants. This is also one of the expert-recommended reasons why you should turn your AC off at night.

According to Lane Martin of indoor air quality company Modern PURAIR, the issue often lies in what’s in the air. ‘If your fan is just recirculating dust and allergens, it could be making things worse,’ he says.

How to do it safely and comfortably

If you’re not ready to give up your fan, there are easy ways to make it safer and more comfortable. My home doesn't have AC, and I sleep with a fan on overnight whenever the weather's a little too warm. Because I pair it with one of the best air purifiers, I never feel the potential side effects from running a fan overnight.

First, regularly cleaning your fan will keep it free of dust and allergens. ‘Clean your fan regularly and try not to point it straight at your face,’ says Dr Hussain Ahmad. Oscillating fans or those aimed at the wall can reduce negative effects.

Next, improve the air quality in your room. ‘Use an air purifier to remove dust and pollen,’ says Dr Emma Lin. ‘And add a humidifier if the air is too dry – it keeps your nose and throat from drying out.’ The Sharper Image Ultrasonic Humidifier at QVC is an excellent, budget-friendly choice.

Martin agrees: ‘Pairing a fan with an air purifier or clean HVAC system means you’re not just blowing irritants around all night.’

Using an air purifier in my bedroom has almost eliminated my asthma and allergy symptoms. I use the Molekule Air Mini+ as it's small, quiet and has some of the most effective purification technology available, but the Coway Airmega Aim at Amazon is a more budget-friendly option that's great at purifying a room.

Simple changes to your bedding and routine can help too. Choose natural fabrics like cotton or bamboo for better airflow, and avoid memory foam, which traps heat. ‘A warm shower before bed helps your body cool naturally,’ says Dr Emma Lin.

You can also cool down the room itself. Keep blinds closed during the day to block heat, open windows when it’s cooler outside, or try placing a frozen water bottle in bed an hour before sleep.

Finally, if you have asthma, hay fever, or other respiratory conditions, speak to a specialist. ‘There’s no one-size-fits-all,’ says Dr Emma Lin, ‘but everyone benefits from clean air and good sleep.’

What to shop

To guarantee a good night's sleep while the fan's running, free of allergies and dryness, make the most of the useful technology out there. All prices correct at time of publication.

FAQs

Can you sleep with a fan and humidifier on?

Yes, and it's one of the expert-recommended tips to ensure that your room has enough moisture when running the fan won't dry out your skin, nose or throat too much.

Can you sleep with a fan on when sick?

Running the fan overnight won't necessarily make you more sick, but it can definitely worsen your symptoms. As the steady breeze from a fan can cause dryness, trigger allergy symptoms or worsen your breathing, it's generally best to avoid doing so if you're ill.

But if you have an air purifier and humidifier set up, you should be able to have a comfortable sleep without the fan worsening your symptoms.

Can you sleep with a fan on and the window open?

This mostly depends on your area's air quality. If you live in a built-up area, a way to improve your air quality when living in a city is to avoid letting the pollutants in, and if you're running a fan at the same time, these pollutants will be pulled in and circulate around the room.

If you live in an area with cleaner air, opening the window can allow fresh air to enter your space, while letting out compromised air from cooking, candles or showering.

If the outside air is hotter or more humid than indoors, running the fan with a window open may not make you feel all that much cooler.

Can you sleep with a fan on in winter?

The air is naturally drier in the winter months, so sleeping with the fan on overnight will cause more side effects than when doing so during summer.

Plus, it's not the most environmentally friendly method. There are plenty of ways to achieve the best temperature for sleep, but running the heating and a fan simultaneously might not be the best move.

Is it bad to sleep with a fan on?

Punteha van Terheyden, Head of Solved at Homes & Gardens, has some expert tips on how to sleep better:

'Getting a comfortable night's sleep is incredibly important to our wellbeing, so if a fan helps you sleep, there's nothing wrong with using it.

'However, if you find having a fan running overnight gives you a sore or dry throat, or wakes you up from feeling stuffy or cold, use the timer function to have it turn off an hour or so after you're asleep.

'That way, you get the short-term comfort and cooling to help you drift off, but any unwanted symptoms from running it for many hours will be skipped.'

Punteha recommends the Pelonis Tower Fan with remote from Amazon, adding, 'It's quiet and has an easy-to-use timer function. The remote makes it easy to tweak when you're in bed and tired, or wake up in the night and want to change the settings with ease.'

Next, learn the mistakes compromising your air quality, and find out about the best fan we've ever reviewed, the Shark FlexBreeze, which will quietly but effectively cool any room.

Breathing clean air while spending time at home is essential, but which is better in the toss-up between air scrubber vs. air purifier?

While both improve indoor air quality, they do so in very different ways – and in very different situations. Whether you’re trying to breathe easier during allergy season or recover from a renovation or flood, it's important to choose the right home upgrade.

We spoke to industry experts who regularly work with air scrubbers and the best air purifiers to shed light on the key differences and help you decide what's best for your home.

Air scrubber vs. air purifier: a comparison

What's the difference?

Despite their similar-sounding names, air scrubbers and air purifiers improve your indoor air quality in different ways.

‘Air purifiers are built to improve indoor air quality over time,’ says Alex Panasyuk, COO at Provision Property Restoration. ‘The good ones use HEPA filters to capture fine particles from dust, pollen, pets, and sometimes VOCs. They’re ideal for ongoing use in bedrooms and living areas.’

Air scrubbers, on the other hand, are far more active in how they work. ‘They release charged ions or oxidizers into the air,’ explains Omero Flores, CEO of American AC & Heating.

‘These molecules neutralize contaminants not just in the air, but on surfaces too – like countertops and door handles,’ he adds. This level of cleaning can avoid many of the common mistakes compromising air quality, and can be a more guaranteed way to have consistently clean air.

Michael Zohouri, founder of Pyramid Eco, sums it up neatly, explaining, ‘In simple terms, purifiers trap, and scrubbers treat.’

‘So the main difference is in the way they work and the purposes of use,’ adds Jimmy Hiller, CEO of Happy Hiller. ‘Air scrubbers are used to get rid of odors, tackle VOCs and germs, while purifiers filter the air that passes through them.’

Investing in an affordable gadget to test your air quality will help determine whether you need a small air purifier or a serious air scrubber.

The benefits of air scrubbers

Air scrubbers are the go-to solution for more serious air quality issues – think smoke damage, post-renovation debris, and getting rid of black mold.

‘You want an air scrubber when your air quality is compromised big time,’ says Alex. ‘If you’ve had a flood, found mold, or dealt with fire damage, scrubbers are built for that job. We use commercial-grade models during restoration projects because they clean air fast and thoroughly.’

Omero notes that they’re particularly useful in homes with immune-compromised residents or persistent odors, adding, ‘Scrubbers actively kill or neutralize bacteria, viruses, mold, and VOCs. They work continuously and require very little maintenance once installed.’

Maintenance will be as simple as giving it a clean at the same time as you clean your HVAC system. And because of this integration, they also offer whole-home coverage.

Jimmy adds that while some models are loud and pricey, they can be surprisingly efficient. ‘Run every day, they can improve indoor air significantly – especially in homes with pets, allergies, or high humidity. Just remember, they only work when the HVAC system is running.’

Knowing when you should turn on your AC might then be influenced by when you need air purification, and having that functionality ready can make all the difference in areas with lower air quality.

Michael agrees that scrubbers are ideal in more demanding environments. ‘If you’re renovating a room or cleaning up after water damage, you’re going to need an air scrubber. They’re built to actively break down harmful particles released in those scenarios.’

The benefits of air purifiers

Air purifiers are typically quieter than air scrubbers, more portable, and designed for everyday use, making them the best option for most households.

‘For most homes, a purifier is the easier option,’ says Michael. ‘They handle common issues like dust, pet dander, and seasonal allergies. Generally, they also run quieter and require less maintenance.’ Cleaning an air purifier is a pretty straightforward task, and an easy way to make sure yours can last for years.

Purifiers are especially beneficial for people with asthma or allergies, and as somebody who tests these appliances and has been using an air purifier in my bedroom, I can confirm that it's basically cured my allergies and asthma.

‘They’re highly effective at capturing airborne allergens and smoke,’ says Omero. ‘And because they’re portable and budget-friendly, they’re a smart solution for specific rooms like bedrooms or home offices.’

If you’re in a home without ductwork, Jimmy points out that scrubbers won’t even be an option: ‘A purifier is ideal in that case.’ Plus, as they're so small, they can be one of the best ways to improve air quality when living in a city.

Alex agrees that purifiers are a great long-term investment for general air quality maintenance: ‘If you’ve got pets, allergies, or bad odors, a HEPA-based purifier can make a big difference.’

Which should you buy?

The best choice depends entirely on your home’s needs. Air purifiers are ideal for everyday maintenance, especially in smaller, targeted spaces. They’re affordable, easy to use, and effective for common concerns like pollen and pet hair. It's an effective trick to prevent dust at home.

Air scrubbers, meanwhile, are better suited to homes with more significant air quality issues or for post-renovation and restoration work. ‘If you’re dealing with mold, strong odors, or want protection throughout the entire home, a scrubber is the better choice,’ says Jimmy.

‘But remember, they only run when your HVAC does – so if you don’t use heating or AC often, a plug-in purifier may be more effective day-to-day,’ he adds. This is why smaller air purifiers like the Coway Airmega Mighty at Amazon (which we tested and loved) are so handy, as you can carry them to different rooms when needed.

Ultimately, you may not need to choose. ‘Combining systems can offer the best of both worlds,’ Omero adds. ‘For example, install a whole-home scrubber through your HVAC, then use portable HEPA purifiers in bedrooms. You get powerful protection without overdoing it.’

Whichever route you take, don’t forget to clean your air purifier and air scrubber and remember to change filters. As Michael reminds us: ‘Even the best purifier or scrubber won’t do much if it hasn’t been maintained.’

What to shop

It's worth browsing the selection of air scrubbers at Home Depot to suit different homes and HVAC systems.

As home tech editor, our team of product testers and I have reviewed 17 air purifiers, and these are the three I personally recommend:

Meet the experts

Next, learn how to choose the right air purifier for your home.

No matter how often we clean, dust seems to accumulate everywhere. Whether it’s a persistent layer on your shelves or a never-ending battle with allergens, dust can feel like an unwelcome guest that refuses to leave.

There are several factors contributing to ongoing dust, from the air quality in your home to the materials you use for decor, many of which can be changed to help make your home a little less dusty over time.

Here, expert cleaners reveal the six reasons dust builds up faster than you can clean it away, and share effective tricks to remove dust properly in the long term, for a cleaner and healthier home.

6 reasons your home gets dusty quickly

A build-up of dust is one of the many ways your house is making you ill. It might seem harmless, but it can significantly reduce air quality and encourage dust mites, worsening allergies.

A quick clean-up and some smart anti-dust strategies will go a long way to making your home more comfortable.

1. Your HVAC filter is dirty or too small

Your HVAC system plays a big role in the air quality of your home. Forgetting to clean your HVAC system is a common cause of dust build-up around your home.

Ryan Meagher of BVM Contracting explains, ‘If your HVAC filter is dirty or not sized properly or there is no filtration, you are going to accumulate duct a lot faster than a system that has a filter which catches dust and other airborne matter.

'To prevent homes from getting dusty as quickly I would start with a review of the filtration system in the home, and upgrade the filter if needed. You can also look into getting standalone air purifiers for areas that have a lot of dust accumulation or to help supplement your HVAC filtration system.'

It is also a good idea to clean vents around your home and improving air quality.

2. Dusting incorrectly

There are several common dusting mistakes that make your home dirtier, warns Aminah, head of marketing and innovation at Inspire Clean.

She explains, ‘Wiping with a dry cloth often just moves dust around, making it settle back again. Try using a microfiber cloth instead as it grabs onto dust better, and always clean from the top down to avoid messing up areas you've already cleaned.’

Remember to dust before vacuuming, too, to collect fallen dust from your flooring.

It can also help to damp dust. I swear by the Scrub Daddy Damp Duster for this, as it picks up dust in one swipe, rather than move it around or disturb it into the air. This prevents any resettling for a cleaner home.

3. Unsealed doors and windows

Draft-proofing a home is important for more than stopping cold air leaks and making heating more efficient. Blocking gaps with door brushes (available at Walmart), and silicone sealant such as Gorilla Glue Clear caulk, also at Walmart, can help prevent outdoor dust from blowing in and making your home dirtier.

This is especially important in summer when pollen adds to dust to create an allergen nightmare. Pair draft-proofing with cleaning tips for allergen sufferers for a home that doesn't make you sneeze from morning to dusk.

4. Shedding fabrics

We have all fallen victim to picking up fluffy throws, decor and clothing to make a house cozy, but these items almost always shed, releasing particles and threads that contribute to dust piles. Synthetic fibers are the worst offenders, releasing plastic particles and microfibers that build up on the surfaces of your home.

Punteha van Terheyden, head of Solved at H&G suggests skipping these items at the store. If this isn’t possible, however, she says, ‘Consider washing them when you first bring them home. Running them on a normal laundry cycle, checking first the laundry symbols to avoid damage. This will help to remove most of the loose particles straight off the bat, reducing dust around your home.’

5. Ignoring vertical spots

We might think it is only flat surfaces that collect dust, but everything vertical from our walls to furniture and window treatments can collect dust. These are overlooked spots you're forgetting to dust, reminds Aminah.

She says, ‘Carpets, curtains, and furniture collect dust more than you might think. Vacuum these areas regularly with a good vacuum cleaner, and wash things like throws or cushion covers every few months to keep them fresh.’ ]

Vacuuming your curtains is one of the more unusual ways to use your vacuum but just keep it on a low suction level and be careful not to pull too hard and damage or loosen any wall fixtures holding the rails in place.

6. You have pets

It is inescapable – if you have pets, you will have a dustier home. Pet dander and hair are one of the main contributors to dust buildup, and it is tricky to tackle.

Ottilie Blackhall, Solved news writer and owner of four beloved dogs, says, ‘Regularly grooming your animals can make a difference in the dust levels around your home, helping to remove loose hair before it can settle on your surfaces. Washing your pets with pet-safe shampoos can also help to remove dead skin for a cleaner, happier pet and a cleaner home.

‘My partner also finds that using an air purifier can help with pet dander, helping to collect hair and dust from the air before it settles.’

Choosing the right air purifier for your home is vital, however. Pick a device that is suited to the size of your space (working out the square footage by multiplying the length of the room by the width of the room), and optimized for homes with pets.

Remember to also check and clean or replace the filter regularly to keep your home cleaner for longer.

FAQs

Does opening windows help with dust?

While keeping your windows closed might seem like a surefire way to trap dust inside your home, leaving them open actually introduces more dust to your space. While you don’t need to keep your windows closed all the time (doing so is a bad habit increasing the risk of mold in your home), only opening them when you need to cool a space or improve your ventilation is a great approach if you want to cut back on cleaning.

Preventing dust is difficult, but it is possible to cut back on dusting with these quick tips and cleaning shortcuts. Nevertheless, remember to dust occasionally, even with these dust-controlling measures in place, to help keep your air clean, reducing allergies and the risk of respiratory illnesses.

When it comes to saving energy and cutting heating or cooling costs, many homeowners think closing vents in unused rooms is a smart move. However, doing so can lead to bigger system problems and a rise in energy bills.

This seemingly logical practice to close vents in rooms not in use can backfire, leading to energy inefficiency, higher bills, and even damage your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

Our HVAC experts reveal why you shouldn’t close vents in unused rooms – and what you should be doing instead. By knowing how to run and clean your HVAC system, you'll manage your home's climate efficiently.

Should you close vents in unused rooms?

In short, no. Your HVAC system is designed to distribute air evenly throughout your home and closing vents in unused rooms disrupts this balance, and could cause a number of potential problems.

Andrew Hulsebos, lead service director at HVAC experts Reiner, has been in the industry for 15 years. He explains, 'When you close vents in unused rooms, airflow becomes unbalanced which creates additional pressure in the duct work.

'Most HVAC systems are designed to heat or cool the entire home, so blocking off sections can force the system to work harder to maintain the overall temperature, often making it less efficient, rather than more. This extra strain can lead to higher energy consumption, increased wear and tear on the system, and potentially even reduce its lifespan.'

Though several issues can occur, Josh Mitchell, HVAC technician and founder of Air Conditioner Lab, explains the most common:

• Increased pressure in the ductwork: Closing vents can raise pressure in the system by as much as 20%, which strains your HVAC system. Duct leaks are already a common problem, with studies showing that as much as 30% of conditioned air can be lost through leaks. So, raising pressure makes leaks and energy waste worse.
• Reduced system efficiency: HVAC systems need balanced airflow to function at their best. When that balance is disrupted, the blower has to work harder to maintain temperatures, which means the system runs longer, uses more energy, and costs more to operate. This can reduce efficiency by up to 15%, increasing your monthly energy bill.
• Increased wear and tear: If your HVAC system consistently has to push against higher pressure, it’s more likely to wear out sooner. Over time, this means repairs – in the long run, it can even shorten the system’s lifespan.

Mitchell adds, 'Overall, you can see why closing vents in unused rooms can create more issues than it solves.'

What to do instead

Rather than closing vents, focus on optimizing your HVAC system for efficiency. There are several ways to do this, including using vent deflectors, changing your filters regularly, using air purifiers, improving your insulation, installing smart thermostats, and opting for a zoned heating system. Head of Solved, Punteha van Terheyden ran her heating on a constant temperature for months and saved hundreds in energy bills.

1. Use vent deflectors

Vent deflectors are a good way to affect the airflow in your home without closing any vents.

Mitchell says, 'Vent deflectors are a simple and budget-friendly option that maintains system balance, helping to divert air away from unused areas or into areas that need more warmth or cooling.'

Mitchell recommends the Thermwell HD5 Heat and Air Deflector, available from Amazon, which comes in packs of four.

2. Change filters often

Changing air filters regularly can greatly improve your system's effectiveness. Adam Ross, owner of Florida-based HVAC experts Aircon Repair, says, 'It is crucial for homeowners to change their air filters every 90 days to improve flow and avoid contaminants in the air.

'People often don't realize that clean filters help you save money by preventing your AC system from getting overworked, which leads to higher energy consumption. It also prevents overheating or freezing – and costly, unnecessary repairs.'

Though options will depend on your specific air conditioning system, Ross recommends this Filterbuy MERV Air Filter from Amazon, which is compatible with several common models including Trane Perfect Fit, and American Standard.

3. Add air purifiers

Having one of the best air purifiers can further enhance a filtration system's work around your home.

Ross says, 'While air filters help a lot in filtering unwanted contaminants, it may not be enough. This is the reason why we recommend using an air purifier to further remove dust and debris, which reduces the strain on your system, allowing it to function more efficiently.

'Some air purifiers – such as the REME HALO Whole Home In-Duct Air Purifier – also contain UV light that significantly improves air quality indoors by reducing bacteria, viruses, odors and mold spores in the air and on surfaces. It saves a lot of money, not only by reducing energy consumption but also keeping you and your family in good health.'

Check out our expert guide on what to look for in an air purifier.

4. Improve insulation

Keeping your home air tight ensures conditioned air does not escape, and prevents unfiltered air from entering. Failing to do so is a common heating mistake that increases energy bills.

Ross says, 'Air leaks increase workload on your heating and cooling systems so it is important to seal even the tiniest cracks. Leaks around windows, doors, ducts, and attics allow warm or cool air to escape, causing HVAC systems to work harder to maintain a stable temperature – this increases energy consumption and utility bills.

'Products like caulk, weather stripping, and foam can seal these gaps, boosting HVAC efficiency, reducing energy costs, and extending the lifespan of your HVAC system.'

Ross recommends Touch ‘n Seal Gun Foam II Sealant, available from Amazon. He adds, 'It's a high-performance sealant that's got residential fire blocking approval.'

Learn more about the areas of your home pros say you should always insulate.

5. Go Smart

Smart vent systems are a great option if you're looking for more control of your home's heating.

Mitchell says, 'These programmable vents are a more advanced solution for controlling airflow. Products like Flair Smart Vents, available from Amazon, allow you to adjust airflow in each room based on temperature sensors. Since they’re designed with HVAC systems in mind, they automatically adjust to prevent pressure buildup, which makes them a safer option than manually closing vents.'

Ross says, 'Imagine coming home to an already cooled home after a long hot day! Many of these systems can be controlled through your smartphone, which transports control of your whole AC system into your hands.'

Ross recommends the Amazon Smart Thermostat, which can be controlled remotely in several ways, including via Alexa or your Ring doorbell. Ecobee Smart Thermostats are also highly popular with our experts thanks to their reliability and slick tech.

6. Zone heating systems

If there's one situation where closing vents is recommended by our experts, it's where a zoned heating system is installed.

Mitchell says, 'Zoned HVAC systems are designed specifically to heat and cool areas independently, using dampers that regulate airflow. In these setups, closing vents in unused rooms is actually part of how the system is supposed to operate.

'If you’re considering room-by-room temperature control, zoning can be a worthwhile investment. It lets you control temperatures in different rooms or 'zones' without creating the pressure issues that come with closing vents in standard setups. This can be especially helpful for large or multi-story homes where different areas often need different temperatures.'

The Keen Home Smart Vent Pro is a popular zoned heating system with our experts. Controlled via an app, this is one of the more affordable systems on the market that allows for room-by-room temperature control.

Check out our guide for more ways to improve ventilation in your home and watch out for these common household items that are polluting your air.

FAQs

Does partially closing vents save energy?

Partially closing vents disrupts airflow and creates unnecessary pressure in your HVAC system. It’s best to leave vents fully open and explore alternative solutions, like programmable thermostats or zoning systems, for better energy management.

It's a good a time as ever to check if your home is showing signs it needs vapor barriers installed.

What are signs of HVAC pressure imbalance?

Signs include uneven temperatures, loud airflow noises, or a system that cycles on and off frequently. Addressing these issues quickly can prevent further damage and improve your HVAC system's performance.

Do vent covers help save energy?

Magnetic vent covers can help temporarily redirect airflow but won’t address the root cause of inefficiency. For long-term energy savings, consider upgrading your HVAC system or improving insulation in your home.

So there you have it – HVAC pros reveal you should not be closing vents in unused rooms unless you have a zoned temperature system and shared what to do instead.

Closing vents in unused rooms may seem like a quick fix, but it’s more likely to harm your HVAC system and increase energy costs. By focusing on smarter solutions, you can save money while maintaining comfort and efficiency throughout your home.

Next, check out these nine ways to cool a hot apartment in winter, how to keep a poorly insulated house warm and whether you should close window trickle vents in winter.

Dehumidifiers are superb at tackling damp, mold, mildew and most other excessive moisture issues in the home. But they can be pricey investments, especially when you're aiming for all the bells and whistles.

Understanding the different types of dehumidifiers, their common features and functions will help inform your decision picking the right dehumidifier. Until you've used one and know what a dehumidifier does, it's hard to know what to look out for and what to avoid.

I'm H&G's home tech editor and I regularly test appliances like dehumidifiers and purifiers, but I also caught up with a couple of veteran HVAC experts to find out the key things to know before buying a dehumidifier.

Things I wish I knew before buying a dehumidifier

Once you get to grips with the following to work out how long it will take a dehumidifier to dry out a room, you'll easily find the right dehumidifier for your home and to best suits your needs.

1. There are different types

The most popular dehumidifier you'll find is a compressor one, which essentially uses condensation to remove humidity from the air. It has coils, which are cooled for the warm, moist air to condense against.

Another common dehumidifier type is a desiccant dehumidifier. Instead of condensing the moisture, a desiccant dehumidifier absorbs the moisture using a wheel that acts similarly to an extractor fan or sponge. A heater and fan work consistently to regenerate this element for continued use.

The main difference here comes down to where you place your dehumidifier and when you're using it. Compressor dehumidifiers work best in warm environments as the coils work less efficiently in cooler temps (60°F or less). Desiccant dehumidifiers work year-round and tend to be lighter and quieter, but don't typically have the high extraction rates of compressor dehumidifiers.

So, desiccants are ideal for colder rooms like basements, while compressors are better for inside the home. Desiccant dehumidifiers can also release warmer air into the room, helping to further dry those cold, wet areas.

You can also find non-electric dehumidifiers. They aren't nearly as effective but they can provide affordable, small-scale dehumidifying if you don't need as much power. I use one in my car for example, and it removes overnight moisture so that the windows are clear in the morning.

2. Get the right size

Like the best air purifiers, a dehumidifier's size dictates how much indoor space it can cover. You'll also want to consider its capacity, too; as most dehumidifiers need to be emptied manually, the bigger the tank is, the less often you have to empty it. This will also affect how many dehumidifiers you need for your space.

'Choosing the wrong size can frustrate you if the unit can't keep up with the moisture in your space,' says Josh Mitchell, seasoned HVAC technician from Air Conditioner Lab.

Josh adds that dehumidifiers are usually measured in 'pints per day' – measuring how much water it can remove from the air over time. 'A small 20-pint model works well for bedrooms or closets, but larger spaces like basements need at least a 50-pint unit,' Josh advises.

3. You don't have to drain it yourself

As a dehumidifier turns the moisture in the air into liquid in a water tank, it needs to be emptied. Usually this is something you'll do whenever it gets full (and most dehumidifiers will stop operating once the tank is full), but there are models with self-draining systems. If you think your dehumidifier's going to get a lot of use, it's worth considering so you can set it and forget it.

'If you don't want to empty the water tank daily, choose a model with a built-in pump or continuous drain option,' explains Josh.

A continuous drain setting works by attaching a hose from the dehumidifier to a drain, then gravity does the work. But if you invest in a dehumidifier with a pump, it will automatically drain the water once it reaches a certain level, and can empty it vertically or horizontally.

If you have a floor drain or low access to a water outlet, a dehumidifier with continuous drain is all you need. If not, spend a bit extra for a self-draining pump. It'll make all the difference.

4. Humidity settings help

Cheaper models, like this budget dehumidifier from Amazon that our writer found kicked condensation to the curb are able to remove moisture from the air but won't always be able to achieve the right relative humidity (RH).

What a dehumidifier does is remove moisture from the air. But not all dehumidifiers have an accurate humidistat to be able to reach a desired relative humidity (RH), 'between 30% and 50% is ideal for comfort', according to HVAC pro Josh Mitchell.

'When the air in a home is too dry, it typically contains more irritants and pathogens, which are better to avoid for people with respiratory diseases, particularly allergies,' explains Glenn Gault, CEO of Gault Heating & Cooling.

Too humid air is a favorable environment for mold and mildew growth, which is also bad, because mold and mildew are serious allergens.'

A dehumidifier without humidity control can easily leave the room either too dry or too humid, so it's worth opting for one with more control, even it costs a little extra.

5. Think about noise and energy levels

You might start getting annoyed at your choice if your dehumidifier is constantly disturbing your sleep, work or relaxation time due to its noise level when operating.

'Most dehumidifiers, especially larger ones, emit a noticeable hum,' says Josh. 'Check the decibel rating if you place it in a living area or bedroom. Anything below 50 dB is relatively quiet.'

You can also find ones with dedicated sleep modes with quieter operation.

A dehumidifier, like any electrical appliance, will also cost you to keep running. Over time, the energy efficiency of your unit will influence how much you're paying in bills, so it's a smart move to choose one that's efficient, even if the initial outlay is more.

'Dehumidifiers can be energy-intensive if used regularly,' Josh Mitchell adds, so it's important to look for those with an ENERGY STAR rating.

6. Extra features make a difference

This is strong advice when buying any long-term appliance, but read into what extra features are available, to see if they're worth the spend by making your life easier.

An example would be air purification, so instead of having both a dehumidifier and air purifier, you can choose a dehumidifier that does both, saving floor space and the cost of another unit. Look for ones with HEPA filters for effective air purification.

A special laundry mode is a savior when you're looking for ways to dry clothes quickly with your dehumidifier. It'll increase fan speed in a localized area to minimize laundry drying time, which will make a difference come winter.

The Frigidaire Gallery 50-Pint Dehumidifier we've reviewed has WiFi connectivity and app controls, which means you can safely use and monitor your dehumidifier when you're not in the room.

If you're not choosing with one that self drains, this is a great way of notifying yourself every time you need to empty it as it'll pause itself when it's full.

My top dehumidifier picks

Next, find out how to make DIY dehumidifiers for mild moisture control around the whole house, and whether you should a dehumidifier during the day or at night.

As somebody who deals with asthma and allergies on a daily basis, breathing clean air at home is a must. Even without these ailments, breathing purified air improves your health, deepens your sleep, and reduces how often you get sick.

I test products for a living, and from the four air purifiers I've tested for H&G, there's only one I keep in my own bedroom: the Molekule Air Mini+. It's an advanced purifier that has immeasurably improved my wellbeing at home. I now barely use my asthma inhaler and, in the summer, I don't have to worry about hayfever when I'm indoors – even with the windows open.

It's certainly one of the world's best air purifiers.

What makes the Molekule Air Mini+ so great

Here’s what I think makes the Molekule Air Mini+ worth your money this Black Friday if you’re looking for an appliance that will give you cleaner, healthier air at home.

In my review for the Molekule Air Mini+, one of the most incredible and unique features I discovered was Molekule's patented PECO filtration. Standard air purifiers will typically have a tight mesh filter (like a HEPA filter) to capture particles, and an activated carbon filter to deal with gases and odors.

But Molekule's Air Mini+ and the bigger, more expensive Molekule Air Pro utilize a third layer of filtration, known as PECO tech, that actively destroys pollutants at the molecular level. So rather than just filtering out these harmful particles from your air, it deactivates the contaminants, making everything even safer when re-released back into your indoor space.

From my four months of using the Molekule Air Mini+, and testing three other purifiers alongside it, I can confirm that its effects are among the best.

At its lowest setting it can run quietly in the background, often going unnoticed when I'm working or sleeping in the room. At its highest settings, it can rapidly remove smoke, viruses and other pollutants from the air, and you can see just how quickly it does the job on the Molekule app with detailed air quality data over time.

Before being available to consumers, Molekule had great success developing air purification systems for commercial spaces like hospitals. The Molekule Air Mini+ and the Molekule Air Pro are two of the only air purifiers that are FDA-approved as Class II medical devices thanks to their unique ability to destroy harmful matter.

This tech, naturally, comes at a price, as the Molekule Air Mini+ is usually priced at $360. Now that the price is down to just $209.99 for Black Friday, its lowest of all time, you can bring this market-leading air purifying technology into your home for a fraction of the usual cost.

Trust me, you won't get a better air purifier at that price.

If you're looking for more coverage (the Air Mini+ covers 250 square feet), the Air Pro can cover up to 1,000 square feet. It's also on offer for Black Friday with a whopping $420 discount.

• Shop the Molekule Air Mini+ for $209.99 at Molekule
• Shop the Molekule Air Pro for $594.99 at Molekule

Next, compare dehumidifiers vs air purifiers to find out what your home needs.

There’s nothing quite as stressful as the moment you realize guests are arriving soon, and your home isn’t smelling as fresh as it should be. Whether it’s the lingering aroma of last night’s dinner or just a touch of stale air, finding a quick solution is the key to making your home feel – and smell – more welcoming.

To tackle this common dilemma, I put eight popular methods to the test in my home. From the comforting aroma of scented candles to the fast-acting scent of my favorite floor cleaner, I explored which options can truly refresh your home's smell in a matter of minutes, and which might not live up to the hype.

Below, I share the results of my experiment, focusing on what worked best for a speedy refresh. If you need a fast and effective way to make your home smell nice before guests arrive, these tried-and-true methods will ensure your space is ready to impress in no time.

My Verdict

When I need a quick fix to refresh my home’s scent, I often reach for a strong linen spray or light an incense stick for an instant burst of fragrance. However, for a more lasting and effective solution, I’ve found that a combination of simple strategies works best. I open the windows to let in fresh air, I run my air purifier on a high, odor eliminating setting, and I give my floors a quick mop with a scented cleaner.

Read on for exactly what I thought of the eight things I tried including candles, wax melts, floor cleaner, fresh flowers, linen sprays, incense, air purifiers and more.

1. Fresh Flowers

I love the idea of using fresh flowers as a natural, non-toxic way to make a home smell nice, and try evening scenting, by adding fragrance to my home. There’s something so romantic about the delicate scent of real blooms that synthetic fragrances just can’t replicate. That's why I make a point of always having a large bouquet on my dining room table and a few cut flowers dotted around my home in tiny homemade stem vases.

However, the fragrance of fresh flowers doesn’t usually permeate an entire room and it's not the quickest way to make a house smell nice. Flowers bring a soft, natural fragrance that’s best appreciated up close and this scent is somewhat limited in range.

My verdict: I’ve found that placing fresh flowers in high-traffic areas or rooms where I spend the most time allows me to enjoy their scent to the fullest. However, this method is a very subtle way to enhance the atmosphere, so I’d give them a 5/10 for scenting a room - this is not a method I recommend using in a pinch and is better for decorating with flowers.

2. Scented Candles

I can’t resist the allure of scented candles, especially when fall rolls around. There’s something so comforting about lighting a candle and letting its fragrance fill the room. The best scented candles I’ve found are made from natural wax, like soy or beeswax, which burn cleanly and don’t release harmful toxins. Learn more about candles and their care.

'I’ve also noticed that while scented candles can subtly scent a room within minutes, the fragrance tends to fade fairly quickly once the candle is blown out. Still, the ambiance they create and the decorative containers they come in make them a staple in my home year-round.

My verdict: Scented candles are perfect for adding a quick burst of fragrance, but the scent doesn’t last long after the flame is extinguished, though you can remedy this somewhat by scent layering. For their cozy charm and delicious range of scents, I’d rate them a 6/10. My current favorites include:

3. Wax Melts

I recently started using wax melts as well as scented candles, as the average cost of wax melts is much more affordable. I have to say, so far I'm really impressed. As soon as I pop one into the wax warmer, it begins to melt almost instantly, releasing a powerful fragrance that fills the entire room in just a few minutes.

This fast-acting method is perfect when you need to freshen up your space quickly. I also love that wax melts come in a variety of scents and shapes, making it easy to switch things up depending on my mood or the season

My verdict: Wax melts provide a powerful, long-lasting scent that really permeates throughout my home. They’ve quickly become one of my favorite ways to keep my space smelling nice. I’d give them an 8/10.

4. Incense

I’ve always been drawn to the rich, earthy scents of incense, so I decided to try burning some to see how quickly it would improve the aroma of my home. Personally, I was a fan – the scent was strong and quickly filled my entire second floor. However, I wasn’t prepared for the mixed reactions from my guests. Some of them commented that the house smelled a bit musty, which wasn’t exactly the feedback I was hoping for. While incense can be a great way to scent your home, it’s a bit polarizing and might not be to everyone’s liking.

My verdict: Incense provides a strong, lasting aroma, but not everyone may appreciate the scent. In terms of speed, this method is a 9/10, but overall I'm giving it a 5/10 due to the mixed reactions it received.

My current favorites

5. Linen sprays

To get into the fall spirit, I recently purchased a toffee apple linen spray from Etsy to freshen up my home fast. The scent was rich and indulgent – almost like dessert in a bottle – however, I found it to be a bit too sweet and cloying for my taste. On the plus side, the scent lingered for quite a while, which was great for keeping my home smelling nice throughout the day. I’ve also discovered that spritzing linen sprays on less-used fabrics like curtains or throw pillows helps the scent last even longer, releasing a continuous burst of fragrance whenever you walk by.

When choosing a linen spray, I try to consider the ingredients to ensure I'm only bringing non-toxic, safe products into my home. I look for sprays that are free from phthalates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances, as these can contain harmful chemicals. Instead, I like to use linen sprays made with natural essential oils and plant-based ingredients, which are generally safer for children and pets. When in doubt, consider making your own DIY Linen spray using your favorite essential oils.

My verdict: Linen sprays are a quick and effective way to refresh your home, but the scent can sometimes be overpowering. That being said, I’d rate them an 8/10 for making a home smell nice fast, especially if you choose a fragrance that suits your taste.

6. Scented floor cleaners

For my next test, I turned to a multifunctional product: Method Wooden Floor Cleaner from Walmart. Not only did this easy-to-use solution leave my floors looking spotless, but the sweet almondy scent was quick to permeate my home and lingered for hours, giving my entire home a fresh, clean aroma without being too overpowering.

The only downside I noticed to this technique was that the strong scent might be too much for some pets. For instance, my cat seemed a bit bothered by it and refused to step into the lounge after I mopped the floor. Still, I found the scented floor cleaning to be an excellent option for a quick refresh, especially when I’m simultaneously tackling my cleaning chores.

My verdict: Scented floor cleaners offer a double benefit of cleaning and scenting your home fast. Without fail, guests always comment on how clean my home smells if I've used this product shortly before their arrival, so I’d rate this method a 9/10, with a small caveat for pet owners. For something more natural and suited to homes with pets, you can try a fast baking soda trick to make your home smell like fall, and easily adjust the essential oils depending on the season.

7. Open windows

Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best. I’ve found that opening the windows wide is an incredibly effective way to refresh my home quickly. It’s amazing how just a few minutes of fresh air can eliminate stale odors and make the whole space feel cleaner and more inviting. Plus, it’s completely natural and costs nothing. Whenever I feel like my home needs a quick pick-me-up, I simply open the windows and let the breeze do the work.

My verdict: Opening windows is an effortless and natural way to freshen up your home, though it’s weather-dependent. For its simplicity and effectiveness, I give it an 8/10.

8. Air Purifiers

After using the Coway Airmega Aim Air Purifier for several months, I can honestly say it’s been a game-changer for keeping my home smelling fresh. I’m amazed at how well it removes lingering odors, from pet smells to cooking aromas. It’s so effective that I’ve noticed I don’t go 'nose blind' (where you get used to smells and don't notice them anymore) to certain scents as easily anymore. The air in my home feels cleaner and fresher, making it a must-have in my book. If you’re serious about maintaining a pleasant-smelling home, an air purifier is worth the investment.

My verdict: Air purifiers are an essential tool if you want to extract bad odors fast and keep your home smelling fresh consistently. For their effectiveness and reliability, I’d give them an 8/10.

If you find yourself with a bit more time to enhance your home’s aroma, try a hidden fragrance hack to subtly fragrance your living room. Simply place dryer sheets in a fragrance you love into your living room throw pillow to add a personalized scent to upholstery that will stay smelling fresh for days.

Next, learn what people with nice smelling homes never do, and the best ways to banish bathroom smells.

Air purifiers create a healthier living environment for us. They trap and remove harmful particles from the air like pollen, dander or wildfire smoke, to help us live a cleaner life away from such pollutants.

As a brand, Molekule have been working to perfect the air purifier, utilizing their unique, patented PECO technology to actually destroy these harmful pollutants, rather than just trapping them. Their flagship model, the Molekule Air Pro, has been considered one of the best air purifiers in the world, but its price tag puts it out of reach for many of us.

So, the Molekule Air Mini+ is the more affordable alternative. It covers a much smaller area as a sacrifice, but still features that same PECO tech to keep your air free from pollutants. I'm a home tech editor and rigorously tested this out. Read on to find out how it works, and how well it performed in my tests.

What I thought overall

Even with its small size, the Molekule Air Mini+ purifies a room exceptionally well. I'm an asthma and allergy sufferer, so I can feel the benefits when an air purifier is doing its job effectively.

The PECO filtration offers a notable improvement compared to other purifiers. The Air Mini+ offers some of the best purification available but, at this price, it would be great to see a larger room coverage or additional features (like washable filters or a heating/cooling function).

Molekule Air Mini+: Price

The Molekule Air Mini+ retails for $359.99 at full price from Molekule (where you can also buy replacement filters) and Amazon.

It's the smaller and more affordable alternative to Molekule's Air Pro air purifier, which costs $1,014.99 at full price from Molekule as it covers spaces up to 1,000 square feet, compared to the Air Mini+'s 250 square feet coverage.

Molekule's air purifiers are among the more expensive in the market, but they're often discounted from these off-putting prices by a reasonable amount (over Prime Day, they were each reduced by 40%). If you can wait, I'd recommend buying one during a sale period.

They're this expensive because they're one of the only consumer air purifiers in the world that are FDA-approved as a Class II medical device. They utilize unique tech compared to others – PECO tech – that can actually destroy pollutants at the molecular level.

Molekule Air Mini+: Specifications

Molekule Air Mini+: Setup

The Air Mini+ arrived in a small carboard box, with the air purifier packaged inside a soft drawstring Molekule bag inside.

Like with other air purifiers, all you have to do is remove the cover on the filter and slot it back in. Then, once it's plugged in you can use it straight away. You can also download the Molekule app for more control and a closer look at the air quality data captured by the purifier.

Connecting the purifier to the app requires a few steps. You have to create an account with Molekule to use it, connect the Air Mini+ to your wi-fi router, then name your device. After that, it'll start tracking your air quality and you can control it via your phone.

Molekule Air Mini+: Design and features

Unique to Molekule's air purifiers, PECO technology can destroy and deactivate harmful particles within organic matter at the molecular level. This adds another layer of protection and filtration compared with other purifiers, as the air that's recirculated into your space is cleaner than if it had just been filtered.

The Air Mini+ also uses a HEPA filter, that can capture 99.97% of particles smaller than 0.3 microns, and activated carbon filtration, that helps to capture gases and odors. The best air purifiers use HEPA filters, but it's rarer to see activated carbon used as well. Combined with PECO tech, this is one of the most effective air filtration systems in the consumer market (which is why the FDA approve it as a Class II medical device).

Using the Air Mini+ is similar to any other air purifier I have tested. There's a single touch control on the top of the purifier that can cycle between the different fan speeds or select Auto Protect mode.

You can also control the purifier using the Molekule app where you're also given more insight into your purifier and your home's air quality. It tracks your indoor quality throughout the day and presents this info to you as a graph, where you can see weeks in the past to compare.

The app shows your filter's health (as a percentage) and you can buy replacement filters directly from it. There's also some helpful info on how the Air Mini+ is able to capture air quality data. The app is clear and simple, and I particularly like how the screen's graphics and colors change depending on fan speed or air quality.

Molekule Air Mini+: Performance on test

You can really notice the Air Mini+'s triple-layered filtration when you use it. The air feels clean when it's on and it helps keep odors at bay throughout the day. I keep mine running whenever I'm home and I've noticed a significant improvement in my breathing, my sleep and my allergies (I'm an asthma sufferer, so I can always tell the difference).

The air purifier works quickly, too. If I've lit an incense, or cooked downstairs, or kept the windows open during a particularly pollen- or smoke-heavy day, it doesn't take long for the Air Mini+ to return the air quality to 'good.' At the higher speeds, it can do so at an impressive speed.

While I'm a fan of the air purifier's design (it really does look good in any room of the house), I do wish there was a more visual indicator of your room's air quality. I'm not sure if this was an intentional move from Molekule to maintain the purifier as a 'set it and forget it' type appliance, but I feel it'd be more useful to know my air quality without having to open the app.

Auto Protect mode is the most efficient way to use the Air Mini+, as it will only ramp up the fan speed if the air quality worsens. Many air purifiers share this function, but the Air Mini+ doesn't seem to rest on the lowest fan setting when the air quality's good. It seems to revert to fan speed 2 which, although still fairly quiet, is notably louder than the lowest speed. Instead, I end up leaving it on the lowest fan speed to save energy and make as little noise as possible, and only ramp it up when I can see that the air quality is poor.

Earlier this year I spoke with Molekule CEO Jason DiBona who told me that, on this setting, the air purifier will use up as much energy as a light bulb. That's truly impressive for something that's cleaning our air so thoroughly, and it's a relief for anybody concerned with how much energy such a powerful purifier would demand.

In terms of noise, the Air Mini+ is loud on the higher speeds. It's rare for these high speeds to be required but, if you know you'll need to use it for its full power, it's worth noting it'll make a distracting amount of noise. At full power, the purifier gets as loud as around 73 dBA - which is similar to some cordless vacuum cleaners. At speed 3, it reaches around 50 dBA, the same as a quiet conversation.

Molekule Air Mini+: Maintenance

The Molekule Air Mini+ doesn't utilize any washable/cleanable prefilters to protect the main filter inside. It instead relies on the triple-layered filtration, and Molekule encourages you to replace the filter every six months or so.

Connecting to the app allows you to see your filter's life as a percentage (after over a month of heavy use, mine is currently at 88%). You'll be notified when it's time to replace the filter and you can buy them directly from the app.

How does the Molekule Air Mini+ compare?

The Molekule Air Mini+ has more effective filtration than pretty much any other air purifier on the market (excluding the Molekule Air Pro which uses the same tech). This explains why it's so expensive while only covering a 250 square-foot space.

Others, like the Shark NeverChange Air Purifier MAX, costs around a similar price ($329.99 from Shark) while covering 1,400 square feet, and it comes with washable prefilters to extend the lifespan of the HEPA filter, saving money in replacement filter costs. It doesn't destroy harmful pollutants like the Molekule purifiers but it still captures them effectively with its True HEPA filter.

The Molekule Air Mini+ also doesn't have any other functions. This isn't essential at all, but for around this price it isn't uncommon to find heating or cooling functions included. The Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1 is a strong example, available for $399.99 from Shark with purified heat and purified cooling.

Verdict

The Air Mini+ features some of the most effective air purification tech in the consumer air purifier market. Molekule's patented PECO tech actively destroys harmful pollutants at the molecular level, providing much cleaner air in your indoor spaces.

But this tech comes at a cost and, while noticeably effective, cheaper air purifiers can do a similar job of purifying the air. Or, for a similar price, you can find a purifier with more features and/or a larger coverage, but don't ignore the efficacy of this purifier. It's FDA-approved as a Class II medical device for a reason.

The bigger version, the Molekule Air Pro, retails at full price at over $1,000. The Air Mini+ is a way to be able to bring this market-leading tech into your home without breaking the bank.

Next, learn what to look for in an air purifier and how to choose the right one for your home and lifestyle.

With the rise in wildfires across the US and the rest of the world, it's important to protect ourselves against the harmful gases and smoke that spread as a result. Worryingly, the EPA states that wildfires have increased by 68% per acreage in 2017 to 2021 compared to 1983 to 2016. And that doesn't account for more recent years.

There are ways to protect yourself from wildfire smoke, like closing all doors and windows and staying indoors. But if you don't act fast, and if your home (like most) isn't airtight, you'll still be breathing in smoke that's made it into your home. So, investing in one of the best air purifiers might be the best option.

HVAC systems don't typically filter out as many airborne particles than air purifiers designed for that exact purpose. But how well do they help with wildfire smoke, and how do they do it? I'm Homes & Gardens' home tech editor, and I've spent a lot of time testing and covering air purifiers in different capacities. I understand how they work and what they're capable of filtering, and I spoke to the experts for a full deep-dive into whether air purifiers can help with wildfire smoke.

Can air purifiers help with wildfire smoke?

Yes. air purifiers do work to clean our air, and having one in your home is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself from wildfire smoke indoors. Research from BMC has actually shown that air purifiers (or portable air cleaners) should be treated as a 'fundamental part of [health officials'] response to smoke from landscape fires.'

During a wildfire, the advice is typically to stay home and close all doors and windows, but this step doesn't consider whatever smoke has already made it indoors or come in through a draught. This smoke can still have harmful effects on your body when inhaled.

'Air purifiers can significantly help with wildfire smoke by filtering the air, capturing harmful particles,' says Lisa Purvins, HVAC expert and owner of Pro-Tech. 'It's recommended to combine air purifier use with other measures like sealing up your home to prevent outdoor smoke from entering.'

How do air purifiers capture wildfire smoke?

'Air purifiers suck in the air from the room, pass it through a series of filters that catch and remove harmful particles – including those found in wildfire smoke – and then release the cleaned air back into the room,' explains Yashar Mosaferi, president of Klondike AC.

Wildfire smoke is made up of differently-shaped particles that an air purifier filter is able to trap while still allowing air to flow through. 'Wildfire smoke contains a complex mixture of particles, but the most harmful are those in the fine and ultra fine categories,' warns Lisa.

'The most concerning is PM2.5—those particles 2.5 microns or smaller. These tiny particles can travel deep into the lungs, and into the bloodstream, where they can cause severe damage to human health,' Yashar notes. These particles can even be as small as 0.4 microns, so to be able to effectively deal with wildfire smoke, you'll need an air purifier that can capture particles smaller than around 0.4 to 2.5 microns in size.

'HEPA filters are the most effective at capturing these tiny particles. They are designed to trap 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, which includes both PM2.5 and PM10,' Lisa adds, as PM10 is another common particle size in wildfire smoke.

What air purifier do I need for wildfire smoke?

From my experience of testing, reviewing and writing about air purifiers, I can confirm the necessity of a HEPA filter. It's guaranteed protection against the harmful particles in wildfire smoke. This is why it's so important to know how to choose the right air purifier.

Air purifiers will state whether they utilize a HEPA filter. Companies have to go through strict standardized guidelines to officially label it a HEPA filter, so be sure to look out for phrases like 'HEPA-style' or 'like HEPA' – as these will likely not be able to capture super-fine particles like those in wildfire smoke.

'While other filter types might capture larger particles, HEPA filters offer the highest level of protection against wildfire smoke,' Lisa confirms.

Logan Taylor, 10-year home improvement specialist and founder of Dazzle Company, recommends the Coway Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH (available at Amazon and Walmart). We've actually reviewed the Coway Airmega Mighty too and we were impressed by its eco mode (that responds to your air quality) and odor reduction, both of which are ideal features when dealing with smoke.

It's also important to choose an air purifier with a high CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate). This number shows how quickly it can clean your air can clean the air of a space; the higher the number, the better. Ideally, you'll want a CADR of 300 air changes per hour or higher - and you can often find this info on the online product page.

Andy Taylor, home specialist of 25 years and founder of Paramount Stone, recommends the IQAir HealthPro Plus (available at Amazon). 'It has a HEPA filter along with a pre-filter and an activated carbon filter, which together can capture not only the fine particles but also the gases and odors associated with wildfire smoke,' he says.

Personally, after testing many of the best air purifiers, I'd recommend the Molekule Air Pro or the Molekule Air Mini+. Unlike most purifiers, Molekule's lineup includes unique PECO technology that actually disarms and destroys harmful molecules within organic matter. They're also the only air purifiers that are FDA-approved as Class II medical devices. We've reviewed the Molekule Air Pro (and I'm currently testing the Air Mini+), and both of them have proven highly effective for handling all sorts of harmful airborne particles - including smoke.

To better help yourself in the battle against wildfire smoke, learn how to improve your air quality indoors and the best place to position your air purifier.

Dreo have steadily been growing their name as a household brand, covering fans, AC units, heaters, and even kitchen appliances at a reasonable cost.

With a decent number of years in the industry, it'd be fair to assume that they could produce some of the best fans and best air purifiers available these days. They've made tower fans, ceiling fans, and air circulator fans, so I was excited to get my hands on the new, smart, 2-in-1 Dreo MC710S Air Purifier Tower Fan.

It's marketed as an industry-first purifying fan as it uses two motors (one for the fan and one for the purifier) for extra power and control over your machine. As H&G's home tech editor I've tested a number of fans and purifiers (especially during these summer months), and next up is the Dreo MC710S. I put it to the test to see just how well it performs.

Dreo Air Purifier Tower Fan MC710S: Specifications

Dreo Air Purifier Tower Fan MC710S: Unboxing & setup

When the Dreo MC710S arrived at my house I could tell it was bigger and bulkier than other purifying fans I've used, and a bit heavier than what I've come to expect. The fan was wrapped in a fair amount of soft plastic and held in place by polystyrene blocks. Included in the box is the tower fan, the remote control, and a user manual and quick start guide.

Not much setup is required other than removing the bottom panels and removing the protective plastic on the filter. Then, you can install the Dreo app for more control and air quality info, which is as quick as downloading the app, making an account, pairing with the fan, and connecting it to your home's wi-fi.

Dreo Air Purifier Tower Fan MC710S: Design & features

Pretty quickly I was a fan. It's tall; taller than your average air purifier, and bulkier than your average tower fan. It makes sense as you're combining the two appliances (and two motors) in one, and Dreo have designed it in a way that looks modern yet neutral enough to fit into different homes' decors.

Dreo claim that the MC710S is the industry's first dual-motor tower fan. This means that, unlike other 2-in-1 purifier fans, the fan and the purifier both have separate motors. Naturally, this gives the fan a healthy amount of power (air can reach up to 40 feet away and travels up to 27 feet per second), and provides some impressive control over the the fan and purifier speeds.

Unlike many others we've tested at H&G, you can adjust the individual fan speed without changing the purification speed, and vice versa. This is a super-helpful feature for making sure the fan can be used year-round: when you don't want any cooling, you can turn the fan off while still purifying the room. When your air quality is good, you can still use the fan without using up your filter life.

The fan and purifier have their own auto modes too, where you can leave them to adjust power based on the air quality or temperature of your room.

The touch control panel has illuminated buttons, where you can: power on/off, change fan mode, change fan speed, adjust oscillation, turn purification on/off, use the timer, and change the display information. The display

Surprisingly, there are more buttons on the touch panel than the remote, but the app is where you'll find the most control. This is where you can really fine tune how you want to use the Dreo MC710S, and it's easily one of the most comprehensive apps I've seen in a device like this.

Besides from the fan controls, what really impressed me was the oscillation angling. It's clear that Dreo have considered how these devices are used in a home: you can adjust the asymmetry of the angle depending on where the fan is positioned in the room, and you can set it in multiples of 5 degrees between 30° and 120°.

I also enjoy the information supplied by Dreo in the app. It logs data on your temperature and air quality for the past 30 days and, when viewing the past 24 hours, it will show this info in 15-minute intervals. You can also set schedules, check your filter life, activate a child lock, change the fan's display info, recalibrate your oscillation angle, and switch the display temperature between Celsius and Fahrenheit.

Dreo Air Purifier Tower Fan MC710S: Performance

The Dreo MC710S produces a strong breeze, even at the lowest fan speed. It's instinctively the first thing you look out for, and with this tower fan I immediately noted that it's stronger than other fans I've used. Even though I've been testing the fan in the middle of summer, I've never had to go higher than fan speed 6. I've also found that the auto mode (for both the fan and purifier) is pretty effective at getting it right without much adjusting from me.

That being said, it is perhaps a little too powerful. When you turn the fan off but leave the purifier running, the breeze is still very much present and can be felt from a decent distance. And as much as I'm a fan of the two motors, you can certainly hear them. Running both the fan and purifier, even at low speeds, produces a noticeable noise. At higher speeds, it's loud.

Running the fan by itself provides what I'd say is a standard noise level though. I feel that the MC710S is perhaps stronger as a fan than an air purifier, as many air purifiers around this price point would be able to capture smaller particles.

It has an H13 True HEPA filter that can trap particles as small as 0.3 microns, but it'd be better if it was able to go down to 0.1 microns, to account for certain smoke particles and allergens. The fan functionality also prevents there being a carbon filter, so the MC710S isn't able to deal with certain gases and odors.

But regardless, this is a powerful tower fan that circulates a strong breeze around a whole room while purifying it in the process. The app is impressively comprehensive, and it's a nice surprise to see temperature and air quality tracking in a device that's this affordable.

Dreo Air Purifier Tower Fan MC710S: Price

At the time of writing the Dreo MC710S retails at full-price at $299.99. You can buy it direct from Dreo, or from Amazon where it's currently on offer for $239.99 for Prime members.

Air purifiers can cost anywhere between $100 to $600+, and tower fans tend to sit around the $100 to $200 mark. The $299.99 price tag for the MC710S is, in my view, very reasonable, considering the fan power and control on offer here.

How does the Dreo Air Purifier Tower Fan MC710S compare?

While testing the Dreo MC710S, it didn't take long to draw comparisons between the last purifying fan I tested: the Dyson TP09. Both have the same 2-in-1 function, take up a similar amount of space (the Dreo is a bit taller), have varying fan speeds, and track temperature and air quality data over time. The Dreo is notably more powerful in terms of cooling, while the Dyson has better purification (down to 0.1 microns instead of the Dreo's 0.3). But the main difference here is the price: the Dyson TP09 retails for over double the cost. Sure, Dyson products are famously expensive, but it shows how reasonable the Dreo tower fan is in comparison.

Another alternative is the Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1, which can purify, cool and also heat a room. It has a completely different design however, and doesn't work like a tower fan. It's also $100 more expensive.

Should you buy the Dreo Air Purifier Tower Fan MC710S?

Compared to what's on offer in the purifier/fan market, I think the Dreo Air Purifier Tower Fan MC710S is a nice fusion of good value, powerful cooling, and sleek design. It is bulky, sure, but I can see it blending well with many homes' styles, while being able to effectively cool and purify a whole room using two motors.

Other air purifiers will be able to capture finer particles, and other fans won't be as loud. But the alternatives tend to be much more expensive, so it's worth weighing up what's important when making the purchase. It's also worth remembering that the air quality tracking here is a feature that tends to up the price way out of the range Dreo is in.

I never imagined an air purifier would become one of my must-have home essentials. Like many, I was more concerned about the pollution outside my home than the air quality inside. But the reality is, our indoor air can be just as, if not more, polluted.

So, when I was given the opportunity to test drive Coway’s most popular air purifier, The Airmega Mighty, I was intrigued to see how it would fare against pet odors and common household allergens.

This compact yet powerful unit promised to deliver excellent performance without the need for complicated functions or hefty energy consumption. So I put it through its paces with a series of real-life tests to see if it lived up to its reputation, and whether it's a contender for the best air purifiers.

Coway Airmega Mighty: Specifications

Coway Airmega Mighty: Price

These days you can purchase a quality air purifier for anything from $100 to $500+. The Coway Airmega Mighty Air Purifier typically retails for $229, but it's often available for less than $200 during sales – putting it firmly in the mid-to-low range for value. You can purchase it directly from Coway, or from major retailers like Amazon and Walmart.

Replacement filters will typically set you back $59.79, but they can sometimes be found for as low as $30 on Amazon, making maintenance relatively affordable.

Coway Airmega Mighty: Unboxing & setup

Unboxing the Airmega Mighty is extremely straightforward. The unit comes well-packaged with minimal plastic, primarily used to protect the filters. To set it up, you simply open the front hatch, remove the strips holding the pre-filter, and remove the charcoal and HEPA filters from their plastic bags.

Once you've installed the filters in the proper order (as shown in the manual) the only other step is to pop the cover back on and plug it in. The entire process is quick and hassle-free, allowing you to get the device up and running in no time.

Coway Airmega Mighty: The design

The unit has a compact and boxy body with a circular air intake on the front and a top-mounted fan for air output. My unit is white, but the Airmega Mighty is also available in a black finish, which is often cheaper during sale season.

Although the air purifier has a plastic finish, it feels sturdy and has a clean, contemporary aesthetic. The overall design is reminiscent of an old iPod Shuffle, and I think it looks much more like a fancy Bluetooth speaker than an air purifier.

Personally, I'm not a fan of this design. As someone with a grandmillennial aesthetic, the device stands out for all the wrong reasons in my home and is too large to conceal conspicuously. That being said, the unit weighs around 15 pounds and has a convenient handle, which makes it easy enough to manoeuvre around my home. Plus, it could blend nicely with more sleek, modern aesthetics, and it's much less bulky than many air purifiers with this coverage.

Coway Airmega Mighty: Features

At the top of the air purifier, you'll find a user-friendly control panel (pictured above) which highlights the unit's main settings and functions:

Multiple fan speeds: There are five different fan settings: AUTO > 1 > 2 > 3 > ECO.

Ionizer: A dedicated button activates the ionizer, which helps improve air quality by dispersing negative ions that attach to pollutants.

Air Quality Indicator: The color-coded light indicates air quality – blue for good, purple for moderate, and red for poor. This feature can be turned off for night-time use.

Timer: Use the timer button to instruct the unit to turn off after 1, 4, or 8 hours.

Internally, the Airmega Mighty offers multi-stage filtration with three layers: an outer pre-filter for large particles, a carbon filter for smaller pollutants and odors, and a GreenHEPA filter for capturing fine particles.

The unit doesn't come with a remote control or any way to connect your device to a smart app, which I think is a bit of a design oversight. Unless you're happy with the 1, 4, or 8 hour timer increments, you'll have to manually turn the device on and off.

Coway Airmega Mighty: Performance

The Coway Airmega Mighty boasts impressive performance with a CADR rating of 247.5 for smoke, 232.3 for dust, and 241.3 for pollen. For the layman, this means that it will purify the air in an average US household with ease, and after running my unit continuously on eco mode for 3 weeks, I've noticed a huge improvement in my indoor air quality.

Test 1: Pet dander & odors

My cat spends most of his time lounging on the sofa in my living room, so I put the Airmega Mighty to the test by running it continuously in this room for a few days. Despite maintaining the same vacuuming routine, I quickly noticed that I was no longer suffering from my usual pet hair allergies. What's more, the room's 'catty' odor – which I thought I had gone nose blind to – was all but gone.

Test 2: Kitchen

I also put the Airmega Mighty through its paces by running it near to my stove when cooking. To do so, I positioned the air purifier a few feet away from the cooker and set it to ‘Auto Mode’ to see how sensitive it was to the pollutants in the air. Within 30 seconds of frying food, the machine turned from blue (indicating clean air) to red (indicating highly polluted air).

I was impressed to watch as the machine faded from red to dark purple and back to blue again over the course of a few short minutes. What’s more, it made light work of removing greasy odors from the air, too.

Test 3: Noise levels

The noise levels of this air purifier range from a whisper-quiet 36.8 decibels at the lowest setting to 58 decibels at the highest. Thankfully, when it’s set to eco mode or auto, it usually remains at the lowest setting – which is perfect for working or even sleeping. However, when it identifies highly polluted air, the machine gets quite loud and is hard to ignore. Unless I was extremely concerned about airborne pollutants, I don’t think I could run it at the top setting for very long without getting frustrated by the volume.

Test 4: Cost to run

This device has impressively low energy consumption, using only 0.08 kWh on auto mode over a 24-hour period. Plus, it has an ‘eco-mode’ that automatically stops the fan if no pollution is detected for 30 minutes, helping you save money.

Coway Airmega Mighty: Cleaning & maintenance

Maintaining the Airmega Mighty is simple and straightforward. Every 2-4 weeks, I wipe the external body with a clean microfiber cloth to remove dust and I use a damp cloth for anything tougher. I also gently clean the pre-filter with a vacuum, as this helps extend its lifespan.

The user manual recommends cleaning the air sensor, air inlet, and outlet every 2 months and provides easy-to-follow instructions for doing so.

When it's time to replace the Deodorisation filter or the GreenHEPA filter, the unit will let you know, as the reset indicator will blink. I haven't had to do this yet, but going by how easy it is to clean the unit, I'm sure it will be an easy process.

Coway Airmega Mighty: The verdict

Overall, the Coway Airmega Mighty Air Purifier is an excellent choice for those seeking an efficient and affordable air purifier. It makes light work of purifying the air and stands out in its ability to reduce pet odors and other unpleasant smells.

I think this unit would be perfect for a medium-sized household with dogs, as it's a touch too large and loud for small apartments but is well suited to households with pets.

Despite its boxy appearance and loud top setting, it outperforms many smaller devices and represents great value. So, if you're looking for an effective air purifier that won't break the bank, the Coway Airmega Mighty is definitely worth your consideration.

The H&G team tests all of our products before we recommend them. I used the Coway Airmega Air purifier in my home for two months before writing this review and experienced how it works firsthand. If you want to learn more about how we test products, you can visit our dedicated page.

Issues with air quality are one thing we all have to deal with, and even more so during the warmer months with higher pollen counts. As a result, more and more of us are choosing to invest in air purifiers to cleanse the air we breathe at home.

In order to maximize the benefits they provide, one of the best places to put air purifiers is considered the bedroom. It’s where we sleep every night and spend on average a third of our lives.

By knowing where exactly in the bedroom to place it, you will be able to ensure your air purifier works effectively and creates a healthier sleep environment.

Where should you place an air purifier in a bedroom 

Below is a detailed guide on where to put your air purifier in the bedroom and why each location is beneficial. 

1. Near the Bed

Placing the air purifier close to the bed is beneficial, especially for those with allergies or respiratory issues. ‘This position allows the air purifier to capture and filter out airborne particles like dust, pollen, and pet dander before they reach you,’ says HVAC expert Justin Bohannon. ‘Ideally, position the unit within 3 to 5 feet of your bed on a nightstand or small table to maximize clean air intake while you sleep.’

The benefit of placing an air purifier near the bed, reduces the concentration of airborne irritants you breathe during sleep, potentially improving sleep quality and reducing allergy symptoms, and giving you an overall better night’s sleep.

2. Opposite the Room Entrance

Positioning the air purifier near the bedroom's entrance allows it to filter out pollutants as they enter the room. Air purifiers help with dust, fluff, and other allergens brought from other parts of the house or through the door if it leads outside before they enter the bedroom.

By placing your air purifier here, you create a barrier to incoming pollutants, maintaining cleaner air inside the bedroom. This setup can prevent the buildup of external pollutants from circulating within the room.

If you are placing your air purifier towards the entrance of your bedroom, then it may be worth investing in one that covers a wider area and will reach the far end of the room. The Honeywell HPA200 HEPA Air Purifier from Amazon is designed to cover large rooms and will clean up to 1500 sq ft of air every hour. 

3. Near a Window

One place you can put in an air purifier is near a bedroom window as this location can be extremely effective in drawing out impurities. It will cleanse the air from the outside, as air purifiers work by removing pollutants like outdoor pollen, vehicle exhaust, or industrial contaminants before they spread throughout the room.

This is different from placing an air purifier near a window in your bathroom as you want the device to focus on the humidity and moisture inside compared to outdoor allergens. 

4. Central Location

Placing the air purifier in a central location where airflow is unrestricted can be very effective for improving general air quality. This allows the purifier to pull air from all parts of the room, ensuring an even distribution of filtered air.

By having an air purifier in a central location to your bedroom, you maximize the air purifier's coverage area, ensuring all parts of the bedroom benefit.

 Additional Tips for Effective Placement 

In addition to strategically placing your air purifier throughout your bedroom, there are some other tips you can implement to maximize the device’s effectiveness. Below are some suggestions from Asif Bux, Owner & Service Manager at Comfort Union, an HVAC & plumbing company.

Avoid Corners: Placing an air purifier in a corner can restrict its intake and output efficiency, reducing its overall performance.

Elevation: Elevating the air purifier on a stand can help improve air circulation, especially if the unit is small or compact such as the AROEVE Air Purifier from Amazon.

Regular Maintenance: To maintain optimal performance, it's important to know how to regularly maintain and clean an air purifier, such as replacing filters as the manufacturer recommends. According to Asif, clogged filters can reduce airflow efficiency by up to 50%. 

FAQs

When placing an air purifier in your bedroom be sure to keep it away from any obstructions. Try to not place the air purifier near curtains, furniture, or any other object that may block the air from circulating in the room, otherwise, you may be hindering the air intake and ultimately preventing your air purifier from doing its job! 

Our bathroom should be a calming sanctuary to bathe, relax, and occasionally enjoy some peace; a place of respite and rest. Therefore, positioning an air purifier in your bathroom correctly is important for maximizing its effectiveness in reducing humidity and pollutants, even if you already know how to clean a bathroom. These pollutants can then contribute to mold growth and unpleasant odors. 

Due to its operational mechanics, an air purifier's efficiency is significantly influenced by its placement. Air purifiers draw in air from their surroundings, filter out impurities, and release clean air into the environment, so knowing where to place one ultimately determines if air purifiers are worth it or not.

Restricted airflow from poor placement can reduce efficiency by 30-50%, depending on the specific obstacles and room layout.

Where should you place an air purifier in a bathroom

Below our experts have provided a detailed breakdown of the optimal placements for an air purifier in a bathroom and how each position can enhance its performance:

1. Around the Shower or Bath area

The main reason why you should place an air purifier adjacent to the shower or bath is because these areas release steam into the air, which leads to a humidity problem and airborne particles. You may not realize, but air purifiers can help with allergies.

According to Jennie Bergman, Senior Product Manager of Indoor Environmental Air Quality at Trane Residential, by placing an air purifier here, you restrict the growth of mold spores and allergens that become active in areas of high humidity. Such particles are effectively trapped by an air purifier reducing the chance of their presence around those in the bedroom and hence improving the quality of air.

2. Beside the Toilet

If odor control is a primary concern, positioning the air purifier near the toilet can help capture and neutralize bathroom odors more effectively. Toilets can emit airborne smells and bacteria particles most especially when in use. These particles can be sucked in quickly by an air purifier placed close to the area, and the cleaner will further neutralize the particles.

High-quality air purifiers, such as the iAdapt 2.0 H13 HEPA Filter Air Purifier from Amazon can reduce airborne bacteria and odor particles by up to 99% when placed within a few feet of the source. Air purifiers will aid in the removal of obnoxious smells and lessen the circulation of bacteria through the air, thus giving a cleaner washroom.

3. Around the Sink and Vanity

Sinks can also harbor bacteria and germs, especially around the drain area. This is a normal feature of our routine endeavors such as brushing or washing one’s hands as this discharges contaminants and airborne particles into the air.

Placing an air purifier near the sink can help trap and eliminate these particles quickly allowing the air in the room to become fresher.

4. High-traffic Areas

Areas that are frequently used like bathroom areas are most likely to get dust particles, pet dander, and other irritating allergens.

Therefore, when used, the air purifier should be placed in a strategic area within the bathroom such that the air in the bathroom will circulate over the device or in an area within the bathroom that is characterized by constant airflow.

‘I suggest placing the air purifier centrally,’ says Nick Kornblith, senior product manager for Alen, leader in HEPA purification. ‘A central location ensures that the clean air is distributed evenly throughout the space, which is especially important in bathrooms with multiple areas of use, like those with separate shower and toilet areas.’

5. Away from Obstructions

When placing an air purifier in your bathroom, ensure the air purifier is not blocked by towels, furniture, or other items. Clear airflow around the device is crucial for its efficiency.

Proper air filtration gets rid of contaminants and enables air to flow freely inside the purifier, enhancing its effectiveness.

6. Take into account Room size

Aside from specific areas within your bathroom, Joshua Bartlett, home improvement expert at I’ll Just Fix It Myself, suggests you should first consider the actual size of the room when thinking about where to place your air purifier. When choosing an air purifier, ensure it can cover the size of your bathroom otherwise it will be insufficient to clean the air.

A good-sized air purifier, such as the LEVOIT Air Purifier from Amazon can regulate the air quality of small to medium-sized self-enclosures and can be left on for a long time, which reduces the need for it to be frequently replaced.

‘In larger bathrooms, a central location allows the air purifier to circulate air more effectively throughout the entire space,’ says Joshua. ‘This central placement can improve air intake and enhance the unit's overall efficiency, providing a clean air exchange rate of 4-6 times per hour, which is ideal for maintaining good air quality.’

Regular Air Purifier Maintenance and Additional Considerations:

As well as knowing where to place an air purifier in the bathroom, Josh Mitchell, HVAC technician and owner of Air Conditioner Lab, suggests there’s more you can do to optimize its effectiveness.

Filter Maintenance: 

Regularly replacing or cleaning air purifier filters, especially in high-humidity environments like bathrooms, is crucial for maintaining efficiency. Clogged filters can reduce air intake by up to 60%, drastically impairing performance.

Ventilation Synergy: 

To optimize air quality, use the bathroom's exhaust fan in conjunction with the air purifier. This dual approach can increase moisture removal and air purification efficiency by up to 40%.

FAQs

Another tip on where you should place an air purifier in a bathroom is on a flat stable surface. This prevents tipping and ensures proper operation. Mid-level placement, around three feet off the ground, often captures both rising humid air and general airflow efficiently.

Air purifiers are great devices that remove dust and nasty allergens from the air, essentially cleaning the air you breathe. Placing an air purifier in your kitchen can improve air quality by reducing cooking odors, smoke, and airborne pollutants like volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Your air purifier's location impacts its ability to pull in air. If placed improperly, such as in corners or tight spaces, the air purifier's intake and exhaust can be blocked, reducing its performance. 

Whilst buying the best air purifier is one way to increase the air quality, by placing your air purifier in strategic locations ensures more pollutants are captured, maintaining a healthier environment in your kitchen. 

Where should you place an air purifier in a kitchen 

Placing an air purifier in the best location within your kitchen is essential for maximizing its efficiency. Here are several strategic spots to consider, along with explanations of why these locations can enhance the performance of your air purifier: 

1. Near Cooking Areas

‘The most effective place for an air purifier in the kitchen is near the stove or cooking area,’ says Josh Mitchell, HVAC technician and owner of Air Conditioner Lab. ‘This is because the stove or cooking area is the primary source of smoke, grease, and food odors that can spread throughout your home.’

Positioning the air purifier close to where cooking emissions occur helps capture pollutants at the source before they disperse, enhancing the purifier's effectiveness and preventing them from spreading throughout the kitchen and into other parts of the house.

The ideal placement for your air purifier is on the countertop next to the stove as or on a nearby shelf or on the kitchen island if you have limited countertop space.

2. Near your garbage disposal

Trash and compost bins can emit unpleasant odors and harbor bacteria. Positioning the air purifier near these bins helps neutralize bad kitchen smells and quickly reduce airborne bacteria. The best placements are either beside or above the trash and compost bins, ensuring adequate airflow around the unit. 

3. Central Location

If placing the purifier near the stove isn't feasible, another effective spot is a central location where air circulates freely. Placing the air purifier in a central location in the kitchen allows it to draw in air from all directions, ensuring comprehensive air purification throughout the entire space. In a kitchen, this can be tricky due to the lack of really central spaces—you can use an island if you have one for your purifier, but otherwise, you might be limited to counter space.

Alternatively, positioning the air purifier in areas where fresh air can hardly reach it, for instance, right from the window or door, guarantees the air purifying efficiency of the device. This is particularly relevant to spaces like the kitchen since the cross ventilation may impact the effectiveness of the purifier.

4. Near High-Traffic Areas

Kitchens are often high-traffic areas, especially during meal preparation times. Placing an air purifier near entry points or areas where people frequently gather helps capture pollutants stirred up by movement.

One good place to put your air purifier is near the kitchen entrance or the dining area adjacent to the kitchen. This will help clean the air as people move in and out of the kitchen. As air purifiers are relatively small, if it's on a console table or a small cart you can easily move it.

5. By Ventilation Sources

High-quality range hoods with exhaust fans will often have air purifiers built into them, and this is an ideal solution since the air intake is more powerful than most standalone air purifiers and it's also right over the main source of air impurity.

When placing an air purifier near another ventilation source, close to the range hood to capture smoke and fumes. This works better in combination with opening a near a window that is often to further ventilate the kitchen.

6. Away from Obstacles

Asif Bux, Owner of Comfort Union, an HVAC and plumbing company, recommends that air purifiers be installed in a place away from walls, furniture, or any other appliance that may affect their functioning. This ensures that fresh air is drawn into the system and circulated as it is supposed to so that it can function properly.

Place your air purifier in an open space where the intake and output vents are not blocked. On a countertop or shelf with at least a few inches of clearance.

7. Close To Pet Areas

Finally, if you have pets and they frequently stay in the kitchen, their dander and hair can pollute indoor air. You can help to eliminate any bacteria or allergens from the air by placing your air purifier near their feeding or resting areas to capture these particles.

The ideal placement in this situation is near pet feeding stations or areas where pets tend to rest. Ensure the air purifier is positioned so that it won’t be easily knocked over by pets.

FAQs

Should air purifiers be left on all the time?

In short, yes. It is perfectly safe to keep air purifiers on continuously. Air purifiers are great at cleaning the quality of your air and they use minimal amounts of energy to run which means using one won’t prevent you from cutting your energy bills.

Selecting an air purifier with an appropriate size and capacity is crucial for effectively filtering the air in a kitchen environment. Choose a purifier that is designed for the square footage of the kitchen to ensure adequate coverage and efficient air circulation. Models with HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are highly recommended for capturing airborne particles, including allergens, dust, and smoke, commonly found in kitchens.

By strategically placing your air purifier in these recommended spots, you can enhance its efficiency in removing pollutants, odors, and airborne particles from your kitchen, creating a healthier and more pleasant environment.

As a cat owner with allergies, maintaining a fresh, allergen-free home has always been a challenge. Whether it’s musty odors caused by my beloved feline or pet dander making me sneeze, I'm always looking for solutions to these recurring problems.

Thankfully, the best air purifiers not only improve indoor air quality, but can also reduce dust, pet-related odors, and help with allergies, too. Keen to see if I could improve my household situation, I decided to put the Coway Airmega Aim Air Purifier to the test and see what it was capable of.

This affordable air purifier and fan promised to be a silent operator, perfect for keeping the peace in a home with nervous pets while effectively cleaning and cooling the air. Below, I'll share my thoughts on the design, specs, and performance of the Coway Airmega Aim and how it contends with real-life conditions.

Coway Airmega Aim Air Purifier: Price

As of writing this review, The Coway Airmega Aim Air Purifier currently retails for around $97.89 on Amazon, which is great value when you consider that the best air purifiers can usually be bought anywhere in the region of $100 to $600+. Models on the more expensive end of this range typically cover larger areas and offer finer particle collection. However, the Coway Airmega Aim can cover up to 492 square feet, which is perfectly suited to a living room or bedroom in an average-sized US household,

While there are cheaper air purifiers available, they typically lack the comprehensive features of the Coway Airmega Aim. Budget models usually don't offer the same level of air quality monitoring or multi-stage filtration. Therefore, I'd say the Airmega Aim strikes a good balance between affordability and functionality.

Coway Airmega Aim Air Purifier: Specifications

Unboxing & Setup

The Coway Airmega Aim arrived well-packaged in a compact box, and I was surprised by how lightweight it was when I picked it up from my doorstep. I was also impressed by the minimal use of plastic, with plastic sleeves primarily only used to protect sensitive components like the filter. The outer packaging was also easy to recycle, which is a plus for environmentally conscious users like me.

Unboxing and setting up the Coway Airmega Aim was a breeze. After removing the external packaging, it was just a matter of taking the filter out of its protective plastic and reinstalling it, which was straightforward and intuitive. The setup process took just a few minutes, and no complicated assembly was required.

The unit comes with a helpful instruction manual that is very easy to navigate and offers practical advice on setup, functions and using the remote control. For those who prefer visual guidance, I found plenty of online instructional videos for the air purifier, too.

Coway Airmega Aim Air Purifier: Design & Features

I really like the design of the unit itself, as it’s sleek and compact. Although it's made from plastic, it doesn’t look cheap, and for the price, it feels pretty sturdy, too. Unlike some bulkier air purifiers, I wouldn't think twice about keeping this unit out on display in my home.

One downside to the Coway Airmega Aim is that it doesn't come with built-in handles, which I think is a design oversight. This makes it a little frustrating when it comes to moving the unit from room to room, as despite its small dimensions this task usually requires two-hands. However, the air purifier is lightweight enough to be picked up and moved with ease.

Control panel & remote control

The Coway Airmega Aim has a user-friendly control panel and a detachable remote, which allows you to easily adjust the fan speed and other settings from anywhere in the room.

The control panel is user-friendly, with intuitive buttons for power, mode, fan speed, and timer settings. It features a color-coded air quality indicator (red, orange, green) and dimmable display lights. There’s also a child safety lock for peace of mind.

I found the remote control particularly handy whenever I needed to change the settings while working at my desk or from my bed on a night time. The remote control is simple and easy to understand, thanks to clear instructions in the user manual.

Modes / Settings

The Coway Airmega Aim Air features 4 modes: Auto / 1 / 2 / 3

I've been making the most of the 'Auto Mode' feature of the unit, where the air purifier will automatically adjust the airflow speeds depending on the quality of the air detected by the sensor.

Settings 1 - 3 relate to air flow speeds and these can be manually adjusted if you want the unit to act as a fan, as well as an air purifier. 1 is the lowest setting, providing a barely noticeable breeze, while 3 is a much more intense fan that's also much noisier.

HEPA H13 filter with three-stage filtration

One of the most impressive features of this air purifier is its filter, which offers an impressive three-stage filtration process to remove germs and allergens from the air.

The pre-filter (the first layer of the filter) captures larger dust particles, fur and pet hair. The True HEPA filter (second layer) can capture nanoparticles down to the size of 0.1 microns, which is perfect for homes with mold issues, pollen or dander. Finally, the deodorization filter is designed to purifier odors, VOCs and smoke.

360 Air Purification 

Another one of the air purifier's stand out features is that it can auto-oscillate up to 80 degrees and vertically tilt up to 90 degrees. This design allows it to pull in air from all directions and purify/blow air at multiple angles.

The best part is that when the unit is aimed downwards, it pulls pet hair and micro particles up and purifies them. Thanks to that helpful deodorizing filter, it also neutralizes related odors, leaving your home smelling much better in the process.

If it's the fan mode you are more interested in, this 80 degree oscillation also helps to cool a room down faster by distributing the air flow throughout your space.

Coway Airmega Aim Air Purifier: Performance

The Pros

After using the Coway Airmega Aim Air Purifier continuously for just over a month, I’ve noticed a marked improvement in my indoor air quality. Placing the Airmega Aim near my cat’s food bowls and bedding has significantly reduced unpleasant smells and I've noted a significant improvement in my allergies since using the device.

Moreover, the unit operates extremely quietly, especially in auto and eco mode, which hasn’t bothered my nervous cat at all. This quiet operation makes it perfect for use in bedrooms or living areas without causing disturbances.

In addition to reducing bad pet smells in my home, I’ve seen a noticeable decrease in dust as well. The Airmega Aim effectively captures dust particles, which means I’ve had to dust my home less frequently since using it. This has been a significant time-saver and has contributed to a cleaner living environment overall.

The Cons

As an air purifier, I rate this unit very highly. However, I do not rate this unit as a fan. While it can help to cool down a room when it is run continuously, it only really performs in this capacity when it is set to airflow setting 3. Unfortunately, this makes it quite loud and the fan functionality can't really contend with the best fans on the market.

Coway Airmega Aim Air Purifier: Maintenance

To clean and maintain my unit, I simply use a soft, damp cloth to wipe down the exterior, and I gently vacuum the pre-filter every month to remove surface dust and debris. This small step can significantly extend the lifespan of the device.

Coway is known for offering one of the longest filter lifespans in the air purifier market, making maintenance relatively hassle-free. But when it’s time to replace them, the unit will notify you with a filter replacement light and swapping filters is rather effortless. You simply remove the rear cover, slide the filter out and replace with a new one.

A replacement filter will set you back by around $30, so it's not too expensive to keep your air purifier running in good condition.

In terms of storing the unit, the Coway Airmega Aim is quite compact and it can be neatly tucked away when you tilt it 90 degrees. However, I quite like the design of this air purifier and I'm happy to keep it out 'on display' year-round.

Coway Airmega Aim Air Purifier: Verdict

On the whole, I've been impressed by the Coway Airmega Aim Air Purifier. The main impact of using it has been that my house smells notably cleaner and clearer, and I'm suffering less from some of the effects of my allergies.

Setup and usability are both very straightforward, and I definitely feel that although it's an entry-level model, it's done most of the things I need it to do very effectively. While it does not perform very well as a fan, I'll continue to use this unit for purifying the air in my home, as it runs at a low level of background noise so it doesn't feel disruptive to have running throughout the day.

Importantly, the Coway AIrmega Aim is also very affordable to run and replacement parts are inexpensive. I think it represents great value for money for anyone looking to improve the quality of the air in their home. I would certaintly recommended The Coway Airmega Aim Air to anyone with pets or allergies.

No one wants to deal with mold or mildew in their home. Not only is it unsightly and causes musty odors, but it is a serious health hazard too, often causing respiratory illness. This begs the question, do air purifiers help with mold?

HVAC experts suggest these handy devices could play a role in helping with the symptoms mold causes, but they might need a helping hand when dealing with the source of the problem itself.

Here, we spoke to HVAC experts for their advice on tackling common types of household mold, and what they recommend alongside air purifiers to eliminate these problems for good.

Do air purifiers help with mold?

Before we can start to tackle mold and mildew, we need to understand exactly what they are.

Mold and mildew are both types of fungi that thrive in moist, warm environments, and therefore commonly occur in bathrooms and basements. They can grow on a variety of surfaces, from wallpaper and tiles to fabrics and wood.

Health issues related to mold and mildew include allergies, respiratory problems, and other serious health risks, especially for those with compromised immune systems or asthma, this is why some people may turn to an air purifier to help.

However, as Josh Mitchell, HVAC technician and owner of Air Conditioner Lab explains, 'While air purifiers can help remove mold spores from the air, they won't eliminate mold at its source. Mold loves damp spots (which is why it's often present in bathrooms and plumbing), so if you don't deal with the underlying problem, usually moisture, the spores will grow on surfaces.'

Therefore, to get rid of black mold and clean mold in the shower, for example, a specifically formulated product should be used, such as the RMR-141 Mold and Mildew Killer available at Amazon, which kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses.

If you prefer not to use chemicals, you can use vinegar to kill mold, by mixing vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio a spray bottle, such as the Equate 8 oz Plastic Spraybottle available at Walmart. We recommend using the Heinz All Natural Distilled White Vinegar with 5% Acidity available at Amazon for this, and, as a gentle cleaner, this solution is even suitable to get mold off handbags.

These methods, in conjunction with an air purifier, present a powerful solution to mold issues.

Mitchell advises, 'Think of an air purifier as more of a stopgap measure; it helps keep the air cleaner by trapping spores before they settle down and cause more problems.'

The pros of using an air purifier to help with mold

While an air purifier can't remove mold from your home on its own, there are significant pros to investing in one.

David Greenberg, mitigation manager at Cleaner Guys says, 'The pros of using an air purifier is mainly that it minimizes the particles suspended in the air, preventing them from entering your airways, or landing and colonizing in other areas, leading to further mold growth.'

They're also one of the ways to improve air quality in your home when living in a city, which can lead to better sleep and improved help. Mitchell adds, 'Air purifiers allow you to breathe easier, and feel more comfortable in your home.'

The Limitations of Air Purifiers

Importantly, while air purifiers can capture airborne mold spores, they do not address the source of mold growth. If the conditions that allowed mold to grow in the first place – such as high humidity or water leaks – are not corrected, mold will, therefore, continue to grow and produce new spores.

HVAC expert Mitchell advises, 'Remember that air purifiers don't deal with moisture, which is responsible for mold growth. So, if you already have a mold problem, an air purifier won't solve it.

'Also, if mold spores are sitting on surfaces, an air purifier can't clean those up either.'

So, to solve mold problems, you need to physically clean and remove mold growth, use one of the best dehumidifers to reduce moisture, fix leaks, improve ventilation, and use exhaust fans in areas like bathrooms and kitchens.

How to choose an air purifier

Not clued up on what to look for in an air purifier?

If you're unsure how to choose the right air purifier for your home, when choosing which air purifier to buy, HVAC expert Mitchell states that you should consider it’s Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR). An air purifier’s CADR measures how much air an air purifier can clean in a minute. The higher the CADR, the better the purifier is at filtering the air quickly and efficiently. So look for one with a high CADR for dust and pollen. Your air will get cleaned up fast, reducing the amount of mold spores floating around.

Also, consider the cubic volume you are looking to filter. Mold expert Greenberg explains, 'Four exchanges an hour is recommended, meaning the machine should have a high enough CFM (cubic feet a minute) rate to exchange the air four times an hour.' The calculation used to determine this is: ACH = CFM x 60 / Room Volume (Area x Height).

Some air purifiers also contain an activated carbon filter, which work like odor and chemical sponges to soak up all the smells and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by mold and mildew. VOCs can make breathing a difficultly, particularly for people with asthma or other respiratory issues, so these filters work well to reduce this.

If you're on a budget, Mitchell recommends the number one bestselling LEVOIT Air Purifier available at Amazon, which has a HEPA filter and optional toxin absorber filter, which specializes in VOCs.

Air purifiers such as the Medify MA-40 UV Light Air Purifier from Amazon, while more expensive, also have UV-C light technology. UV-C light distorts the DNA of mold and microorganisms, making them harmless and unable to multiply. This method is often used with HEPA filters to make air purification even better. The big benefit here is that it adds extra protection by getting rid of mold spores that get past the filter.

Additionally, air purifiers like the Molekule Air Pro available at Molekule actually destroy organic matter at the molecular level. While most air purifiers typically have two layers of filtration, mechanical filters for particles and carbon filters for gases/odors, Molekule's air purifiers, also available at Molekule use PECO technology to destroy the matter itself.

Mitchell warns, 'Just steer clear of ionizing purifiers, as they can create ozone, which might worsen respiratory issues.'

Regular maintenance, like changing filters and cleaning an air purifier is also important for keeping the purifier running well and maintaining optimal air quality.

Where to place an air purifier

Using an air purifier is not as simple as putting it in a corner and hoping fo the best. You need to locate the best place to put an air purifier to ensure its efficiency.

According to HVAC expert Josh Mitchell, 'It's best to place the air purifier close to areas where mold is growing, or in rooms where you've noticed a moldy smell but can't see anything. This way, it can catch any airborne spores that might be released, helping to keep them from spreading elsewhere.'

But, when placing an air purifier in a room to deal with mold, make sure to close the door to shut that space off from the rest of the house. Mold expert Greenberg warns, 'Otherwise, the air purifier could simply help redistribute the spores to the rest of the house.'

And, if you have ongoing mold concerns, Mitchell recommends running your air purifier continuously, particularly during humid seasons.

Supplementary methods to remove mold and mildew

Whilst air purifiers can help with mold and mildew, they work most effectively when part of a comprehensive strategy. According to Asif Bux, owner and service manager at Comfort Union, a HVAC & plumbing company, there are other methods you should try in conjunction with your air purifier to prevent mold from forming:

• Control Humidity: 'Try to keep humidity levels between 30% and 50%,' recommends HVAC expert Mitchell. 'This range is perfect for comfort and helps prevent mold. You can monitor the levels with a digital hygrometer, and I recommend using both a humidifier and a dehumidifier to keep those levels in check.' You can check humidity levels with a hygrometer, such as the bestselling ThermoPro TP50 Digital Hygrometer available at Amazon.
• Fix Leaks: Address any plumbing leaks or water issues promptly to prevent moist conditions in which mold thrives.
• Proper Ventilation: Use exhaust fans in high-moisture areas like bathrooms and kitchens. Ensure that clothes dryers and stoves are properly vented outdoors.
• Regular Cleaning: Use commercial mold cleaners such as MOLD ARMOR Mold and Mildew Killer from Walmart or a mixture of water and bleach to kill mold (1 cup bleach to 1 gallon of water). Ensure proper ventilation when cleaning to avoid inhaling toxic mold spores. Run your air purifier afterward to capture any disturbed spores.
• Remove Infested Materials: Sometimes, mold-infested materials like carpeting, wallpaper, or ceiling tiles need to be completely removed and replaced.
• Regularly maintain your air purifiers: In addition to regularly cleaning your air purifier, check and replace the filters, as a clogged filter can reduce its effectiveness. Keep an eye on areas where you have had mold problems, as these could likely develop new growth if not properly managed.

FAQs

Will an air purifier help with mold smells?

If you need to get rid of musty smells in a bathroom, get rid of musty smells in a bedroom, or get rid of musty basement smells, the good news is an air purifier will help.

Mold expert Greenberg says, 'An air purifier may help with mold odors, if it is equipped with a charcoal filter or another odor eliminating technology.

'However, we must stress again: just addressing the odor will not eliminate the source, and the mold will spread if it is not removed as soon as possible.'

So, are air purifiers worth it when it comes to tackling mold? Well, HEPA filters can significantly cut down on the number of mold spores in the air, which in turn lowers the chances of mold growth in your home. But, they can't be solely relied on.

In the name of cleaner air, you won't get much cleaner than running both a dehumidifier and air purifier in the same room. Harmful pollutants, allergens, and high humidity levels will be removed from your space, giving you the purest air to breathe at home.

When comparing dehumidifiers vs air purifiers, we appreciate that they're doing very different things to our air. The best dehumidifiers remove moisture and lower humidity levels, while the best air purifiers capture particles like pollen, pet dander and smoke.

So is it ok to have both of them running in the same room? Below we analyse all the things to consider if doing so, with help from the air quality experts.

Should a dehumidifier and an air purifier be placed in the same room?

There's no real concern with doing so, it'll just mean the room will have really good air quality. Many homes with HVACs run simultaneous air purifying and dehumidifying functions anyway, so it's nothing new.

But there are some things to consider. Firstly, ask yourself whether this is the best place to put the two machines, as one or both of them might be better suited somewhere else in the house.

'The air purifier should be placed where you spend most of your time. Commonly this is a bedroom or living area. A dehumidifier should be placed where the humidity is higher. Often this is a basement,' explains Peter Mann, CEO of Oransi.

If you would benefit from having them both on in the same room, then consider how they work individually. As Asif Bux, service manager at Comfort Union, says: 'Ensure there is enough space between the two devices to allow for proper air circulation.'

The best place to put an air purifier might not be the best place for a dehumidifier. Both appliances collect air from the around the room, and they have their own fans to create an airflow depending on the room size. Making sure there's enough space between them will prevent interference with each other's air flow. It's one of the things I wish I knew before buying a dehumidifier.

Then, consider energy consumption and noise. Keeping a dehumidifier and air purifier running from the same outlet might put a strain on your fuse box, especially if you're running them at high speeds.

And while many brands make claims of whisper-quiet noise levels, both machines famously aren't that quiet. They both use fans to operate while also undergoing processes within the unit - whether it's filtering out particles or condensing moisture into a water tank. So, bare in mind that keeping them both running simultaneously could be a bit distracting.

It's also worth mentioning that dehumidifiers can create the feeling of cooling down a room, and air purifiers feel like they're blowing cold air. Put the two together and it might create a colder environment in the room.

Before improving your breathing at home, remind yourself of how to choose the right air purifier for your home and lifestyle, to bring the best air purifier into your space.

Appliance and tech brand Shark is continuing to gain a worldwide reputation for producing affordable but genuinely useful products for the home. Among all of Shark's offerings, from their best vacuums to their best air purifiers, the FlexBreeze fan is a relatively new addition, boasting a few features we don't tend to see in fans.

It's portable, can be converted between a pedestal and tabletop, and has a misting attachment for more serious cooling. It seems to be a response to many of the problems we face in high heat, like being able to take our fans outside so we can still enjoy the sunny weather.

I'm Homes & Gardens' home tech editor, and I've been testing and reviewing the best fans while the weather has been warmer. Here, I see what the Shark FlexBreeze Fan can do, how well it performs, and whether it's worth your money.

Shark FlexBreeze Fan: Specifications

Shark FlexBreeze Fan: Unboxing & setup

As I've come to expect from Shark, the fan arrived in a compact cardboard box with vibrant product packaging inside. Shark's product boxes are often quite colorful (with that distinct Shark purple) and the FlexBreeze is no different - full of text and images showing off what the fan can do.

Included in the box are: the fan head, two pedestal poles, pedestal base, charging cable, fan cover, and misting attachment. You also receive some instructions and a hex key and bolt for the assembly. It doesn't take long; all you have to do is attach the two pedestal poles to the base, screw in the bolt to secure it, attach the fan head then plug in the charging cable. Shark recommends waiting until it's fully charged to use it in cordless mode, but you can use it straight away when plugged in.

Not included with the fan is any plastic packaging, thankfully.

Shark FlexBreeze Fan: Design & features

The USP of the Shark FlexBreeze Fan (and the meaning behind the 'Flex') is its portability. You can charge up the fan to then use it as cordless, freeing it from the cable to be taken outside or to other rooms of the house. I'm surprised and genuinely impressed that I've never seen a fan achieve this to this extent.

In the same vein, you can also remove the fan head from the pedestal and convert it to a tabletop fan. It's so easy to do so that it takes a few seconds: just pull the fan out, position the tabletop legs and it's ready. There's even an additional charging port if you want to keep it in tabletop mode.

There are removable stickers all over the fan with various tips and instructions, like where to press to convert to tabletop mode, or how to make the most out of the buttons and remote. The most informative is on the top of the fan head, where it outlines what options are available and what the fan head's LED lights indicate.

At the back of the fan head there's a carry handle, as well as a magnetic slot for the remote. All of these are thoughtful design inputs to make the fan both genuinely useful and easy to use. The remote itself is pretty straightforward, too, with buttons for fan speed, oscillation, timer, and options to manually move the fan left and right.

Also included is the 'InstaCool' misting attachment that hooks up to your water supply to spray a gentle, cooling mist when using the fan outdoors. It slots right into the middle of the fan, with a long pipe that connects to your water supply, either using the faucet or your own hosepipe if it doesn't fit.

Shark FlexBreeze Fan: Performance

With such a big feature set, how well does it actually perform? I've tested many fans this summer for H&G and, without a doubt, the FlexBreeze is the most powerful and the quietest. I noticed this straight away and confirmed it over weeks of use.

At the highest setting, the FlexBreeze produces a truly powerful airflow that can be felt from at least 60 feet away. The lowest setting is virtually silent while still providing a gentle and noticeably comforting cooling.

I would say the volume only becomes distracting at fan speeds 4 and 5 - but this level of airflow is only needed in super high heat or outdoors, where the noise isn't as noticeable. Otherwise, the fan does a fantastic job of cooling me down without any notable noise which, in my view, is the most important criteria to consider when choosing a fan.

I was lucky enough to test the FlexBreeze to its full effect during a particularly warm week here in the UK. I mostly work from home, and I like to work outside whenever the sun's out to make the most of it.

I took the fan with me, pulled out the tabletop legs, and sat it on my garden table while I worked - and it was so nice. It was comforting, prevented me from getting too hot in the sun, and the quiet performance wasn't distracting or headache-inducing at all - considering I had a full-sized fan a few inches away from me for hours.

This versatility, combined with the fan's power and low noise, makes the FlexBreeze a stronger choice than any other fan I've used. It has everything you'd need with the added bonus of a misting attachment.

Unfortunately, my faucet isn't the right size for the InstaCool attachment, and I don't have a hose to use it. However, I saw it first-hand at SharkNinja's EMEA Launch Event in February 2024. It was a hot day, and the mist was as cooling as Shark claimed. It shoots out as two separate streams, and the fan disperses it to avoid soaking anybody.

Shark FlexBreeze Fan: Price

The Shark FlexBreeze currently retails for $199.99 at Shark, and retailers like Home Depot and Best Buy. In the UK, it's listed at £169.99 at Shark, Currys and John Lewis.

Pedestal fans sell for as little as $30, but more powerful models and those with misting attachments can go for upwards of $300. Considering the feature set on offer with the Shark FlexBreeze – the corded to the cordless, pedestal to tabletop, indoor to outdoor versatility – I think this is as reasonably priced as you can get.

How does the Shark FlexBreeze Fan compare?

You can find plenty of other pedestal fans online for a range of prices. The Lasko Oscillating Pedestal Fan at Home Depot sits on the lower end at $39.98, while this 30-inch Misting Outdoor Oscillating Pedestal Fan at Home Depot sells for $413.12. With that kind of price range, the Shark FlexBreeze sits comfortably in the middle, which is more-than-reasonable considering its features and performance.

Tower fans are another alternative. The Levoit 36-Inch Classic Tower Fan performed well on test, with quiet and powerful fan speeds, a sleep mode and a timer - and it sells for a modest $69.99.

There is a lack of additional features with the Shark FlexBreeze. Air purifying technology, as seen in the Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1 and the Dyson Purifier Cool TP09, would help to improve indoor air quality while indoors. But this often comes at an increase in noise levels and cost - and for a portable fan, it would be over-working itself outdoors.

Other fans have smart features, like the Dreo Smart Tower Fan Pilot Pro S. But, while voice and app control can be useful when you can't find the remote, it does little to add to the functionality of the fan. It will, however, add to the overall cost, which I sense Shark have tried to avoid to keep it reasonably priced.

Should you buy the Shark FlexBreeze Fan?

The Shark FlexBreeze offers everything you'd look for in a fan. It produces a powerful cooling flow of air quietly and can switch between tabletop and pedestal, with the freedom to take it outdoors. The misting attachment will likely be a savior on those really hot days, too.

It lacks any additional features like air purification, app compatibility or voice control. But, in all honesty, these aren't essential, and it's resulted in Shark being able to sell the fan for what feels like a truly reasonable price. After weeks of testing I see no faults at all, and I'd recommend this as the best fan available right now.

As fun and vibrant as city life can be, there's one downside that can't go ignored: air pollution. Cities are the most populated areas in the world, and with that comes a never-ending stream of pollutants from cars, homes and businesses.

Knowing how to to improve air quality indoors only involves some simple steps, but there's a bit more to consider when living in a city. Reminding yourself of these necessary habits will offer tremendous health benefits like clearer breathing and fewer allergic symptoms.

As an asthma and allergy sufferer living in the busy city of Bristol in the UK, I understand the effects of poor air quality. Luckily, I've tested many of the best air purifiers, which always help to keep my symptoms at bay, and through doing so, I've learned just how important an air purifier is, and what exact activities affect air quality at home.

How to improve the air quality in your home when living in a city

I caught up with a few air quality experts to put together this essential list of improving air quality when living in a city; for cleaner, healthier air.

1. Monitor air quality

Before doing any of the following steps, it will help to first understand your air quality.

An air quality monitor will track the air inside your home (available at Amazon and Home Depot). For outside your home, there are apps like the official EPA AIRNow app, showing current and forecast air quality information for your local area.

By understanding our air quality both indoors and outdoors, we then know when to close our windows, turn on the air purifier, or do any number of tasks that can affect the air we breathe.

2. Use a high-quality air purifier

An air purifier is easily the most effective way to improve your air quality at home. Living in a city exposes us to so many pollutants; pollen, vehicle fumes and wildfire smoke are some of the countless substances affecting our air quality.

To combat them, an air purifier will remove these harmful particles from the air, releasing cleaner, purified air back into your home. 'Air purifiers are important for removing pollutants, allergens, and toxins from the air,' affirms Aaron Traub, air quality expert and owner of Benny's AC & Heating.

The best purifiers work by utilizing both a mechanical filter (like a HEPA filter) and a carbon filter. This enables them to filter out particles and harmful gases, making both filter types essential when living in a city. You can find out more at our guide on how to choose the right air purifier for your home & lifestyle.

Molekule's air purifiers go a step further, and use PECO technology to actually destroy the organic pollutants at the molecular level.

3. Regular HVAC maintenance

Ideally, your HVAC system should be serviced twice a year, once before summer and once before winter. That way, you're taking care of the system's efficiency, making sure that everything is working as it should.

Aaron Traub seconds this: 'Replace air filters regularly, clean ducts, and schedule professional inspections at least twice a year. A clean, well-functioning HVAC system can significantly reduce indoor pollutants and do much of the work for you.'

An HVAC system's air filters will accumulate dust, dirt and moisture, and as a result microbial growths can build up on internal components. So your indoor air will be much cleaner with a regularly-maintained system.

4. Close windows (when appropriate)

As mentioned above, being aware of your indoor and local air quality will guide you on when it's time to close or open your windows. If outdoor pollutant levels are high, you'll benefit from keeping your windows closed and relying on AC and fans to stay cool.

'While fresh air can be beneficial, it often brings in pollutants and allergens in a city environment,' Aaron Traub confirms.

If the air quality outside is relatively good with low humidity levels, however, opening windows can improve indoor air quality. Tasks like cooking, dusting and vacuuming all affect our indoor air, so we sometimes need to ventilate our homes.

Alessandro Ronfini, partner at DEMO Architects, elaborates on this: 'If it's a particularly hot, windless day, it's quite possible that the outdoor air quality is worse than the indoor air and it's best not to open windows. When there is a nice breeze and humidity is low opening a window, even better two to create cross ventilation is a great idea.'

5. Clean often

The common allergens that live in our homes can be dealt with by cleaning regularly. Some of them even come from outside, like pollen, becoming part of the composition of the dust that we find on our floors and around the house.

As Aaron Traub puts it, 'dust and vacuum your home frequently, using a vacuum with a HEPA filter to remove dust, pet dander, and other allergens in your home.'

Our guide to the best vacuums for pet hair includes tried-and-tested HEPA vacuums that can handle hair, dust, and tiny allergenic particles.

6. Indoor plants

There's a wealth of plants out there with air purifying qualities. The best air cleaning indoor plants, including types like bird's nest fern and areca palm, can remove toxins like formaldehyde, mold spores and ammonia from the air.

Even snake plants, some of the most low-maintenance plants you can own, can eliminate airborne formaldehyde, nitrogen oxide, benzene, xylene and trichloroethylene – found in synthetic carpets, glues, paint and other interior fittings.

On the topic of improving your indoor air quality, it helps to have one of the best dehumidifiers. High humidity levels encourage mold, dust mites, asthma, and all sorts of allergic symptoms.

Make sure you know the best place to put your air purifier, too.

Air purifiers are generous machines, removing dust, pollen, pet dander, and all sorts of pollutants from the air. But can an air purifier remove cigarette odors?

The best air purifiers can be relied on to remove the harmful particles in wildfire smoke, so it makes sense that they'd be able to handle cigarette smoke. But, naturally, these are two very different substances with different chemical compositions, so the processes aren't exactly the same.

As H&G's home tech editor, I've tested my fair share of air purifiers. I can attest that, yes, they can deal with cigarette smoke, but they aren't always able to completely remove the smell. So, here I dig deeper to find out whether they're actually able to remove cigarette odors.

Can an air purifier help remove cigarette odors?

In short, yes, but there are different factors influencing how well each air purifier can deal with cigarette smoke. To know which air purifiers are best, we first need to understand the particles that make up tobacco smoke and how air purifiers can filter them.

An air purifier uses a fan that sucks air from around the room, collecting and filtering out particles as air passes through. This is why, firstly, it's important for the air purifier to have a strong fan speed so that it can pull the smoke from across the room. Also, not all filters are created equal - the types and sizes of particles collected depend on the quality of the purifier's filtration system.

Airborne particles are typically measured in microns (1 micron is 1/1000 mm, or 1/25,000 of an inch). Tobacco smoke is made up of a cocktail of different particles; according to Breathing Space, the most common size range is between 0.3 to 0.5 microns, but many of the most harmful particles can be as small as 0.1 micron.

The most effective air purifiers have HEPA filters (or high-efficiency particulate absorbing filters) that are capable of capturing much finer particles than standard mechanical filters. Specifically, as the air quality experts at Molekule state, a HEPA filter is 'one that has been tested and proven to remove 99.97 percent of all particles that are 0.3 microns in diameter.'

So, an air purifier with a True HEPA filter will be able to capture particles as small as 0.3 microns. This accounts for most of the common tobacco smoke particles, but not those smaller, 0.1-micron particles.

HEPA filters must meet minimum performance standards, but it doesn't mean they can't surpass them. Many brands use advanced filters that capture particles down to 0.1 microns - and these are the ones you should look for when dealing with cigarette smoke.

That's how air purifiers suck up smoke and remove the harmful particles, but what about the smell? To actually remove the odors from your indoor space, your purifier relies on something else: an activated carbon filter.

The particals that carry the harmful chemicals and odors are too small to be picked up by a HEPA filter, regardless of how good it is. Instead, a carbon filter, positioned behind the HEPA filter, will absorb them, preventing them from re-entering the room. Like with HEPA filters, carbon filters come in different shapes and sizes and, generally, the more activated carbon, the better.

So yes, air purifiers can remove cigarette smoke and odors. How effectively they do this depends on the quality of the HEPA filter and the amount of activated carbon filtration used. Many products will have these specs available.

You can actually go a step further. HEPA and carbon filters trap and remove the particles from the air, but Molekule's air purifiers use a third layer of filtration: PECO filtration. This technology destroys organic pollutants at the molecular level, by breaking down harmful particles and pathogens, and turning them into harmless gases.

Knowing how to choose the right air purifier will make all the difference when improving your home's air quality.

When working on something as big as a home renovation, being surrounded by mess is unavoidable. This mess is usually a result of all the sanding, grinding, demolishing, and drilling, spreading dust across your home in the process.

This dust can then become airborne, worsening your air quality and potentially damaging your health. To avoid this during a home renovation, you'll need to take a few steps to keep your indoor air clean.

Along with the best air purifiers, there are plenty of ways to protect your air quality amid a hefty home reno. Read on for our step-by-step guide.

How to keep your indoor air clean during a renovation

We spoke with air quality and home renovation experts to find out exactly what we can do to keep indoor air clean during a renovation.

1. Turn off the HVAC

First things first: turn off your HVAC system. It's easy to assume that our HVACs can filter out all the airborne dust, but it can damage your system.

'Turn the HVAC off when possible to prevent dust from accumulating inside the HVAC unit, leading to damage or increased potential for microbial growth,' explains Michael Rubino, mold and air quality expert and founder of HomeCleanse.

'If running the HVAC is a must, install the highest-rated MERV filters the unit can handle to prevent dust accumulation and change the filters often,' he emphasizes, adding that 'once they are caked in dust, they no longer work as well to filter out particles.'

If you must keep your HVAC on, you can find high-quality MERV filters at Home Depot.

2. Containment

As renovations can take place near living areas, it's important to keep things separate. Renovating produces dust and countless other particles that are harmful to breathe in, so you'll need to avoid them making their way into (and dirtying) the clean parts of the house.

Josh Rudin, owner of ASAP Restorations, explains that containment is the key to successful and dustless home renovations 'because it centralizes all of the dust particulates in one area.'

This can be as simple as plastic barriers that protect the work zone, preventing dust from spreading into other areas. Or, as Josh suggests, containment can involve creating multi-staged areas for different purposes.

'The first containment is simply to encompass the entire job work area. The second containment unit will be to separate the work area air from the prep area air, where technicians [or yourself] will suit up in PPE,' he explains.

Doing this will keep the messiest areas self-contained while having an area between the clean living area and the work area, preventing poor air from reaching healthier parts of the house.

3. Clean, constantly

Regular cleaning during such a famously messy process might not seem like a priority, but it's vital for protecting air quality and indoor spaces.

'Cleaning the machines, the people, and the apparatus that go into and out of the containments will also be a major factor in protecting the rest of the property from dust contamination,' Josh says.

To achieve a tight cleanliness, you'll need a HEPA vacuum. HEPA filters are able to capture much finer dust particles than other filter types, making them a necessity during home renovation.

'Use HEPA vacuums in lieu of shop vacs to prevent fine dust from recirculating,' explains Michael. He adds that vacuums are also important to avoid sweeping, as sweeping can aerosolize particles, making them more likely to get into your body through inhalation.

Our guide to the best vacuum cleaners includes a healthy selection of HEPA vacuums.

Josh mentions that, aside from vacuuming dust, cleaning also involves: 'wiping down the garbage bags that secure the demolition debris, double bagging them with gooseneck ties, wiping down the secondary bag, and then transporting the cleaned bags out of the containment.' This prevents dust from re-circulating back into your indoor air.

4. Ventilation

Considering the importance of containment - ventilation is helpful but only when done with care. Build-ups of dust can lead to bacteria and mold growing in your home, so keeping the space well-ventilated will naturally help during the timeline of your renovation.

'Ventilate the space well when the air quality is good outside and the humidity is 50% or less. This will help flush out those particles while avoiding opportunities that could worsen indoor air quality,' advises Michael.

5. Air purifiers

And now for the main one: actually keeping the air clean. Professional renovators will often use air scrubbers (available at Home Depot), but they tend to be expensive purchases for something that'll only get temporary use.

Instead, an air purifier can cleanse the air of dust and other harmful particles. Keeping an air purifier running during the work will capture airborne particles, removing them from the air you breathe and creating a healthier indoor air quality.

But you'll need to choose the right air purifier for the job. Many air purifiers are designed for at-home use, like removing pollen or wildfire smoke from the air, so you'd need a powerful and durable model to keep up with the renovation. Molekule's air purifiers work differently to others as they actually destroy the particles once captured, so they could be an ideal fit for heavy work such as home renovating.

The best air purifiers will cleanse your air from dust, pollutants and harmful particles while you're renovating your home.

If you're new to these types of home projects, our first-time renovators guide covers everything you need to know before getting started.

Our collective knowledge of air quality is growing, and with it comes a more conscious approach to the air we breathe, and what we can do to improve it.

So, it's no surprise that air purifiers are becoming a more common household essential. The best air purifiers can cleanse our homes of dust, smoke, pollution, and the many allergens that exist in our homes.

With this rise in demand comes an increase of choice, as there are now countless brands offering their own air purifiers with new claims. But finding the right one doesn't necessarily mean finding the 'best' - it involves considering the needs of your own home and lifestyle.

So, I've compiled a list of the important factors to consider when choosing the right air purifier for your home.

How to choose an air purifier

I consulted air quality experts, as well as my own experience in testing, reviewing and writing about air purifiers, for this guide on everything to consider when choosing one.

1. Room size

One of the most important factors to consider is the size of the space you're looking to purify. The size, power and fan speed of your air purifier will completely depend on this: for example, a small bedroom will need a much less powerful air purifier than an entire open-plan apartment.

'The size and layout of your home are crucial,' says Warb Lee, CEO of Alen, as understanding your home's size in square footage will make sure you get the maximum benefit from whichever air purifier you choose.

Air purifiers will list coverage in their product descriptions, often down to the square meter or square foot. Molekule's Air Mini+, for example, is said to cover rooms up to 250 square feet in size, making it an ideal choice for bedrooms and home offices.

If you want to get really specific, it's worth checking each air purifier's CADR (clean air delivery rate). 'The easiest way to determine if an air purifier is properly sized is to divide the room volume (cubic feet) by the air purifier's CADR,' explains Jon Bennert, CEO of Air Oasis.

'In a typically residential environment, you will want an air purifier capable of at least 5 air exchanges per hour,' Jon adds. CADR is usually measured by how much space it can cover per minute. So, a 3,200 cubic feet room would need a purifier with 265 CFM (cubic feet per minute) CADR, as the air purifier would clean the air every 12 minutes (5 air exchanges per hour).

2. Lifestyle & pets

Think about your lifestyle and where you live. Pets bring their own type of air pollution, as does living in a city centre, spending a lot of time cooking, or having poor ventilation.

'Factors such as the number of pets in the home, smoking habits, gas stoves present, types of cleaning products used, and unvented areas can all contribute to the level of impurities inside your home,' says Rebecca Titus, eCommerce sales manager for Bosch Home Comfort.

'You will want to look for an air purifier that can remove over 99% of all particles,' she adds, as more basic air purifiers aren't always able to handle everything.

3. Allergies

Do air purifiers help with allergies? Yes - they're actually one of the easiest and surest ways to relieve symptoms at home, as allergens like pollen, pet dander and dust live in the air we breathe indoors.

Allergy sufferers should look for air purifiers with HEPA filters, as only those are able to capture the super-fine particles that trigger allergic symptoms.

4. Filter

Not all air purifiers filter particles the same. Aside from fan speed and size - this is largely due to different filters, dictating what particle types are able to be captured.

Mechanical filters are the most common, where fans pull air through layers of fine fibers, trapping particles in the process. HEPA filters are a type of mechanical filter, but they're designed using very fine mesh to trap even microscopic particles, making them much more effective and better suited to those with allergies.

Many air purifiers will claim to have 'HEPA type' filters (or some variation of the phrase), so look for 'True HEPA' to be sure that the filter has met the testing legal standards.

Activated carbon filters capture certain types of gases, but they don't combat particles. For this reason, many purifiers will have both a mechanical and an activated carbon filter, for protection from particles and gases.

Individual brands will have their own filter types, so it's a good idea to research what's on offer. Dyson's purifiers use a HEPA 13 and carbon filter, while Shark's purifiers have HEPA filters that exceed the required standard, making them even more effective at trapping micro particles.

Molekule's air purifiers, like the Molekule Air Pro, use three-stage filtration via their PECO-HEPA-Carbon filters. This allows them to capture particles, trap gases, and oxidize and destroy pollutants at the molecular level.

5. Air quality detection

It isn't necessarily essential, but being able to see your air quality makes a huge difference. Purifiers that detect air quality will often have 'auto' modes, where the power will adjust relative to the air in the room, saving you power when it isn't needed and dedicating the energy to when it's needed.

But it'll also give you more insight into the air you breathe and how your activities at home can cause changes in the air quality. You'll start to notice how leaving your windows open can bring in fumes and pollen or the effects of frying food for a long time.

'One of the biggest features to look for is an air purifier with an air quality indicator to clearly identify air quality since we cannot visibly see the air we breathe in,' says Rebecca.

'Such features will help visually alert homeowners when air quality may be worse than normal and offer more insight into what could be causing allergies, itchy eyes, etc.'

It's also worth mentioning that, without air quality detection, there's a chance you'll be leaving the purifier on when there's no need, costing you more in energy bills down the line.

6. Extra features

Aside from the basics, the wealth of air purifier options come with an endless choice of extra features. Some are more helpful than others, but it'll still mostly depend on your home and lifestyle to know which will benefit you.

Timers & sleep mode
If you're ever planning on using the air purifier in your sleep, a timer is a must. You'll often be able to select, in hour intervals, when the purifier can turn off. Many purifiers will even have a dedicated sleep mode, with quiet operation and its own timer.

Auto mode
This, to me, is an important one to consider. As mentioned earlier, it goes hand-in-hand with air quality detection, so that the purifier knows when to ramp up the power or when to keep it low.

Data tracking
Aside from air quality detection, some air purifiers (like the Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09) will keep a log of air quality over time, so you can see how things have changed over the course of minutes, hours or days. This will often come at a cost, so it's important to consider whether it's actually worth it.

App compatibility
It's becoming more common to see air purifiers that'll pair with a smartphone app. The app will typically give detailed info into your air, while giving you remote control to the purifier's functions and features. Again, this isn't essential, but it can make life more convenient.

Noise
It's hard to know just how loud an air purifier will be before you buy it, as product pages may downplay the volume or not mention it at all. But if quiet modes are mentioned, chances are you'll be able to adjust to a volume that's more suitable for TV watching or sleeping.

Fans & heaters
You can also find air purifiers with multiple functions. Purified heat and purified cooling are becoming more common these days, and there's even the Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1 that can do all three. It'll cost a bit more, but being cooled or heated by clean, purified air will have positive effects on your health.

7. Cost

Air purifiers range from as little as $100 to $1,000+. The higher-end options will have super-fine filtration, data tracking, and some extra features listed above. With such a massive price range, this is where it's worth considering what you actually need.

In my view, most households don't need exact details on particulate matter or air quality over time. A simple air quality indicator as a percentage will give you all the info you need on when to turn it on when to turn up the power, and what's affecting your air quality. But if you're willing to spend extra, the info will definitely be enlightening to have.

There are also running costs. Because of the nature of their design, air filters need regular replacing, but some purifiers will need replacing more than others. Look into the product specs during your research to see the filter's expected life, and weigh up how much the replacements will cost over the next few years.

In our tested guide of the best air purifiers, the Shark NeverChange Air Purifier MAX currently tops the list for its large coverage, simple air quality indicator, and a true HEPA filter that doesn't need replacing for up to 5 years.

Dyson are no strangers to airflow. The market-leading brand is famously known for producing some of the best vacuum cleaners, as well as hair care products and commercial hand dryers that all surround their understanding of air.

So, it makes sense that they have a strong footing in the world of the best air purifiers. Their range includes air purifiers with other functions, like purified cooling or heating. 

Here, I've tested the Dyson TP09 - a purifying tower fan that is said to provide full room coverage, remove 99.95% of pollutants from the air, and destroy formaldehyde. Read on to see how well it performed in my weeks of testing it.

Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09: Specifications

Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09: Unboxing & setup

The TP09 arrived in classic Dyson packaging, with a visual of the product's design on the outside. Inside the box, the fan and the two filters were each packaged in their own plastic.

Little setup is needed; following the instructions stuck to the fan, I removed the 'shrouds' (the panels that cover the filter) to secure the filters inside. Then, the TP09 is ready to turn on and you can control it using either of the remote controls.

If you want a bit more information, you can connect the purifier fan to your smartphone using the MyDyson app. All you have to do is pair with the device by turning it on and selecting it from the app, then connecting to your home's wi-fi router. You'll then see information and live updates on your room's air quality, and you can even set your location to compare your home with the air quality outside.

Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09: Design & features

The Dyson TP09 is designed differently from how you'd typically expect a tower fan to look. Most of the fan's area is empty space, and the fan itself is an almost oval-shaped ring. I'm curious whether this design helps to promote better circulation or not, but it's thoughtful that Dyson has designed it to be a lot more stylish than most other purifiers and tower fans out there. 

A key advantage of Dyson's purifying fans is the two-in-one function. It's a fan that blows purified air while removing up to 99.95% of pollutants and allergens from the room. The HEPA filter helps to trap super-fine particles down to PM2.5 (2.5 micrometers or less in diameter). The fan also aids the purification process by circulating air around the room, collecting further away particles while moving clean air toward you.

At first I was critical of an air purifier that will only be useful in the summer, but the TP09 has a backward airflow mode to avoid exactly that. This mode sucks air from where the fan would usually project from, then releases it behind the fan and diffuses it into the air.

The speed settings (1-10 or auto) and 5 oscillation angles (0°, 45°, 90°, 180°, 350°) can be controlled using the remote, as well as switching between fan and backward airflow or selecting sleep mode. There's also an info button that'll change the LCD display on the purifier, switching between screens like air quality over time, particle counts, temperature and filter health.

The price might be off-putting, but this may be explained by how comprehensively the TP09 tracks air quality. This is never more evident than on the MyDyson app, where you can see how the air quality, temperature, humidity, and individual particle counts have changed over time. It even stores a week's worth of data at a time. 

Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09: Performance

After using the Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09 for over a month, I can confidently say that it does a much better job at purifying than it does at cooling. Because the fan circulates air, it's great at collecting pollutants from the corners of the room, and can improve the air quality pretty quickly. 

After leaving my windows open a little too long, I turned the purifier on to find the air quality was the worst I'd ever seen. It managed to get it back to a comfortable green in less than 40 minutes, and I could notice the difference in my bedroom's air.

But where the TP09 falls short is in its ability to cool you effectively. Tower fans are popular for a reason: they provide a strong airflow, but quietly, so that they don't distract you. The Dyson purifying fan only provides effective cooling at a high speed (6 or higher). At these speeds the fan becomes quite loud - I imagine because it's simultaneously purifying the air while blowing it over you. This can be somewhat distracting when watching TV or trying to sleep, and it makes me wonder how much power is being used if it makes that much noise at relatively low airflow.

That being said, having 5 different oscillation options is a blessing. 45° is the perfect angle to keep the fan exclusively covering my double bed, and 350° is ideal for when you need to purify the whole room quickly.

I'm personally a huge fan of the app. The information is clear, and you can keep it as general or granular as you want. I particularly like how Dyson tapped into the data from your local area so you can compare it with the air quality outside. You can also do everything the remote control can (good news for anyone who can never find their remotes). 

But to be completely honest, much of this data isn't essential. Sure, it's interesting to see how the number of PM2.5 particles has changed over the course of a few hours or days and to see how exactly different activities affect your home's air quality. But it isn't information that brings about any action; it's just enlightening to see. If this is one of the reasons why the TP09 costs so much, I'd say it isn't worth it.

Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09: Cleaning & maintenance

The purifier fan will very helpfully let you know when it's time to change your filters. You can even view your filters' health at any time using either the remote control or the app, so it doesn't have to be a surprise when it's time to replace. 

Removing and replacing the filters is simple. All you have to do is remove the side panels (or 'shrouds'), remove the filters, and slot new ones in. In the meantime, you can even give the filters a shake for gentle cleaning.

Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09: Price

The Dyson TP09 retails for $749.99 at Dyson but is often on offer for around $600. You can also find it for $650 at Walmart, $661 at Amazon, or $750 at QVC and Best Buy.

In the UK, the TP09 purifier fan is available for £549.99 at Dyson, John Lewis and Marks Electrical.

Considering the cheapest air purifiers sell for around $100, with the more feature-packed options starting at around $200-300, the TP09 is not cheap. The price tag does, to an extent, reflect the amount of data that's being captured and the dual 'fan and air purifier' function. But realistically, it's an expensive appliance with the same core functions as many others that cost half as much.

How does the Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09 compare?

The TP09 is slightly more expensive than other models in Dyson's range of purifiers. The Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 TP10 is available for $429.99 while the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07 costs $649.99. Neither of these alternatives can destroy formaldehyde, but otherwise have similar features. The biggest and most powerful option, the Dyson Big+Quiet, goes for $999.99.

But fan/air purifier combos aren't exclusive to Dyson. Dreo's Air Purifier Tower Fan sells for $249.99 - much more reasonably priced than Dyson's offerings considering the core functions are largely the same.

If you're looking for a fan, I found that the Levoit Classic 36-Inch Tower Fan did a much better job at cooling me, and stayed quiet up until the super-high fan speeds. 

Pairing a reliable tower fan with an air purifier could potentially be a better (and more cost-effective) approach. The Shark NeverChange Air Purifier MAX has large coverage (1,400 square feet!) and an anti-odor cartridge, that the Dyson TP09 doesn't have, and a fan could help with circulation in the same way. It'd also give you the option of turning on the fan or purifier by themselves without always having both at once.

Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09: Verdict

There's no doubt that the Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde TP09 is an impressive appliance. It circulates purified air around the room, capturing pollutants and allergens while cooling you when needed. The oscillation options are great, and the sleep mode and backward airflow come in handy. The data tracking is comprehensive, with an app that gives you full access to the past week of air quality, temperature and humidity info. 

But this level of data tracking isn't necessarily essential. Other dual-function air purifier fans can clean and cool your room in a similar way without you ever needing to know this information and without the $600+ investment that the Dyson TP09. 

If you can afford it, it's a stylish and impressive way to purify your space while gently cooling you, but if you don't need the fancy features, then other fans and air purifiers might be a better choice.

Summer is a great time to host friends and family – until the heat waves arrive. While it is great news for a BBQ, it is far from ideal for our sleep and the sleep of our guests.

If you want to make a good impression and ensure your guests will always want to come back to visit, this means working out how to cool a guest bedroom in summer, with the best guest bedroom essentials (even if you have no AC).

We talked to hosting experts and HVAC professionals to learn their top tips for cooling guest bedrooms in summer so you can be the host with the most.

How to cool a guest bedroom in summer

Whether you have a full guest bedroom suite set-up or are hosting guests without a guest room, cooling down the areas where your overnight guests will sleep will be greatly appreciated.

1. Invest in heat-blocking window treatments

If your guest bedroom gets a lot of sun throughout the day, the best place to start is by investing in some heat-blocking window treatments, such as blackout curtains to block heat, begins Aleka Shunk, hosting expert and Founder of Aleka’s Get-Together:

‘If the guest bedroom window faces the sun, especially in the late afternoon, this will raise the bedroom temperature tremendously. Invest in some good solar or roller blinds to block out the heat. Your guests will thank you.’

If you are already happy with your existing window treatment ideas, Josh Mitchell, HVAC technician and owner of Air Conditioner Lab, recommends heat film instead:

‘Installing these on windows can deflect solar radiation without reducing natural light, helping to maintain cooler room temperatures.’ It also has the added benefit of increasing privacy, perfect for your guests to feel more comfortable in your home.

2. Upgrade to breathable sheets

You cannot go wrong with a set or two of the best cooling bed sheets, especially for a guest room, Aleka Shunk, hosting expert, continues. ‘Upgrade the guest bedding to quality cooling sheets and/or light blankets. Anything made with bamboo fabric will help keep your guests cool at night.’

Changing out your bedsheets will allow guests to stay cool while being comfortable, or an optional layer on a blanket if they feel chilly, helping you to accommodate a wide range of people.

Additionally. You could add a gel cooling mattress topper, suggests Josh Mitchell, HVAC technician.

3. Add a box fan

If you do not have AC or a ceiling fan to help keep air moving around the room, Melanie Powers, president at Goodberlet Home Services, suggests adding in the best fans you can afford:

‘Box fans are great in increasing air flow because they move the air through the room helping with the overall circulation. Having one in a guest bedroom can keep the room cool and cut down on costs.’

When picking a fan to help guests sleep, opt for the quiets fan you can find, with multiple controls to help them achieve the perfect climate for a good night’s sleep.

4. Close cooling vents in unused rooms

If you do have air conditioning, there are a few ways you can make it more efficient, pints out Aleka Shunk, hosting expert:

‘Another thing I always do before guests arrive is close the vents in other rooms that are not being used. This will help to encourage better airflow into the guest bedroom,’ she shares.

It is also useful to clean your air conditioner before guests arrive to prevent dust from limiting airflow and exacerbating allergies, ensuring that it has been recently serviced so it is all in working order for your guests.

5. Install a more permanent home cooling system

If you have the budget, it is always worth investing in a more permanent, robust heating and cooling system for your home – especially one that offers eco-cooling such as heat pumps, says John Gabrielli, HVAC heating & air conditioning expert and owner of Air Temp Solutions:

‘If you want an official cooling solution, consider adding a ductless heat pump or mini-split system to your guest bedroom. These systems are highly efficient at regulating room temperature and can provide targeted cooling exactly where you want it.

‘Because these systems can be controlled independently from the rest of the house, simply turn the system in your guest bedroom off when you don't need it and turn it on when you do.’

6. Add in cooling guest gifts

When styling an inviting guest room for summer, it is a nice final touch to add a gift basket full of cooling goodies and treats, Teresa Cannon, owner and lead designer at Teresa Cannon Design, recommends.

‘Include little "heat-beating" luxuries for your guests. This doesn't have to be fancy or expensive; a few water bottles and some cooling mints in a basket on the bedside table show them that you care about their comfort,’ she explains. ‘When designing your guest space, consider adding shades or light-filtering curtains to the windows to block the sun while maintaining an inviting atmosphere. If you really want to impress guests, a lightweight white bathrobe is a nice touch. After a refreshing shower, I know I appreciate not having to get dressed right away. Your guests will too.'

7. Invest in a cooling air purifier

Most of the best air purifiers now also come with a cooling function, allowing you to both improve the air quality for your guests to beat allergies and hayfever, while also keeping them comfortably cool, points out Josh Mitchell, HVAC technician. They are more than worth the investment for any home in summer, he says, even beyond the guest bedroom.

It is not always about how you physically cool down the room, adds Teresa Cannon, designer. Light color schemes and decorating palettes can help to make a guest feel cooler by tricking the eye, even if the room itself it war, she explains:

‘One should not discount how greatly the colors in a room can affect the perceived temperature in a space. I suggest pulling from the cool side of the color wheel when choosing bedding, wall, and ceiling colors, and trying to stay with muted tones or neutrals.

‘Imagine your guests walking into the room you have prepared and seeing refreshing blues or seafoam green with white cotton sheets. If you do want to include bright colors, you should accessorize with throw pillows, artwork, and lamps, but think greens and blues for a cooling effect, rather than oranges, pinks, or yellows, which evoke a feeling of summer days and therefore heat.'

Vacuuming your home is meant to clean your floors of dust and pet dander, so why can allergies worsen afterwards? The answer is simpler than you'd think, and luckily, there are plenty of steps to reduce our allergic symptoms when vacuuming.

The best cordless vacuums use powerful motors to suck up dirt, dust and debris from the floor - and included in this mix is a variety of allergens that trigger symptoms. To really understand exactly how they affect you, our guide to the common allergens that live in our homes covers it all in much more detail.

We spoke to the experts to find out why allergies get worse after vacuuming and to learn all the steps we can take to reduce or eliminate the symptoms.

Why do my allergies get worse after vacuuming?

If your allergies worsen after vacuuming, there's a big chance that you're allergic to what's being cleaned. Think: dust mites, pollen and pet dander - these are the allergens that build up on our floors and furniture.

'Vacuuming disturbs settled dust and other allergens, propelling them into the air,' explains Dr Elena Salagean (MD), an allergist working at Holistic Allergy.

Airborne particles are much easier to breathe in. So, although there may be the same number of allergens in the room, you're more likely to have allergic symptoms once they're in the air than when they're on the floor.

'If you already have an air purifier which measures the air quality, you would see a temporary increase in the number of particles >2.5pm in size,' Elena adds.

What can I do to reduce allergies after vacuuming?

Capturing and removing airborne allergens is exactly what the best air purifiers are designed to do. The most effective ones use HEPA filters, that are able to trap at least 99.97% of small and micro-sized particles, including allergens like dust, pollen and dander.

Running an air purifier while vacuuming the house will catch those particles that are sent into the air by your vacuum cleaner.

'If you use an air purifier while vacuuming, this can capture more of the small particulates and allergens that have been disturbed by the vacuuming,' says Elena. We agree, as we understand just how well air purifiers help with allergies. By removing these super-fine particles from the air, they massively reduce allergic symptoms.

So, to reduce allergies after vacuuming, it's a good idea to bring an air purifier into your home - especially one with a HEPA filter. Air purifiers that track your air quality are particularly useful too, as you can see just how much vacuuming affects your home environment. As H&G's home tech editor and an air purifier tester (and an allergy sufferer!), these are my recommendations to help with allergies:

An air purifier will capture particles sent into the air, but really, your vacuum cleaner shouldn't be doing this. The best vacuum cleaners are meant to trap everything they pick up. If yours isn't, you might need to give it a clean.

'Washing your vacuum filter regularly is particularly important. If the filter isn't cleaned the vacuum becomes less effective, and can emit dust particles into the air whilst using it,' says Heather Nixon, sustainability, NPD and regulatory manager at Bio-D. 'Vacuuming more often with a regularly cleaned vacuum can also help to reduce chances of allergy flare ups,' she adds.

If you already clean your home and your vacuum regularly, it might be worth considering upgrading to a better vacuum cleaner.

'You can minimize this by using a vacuum cleaner with strong suction and quality filters. Without proper filtration, the aeroallergens will pass through the vacuum cleaner and back into the surrounding air,' says Elena.

Like with air purifiers, this is where a HEPA filter makes all the difference. To truly remove allergens from your home, your vacuum needs a filter that's capable of trapping those super-fine particles:

For more reliable choices, our expert guide to the best vacuums for pet hair covers everything from picking up pet dander to anti-allergen features.

To help our homes have cleaner air, air purifiers move air around, capture particles, and release clean air back into our space. This process can create a cooling effect, and, if used in the right way, you can use your air purifier to cool down a room.

In our dedicated feature, why is my air purifier blowing cold air, we learned that the best air purifiers don't actually produce cool air, instead, they work similarly to the best fans. Both products cool us by blowing air over our skin, but the temperature of the air remains the same.

So, if you're using an air purifier together with a fan and good ventilation, all can work together to help to cool down a room.

Can an air purifier cool down a room?

'An air purifier is a high-powered fan with a filtration system. It doesn't blow cold air by itself but rather moves the air in a room,' explains Peter Mann, CEO of Oransi.

You might not view an air purifier as a 'fan' necessarily, but this is how they're able to do their job. This can provide more comfort in the summer months, improving the air you breathe and the temperature of the room.

'The fan system blows the air and is responsible for the increased ventilation. It can also create a cooling effect on your skin which increases the evaporation of sweat,' says Peter.

You can use this to your advantage on a hot day. Of course, some air purifiers double up as fans (and vice versa), and if you're looking for an air purifier that will cool down a room, these might be worth looking at:

How to cool down a room with an air purifier

Realistically, an air purifier can cool down a room the same as any fan could. So, to make the most of this airflow, you can use a combination of fans and ventilation to keep your home as comfortably breezy as you want.

We've gone into more detail in how to cool a room with fans, but fans can be used in conjunction with each other to create an AC-like effect, or even to emulate the sensation of a cool breeze outdoors.

This can be achieved using a variety of fans. Floor, tower and pedestal fans can be positioned around a room (or open-plan apartment) to create a strong breeze, flowing purified air around and sending any airborne particles back to the air purifier. It's a powerful and effective method to have clean, healthy and comfortable air indoors.

For more tips this summer, check out how to cool down a room fast, and these home remedies to stay cool.

We are all looking for some better ways to relax at home, and what better way than to cut back on our weekly chores?

While it is not possible to stop doing chores completely (much to our dismay) it is possible to offload some of the effort onto smart tech, using machine power to stay on top of the mess without additional manpower.

We spoke to professional cleaners to learn more about the six best ways you can use smart tech to help keep a home clean while relaxing at the same time, and how you can build their use into your smart habits to spend less time cleaning.

Smart home cleaning tools

With so many ‘smart home must-haves’ available, it pays to sort out the pieces worth investing in and the gimmicky hacks that could result in more work. These professional cleaners swear by these six smart tech appliances to make their jobs easier.

1. Robot Vacuums

When you think of using technology to make cleaning a house easier, you instantly think of robot vacuums – and for good reason. The right model can clean and polish any floor type, and some can even empty and charge themselves – all while you spend some much-needed time with family, or on the sofa with a movie.

‘For smart home appliances, I highly rely on robot vacuums,’ Yessica Bello, a professional cleaner at Bello’s Cleaning agrees. ‘They handle continuous floor cleaning, reducing manual labor by about 20%. This allows us to focus on more detailed cleaning tasks that require human intervention.’

2. Appliances with timers

More appliances than just vacuums have gotten an automatic upgrade in the last few years. Now, everything from smart dishwashers to washing machines to an AI refrigerator is available to make your life easier.

Picking appliances such as washers and dryers that have integrated timers and customizable cycle settings means doing laundry is reduced to filling the machine and emptying it as required – no more faffing with remembering to switch items over, or having to read up on settings before you start a new cycle. You can even program them to start and finish in time for you to have a fresh, fluffy, warm towel for after your morning shower.

3. Air purifiers and dehumidifiers

More preventative than actual cleaning tools, air purifiers and dehumidifiers are perfect for cleaning the air in your home, removing dust before it settles, and preventing mold and mildew growth that can result in musty odors or pest infestations.

Picking models with timers and sensors so that they switch off when not needed, and can turn on when the air quality drops are ideal for keeping your home clean and reducing how much time you have to spend cleaning during the week.

4. Smart plugs

When setting up a smart home, you would be remiss to forget about smart plugs and timer plugs, says Yessica Bello, professional cleaner.

‘Using smart plugs for scheduling cleaning appliances helps in automating tasks effectively,’ she says. They can also be used to turn on air purifiers and dehumidifiers as required (all while helping to save money on energy bills), or charge batteries for cleaning appliances such as cordless vacuums right before your scheduled cleaning session so you aren't left hanging in the middle of your cleaning flow.

5. Smart mops

Much like robot vacuums, smart mops can keep your hard floors streak-free and dry without the need to mop yourself. Mitigating excess water usage and ensuring your floors stay looking their best without stains, says Lina DaSilva, cleaning professional and owner of Toronto Shine Cleaning. ‘A smart mop is also very good for handling spills and mopping tasks with minimal supervision,’ she adds.

Most robot vacuums come with a mop built in now, too, making them great multi-faceted smart home cleaning appliances.

6. Steam cleaners

Although not an automated cleaning tool, steam cleaners are a must-have for expert cleaners who want to make their lives easier, says Will Cotter, cleaning expert and owner of HappyCleans:

‘I think the grout lines in my bathroom are cleaner and whiter when I use a steam mop. I don’t even need to use cleaning products. I simply use steam, and when the grime, dirt, and soap scum lift, all I have to do is spray it with water and wipe it away.’

Combining the use of these smart home cleaning tools with your everyday cleaning tips will help to significantly reduce how much time you spend scrubbing and tidying each week, resulting in more time to relax and rejuvenate. Don’t forget, however, that these tools are there to supplement everyday cleaning and not replace it – you still need to get rid of kitchen grease and clean a bathroom for a truly hygienic home.

If you have an air purifier, you've probably noticed a cold breeze coming from the machine. As these products are designed to capture and remove airborne particles and allergens from our space, the internal workings of this process often lead to the air purifier producing streams of cold air.

However, many of the best air purifiers aren't necessarily blowing out cold air, it turns out there are a few contributing factors as to why it feels this way, as an air purifier, by design, has to create this effect.

We asked the experts to find out why we feel cold air blowing from our air purifiers, and what we can do to minimize the feeling when needed.

Does an air purifier blow cold air?

Actually, no. It may seem like it does, but really the air is the same temperature as the ambient temperature in the room.

We asked Leighann Burke, business unit director at Guardian Technologies, why an air purifier blows cold air:

'An air purifier doesn't blow cold air. The purifier takes your room-temperature air and moves it with a fan, giving it a little bit of a speed boost. This creates a gentle breeze, and when air moves over your skin, it feels cool.'

Why does it feel cold?

Essentially, it has a similar effect as any of the best fans you'd have at home. Fans cool us by blowing air over our skin, but the temperature of the air remains the same.

But there are more functions at play within an air purifier that contribute to the specific cold sensation it creates. Asif Bux, owner of Comfort Union, elaborates on this, explaining that there are three mechanisms responsible for the cooling effect:

• Fans and airflow: 'For the air cleaner to work properly, it needs to move a lot of air through its filters. This movement makes a clear flow of air that can feel cooler than the air around it, a lot like how a normal fan does.'
• Filter process: 'Several filters, such as HEPA and activated carbon, are used to clean the air as it goes through the cleaner. These filters don't actually cool the air, but they can change how warm it feels. The air temperature can be lowered a little as it moves through the filters and other parts of the cleaner.'
• Evaporative cooling effect: 'When air moves quickly over your skin, it can help moisture evaporate from the surface of your skin, which cools you down. This is like the wind chill effect, which says that air that is moving feels cooler than air that is not moving but is the same temperature.'

How can I minimize the cooling effect?

Simple steps include lowering the setting, or moving the air purifier away so it isn't in your personal space as much. As they're often capable of purifying entire rooms, you don't have to be in the 'breeze' to breathe the purified air.

Or, better yet, there are air purifiers out there that double up as heaters. This would be the ideal option, as it allows you to use the purifier all year round, without the worry of cooling your indoor space in the winter months that are already cold enough.

To get the most out of your air purifier, we've actually learned the best place to put your air purifier according to air quality experts. It won't hurt to clean your air purifier, while you're at it, too.

With allergy season in full effect, and the dust settling from a recent move, there’s always a reason to have an air purifier. And as someone with limited storage space, I appreciate multifunctional appliances that improve my quality of life, even in small ways.

That’s why I was so excited to try the Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1, which works as an air purifier, heater, and fan all in one. It’s designed to capture 99.98% airborne particles like allergens, dust, and dander, making it ideal for keeping us cool or warm depending on the time of the year and helping us breathe easier year-round.

I live in a three-story townhome with lots of open space, and pollen is definitely in the air so we try to keep the air as purified as possible in our home. I also work from home so I’m frequently running between the floors, and I also tested this air purifier while dusting and before and after cooking.

Read on to get a sense of if the Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1 is right for you.

Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1 Specifications

Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1: Price

The Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1 retails for around $399.99 at Shark and Best Buy, but (at the time of writing), it’s available for $249.99 at Amazon and Walmart. Even at full price, this is a reasonable price (as is often the case with Shark’s home products, we’ve found), as the purifier has three functions in one., eliminating the need for a separate fan or heater.

That being said, it is still more expensive than many air purifiers on the market. You can get a reliable purifier for around $200, but that will likely have limited features and no air quality display, let alone having cooling and heating functions, too.

Unboxing and setting up the Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1

The Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1 HC450 arrived in a large box and some cardboard inserts that were easy to recycle. It was easy to carry up the stairs and unbox, and all I needed to do was remove the filter from the sealed plastic packaging and replace the filter. This is one of the simplest home devices I’ve set up as it was ready to go in five minutes, which was much appreciated. And if you need some visual guidance, this video from Shark walks through the set-up process. The only immediate con was that the purifier doesn’t come with any handles, so it can be a little tedious to move around the home, though it’s light enough in weight that this isn’t a drawback. 

Features of the Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1

The air purifier comes with a control panel that also functions as a detachable remote to change the fan strength and temperature while on the go. I appreciated this feature because I could easily adjust the temperature and fan strength while in meetings or sitting on a couch nearby.  Child lock can also be enabled on the remote by holding down the timer and oscillation button for two seconds, and the same action can be used to turn it off.

The air purifier also comes with a Clean Sense IQ, which is used to monitor and display the current air quality. I appreciated that I could see the percentage visibly rising on the display while using the air purifier, which usually rose faster when the fan setting was higher.

Modes

This air purifier has three purified modes: fan, heat, and air, and all of these modes can be used with oscillation. It’s easy to switch between these modes using the dial, which can either point to the fan or heat mode or the purified air mode. Air purification will happen in all modes, but purified air offers a cleaning mode without a fan breeze. The air purifier will remove particles of three different sizes.

When eco mode is enabled, the air purifier will automatically adjust based on the current air quality, and switch to eco mode after 10 minutes of 100% purified air. The fan also has an oscillation mode as well as a timer, which can be used to turn off the filter after hour-long increments between 0 and 12.

Using the Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1

To use the air purifier, I started by using the top panel to power it on. Then, I used the dial to select either heat or fan/purified air mode. Air is diffused outside of the back vents when in purified air mode, and hot or cool air comes out of the front vent, which can be adjusted to point up or down, on the other modes. The Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1 HC450 must be kept three feet from the wall and furnishings, and the maximum run time is 12 hours. The cord can’t be run under carpeting or rugs, and it’s recommended not to place the cord in high-traffic areas. 

The display shows the temperature and air purity level as a percentage, and it’s so satisfying to see the percentage climb up in real time. You can also update the control panel display to include one of the five real-time data points: Current percentage of clean air time to clean, , room temperature, filter life,  and amount of PM1 (viruses and ultra-fine allergens), PM2.5 (smoke and bacteria), or PM10 (dust, mold, or pollen) particles being filtered. Each of the former figures reflect large, small, and micro-sized air particles that are filtered by the HEPA multi-filter. 

Depending on the air quality, the ring outside of the display will be red (poor air quality, 0 - 69%), yellow (fair air quality, 70-84%), or blue (good air quality, 85-100%). The display has three brightness settings of full brightness, partially dim, or fully dim, with fully dim being suited for use at night so it doesn’t disturb your sleep.

Performance of the Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1

The purified air mode was virtually silent, making it seamless to run in the background while I was on calls, cooking, or reading without feeling disturbed. The fan modes were audibly louder when at levels 3-6, though higher modes filtered the air more quickly and offered a noticeable breeze on warmer days. I typically used levels 3-6 when filtering the air while cooking or vaccuming, and used a level 2 when on meetings or in the background so the sound was less noticeable.

On particularly warm days, I appreciated the feeling of the fan setting from the air purifier, but it didn’t do much to reduce the temperature of the room. I found that the air purifier, specifically the fan setting, was ideal for airing out the kitchen after cooking. After cooking yakisoba, our air quality had dropped down to 60% clean air, but it was back up to 80% after running for five minutes with a pretty strong fan setting, and back up to 100% in 30 minutes. I noticed that the smell of food went away much faster when using a purifier versus a kitchen exhaust fan alone, which makes this a great item to use after cooking fragrant food in the oven or on the stove. The eco mode is nice if you prefer a “set it and forget it” air purifier that will adjust based on auto-detection, but my air quality was usually around 98% unless I was cooking, dusting, or had the windows open for a while, so I preferred to use it when needed. 

The heating mode was a welcome addition in rooms where I didn’t want to run my home heater but still wanted to raise the temperature. I appreciated that there was a small red light below the round display to signify when the heater was on, though I wish the indicator was more prominent so there’s a lower chance of leaving a heater unattended in a room. I used the heater to raise the temperature 5 degrees in an 80 square foot room, and the temperature went up 4 degrees in 9 minutes. The temperature change was more noticeable than typical space heaters  while purifying the air, and I could feel the heat from across the room. There’s also a “high” mode for particularly cold days.

No matter what mode I used, I often had to move this air purifier between floors of my three-story townhome to make the most of it. Although the air purifier was relatively light, it lacks handles so it can be a little awkward to carry it around. If you live in an apartment or place with an open floor plan, this may be a much better fit as you can make the most of it by keeping it in one place. 

Cleaning, storing, and maintaining the Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1

Filter life can be maximized by turning the filter update down every 3 months to equalize the distribution of particles, and the interior can be cleaned to remove excess dust and debris using a vacuum or microfiber cloth. The air purifier itself can also be cleaned by being wiped with a microfiber cloth to remove excess dust.

The filter needs to be changed every six to twelve months, with the more frequent cadence being better for people with allergies. The air purifier also tracks filter life and will notify you when the filter life is at 0% and in need of a new filter. Once replaced, all you have to do is hold down the info button for three seconds.

Who is the Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1 good for?

The Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1 HC450 is great for people who are looking for a multifunctional product since it functions as an air purifier, fan, and heat all in one. It’s also great for people who have or use air purifiers in smaller spaces like apartments as it can cover areas up to 500 feet. 

How does the Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1 compare?

If you’re looking for an air purifier that covers a larger surface area, consider the Shark NeverChange Air Purifier Max, which is designed for spaces up to 1400 feet and saves you recurring filter replacement costs with its reusable HEPA filter. If you’re looking for a more cost-effective air purifier that will still clean your air, the Levoit Core 300 (available at Walmart) is a great option at a much lower price point, though its display is much simpler and lacks a heat setting. And if you’re looking for something quieter and lightweight, try the Morento Air Purifier.

Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1: Verdict

The Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1 does it all as a fan, heater, and air purifier, making it the perfect addition for anyone who needs a multifunctional and powerful device. If you have a home or space under 500 square feet to cover, this fits the bill.

The best air purifiers capture super-fine particles and allergens in the air, as the best cordless vacuums do for our floors. 

With all of the comfort our HVAC systems bring, they do come with demands of regular maintenance. One important step is to make sure you're servicing your HVAC system regularly. 

This shouldn't be ignored, either. Neglecting to look after our heating and cooling systems can lead to them working inefficiently, driving up our utility bills while providing a lesser quality of air control, leading you to start bringing out the best fans in a heat wave. It also leads to bigger problems and malfunctions down the line. 

So, how often should you be servicing your HVAC system? We spoke to the technical AC experts to find out how to make sure yours is well-maintained and running smoothly.

How often should a HVAC system be serviced?

It's best to service your HVAC system at least annually, but ideally you should be doing it twice a year: once before summer and once before winter.

'Have your system professionally cleaned and inspected twice annually,' says Heidi Gehring, director of residential HVAC product manager for Carrier. She adds that servicing is an essential step to take for the system's efficiency and will help to keep utility bills in check.

'During normal air conditioner operation, dust, dirt, moisture from humidity or condensation, and microbial growths can build up on internal components. Left unchecked, these issues can corrode components like the evaporator coil and condenser coil,' she explains.

Tony Abate, VP and CTO at AtmosAir Solutions, elaborates on this: 'An HVAC system not properly serviced can cause germs, mold, dust, bacteria and airborne viruses to build up due to poor air filtration and ventilation systems. All can trigger allergy attacks and illness in a home.'

There's even a term known as 'dirty sock syndrome,' Tony adds, 'where build-up on the evaporator coils of the HVAC system can cause a foul-smelling odor to emit from the vents.'

Regular maintenance is important so that 'a technician can identify minor issues and address them before they escalate into more significant and expensive problems,' explains Melanie Powers, president of Goodberlet Home Services. She recommends that a good time to book a service is 'in between peak seasons like summer and winter, where the HVAC system will be used more.'

Heidi agrees, adding: 'Homeowners should evaluate their equipment prior to the summer months as an increase in maintenance and service calls during warmer months can lead to limited technician availability. Spring is the perfect time to schedule your maintenance.'

'Having your air system regularly serviced, cleaned and those filters changed will ensure good air delivery and better performance. For added health and wellness, enhanced technologies like bi-polar air ionization devices integrated into your HVAC system can help to neutralize spores and other contaminants,' explains Tony.

So, aside from servicing, your HVAC still needs regular maintenance, like replacing the air filters and remembering to clean your HVAC system.

At some point, servicing and repair won't be enough. Knowing the signs it's time to replace your HVAC system will prevent you throwing money down the drain on fixes that won't stick.

Many of us are all too familiar with the effects of our allergies. Being allergic to pollen, dust or pets is highly common, and we have medications and measures in place to minimize the symptoms that we feel from them.

But how much do we know about allergies, really? Allergens exist inside and outside of our homes, and our bodies respond to them in various ways, resulting in symptoms like runny noses or streaming eyes.

Allergic reactions at home can be reduced with the best vacuum cleaners and cleaning tips for allergy sufferers. But the surest way to tackle them is to understand how they work, how they affect us, and what exactly causes these reactions.

The allergens that exist in our homes

You either suffer from allergies or you know somebody who does, but nobody is able to avoid the effects they have. It's so commonly spoken about that it's a natural part of our daily lives - but how much do we really know about them?

Sam Railton, Category Manager of Environmental Care at Dyson, spoke about the science of allergies at the Dyson Tech Office in Malmesbury. In aid of designing effective products for the home, Dyson have researched air quality and dust to uncover how allergens exist and affect us in our homes.

This research is guided by Dyson's Global Connected Air Quality Data Project and Dyson's Global Dust Study.

Allergens

'Allergens are probably the most tangible air pollution source within our homes,' Sam explains. The most common allergies found at home are dust, pollen and pet dander; they can manifest in the air but, generally, they build up on the floor. In fact, a large amount of these allergens are generated as a result of man-made activities.

Simply put, an allergy is our body's response to something. 'It’s not necessarily reacting to the thing, it’s your body sensing what it deems is a threat and reacting in response to that threat,' says Sam, adding that 'often this can be an overreactive response to something that is largely not harmful.'

We come into contact with allergens in four key ways:

• Inhalation. Allergens entering your body through the nose can trigger reactions.
• Skin contact. Think: rashes.
• Ingestion. Allergic reactions to the food we eat.
• Injection. Bee stings and medication are two examples.
  

But it's easy to forget just how many people deal with allergies. A third of people worldwide suffer from some sort of hayfever symptoms. And for those with asthma, it turns out that 80% of asthma sufferers' symptoms are caused by underlying allergens and not the asthma itself, Sam explains.

In a sense, this is why we, as a species, focus more on treating allergy symptoms rather than preventing them. 'We don’t want to say that we shouldn’t have pets because they generate allergens - by the same logic we wouldn’t have any people in our home either.'

Skin cells & dust

It's not at all uncommon to hear of dust allergies. A large number of us will likely sneeze or sniffle when walking into a dusty room, but how does dust actually trigger symptoms?

'Dust itself is made up of a complex cocktail of things, it really varies from home to home. The majority is made up of skin cells that are generally emitted from us, as people living in that house,' says Sam.

Pollen can be part of this cocktail, too. When we open our windows and doors on warm days, pollen can enter the home and settle, mixing with our skin cells in the dust.

But it isn't the dust itself that causes allergic reactions. It's to do with dust mites: the small, microscopic bugs that live in our homes.

'Actually, it’s not the microscopic creatures that are causing the allergens, it’s their faecal matter,' Sam clarifies, adding that these tiny bugs feed off our skin cells and enjoy living in warm, moist conditions. 'As we produce [skin cells] in our warm, heated homes, we’re creating a nice environment for our dust mites to thrive and grow.'

As humans, we individually shed around 2g of skin cells a day. So if you imagine busy households of 4+ people, this can amount to quite a lot over the span of a few weeks. In visual terms, 'humans will shed the equivalent of a golf ball every month.'

This is why it's so important to stay on top of your vacuuming. Vacuum cleaners with HEPA filters can trap at least 99.97% of particles down to the micro-size, including most of the allergens that exist in our home.

Even more so, it's imperative that you vacuum your mattress. Ideally we'd do this once a week, but it should at least be done every time we change the sheets. This is because dust mites thrive in the warmth, and millions of them can be present within the span of a few months, defecating, shedding their skin and reproducing.

The best Dyson vacuums include the Dyson Gen5detect and the Dyson V15 Detect, and they can both detect the exact number of microscopic particles sucked up into their HEPA filters.

Other affordable alternatives like the Shark Cordless Detect Pro or the Ultenic U12 Vesla also have HEPA filters to trap these allergens, and the cordless design makes them easy to use on mattresses.

Pets

According to Dyson's studies, around 57% of people own pets. This has risen significantly since COVID, and it's now easier than ever to keep pets thanks to home working. But surprisingly, only around 10% of owners clean their pet beds.

'When we think about the pets in our homes that generate allergens, it’s actually not the hair, it’s the pet dander,' Sam clarifies. 'Pet dander is the animal’s skin cells.'

Because of the different compositions of different animal hairs, not all vacuums are able to capture pet dander the same as they're able to capture human skin cells. This is where the best vacuums for pet hair come in, as they're able to tackle whatever cells your pets leave behind.

The risk of leaving pet dander unattended at home is due to how tiny these skin cells are. 'These small, fine particles can atomize, and enter the atmosphere,' Sam explains. He uses the example of being sat on the sofa with your dog on your lap, and getting up to make a drink or have a bite to eat:

'That action causes air movement in the room, so if you’ve got any settled skin cells or allergens, they can jump up into the air. That then allows them to enter my body if I’m walking into them; or, if I’m around them, I can easily breathe them in.' So, in effect, pet dander cells settle in the home, and our activity can atomize them.

The best air purifiers are equipped with HEPA filters, and are an effective way to reduce pet dander in the bedroom and beyond, removing other airborne allergens like pollen and dust from any room. The Shark NeverChange Air Purifier MAX is ideal for large spaces and multiple rooms, while the Dyson Purifier is also able to hygienically humidify the room.

Pollen

If hay fever wasn't unfortunate enough for the 30%+ of people who suffer from it, it turns out that, in North America, 'pollen season has extended by 20 days over the last 30 years.'

Sam adds that, amongst all the talk around air quality and pollution in cities, this is one example of tangible allergy symptoms that are getting worse, not better. We've also learned that it disproportionately impacts younger people, as '40% of children' suffer from these allergies.

While we put energy into treating hay fever symptoms, there's still a great deal of misconception over where pollen comes from. There are various types of pollen like grass, tree, and weeds; one such type, ragweed, is a pollen attributed to fall/autumn. Ragweed alone has 17 different strains, highlighting that, once broken down, not all pollen is equal.

What's more, pollen isn't exclusive to the warmer seasons. Like ragweed in fall, 'pollen can be equally as bad during other months of the year,' says Sam. 'We need to be aware of it during rainfall - during that season where the air is moist. The pollen seeds can rupture and, as a result of that, they release proteins that sit inside the pollen.'

This is what triggers allergic reactions. It isn't the pollen grain, as many people justifiably believe, it's actually the proteins inside. So, when pollen seeds rupture during wet seasons, hay fever sufferers will start feeling their symptoms.

Every time our windows are open, or when we come home from spending time outdoors, or when we dry our clothes and bed sheets outside - we bring pollen into the house. It mixes with our dust and can become airborne from our activities, so keeping on top of your vacuuming and air purification are some of the best hay fever remedies for the home, along with knowing how to pollen-proof your bedroom.

Dealing with allergens at home is simple. Vacuum up dust regularly. Vacuum your mattress every time you change your sheets. If your windows are open, use the air purifier. If you have pets, consider keeping your air purifier on for a portion of the day when there's a lot of movement.

The best cordless vacuum cleaners can be easily brought out every time you need a clean, or the best robot vacuums can make sure the floor build-up never becomes too great. Also, make sure you know the best place to put an air purifier to maximise on your indoor air quality.

Spring is finally here, and with it the joys of longer days and warmer weather. For the next few months we'll all be spending more time outdoors as we soak up as much of the sun as possible.

With the change of seasons comes a change in our lifestyle, hence the surge of spring cleaning checklists every year. Our homes are more lived-in in the colder months, so it's natural that we change things up when it's time for us to head outdoors again. 

In the same vein, there are some essential things to bring into your home that will make your life much, much easier this spring. Whether it's giving yourself more time away from cleaning or protecting your household from allergens, our selection covers it all.

7 home essentials to make your home life

It's amazing the difference a few objects and devices can have on our lives at home. I've rounded up the most important essentials to make life easier this spring and leading into summer and the following months.

An air purifier

Spring and summer welcomes the warmer weather into our lives. But for many - or around a third of adults in the US, according to the CDC - spring is the start of allergy season. 

Do air purifiers help with allergies? By capturing airborne particles, air purifiers remove allergens like dust, pollen and pet dander from our air, creating a cleaner and healthier living environment. The best air purifiers have HEPA filters that trap at least 99.97% of micro-sized particles, including the allergens that trigger our symptoms.

As an allergy sufferer, I can speak to this on a personal level. I reviewed the Shark NeverChange Air Purifier MAX and found that it massively relieves my symptoms at home, so much so that I now use it in my home on a near daily basis. It's available at Shark and Amazon, and has huge coverage that can tackle multiple rooms at once.

A carpet cleaner

With how much time we spend indoors over fall and winter, it's natural that our floors accumulate dirt and grime. Coming into spring and summer, investing in a new carpet cleaner can give our homes a well-needed refresh, removing debris and stains that regular vacuums can't quite reach.

As we start to spend more time outdoors, and as our shoes start bringing the outdoor messes inside, getting a carpet cleaner in time for summer is a smart move to keep things clean. 

We've reviewed the Shark CarpetXpert Carpet Cleaner, and found that it was perfect for regular carpet maintenance, and can easily tackle tough, dried-on stains and pet messes. It's available at Shark, Amazon and Walmart.

Fresh air filters

Before you start turning up the AC to keep cool from the outdoor heat, it's a good idea to replace the air filters on your HVAC system.

Air filters should be changed regularly to keep things working properly, but replacing them right before the warmer weather means your AC will be functioning at its best when you need it.

It's also a prime opportunity to learn how to clean your HVAC system. It might seem like a big task, but it's surprisingly simple - and very important to do.

A robot vacuum

We all tend to savor our free time in the spring and summer months as we try to make the most of the sun. One quick way of doing this is to spend less time cleaning which, let's face it, isn't what we want to be doing on beautiful days.

The best robot vacuums can transform your home cleaning routine, giving you a lot more spare time by doing the bulk of the floor cleaning for you. The best one we've ever reviewed is the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+, which doubles up as a mop and cleans exceptionally well. You can find it at iRobot, Best Buy and Amazon.

As it's one of the best out there, the Combo j9+ is a bit on the pricier end. If you're looking for a cheaper, but still capable alternative - our review of the eufy X8 Pro found that its vacuum and mop work well with intelligent mapping of your home. It retails for almost $1,000 less at eufy.

Reed diffusers

Reed diffusers are a simple, affordable and clean way to keep your home smelling fresh. We've actually tested quite a few of them in our guide to the best reed diffusers, in a range of scents and price points to match any home.

They're much safer than candles and are heat-free, so they're perfect for gently giving rooms a fresh aroma without having to worry about them.

A dehumidifier

The best dehumidifiers will be your biggest helper when the weather gets too hot. This is even more important if you live in a particularly humid area. 

Dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air so that it doesn't feel so thick. Think: easier breathing, clearer sinuses, and less sweat around the house. Plus, they're handy appliances to have all-year round as they can speed up your laundry drying the colder months.

Homelabs, Frigidaire and Midea all have big selections of dehumidifiers with different capacities and coverages.

A pressure washer

Like spring cleaning the big yard clean-up job comes around every year to prepare us for our time outdoors. It's exciting to get your front and back yard ready for guests and lounging on hot evenings, but it's also hard work. And if you have a patio, driveway, and/or porch - this can actually take some time.

But a pressure washer speeds things up (while also being more fun in the process). If done safely, pressure washing your patio or pressure washing your driveway will save a tremendous amount of time, and will leave the outside of your home looking pristine.

They're also not that expensive. A good pressure washer can cost as little as $100, like the RYOBI 1800 PSI model from Home Depot. And then, all you need is water, electricity and some cleaner to stay on top of your yard cleaning.

Outside of these essentials, knowing how to prepare your home for spring will transition your house nicely into the warmer seasons. And if you want to keep that momentum going, follow these five spring patio prep tasks to get your yard looking beautiful.