Smelly as your feet might be after a long day of social distancing, the stench of your cotton socks isn’t the worst thing filling the air in your dwelling. Not even close.
See, fresh as it might seem, much of the air we breathe at home is actually packed with particles, allergens and all sorts of spores. Whether pets, printers or petrol-powered lawnmowers, all manner of household items release these nasties. At best, they can cause unpleasant odours; at worst allergies, asthma attacks and all kinds of complications.
Feeling sneezy or queasy at the thought of what you’re inhaling? From compact models for personal purification to bigger kit that’s fit for your living room, each of these air purifiers will help to filter and remove any dust, bacteria and bad stuff that might be floating about your abode.
Breathing space
Pick a purifier to suit your room size. Only cleaning the air around your desk? A capacity of 15-20m² is more than enough, while 30m² should be good for bedrooms. Going big? Some filters can service spaces of up to 120m².
HEPA grinder
In the world of air purification, high-efficiency particulate air (or HEPA) is the benchmark. A true HEPA filter removes at least 99.95% of tiny particles from the air. Anything less and it’s not the real deal.
Filter pack
All purifiers feature a filter panel in some form, usually comprised of a pre-filter for larger dust particles, a HEPA element and an activated carbon filter to tackle bad smells and gassy pollutants. These filters need to be switched periodically, so it pays to check the cost of replacements – and how easy they are to install.
Airless whisper
Clean breathing might be the dream, but your fantasies will vanish into thin air if your purifier’s fans impersonate a vacuum cleaner. For a sweet night’s sleep, pick a model that runs at 40dB or less – the equivalent of your average library.
Work placement
Purifier placement is important. Most models filter in full 360, so you can stick the suckers in the centre of a room. Others work best beside a wall, so ponder on your preferred positioning before dropping any pennies.
Air trigger
Purifiers are built to bust dusty air all day long, but some are smarter than others. Models with integrated sensors will monitor the air quality in your abode and adjust the intensity of their efforts to match. Some can even send reports to your smartphone, so you'll know as soon as there's a pollen spike,
