Whether your allergies only flare when the seasons change or you’re suffering year-round, an air purifier can help dial down your discomfort.  

But they’re not cheap: some cost well over $1000, which is a lot when you’re already spending a fortune on antihistamines and inhalers.

However, the price can be worth it if they do the job.

But spending more won’t necessarily give you better relief – some of the most expensive machines are disappointingly ineffective, while some of the more affordable models banish allergens better than products costing far more.

So how can you make sure you’re spending your hard-earned money on a model that justifies the price tag?

����Vlog’s appliance experts have tested more than 50 air purifiers in our labs, assessing their ability to remove dust, smoke and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air.

The best air purifiers banish more than 90% of the particles; others remove significantly less (but they can extract quite a lot of dollars from your wallet).

Here’s how we tell which models are the best at removing dust and pollen. Plus, which models aren’t worth your money.

And exclusively for ����Vlog members, we’ll reveal exactly which models are the best at removing these allergens from the air, plus how well they remove other pollutants.

If you just want to get straight to the best products, you can jump to the results now.

How to tell which air purifiers are best at removing pollen

Our testing measures how much dust, smoke and VOCs each air purifier removes from the air. But what if you specifically need something to minimise the pollen count inside your home?

“Dust and pollen particles come in a wide range of sizes, but they are broadly similar, so if an air purifier is good at removing dust from the air, then it’ll also work well for pollen,” says ����Vlog appliance expert Chris Barnes. 

But he also issues a word of warning.

“If you or someone in your household is asthmatic, steer clear of air purifiers that use ozone technology.”

“They generate ozone, which causes breathing irritation. Ionic purifiers can also produce ozone, so we recommend avoiding them too.”

Use our detailed review to find the best air purifiers for dust if you’re looking for a machine to purge the pollen from your home.

The importance of air purifier filters 

The best filter type for pollen and dust

“HEPA filters are the best type for removing most airborne pollutants, including pollen and dust,” Chris says. 

“Fortunately, most air purifiers come with HEPA filters, but make sure you check that the purifier has one before you buy, and also check the price and availability of replacement filters.” 

Factoring in replacement filter costs

To make sure your air purifier is as effective as possible, you need to keep the filters in good working order. 

Filter costs can add up quickly. Depending on the air purifier and the type of filters it uses, it could cost you more than $200 a year in replacement filters.

You can wash and reuse pre-filters and carbon filters, which will extend their life so you don’t need to buy them as frequently. 

Generally, HEPA filters aren’t washable so you’ll have to replace them from time to time. You can extend their life a little by gently brushing or vacuuming the filter surface to remove dust.

Filter design matters, too: some models have separate pre-filters, carbon filters and HEPA filters so you’ll only need to buy each component as it needs replacing. 

Others have an all-in-one filter that you’ll have to replace each time, even if the pre-filters and carbon filters still have life left in them.

If you need to run the air purifier every day, factor the cost of filters in when you’re researching what to buy. A cheap air purifier might seem like value for money, but if you’re spending a fortune on filters then it’s not such a good deal.

Our detailed review not only shows you the best air purifiers from our tests, but also how much replacement filters cost and how much you can expect to pay for filters each year. 

Should you buy a Dyson air purifier?

Surely a company that spends as much on research and development as Dyson should totally nail the air purifier thing, right? 

Sadly not.

We tested three Dyson air purifiers and none of them did much to remove dust from the air, despite their large price tags and brand pedigree.

And even though the two of the most expensive have “formaldehyde” in their names, only one of them is actually any good at removing VOCs from the air. (The other scored just 63% on the VOC test.)

In fact, none of the six Dyson air purifiers we tested performed particularly well overall in our testing, with the most expensive of all – the $1499 Dyson Big+Quiet Formaldehyde BP03 – only managing a disappointing ����Vlog Expert Rating of 63%.

But eight of the 12 air purifiers recommended by our experts cost the same as or less than even the cheapest Dyson.

A ����Vlog membership could save you from spending too much on a fancy Dyson air purifier that doesn’t do a good job.

Let’s do the maths:

Instead of buying a $1499 Dyson, you could take out a ����Vlog membership for under $100, buy a cheaper and more effective air purifier recommended by ����Vlog experts and come out around $1000 ahead – that’s nothing to be sneezed at!

Plus you’d have access to more than 200 other reviews to help you buy better for all your other purchases.

Air purifiers to avoid if you have dust and pollen allergies

These air purifiers won’t do much to remove dust and pollen from the air. Some of them are among the cheapest purifiers we tested, but others are at the upper end of the price scale. 

Whether you buy the cheapest or most expensive of these, you’ll have to spend even more money on antihistamines because these won’t do much to help your allergies.

• Sunbeam On-the-Go Fresh Portable: Dust removal score: 9%; RRP: $149
• Breville the Easy Air Connect Purifier LAP158: 27%; $249
• Beurer LR200: 34%; $269
• Dyson Purifier Hot + Cool Gen 1 HP10: 34%; $899
• Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP2: 36%; $1199
• Breville the Smart Air Viral Protect Compact Purifier: 36%; $319
• Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool HP1: 37%; $899
• Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde HP09: 37%, $1149
• Ionmax Selah ION360: 37%; $339
• Sunbeam Fresh Control SAP0950WH: 38%; $219
• Breville Smart Air Viral Protect Night Glow: 39%; $209
• Dyson Purifier Cool TP07: 40%, $949

The best air purifiers for removing dust and pollen from the air

Our lab tests show which air purifiers perform well and which don’t. Our experts test each product thoroughly, so if they recommend a particular model you can be sure it’s the best air purifier for your dollar. 

Only ����Vlog members have access to all our expert, independent tests.

If you’re not a member, join ����Vlog to access thousands of reviews.

Or if you’re already a ����Vlog member, you can see the top-rated products for each category in one easy-to-read rundown below.

A ����Vlog membership can save you money by helping you avoid overpriced duds and choose the best products for your budget.

The post The best air purifiers for dust and pollen allergies  appeared first on ����Vlog.

Poor air quality and air circulation in our homes can have negative impacts, especially for people with allergies, asthma and other respiratory issues.

We spend so much time at home – living, working, sleeping – that it’s worth ensuring that our personal spaces aren’t making us sick. 

There are many things that can trigger asthma and allergy symptoms, and Asthma Australia says these factors can even increase the risk of developing asthma.

Common triggers include:

• indoor air pollution from gas or wood heating
• indoor air pollution from cooking
• mould and damp
• pests such as mice, cockroaches and dust mites

A quarter of people surveyed by Asthma Australia said they’re not happy or are unsure about the air quality inside their homes, and only six in 10 people are confident making changes to improve air quality.

Not sure where to start? Here are our tips for creating a healthier home.

On this page:

• Cooking
• Cooling and heating
• Cleaning
• Mould and mildew

Cooking

Whenever you cook, pollutants such as smoke are released into the air.

But gas cooking is particularly concerning because it produces harmful gases and particulates.

“Gas cooktops contribute 12% of the childhood asthma burden, which is equivalent to tobacco smoke in the home,” says a spokesperson from Asthma Australia .��

Replacing a gas cooktop with an electric or induction cooktop can help reduce these contaminants in your home.

And ����Vlog experts say that induction cooktops on the whole are more efficient and easier to clean. But they’re not cheap: the models in our induction cooktops review range from $799 to more than $5000, plus you’ll have to pay for installation.

And if you’re renting, your landlord probably won’t be keen to splash all that cash on an induction cooktop.

If switching to induction isn’t an option, here are some other tips.

• Buy a portable induction cooktop. They’re cheaper than a full induction cooktop – our experts have tested portable induction cooktops that perform well and cost from as little as $59. Keep in mind you’ll need to ensure your cookware is compatible, so you might need to buy new pots and pans.
• Always use a rangehood when cooking. A good rangehood will divert the smoke from your kitchen, either venting it outside or filtering it. ����Vlog experts recommend choosing a ducted rangehood, but if you can’t, make sure you change the filters regularly.
• Ventilate the kitchen. If you’re cooking with gas, keep a window open. You should also always keep windows open if you’re cleaning your oven using a pyrolitic function.
• Reduce pests. Keep surfaces clean and don’t leave food out. Ants, spiders, mice and cockroaches can cause allergic reactions and trigger asthma flare-ups.

Cooling and heating

The way you cool and heat your home can have a dramatic impact on air quality. A reverse-cycle air conditioner is not only one of the most efficient ways to heat or cool your home, but it can also improve air quality.��

����Vlog home cooling expert Chris Barnes says: “Air conditioner dust filters aren’t designed to remove smoke or germs from the air, but some models have air purification filters, which can help improve your indoor air quality”.

“Most of the air conditioners we’ve recommended have some form of air purification filter. And even collecting just some of the dust in the air can be helpful.”

The best way to filter out very fine particles such as smoke, mould spores, pollen and viruses is with a HEPA filter (high-efficiency particulate air filter), which are in many vacuum cleaners and most air purifier units, but not in air conditioners.

“You can buy some air purifiers that function as fans and heaters, which you could use as a cooling solution in summer or as a heater in winter as well,” says Chris. 

“However, these typically aren’t among the highest performing air purifiers in our testing.” 

Read more about how air conditioners can work as air purifiers.

Whether you’re trying to stay warm or cool, here are some tips to improve your home’s air quality.

• Shut doors and windows strategically. Close up your house on days with high pollen levels or smoke levels (from bushfires or controlled burning). 
• Maintain your air conditioner filters. Clean and replace them regularly to keep your air con running efficiently and maximising its air purifying capabilities. It’ll also keep your running costs down.
• Use an air purifier with a HEPA filter. Although they can’t help with the temperature (unless you opt for an air purifier/fan/heater combo), they can help clear the air of dust, smoke, pollutants and allergens, as well as bacteria and viruses.
• Use ceiling fans, pedestal fans or tower fans. Fans are a cost-effective way to keep you cool, and they can also help circulate fresh air. We’ve reviewed both ceiling fans and tower fans to help you buy the best. 
• Avoid gas or wood heaters. Not only are they less efficient than air conditioners, smoke from wood heaters and pollutants released from gas heaters can carry serious health risks.

Cleaning

Need an excuse for a spruce up?

Allergens such as dust mites, pet hair, pollen and mould may have accumulated over winter and spring, so now’s a good time for a thorough spring (or rather summer) clean. 

Here are some cleaning tips for a healthier home: 

• Choose a vacuum with a HEPA filter. These filters are excellent at catching invisible irritants. The vacuum captures larger dust particles then blows the air back out into the room through the HEPA filter, which stops any fine particles escaping back into the air. 
• Clean and maintain your vacuum. This will help it work as efficiently as possible. Changing filters is especially important for households with allergies and respiratory issues.
• Choose a bagged vacuum. They contain the dust so you won’t come into contact with it when you empty your vacuum. If you want a bagless vac, check our expert vacuum reviews for ones that are rated as easy to empty – they’ll reduce the amount of dust released. Some stick and robot vacs have a charging dock that empties the vacuum into a bag or bin for you, so you won’t need to empty it as often.  
• Stay on top of cleaning. Regularly clean bedding, curtains and throws that can attract dust and allergens such as pet hair. Reducing clutter will make dusting hard surfaces easier. 
• Get your carpets professionally cleaned. Doing this every 18 months is also helpful for keeping allergens at bay, but make sure they’re thoroughly dried afterwards to prevent mould growth. 
• Steam clean carpets and upholstery. This can also be helpful to keep dust mite numbers down, which are one of the biggest indoor irritants for asthmatics.

Mould and mildew

Mould is associated with a range of health problems, from congestion, coughs and sneezing, to more serious respiratory symptoms. 

Dehumidifiers, air conditioners, ceiling fans and portable pedestal fans can all be useful to prevent mould and mildew. 

• Ventilate. Good ventilation is key to reducing mould and mildew. Keep windows open as much as possible to encourage good airflow. 
• Dry out problem areas. Fans, dehumidifiers and ceiling fans will help keep things dry. Make sure you choose the right kind of dehumidifier for your home.
• Choose a split-system air conditioner. They condense water from the indoor air and drain it outdoors, which will dry out the air in your home. Many have a ‘dry’ mode as well, which focuses more on dehumidification than cooling.
• Avoid drying clothes indoors. It’ll add to the humidity in your home. If you just can’t avoid it, you can use a dehumidifier on ‘laundry’ mode or a condenser dryer. 
• Buy a condenser clothes dryer. Vented dryers pump humid air back out into the room, but condenser dryers contain the moisture and collect it in a reservoir. They’re more expensive to buy but can help minimise moisture. 
• Avoid unflued gas heaters. They release water vapour into the room, potentially adding to any dampness or mould problems. 
• Try moisture absorbers. Products such as DampRid can be useful for mild mould issues.

You can also find more information about setting up a healthy home on the .

Know the products to avoid before you shop. Get our free guide and buy smarter.

Sign up

Read our privacy policy

The post How to improve the air quality in your home appeared first on ����Vlog.

Since the pandemic and the rise in extreme weather events, many more of us have become concerned about the quality of the air we’re breathing in our homes, schools and workplaces.

Many of us have also become more aware of how pollutants in the air, such as those caused by gas appliances in our homes or smoke from backyard firepits or wood-fired heaters, can affect our health.

It’s therefore unsurprising that the number of air purifiers on the market continues to grow, with more and more models becoming available as brands release new air-purifying appliances in an attempt to meet consumer demand.

Unfortunately, while ����Vlog experts have seen plenty of good air purifiers, we’ve also encountered some models that performed so poorly in our tests you may as well be watching your cash disappear into thin (non-purified) air.

Considering the relatively high cost of air purifiers, the poor performance of some models is especially disappointing.��

Many people with allergies, asthma or respiratory issues rely on air purifiers to improve their quality of life by filtering out dust, pollen, smoke and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the home.

Others are also turning to air purifiers as a way to help keep the air in their homes, schools or workplaces clear of germs associated with viruses such as influenza or COVID-19 (a job air purifiers can indeed do, although with limitations – find out more about how effective air purifiers are against viruses and germs).

The worst performing air purifiers in ����Vlog testing

Our ����Vlog air purifiers review looks at over 55 different models. We score each air purifier based on how well it removes dust, smoke and VOCs from the air. Our review also tells you which models are the most energy-efficient, the quietest and the easiest to use.

Our results show that the air purifiers in the list below definitely won’t blow you away. And while a couple come in under the $250 mark, they’re anything but a bargain.��

Size matters

Bear in mind that cheaper air purifiers (including a couple in this list) tend to be smaller, which means they may struggle to deliver the same air-purifying power as a larger model. And, because we test all air purifiers in the same room, bigger models usually perform better.��

If you’re looking for an air purifier for a very small room, one of these smaller models may perform more effectively there, so could still be worth considering.

Cheap models 

It’s worth noting that some cheaper models may perform OK in certain aspects of our testing rather than across the board – for example, they may be OK at removing dust or smoke, but perform poorly when it comes to removing VOCs from the air. This means they could be worth buying if they perform well for the particular aspect that’s important to you.

Having said all that, there’s no guarantee that buying a bigger or more expensive air purifier will give you better performance, so check our detailed ����Vlog air purifier reviews before you buy.��

Sunbeam On-the-Go Fresh Portable SAP0800WH

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 28%
• Price: $149

We rarely see air purifiers this small that perform well in our testing, and although this air purifier sells itself as being compact, rechargeable and lightweight, its poor air-purifying capabilities aren’t likely to leave you feeling fresh.

It promises to purify your ‘personal air’, however our results show that it probably won’t do much to purify any air, personal or otherwise.��

Our experts gave it a performance score of just 10%, with a dust removal score of just 9% and smoke removal score of 7% – the lowest scores for these tests of all the air purifiers in our review.

It performed marginally better against VOCs, with a score of 30%, but the effect is likely minimal unless you’re using it in a very small, confined space (the product says it is recommended for spaces up to 10 square metres, which is equivalent to a very small bedroom).��

If you have a larger space, it’s worth investing in a better performing purifier that has a larger capacity.

Read the full Sunbeam On-the-Go Fresh Portable air purifier review.

Dyson Purifier Hot + Cool Gen 1 HP10

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 42%
• Price: $899

If you’re outlaying a sum just shy of $1000, you’d be wanting some seriously clean air blowing in your direction.��

This pricey Dyson appliance may offer the bonus of functioning as a heater and fan as well as an air purifier, but our tests show it doesn’t do much as an air purifier: it scores just 34% for overall performance and 28% for removing smoke.��

A positive is that it’s quiet when operated on both a high and low setting. However, if you want peace of mind as well, we recommend opting for a better-value model that will give you the clean air you crave.��

Read the full Dyson Purifier Hot + Cool Gen 1 HP10 review.

Breville The Easy Air Connect Purifier LAP158

• ����Vlog Expert Rating: 42%
• Price: $249

This is another small model that doesn’t perform well against bigger, more powerful air purifiers, as it simply can’t process as much air.��

Breville claims this model is suitable for rooms up to 25 square metres; however, there are other models in our review that claim to work in similar-sized rooms and they perform better.

Read the full Breville The Easy Air Connect air purifier review.

The post The air purifiers to avoid buying appeared first on ����Vlog.

As we learn to live with more extreme weather events and a heightened awareness of airborne viruses, air purifiers are a popular option for those of us concerned about the quality of the air in our homes, schools and workplaces.

If you or a family member suffers from allergies, asthma or other sensitivities, you may be also looking for a way to reduce irritants such as smoke, pollen and dust in the air you’re breathing.

Air purifiers are billed as an easy way to improve air quality and reduce pollution, and there is a huge variety of brands, sizes and types available at a wide range of prices. ����Vlog testing finds that the performance of different models varies, and we’ve looked at models ranging from a $49 Ikea air purifier up to options that cost over $1500.

But, do air purifiers actually work or are they just another useless fad?

Here, ����Vlog household products expert Chris Barnes takes us through what they can and can’t do, plus some tips for buying.

What can an air purifier do?

1. Help remove common household allergens and pollution

Smoke from controlled burns and bushfires is a reality of living in Australia. Smoke and particulate air pollution is not just irritating; it’s a recognised health hazard, especially for asthma sufferers and people with other health conditions, particularly elderly people and young children.��

“Yes, a good air purifier can help clear the air of smoke and odours from bushfires, controlled burning, home wood-fires or tobacco, as well as pollution from nearby roads,” says Barnes.

“They can also help remove common household allergens, such as dust, pollen and mould, that can trigger hay fever, asthma and other respiratory conditions.

“But make sure you buy an air purifier with a HEPA filter, which is a filter that traps very small particles. It’s one of the most important features of an air purifier – not all purifiers on the market have this, so make sure you check the product specifications.”

The HEPA filter may be used in conjunction with another type of filter such as a carbon, charcoal, ionisation or UV filter, and all have different key uses and effectiveness. For more on different types of filters to look out for, read our air purifier buying guide.��

In our expert air purifier reviews, we give individual performance scores for how well each model removes smoke, dust and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air, so you can check each model’s performance against your specific concerns before you buy.

2. Help clear the air of viruses, bacteria and mould spores 

While we’d all love a magic appliance that rids our homes of cold, flu and COVID viruses, air purifiers aren’t the perfect solution. But they can be useful.��

Viruses such as COVID-19 are usually transmitted by small aerosol particles that are emitted when an infected person breathes out or coughs or sneezes. These tiny droplets can stay in the air for a long time – up to an hour or more.

In the right circumstances, a good air purifier can remove most of these particles from a room’s air.

“An air purifier with a HEPA filter can be surprisingly good at trapping viruses and bacteria out of the air,” says Barnes.

“The issue is that it can only process what’s in the air that it happened to suck in at the time, so it wouldn’t necessarily process all the air in your home to trap and kill a virus that may be present.��

“But, in addition to following health advice such as regularly washing your hands, an air purifier can be worth considering as an extra protection against airborne viruses if you have people coming and going in your house, or if it’s hard to keep your home well ventilated.”

We don’t test the ability of air purifiers to kill viruses in our labs, but for more on this topic read: Do air purifiers trap viruses and other germs?

3. Tell you about your indoor air quality

Most air purifiers have sensors to determine how much pollution is in the air around them, along with other measurements such as indoor air temperature and humidity.��

Usually they’ll display this information on the unit or (for Wi-Fi-connected models) in an associated app, perhaps as a detailed particle count or a simple coloured indicator (such as green for good, through to amber and red as the pollution level increases).��

It can be very interesting – and useful – to see just how much dust or smoke is in your home’s air, and the sort of activities that add to pollution, particularly if you’re sensitive to these types of irritants.

For example, simply frying food on a gas cooktop can rapidly create a lot of pollution in the air (even when you don’t burn the food!).��

Spraying insecticide, using cleaning fluids, and painting will also add chemicals and fine aerosol particles to the air.��

Leaving the purifier to run on automatic, so that it adjusts its speed to suit the level of pollution, is a good idea if the indoor pollution levels can vary a lot. Hearing the purifier’s fan rev up indicates that there’s smoke or other pollution getting into your home.��

What can’t an air purifier do?

1. Keep your home free of germs

While an air purifier can be very good at filtering out germs, it can only filter the air in the room that it’s in. Air in other parts of the house might remain untreated. And any virus-laden droplets that settle onto surfaces won’t end up going through the air purifier.

So it’s still very important that you keep up the usual hygiene practices: washing your hands, cleaning hard surfaces and, of course, trying to avoid bringing germs into your home in the first place.��

2. Guarantee frequent air changes in your home

Ideally, the air in a room should be replaced by fresh air several times an hour, to prevent the build-up of carbon dioxide, odours, moisture and other pollutants.

The simplest way to do this in most cases is through natural ventilation: opening doors and windows and letting in the breeze.

When that’s not possible, such as in small rooms with poor ventilation, or when the outdoor air is too hot or cold, or too smoky, then an air purifier will certainly help.

But it’s unlikely to achieve the same level of air change in the long term, and it can’t change aspects such as carbon dioxide levels.

If you often need to keep your home closed up, or if it’s just very well sealed with no air leakage from windows and doors, then a mechanical ventilation system might be a solution. These usually include air filters to make sure incoming air is free of dust and other nasties.

3. Reliably filter out dangerous chemicals

We test air purifiers for their ability to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These are typically released into the air from paint, furniture, aerosol sprays, cleaning products and so on.��

They include a wide range of chemicals that can cause breathing and skin irritation, headaches and worse. Common culprits are formaldehyde, ammonia, benzene and acetone (we use acetone in our tests).

Although some air purifiers are specifically designed to remove such chemicals, most are not very effective, and several are pretty useless at this particular task.��

4. And… you’ll still need to dust your home

Sadly, however good the air purifier is at removing dust from the air, there’s always more that settles on the furniture and the floor. Dusting, vacuuming and mopping will still be a necessary chore.

So, is it worth buying an air purifier?

Whether an air purifier is worth buying and how much you should spend on one depends on things such as what you’d like to use it for and the effectiveness of the product you buy.

“We’ve reviewed a range of air purifiers from different brands, ranging in price from $49 to over $1500,” says Barnes.��

“We measure the clean air delivery rate [CADR] of each air purifier to assess how well it clears particles of dust, smoke and other volatile organic compounds [VOCs] from the air – and use that information to give each model a score based on its performance and ease of use.

“The performance of different brands and types of air purifiers definitely varies and we are seeing some disappointing products in our labs, some which barely clear anything from the air.

“How well a model will perform in your home can be affected by things such as its relative size to the size and shape of the room you’re using it in, as well as how many, and which, pollutants are in your air.” 

How to choose the right size and capacity

Size really matters when it comes to air purifiers. Our experts recommend you look especially closely at the advertised CADR and consider the size of the room you’ll be using it in.��

Most models will advertise what capacity room they’re suited for. You basically want to ensure that the air purifier works hard enough – or has a CADR that’s high enough – so it circulates the full volume of air in your room to clean it thoroughly, otherwise it won’t be doing the job you bought it for.��

Generally, the higher the CADR, the better. But keep in mind this standard is tested using very specific settings (with the purifier unit placed in the centre of the room and set to its highest speed) and only relates to the removal of three pollutants: dust, tobacco smoke and pollen.��

Barnes suggests it may be worth getting a model that’s rated for a slightly larger room than you need.��

“That can mean the purifier will clear the room’s air faster on its highest setting, but still comfortably keep the air clear on its lowest and quietest speed (good for when you’re trying to sleep),” he says.

Find out more about CADR and the Dyson-specific test method known as POLAR, in our air purifier buying guide.

Ongoing filter costs

If you’re considering buying an air purifier, make sure you take into account the cost of replacement filters, which can add up quickly.

Costs vary between brands and models. Annual filter replacement costs for the models we’ve tested range from as little as $12 to over $700 per year. Those costs are based on the manufacturer’s claimed filter replacement period; your actual filter replacement costs will depend on how often you run your purifier and at what setting.��

Read more about our tips for maintaining your air purifier, which includes guidance on how often you should clean and replace the filters, as well as how much they cost for leading brands like Dyson, Samsung and Philips.

The post Do air purifiers really work? appeared first on ����Vlog.

If you do decide you need an air purifier, exaggerated marketing claims can make it difficult to tell fact from fiction. To help you make sense of it, ����Vlog air purifier expert Chris Barnes set us straight on some of the most common air purifier myths.

1. An air purifier means you don’t need to clean

If you think that plugging in an air purifier means you can get rid of the dusters, vacuum cleaner and mop then you are going to be disappointed.��

While a good air purifier will help remove dust from the air, it can’t do anything about the stuff that settles on surfaces around the home. That means you won’t be able to give up on your cleaning routine quite yet.��

“Air purifiers are good but they can’t get everything out,” says Chris.��

“Dust on the floor or furniture still needs to be cleaned up, so dusting, vacuuming and mopping remain necessary chores,” he explains.

2. An air purifier can kill all the germs and viruses in your home

An air purifier won’t magically stop viruses from spreading in your home but it can help, as long as it’s a model with the features you need.��

“A HEPA filter is an incredibly dense and complicated weave of fibres. When viruses or bacteria bump into that filter they will stay there and die,” Chris says.��

While the ����Vlog lab doesn’t test with viruses or bacteria, we do test with dust, smoke and volatile organic compounds.��

“Any model that is good at removing fine dust and smoke will likely also be good at trapping germs that are in the air,” explains Chris.

Using a special test room, we add the pollutant to the air and see how long it takes to come out of the air by itself. Then we do the same thing with the air purifier running and measure it again.

“The best air purifiers remove pollutants very quickly,” Chris says, “but with the worst that we’ve tested it’s like you haven’t bothered putting one in at all.”

3. An air purifier replaces the need for ventilation

An efficient air purifier is great but it’s no replacement for good ventilation.

To prevent the build-up of carbon dioxide, odours, moisture and other pollutants, the air in a room should ideally be replaced by fresh air several times an hour.��

“The easiest way to do that is by opening doors and windows and allowing a breeze to do the work,” says Chris.

“If that’s not possible, an air purifier can help, but it’s unlikely to achieve the same level of air change in the long term as good ventilation.”

4. All air purifiers filter out dangerous chemicals

When we test air purifiers we measure their ability to remove volatile organic compounds (VOC), the kinds of chemicals that are typically released into the air from paint, furniture, aerosol sprays, cleaning products and so on.��

“These sorts of chemicals can cause breathing and skin irritation, headaches and worse,” says Chris.

“While some air purifiers are specifically designed to remove such chemicals, most are not very effective and several are pretty useless at this particular task.”

If you’re looking for a way to clear these sorts of indoor pollutants, good ventilation (i.e. opening a window and turning a fan on) is likely to be much more helpful than an air purifier.��

5. All air purifiers can be used in rooms of any size

An air purifier that works in a small bedroom won’t necessarily do an efficient job in a large open-plan living room. When choosing the right model for your requirements, you’ll need to ensure the air purifier you buy can circulate the full volume of air in your room, otherwise, it simply won’t perform the job you’ve bought it for.

Most air purifiers come with a claimed room size, which can be anything from 20m2 (about the size of a medium to large bedroom or small lounge) all the way up to more than 200m2 which is only slightly smaller than the total size of the average Australian freestanding house. You should take note of that figure when you are purchasing.��

“It may be worth getting a model that’s rated for a larger room than you plan to use it in,” says Chris.

“That way, the purifier will clear the room’s air faster on its highest setting, but still comfortably keep the air clear on its lowest and quietest speed which is especially important if you’re using it while trying to sleep.”

6. Air purifiers are a one-off cost

The air purifiers we recommend in our tests range in price from $599 up to $1695, and as is often the case, price is not a reliable indicator of performance. Whatever you pay for your air purifier, it’s worth bearing in mind that the cost doesn’t end there.

If your air purifier uses a pre-filter or carbon filter, most of these can be washed, dried and reused but HEPA filters will need to be replaced periodically. You can help your HEPA filter last longer by gently brushing or vacuuming it regularly. You’ll still need to replace it, but you won’t have to do it as often, which will help save you money.

“Filters are a key ongoing expense for these sorts of products,” says Chris.

“They will need replacing, though how often you need to do that will depend on how often you use the purifier and the level of pollution in your home,” he says.

“You could end up spending hundreds of dollars a year just on filters, so it’s important to find out what the replacement costs are for the filters you’ll need for the model you’re looking at.”

The post 6 air purifier myths busted appeared first on ����Vlog.

����Vlog air purifier expert, Chris Barnes, says that these handy appliances can improve indoor air quality and reduce irritants in the air you breathe.��

“It’s easy to assume that pollution is only an outdoor problem. But that same air makes its way into your home, carrying all the same pollutants: vehicle exhaust, pollen, and smoke,” he says.

“Then there are the pollutants that originate indoors, such as household dust, cigarette smoke, pet dander and volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted from paint and the foam inside sofas and mattresses.” 

The pollutants released by gas cooktops are another common offender.�� 

“All of these things can impact your indoor air quality, sometimes much more than you might expect. One of the lesser-known benefits of an air purifier is having its inbuilt air quality sensors tell you about your home’s indoor air,” he explains.

If you’re unsure whether you and your family might benefit from an air purifier, these five signs could indicate that it might be worth investing in one.��

Five signs you should get an air purifier

1. Your hayfever is bad

Sneezing or coughing, runny or blocked noses, itchy or red and watering eyes… the symptoms of hayfever can be really debilitating, and an air purifier can help relieve discomfort.

Depending on where you live in Australia, the pollen that is a common cause of hayfever will peak at different times. In Adelaide, Canberra and Sydney it’s at its highest in spring and summer. In Hobart and Melbourne, October and November are the worst months, while Brisbane and Darwin have high pollen levels for most of the year.��

If you want an air purifier to help reduce hayfever symptoms, Chris recommends you look for one with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter. This will trap tiny particles that are not visible to the naked eye and should help to reduce the presence of things like pollen and mould spores.�� 

“Pollen particles are very small, typically from 100 microns down to 10 microns,” Chris explains. “A micron is one millionth of a metre, so you can see why a very fine filter is needed to catch them. A HEPA filter is the best option.”

In our air purifier reviews, you can check which models have HEPA filters (just click on the review and select ‘features’).

2. Your home is particularly dusty

If it seems as though each time you dust, your surfaces become coated again in no time at all, an air purifier might help. A high number of dust particles in your indoor air can be particularly irritating if you have a dust allergy or a respiratory condition such as asthma that can be triggered by excessive dust.

While a good air purifier will help remove dust from the air, it won’t have any effect on dust that has already settled on floors, furniture or soft furnishings.��

“An air purifier isn’t a silver bullet,” says Chris. “You’ll still need to mop, vacuum and clean floors and soft furnishings regularly to limit dust particles in your indoor air.”

Ventilation is also important. Ideally, the air in a room should be replaced by fresh air several times an hour.��

“The easiest way to do that is by opening doors and windows and allowing a breeze to do the work,” says Chris. “If that’s not possible, an air purifier can help, but it’s unlikely to achieve the same level of air change in the long term as good ventilation.”

Our air purifier tests include performance scores for dust, smoke and VOCs, which tell you how effective each model is at removing that pollutant from the air.��

To determine this score, we first disperse the pollutant (dust, smoke or VOC) in the test chamber to see how fast it falls out of the air naturally. Then we do the same with the air purifier running, and measure how much faster the air is cleared.��

“The faster and more comprehensive the purification, the better the score,” says Chris.

3. Your home is near a busy road

While electric vehicles are growing in popularity, they still only account for around 1% of Australia’s total light vehicle fleet. That means that if you live near a busy road you’re likely to be exposed to particulate matter and VOCs from petrol and diesel engines.��

Traffic pollution generally consists of larger particles of visible soot and dust, small particles of around 10 microns (“PM10”), such as from tyres and road dust, and fine particles 2.5 microns or less (“PM2.5”), which may be carbon, metals, and other waste from the roads or the car exhaust.��

“All these can impact your respiratory health over time. Coarser particles can be trapped in a carbon filter, but the smaller particles need HEPA filtration,” says Chris.

Remember, you’ll still need to vacuum, mop and dust to remove build-up on furniture, floors and other surfaces.

4. Mould is a problem in your home

Mould can be quite a serious environmental hazard in your home, so it’s important you don’t simply ignore it. Mould can release spores and is associated with allergic reactions, asthma and flu-like symptoms.

While an air purifier can help to remove mould spores from the air, it won’t solve the underlying cause. Excess moisture is a common culprit and for that, a dehumidifier can help.

You’ll also need to treat the mould in your home to remove the hazard. You might be able to tackle this yourself if the affected area is quite small but if mould covers a larger area expert help may be required.

5. You have furry pets in your home

Our furry friends can provide love and companionship and are important family members. Less welcome is the dander and hair they shed which can exacerbate allergies and asthma. But an air purifier can help.

“Pet hair tends to be captured by the air purifier’s first layer of filters, which are designed for trapping hair, fluff and so on,” says Chris. “Dander is much finer, even down to the PM2.5 size, so a HEPA filter is your friend here.”

If you have a lot of pet hair around the house, you might also like to invest in a vacuum that’s proven to do the job. Check out our guide to the best vacuums for removing pet hair.

The post 5 signs you might need an air purifier appeared first on ����Vlog.

When there are bushfires, the resulting hazy smoke can cause air quality to reach hazardous levels, even in areas many hundreds of kilometres away. The tiny particles within this smoke can not only cause irritation and inflammation, they can have a serious impact on people with respiratory conditions or other health issues.��

We look at what can be done to protect the air inside your home from smoke and other pollutants.

Checking air quality

Staying informed about predicted conditions can help you be prepared for days when air quality is at its lowest.��

A spokesperson for the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) in NSW told us that air quality forecasts are made each day using information from a number of organisations.

“The Sydney air quality forecast for the next day is published at 4pm daily on the . It is based on advice from a number of government scientists including forecasters in the Bureau of Meteorology and experts at the NSW Rural Fire Service.”

Different departments in other states have responsibility for providing data for their jurisdictions:

• Victoria – the service supplies air quality forecasts from around midnight each day.
• Queensland – air quality is tracked through a network of monitoring stations.
• South Australia – the EPA .
• WA – an hourly update of air quality is provided by the .
• ACT – the Department of Health provides .
• Tasmania – the Environment Protection Authority provides .

How to prevent smoke and pollutants getting in your home

����Vlog air purifier expert, Chris Barnes says, “It’s easy to assume that pollution is only an outdoor problem. But that same air makes its way into your home, carrying all the same pollutants: vehicle exhaust, pollen, and smoke,” he says.

As with many things, prevention is better than the cure.

“Keep doors and windows shut early, ahead of hazy days in particular,” is his first piece of advice to prevent polluted air coming into your home.��

Of course, closing up the house only works if your home is well sealed.

“Make sure any major drafts are blocked with draft excluders and seal any leaky windows,” Chris also suggests.��

Sealing your home properly will also help reduce heating and cooling costs, so will continue to pay dividends beyond improving the air quality.

However, you should also be aware of the pollutants that might already be in your home. For both indoor and outdoor pollutants, an air purifier can improve indoor air quality and reduce irritants in the air you breathe.��

“There are many pollutants that originate indoors, such as household dust, cigarette smoke, pet dander and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from paint and the foam inside sofas and mattresses,” says Chris.��

The pollutants released by gas cooktops are another common offender.�� 

“All of these things can impact your indoor air quality, sometimes much more than you might expect. One of the lesser-known benefits of an air purifier is having its inbuilt air quality sensors tell you about your home’s indoor air,” he explains.

Clearing the smoke

If smoke gets into your home and you want to clear it, or you want added protection against outdoor pollutants, there are a number of options.

1. Use an air purifier

Buying an air purifier might be worth it if you or someone in your family is particularly affected by smoke or irritants in the air.��

“A good air purifier can help clear the air inside your home of smoke and smoky smells,” says Chris.

“You will need to close all doors and windows to stop more smoke getting in, at least for the room you want to purify. A purifier with a HEPA filter is your best option for filtering smoke.”

Find out more about reasons why you might want to consider an air purifier.

2. Use an air conditioner

Although not as effective as an air purifier, an air conditioner may help remove some smoke particles.

“Air conditioners usually aren’t made to filter out smoke – they’re more suited to filtering dust and pollen – but they may still help to make the air quality better than it would otherwise be.” 

Most major air conditioner brands do offer air purification features in at least some of their split-system models. These are typically ionisation filters. While they might not be at the level of full HEPA filtration like a good air purifier, they should still be useful in helping keep the indoor air clean.��

3. Cleaning

If smoke has got into the house and settled on floors and other surfaces, then giving the house a good clean can help. A vacuum cleaner with HEPA filter will help remove any soot from smoke that’s settled on the floor.

What is HEPA?

HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air. Vacuums equipped with HEPA filtration are excellent at catching these invisible irritants. The vacuum’s bag or bin traps the collected pet hair, dirt and larger dust particles, and blows the air back out into the room through the HEPA filter, which makes sure that any really fine particles that escaped the dust bag don’t make it back into the indoor air.

There are different standards around the world, but generally to get a HEPA tick of approval, vacuum cleaners must trap at least 99.97% of emissions, down to a tiny 0.3 microns in size.��

Unfortunately, vacuums with HEPA filters do tend to be the more expensive models. However, you can find several barrel and upright models under $300 with HEPA filters (click the HEPA filter box on the left hand side of the page to filter results so only vacuums with this feature are displayed).

��ǰ���stick vacuums, almost half of the models in our current review have HEPA filters, and some of these are also priced under $300.

The post How to protect the air inside your home from smoke and other pollutants appeared first on ����Vlog.

On this page:

• Our expert testers
• How we choose what we test
• How we test air purifiers
• Test criteria explained

Our expert testers

We’ve been testing air purifiers for a few years now, and our expert testers know what makes a good one. They also have more than 20 years’ experience in heating and cooling products, ranging from pedestal fans to split system air conditioners, portable air cons and ceiling fans.

Most ����Vlog product reviews are conducted in our own labs, but when a test calls for skills or equipment that we don’t have, and that aren’t cost-effective for us to obtain, we partner with other expert, accredited labs. This is the case with our air purifier tests.

How we choose what we test

With so many to choose from, what makes us choose one air purifier to test over another? As with most of our product testing, our aim is to test the most popular brands and types on the market, and what you’re most likely to see in shops. Our members can then compare the best performing models to suit their needs.

• We survey manufacturers to find out about their range of products.
• We check market sales information.
• We check for any member requests to test specific air purifiers.

From this information we put together a final list that goes to our buyers. They then head to the retailers (online or in person) and purchase each product, just as a regular consumer would. We do this so we can be sure the products are the same as any consumer would find them and not ‘tweaked’ for better performance.

Sometimes there is limited available stock for particular products due to unusual conditions and this has sometimes been the case with air purifiers due to high demand in times of bushfire smoke and the COVID-19 pandemic. This means we can only include the models we’re able to actually purchase at the time of testing.

How we test air purifiers

We test each air purifier with particles of dust, smoke and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to measure how quickly and effectively it removes them from the air. This test is based on the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) industry standard test for air purifiers. It’s a good way to compare models, but be aware that performance in your home might be different due to different room sizes and shapes and varying levels of pollutants.

Each unit is tested on its highest fan speed setting to give it its best chance of performing well.

The pollutant (dust, smoke or VOC) is introduced in a controlled way into the test chamber and mixed into the air, then the testers measure how fast it naturally precipitates or decays from the air. The chamber is then cleared and the test repeated, this time with the air purifier running. We calculate the percentage of particles removed by the air purifier and compare this with the natural decay rate measured earlier. This tells us how quickly and effectively the air purifier is clearing the air.

The best air purifiers will remove more than 90% of the particles used in our tests. The worst remove significantly less than this.

We test dust removal using fine particles of titanium dioxide. Smoke removal is tested by burning wood chips, and VOC removal is tested with acetone.

Since 1 in 10 air purifier owners we spoke to told us that their machine affected their sleep, we test models on their highest and lowest settings so you’ll know which ones are the least likely to disturb you

What about pollen, germs and mould spores?

Pollen is a common indoor air pollutant and is a typical test for air purifiers, but unfortunately technical challenges with pollen testing have made it difficult to include that particular test. However, any model which performs well at dust and smoke removal should also be good at removing pollen.

Likewise, our test lab doesn’t have the capacity to handle microorganisms, so testing with viruses, bacteria and mould spores isn’t possible for us. The good news is that research shows that a HEPA filter is able to capture these tiny particles. An air purifier that performs well for smoke and dust filtration should be able to trap microorganisms too, but don’t expect it to be able to keep your home completely germ-free.

Test criteria explained

The ����Vlog Expert Rating (our overall score) is made up of performance (70%) and ease of use (30%). We weight each of our criteria a little differently based on the consumer need.

Performance

• Dust, smoke and VOC removal, weighted 50%, 40% and 10% respectively, make up the performance score.

Ease of use

• This score is based on the model’s on-board controls, its remote (if it has one), how easy it is to move around, whether it’s prone to tipping over, how easy it is to clean, and the quality of the supplied instruction manual.��

The post How we test air purifiers appeared first on ����Vlog.

We’ve been asked by several ����Vlog members whether an air purifier can help keep their home clear of germs, including the COVID-19 coronavirus.

The short answer is yes. Viruses like COVID-19 are usually transmitted by small aerosol particles when an infected person breathes out, coughs or sneezes, and these tiny droplets can stay in the air for up to an hour or more. In the right circumstances, a good air purifier can remove most of these particles from a room’s air.

Nevertheless, the air purifier can only filter the air in the room that it’s located in, so air in other parts of the house can remain untreated. And any droplets that settle onto surfaces won’t end up going through the air purifier.

So it’s still very important that you keep up the usual hygiene practices: washing your hands, cleaning hard surfaces, and of course, trying to avoid bringing germs into your home in the first place.

Let’s look at how effective an air purifier filter can be when it comes to trapping a virus.

HEPA filters and COVID-19

HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters claim to filter particles down to 0.3 microns (0.3 micrometres, or 300 nanometres).��

Most viruses vary in diameter from a mere 20 nanometres (that’s 0.02 microns, or 0.00002mm) up to 400nm (0.4 microns) – some are bigger still. A typical coronavirus is about 100 nanometres, or 0.1 microns, in diameter. That puts the coronavirus, and most other viruses, well below the particle size that a HEPA filter can claim to trap.

However, studies show that such tiny particles can still be trapped by a HEPA filter, and in fact the filter has a good chance of trapping most such minuscule particles that it encounters. Because particles of this size tend to move in random directions (rather than in a straight line), there’s a good chance they’ll still make contact with the filter fibres as they pass through it, and become attached to the filter surface just like a larger particle such as dust.

So it’s likely that an air purifier with a HEPA filter will trap a lot of airborne viruses, including the COVID-19 coronavirus, that happen to pass through it. But it won’t necessarily catch them all, or kill them. Even if trapped, the virus may stay alive on the filter surface for several hours or even days. However, the virus will probably eventually die there, unless you happen to remove the filter in the meantime, which might release the virus back into the air or onto your skin.

There is evidence that the small aerosol particles from an outward breath, cough or sneeze can remain airborne for hours, and these particles can carry viruses. While an air purifier with a HEPA filter can help remove these small particles from the air, viruses are also likely to be found on a person’s skin, or on a hard surface that an infected person has touched.��

Larger droplets from a cough or sneeze are likely to settle to the floor or other surfaces rather than remain airborne for a long time. There’s nothing an air purifier can do about particles that have settled out of the air.

So there are several reasons why an air purifier is not a perfect solution to keeping a home virus-free, but can certainly be a big help towards that goal.

Other filters: photocatalytic, carbon and more

• Photocatalytic air purifiers can also trap and kill bacteria and viruses, as they’re caught and potentially broken down by the electrostatic and oxidisation effects of the ions generated by this type of filter.
• Ultraviolet (UV) light is also a good steriliser, and some air purifiers have a UV sterilising feature. But usually a virus or bacteria has to be exposed to UV light for several minutes to be destroyed, and it’s not clear that’s the case inside many air purifiers. If the UV is used to sterilise a filter that has trapped the germs, that could be very effective, but if the air is simply passed through a UV light it may not be exposed for long enough to be of much use.
• Catechin-based filters may also have antiviral properties, but we haven’t seen many models with this type of filter. Catechin is a plant extract with antifungal and antibacterial properties.
• Carbon filters and other types of filters can be good for trapping odours, volatile organic compounds and other pollutants, but are unlikely to trap germs.

Again, though, any of these filters or sterilisers can only trap a virus that has actually been airborne and passed through the air purifier – it can’t do anything about viruses on a person or on a hard surface.

Don’t forget the basics: fresh air and good hygiene

In summary, a good air purifier can trap and even kill viruses in the air, and can be a useful supplement for helping keep your home’s air virus-free and clearing it of dust, smoke and other pollutants.

An alternative to an air purifier is to simply keep the room naturally ventilated, with open windows and doors. Keeping the air circulating and regularly refreshed is the aim here. In circumstances where you can’t do that, such as when the room doesn’t have good natural ventilation, or the air outside is unsuitable (too hot or cold, too smoky or too polluted), then closing the house up and turning on the air purifier is a good option.

But viruses are also found on skin, in bodily fluids or on hard surfaces after human contact. So you still can’t neglect the usual good hygiene practices for avoiding viruses and bacteria: avoid crowded spaces, minimise unnecessary contact, clean any hard surfaces that people often touch (door handles, light switches, taps, toilets and so on), and regularly wash or sanitise your hands.

The post Do air purifiers filter and kill viruses and bacteria? appeared first on ����Vlog.

����Vlog experts dish the dirt on air purifiers

Our ����Vlog review looks at over 50 different models of air purifiers. We give each air purifier scores based on how each model performs in aspects such as dust removal, smoke removal and which are best for removing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the air. In our review you can also find out which models are the most energy efficient, the quietest and the easiest to use.��

����Vlog expert, Chris Barnes, says there’s no guarantee that buying a more expensive air purifier will give you better performance than a cheaper model. He says there are air purifiers in our review that cost around $600–800 that recorded disappointing results. However, ����Vlog air purifier testing does generally find that the models that score the lowest do tend to be cheaper models.

“The cheaper models, say those under $350, tend to be smaller, which means they may struggle to deliver the same air purifying power as a larger model, which could be an issue depending on the size of the space you’re using it in,” says Chris.

Air purifier features you shouldn’t compromise on

No matter how much you want to spend, Chris says to ensure the air purifier you are buying has a HEPA filter and suggests it may be worth buying a model that’s rated as suitable for a slightly larger room than the one you plan to use it in.��

“A HEPA filter traps very small particles. It’s one of the most important features of an air purifier – not all purifiers on the market have this, so make sure you check the product specifications,” he says.

“And most models will advertise what capacity room they’re suited for. You want to ensure that the air purifier works hard enough – or has a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) that’s high enough – so it circulates the full volume of air in your room to clean it thoroughly, otherwise it won’t be doing the job you bought it for. These features may mean you need to pay a little more.”

How do air purifiers under $350 rate in ����Vlog testing?

Below, we’ve rounded up our test results and expert advice on three air purifiers that cost less than $350 but scored higher than other models in that price range. ����Vlog members have access to our detailed test results.��Log in or become a member to find out more

The post Air purifiers under $350 – are they any good? appeared first on ����Vlog.