Air Purifier Product Database

Honeywell AirGenius 5

First up on my list is the Honeywell AirGenius 5. It's rated for a room up to 250 square feet.

The AirGenius 5 is a great choice for several reasons. I especially love its tower design, which takes up very little floor space and fits well in nearly any room.

The black exterior is simple yet elegant, and thanks to the quiet operation, I hardly even notice it's there.

This device uses two forms of filtration. The first is a pre-filter that removes large particles like pet hair, pollen, and dander.

I found the filter easy to remove and clean - just give it a few passes with a vacuum cleaner wand.

The next filtration stage is where the magic happens, though. Air particles move through the ifD filter, which can capture the most microscopic particles, including odor, dust mites, and mold spores.

An ifD filter is an "intense field dielectric."  According to Darwin Technology, this allows them to remove the tiniest sub-micron particles without the use of a high-pressure-drop fiber matrix, as found in HEPA filters.

This honeycomb-shaped filter can be washed by soaking it in warm, soapy water.

Together, these filters give the AirGenius 5 a CADR of 161, circulating the air 5 times within an hour. It also comes with a programmable timer and 5 fan speeds.

The device comes with an extra odor filter along with 2 primary washable filters, so I don't have to wait to start purifying again.

My only complaint is that the highest fan speed has a loud whirring noise of 60 decibels, but I didn't notice much noise on the lower settings.

NuWave OxyPure Zero

Nuwave is trying to change the way we think about air purification, and the OxyPure Zero is the only purifier on my list that promises to remove 100% of airborne particles as small as 0.1 microns. 

This is my absolute favorite air purifier for bigger spaces of up to 2002 square feet.

While most air purifiers with washable filters use one or two filters, such as the Honeywell AirGenius 5, the NuWave OxyPure Zero  really takes it up a notch, providing 4 layers of filtration for super clean air. 

The filters include a stainless steel prefilter, an ozone filter (the only one that's not washable), and two Bio-Guard filters. 

The Bio-Guard filters are Nuwave's patented technology, and the company notes that they work by using Electrostatic Precipitation (ESP) to capture 100% of particle pollutants as small as 0.09 microns and eliminates 99.99% of bacteria along with 99.96% viruses and mold from the air.

Nuwave takes their technology seriously, and this has added up to multiple certifications on the OxyPure, including from Intertek Labs, CARB, EPA, and Energy Star.

The OxyPure Zero is so energy efficient that you can run it day and night (either manually or via WIFI) and it will still only cost you an average of $10 in electricity– for the year!

So what's the catch? Well, all of these premium features come with a premium price tag, and the Nuwave OxyPure Zero retails for about $400. 

Still, if you break down that price by the number of years the unit is said to last (20), then you're only looking at about $20 per year!

And for those who like this model but who don't require as much coverage, a slightly smaller version is available with 3-stage filtration and can cover 966 square feet.

Gideon Plug-in Air Purifier

Before I get into the nitty gritty of the Gideon Plug-in Purifier, let me just emphasize that this personal air purifier can be cleaned by popping the filter out and wiping it clean, much like you would a dryer lint trap. 

Please don’t use water to wash the filter, and remember to never plug anything wet into an outlet! 

Now that we have that settled, I have to say that I was really excited to try the Gideon plug-in air purifier ionizer, which is slightly different than regular air purifiers.

Because, sometimes I don’t need to purify over 1000 square feet with my NuWave OxyPure Zero, and I’m definitely not traveling with my Honeywell HFD 120 Q tower. 

Sometimes I just want to purify my office cubicle. Or my hotel room!

I have loved taking this handy little device on work trips with me. 

The only downside is trying not to leave it there when I check-out, because it’s that quiet and out-of-the-way that I often forget about it. 

The marketing for this one does boast a lot of claims, including that it creates “mood boosting ions.”

I’m not sure about all that, but I do know that it helps with pesky odors and keeps my mind at ease during flu season.

Related article: Comparing air purifiers and ionizers

Honeywell QuietClean

Another popular air purifier from Honeywell is the QuietClean. Like the AirGenius 5, this model comes with washable filters that are easy to remove, clean, and replace.

It's capable of purifying up to 170 square feet, making it the ideal choice for medium-sized rooms.

Each included filter is washable and permanent, so there's no need to spend extra money on filtration.

Similar to the AirGenius5, this one uses ifD filtrations as well as an ionizer, making it extremely effective at removing microscopic bacteria from the air.

I recommend cleaning the ifD filter at least once a month. Still, even if you forget, the air purifier will notify you with a handy indicator light.

Vacuum cleaning is recommended, but you can also use warm soapy water as long as you wait for the filter to dry completely before replacing it.

Another great feature of the QuietClean is its quiet operation. In fact, that's what the "Q" stands for!

While it says the noise rating is 45 decibels, I actually think it's closer to 25 - I could barely hear anything after powering on this air purifier.

OION Technologies B-1000

Let’s focus on a different type of purification technology with the Oion B-1000.

Instead of using True HEPA filters or ifD filtration, this air purifier turns to ionic energy to clean the air. It does this by sending out negative ions that attach to harmful air molecules.

In addition to ionization, this air purifier is built with a carbon filter that absorbs smoke and odors.

This filter can be cleaned by hand, but replacing it every 6-12 months is still recommended, depending on usage.

To clean the large filter, which is an electrostatically charged metal component, simply lift it out of the top of the B-1000, wipe it clean, and lock it back into place. That’s it!

This air purifier also uses a UV-C bulb to rid the room of unpleasantries. Just be aware that while ionizers and UV-C products are effective, they often create ozone, which is a pollutant and a lung irritant.

That said, most of these smaller models will create a negligible amount.

While it’s not the most traditional type of air purifier with permanent filtration solutions, it gets the job done through ionization and UV-C purification.

Related article:  Safety tips for using ionic air purifiers 

Related article: Filterless air purifiers reviewed

How do I know if my air filter is washable?

Check your air filter’s label, user manual, or product description for terms like "washable" or "permanent," and look for cleaning instructions involving water or mild detergent.

Will I save money by using  washable filter?

Yes, you can save money by using a washable filter in your air purifier. As long as they’re well-maintained and washed regularly, reusable filters can be used indefinitely.

How often should I wash my filter?

You should maintain your filter by washing it every 30 days to ensure steady airflow through the filter.

Can washable air purifier filters be machine-washed?

No, most washable filters are not meant to be machine-washed.

While carbon, ifD, and HEPA filters are durable, they can be easily damaged within a washing machine. The better option is to clean your filter with a vacuum cleaner wand.