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Air purifiers for pets, pollen, and pollution

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Allergies are more annoying than usual lately, right?

No really, it’s not your imagination — pollen season is getting worse every year, and air purifiers are making their way to the must-have list of home appliances.

A recent segment on ABC News detailed that climate change is a huge factor that’s contributing to the worsening pollen seasons. Among the culprits are high temperatures and raised levels of carbon dioxide, both of which can affect the proteins in the pollen grains that cause these allergies. 

In the story, Dr. Jeffrey Demain, a board-certified allergist and immunologist, is quoted saying, “It’s been shown that in rising carbon dioxide, the allergenic peptide of each pollen grain goes up.” He also points out that carbon dioxide levels have been “shown to increase the amount of biomass and pollen production by a plant,” as quoted in the article. 

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America has even said that climate change is a “serious threat” to public health, citing longer allergy seasons and worsening air quality caused by rising temperatures. But allergies aren’t the only reason to invest in an air purifier (or air cleaner, as they’re sometimes called.)

We know taking deep breaths is calming and all, and we don’t want to freak you out — but those big gulps of oxygen can contain a lot of harmful dust, pollen, smoke particles, mold spores, and pet dander. Dirty air is easy to overlook because you don’t notice it, but your future self could very well feel the effects. We’re talking asthma, immune system weakening, lung problems, and increased vulnerability to sick building syndrome.

But there is a light at the end of this snot-filled tunnel: Eliminating these airborne particles is the best way to cope with allergies and other respiratory infections — and there’s no better way to trap these pain-in-the-ass irritants and increase air quality than by using an air purifier with a HEPA filter. 

Plus, air purifiers are ace when it comes to ridding a space of animal smells like litter boxes and pet beds, as well as clearing the air of smoke stench from cigarettes, pollution, or fires without opening a window. (And no, getting an air freshener is not good enough.)

As you can guess, Amazon is totally on top of the air purifier game. We found the ones with the best customer reviews, and have separated them by price. Whether you need something small to take with you or you’re in the market for an air purifier that can handle the whole house, you’re covered. May the red eye relief be with you.


Inexpensive • Small and compact • Includes a snazzy LED light that changes colors

Has to be plugged in to work • Short lifespan

The 9Oine Cool Mist Humidifier uses PureMist ultrasonic technology to clean the air in your own personal space. It’s small and compact enough to take with you in your car or office.

1. 9Oine Cool Mist Humidifier

This is a breath of fresh air you can take with you literally anywhere.

  • Dimensions:
    5.7 x 2.7 x 2.7 inches
  • Weight:
    4 ounces
  • Mist output:
    35mL/H
Named a #1 new release on Amazon, the rechargeable 9Oine Mist ca and Portable USB Ultrasonic Air Purifier is the breath of fresh air you can take with you literally anywhere. (Yes, we know it looks like a mini espresso maker.) Its PureMist ultrasonic technology operates at below 15 decibels (the average person needs just below 60, so this is extra clean) and projects ultra hygienic and humidified air. It also features a color-changing LED light, because why not?
Amazon customer MariaM writes:

Got it last Friday and took it on a road trip. Was great in the car and in the hotel room! This holds SO MUCH water which is awesome because you don’t have to refill as often. And, it seems to be nice quality.

Your car, office, camping tent, and hotel room just got a lot less stuffy. Overall, it has a 4.8 out of 5 star rating, purchased by nearly 30 people. Get it for $13.79 here.


Great for pet owners • HEPA filter • Best for large spaces

For pet owners only. For less than $60, this system cleans and purifies the nasty smells and pet hairs left from dogs and cats.

Pet parents: We know you love your fur babies, but you can admit that their beds or litter boxes don’t smell the best. The Hamilton Beach 04384 Pet Specialized Air Cleaner is your answer to combatting reeking rooms (and getting rid of pet hair that you constantly see floating in the air). This is due to its 99% HEPA filtration and use of zeolites, or non-toxic absorbent crystals, which are naturally activated when combined with heat and water, and are also being used in new efforts to reduce CO2 emissions. 
The Hamilton Beach air cleaner is said to be optimal for rooms up to 140 square feet, but numerous customers have mentioned that it can handle larger spaces.
Amazon customer RoundGoatCrafts writes:

I’m very pleased with these… enough that I bought two for my house and one for my mother’s house! We have one big (mastiff) dog, and a couple small dogs, plus three cats. I placed in the laundry room (where the cat box is) and in the living room (where the dog beds are) and within 48 hours I couldn’t even tell we had pets! My husband also smokes in the house, and we can tell a definite improvement in the air quality and freshness. Highly recommended.

Overall, it has a 4.2 out of 5 star rating, purchased by nearly 2,500 people. Get the Amazon’s Choice product for $51.10 here.


Sleek • Compact • Highly effective

Don’t let its small size fool you. This air purifier is mighty powerful at killing dust, pollen, pet dander, and more to make your home a clean space that’s allergy-free.

3. LEVOIT LV-H132 Air Purifier

This is one of the sleekest little guys on the market.

  • Dimensions:
    8.5 x 8.5 x 14.5 inches
  • Weight:
    6.48 pounds
  • HEPA air purifier:
    Yes
On the hunt for something more powerful? The Levoit LV-H132 Air Purifier is one of the sleekest little guys on the market, and though it’s small enough to sit on a desk, its cleaning capacity is massive. 
Ideal for small rooms or offices, the three-stage filtration system apparently kills 99.7% of dust, pollen, and pet dander, including particles as small as .3 microns. It’s also 100% ozone free — this basically means that it does not use UV or ions, which produce trace amounts of measurable ozone (a harmful air pollutant).
Amazon customer Sasha raves, writing:

Worth every cent. We live in the heart of Manhattan and we bought this particular product as I can smell cigarette smoke coming through the walls from the neighbors. I also wake up with a stuffy nose most days. I put the product in the room to test it and was blown away by how awesome the air smelled. Like being up a mountain. I can’t smell cigarette smoke and after the first night of using the air purifier I didn’t have a stuffy nose in the morning.

I highly recommend this product for anyone who lives in a city. You don’t realize how low the quality of air is until you try this product, and it really does make a significant difference. Super impressed.

Overall, it has a 4.3 out of 5 star rating, purchased by nearly 2,000 people. Get it for $89.99 here.


Cleaning modes available • Versatile

The Honeywell 50250-S True HEPA Air Purifier is great for large rooms. In fact, it’s pretty versatile for just about any room in your home, big or small.

For a little more oomph and widespread coverage, the Honeywell 50250-S True HEPA Air Purifier is great for larger rooms up to 390 square feet. With your choice of one of four cleaning modes (germ, general clean, allergen, or turbo), this powerhouse can apparently filter and circulate air in the room five times per hour — and will automatically shut off after the selected amount of time. It can sit on the floor or on a tabletop, which makes it a pretty versatile choice for homes of all sizes.
Amazon customer Shirotaka writes:

“I got this HEPA filter for my server room, but set it up in my office first just to try it out, and WOW, the air in here is amazing. It FEELS easier to breath. I think I’m going to get a few more one for my bedroom, and one for my office. I have now purchased 3 of these units, and so far I love them. Literally every person that has come into my office has commented on how amazing the air is. My son commented that it wasn’t that the air smelled better, it was that the air didn’t smell at all, which was very refreshing.” 

There are way too many other positive reviews to count, with numerous customers mentioning how quiet this thing is — even on the Turbo setting. Overall, it has a 4.1 out of 5 star rating and has been purchased by over 3,600 people. Get it for $210.99 here.


Wide range • Best of the best • Customizable

Looking to convert dank and miserable air into fresh air? The Alen BreatheSmart Customizable Air Purifier will do the trick for you. While it’s really expensive, it’s worth the cost if you suffer from any lung conditions or asthma.

Meet the granddaddy of all purifiers: The Alen BreatheSmart Customizable Air Purifier can make your indoor air practically as fresh as outdoor air, and is ideal for those who have severe allergies, lung conditions or asthma, or who live in areas with lots of pollution or where forest fires are common. 
Probably similar to something you’d see the cast of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition put into a house, this puppy provides robust coverage to spaces up to 1,100 square feet. The purifier also comes with built-in air quality monitor and a HEPA-Odorcell filter, best for eliminating lingering diaper, pet, or mold odors. 
It’s also available in more than a dozen color and finish options, plus there’s also one that’s specifically designed to be painted so you can match it to your room. Here’s what one Amazon customer had to say about this air purifier:

These are amazing. My husband has some lung issues. When he was in the hospital for an another issue, he didn’t cough. The first night he was home he started coughing again. So we thought, hospitals have the ultimate in filtrated air. So I found the best air purifiers I could find and bought them. The first night we used them, his cough was much improved. We use them almost 24/7 now and wouldn’t be without them.

The BreatheSmart has a 4.5 overall rating (out of 5), purchased by nearly 400 people. And thanks to the aforementioned color options, even though it will take up a bit of floor space, it can at least blend in with your decor. 
Prices start at $599.99, but customers say it’s “worth every dang penny.” Get yours here.

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