Do you feel that no matter how well you vacuum or dust your home, there’s still dust in the air? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there is growing evidence that the air inside our homes can be more polluted than outside. Considering that people spend most of their daily lives indoors, It means exposure to polluted air most of the time.
Dust exposure can have varying effects on your health and adversely impacts people with allergies or asthma. Dust allergy can cause sneezing, runny nose, wheezing, itchiness, and watery eyes when inhaled. It is the leading cause of all-year-round allergic rhinitis and a typical indoor allergy. Dust isn’t always visible and, therefore, is challenging to handle. Dust comprises accumulated tiny particles such as soil tracked into the home, particulate matters from outside air, dead skin cells, hair, pet hair, cloth fibers, dust mites, food particles, pet dander, etc. The type of dust indoors also varies based on location, outdoor environment, number of people living in the house, etc.
There are several preventive measures and treatments to tackle dust allergy. An air purifier is a proven and safe method to alleviate dust allergies and help you breathe better by significantly reducing the pollutants in your home.
How Can Air Purifiers Help Reduce Dust?
An air purifier circulates clean air by capturing the dust before it settles on the couch, shelves, bed, wall, and floor with the help of fans and filters. It draws dust and other particulate matter through the internal fan into the filtration system. The filters capture the pass-through contaminants and release purified air back to the room. The cleaning cycle continues until you turn off the air purifier.
A dust air purifier can be beneficial to people that are hyper allergic to dust and experiencing chronic sneezing or stuffy nose and is ideal for people living in a dusty environment.
Things to Consider While Selecting a Dust Air Purifier
Dust and dust mites are microscopic and consist of a variety of debris, contaminants, and allergens. It is ideal to have at least 3-stage filtration for effective dust removal, including a pre-filter, a HEPA filter, and a carbon filter. While there are several options available in the market to work as a dust air purifier efficiently, it should contain:
Pre-filter – Pre-filter traps particulate matter about 2.5 to 100 µm in diameters, such as dust, hair, and debris. It also protects the HEPA filter by reducing the number of particles coming through.
True HEPA Filter – This is the highest level of filtration. In order to carry this label, all HEPA filters must conform to the standards set by the Department of Energy (DOE) and capture at least 99.97% of particles as tiny as 0.3 microns. True HEPA filters are not washable and should be replaced after six months to one year. We have prepared a list of air purifiers with HEPA filter.
HEPA-type filter – A HEPA-type air purifier is a lower-grade version of a True HEPA filter. There is no quality standard for these types of products, and most of the time, no clarity on their effectiveness.
Activated carbon filter – It is a non-washable, deodorizing filter that focuses solely on capturing gases and odor via chemical absorption. It helps in removing odors and making your home smell fresh. In its raw form, carbon is not effective in absorbing odors and needs to be activated first. This is done by a process in manufacturing where they heat it until it hardens and cracks. With the new cracks and crevices, carbon can absorb a wide variety of odors,
Ionizer – The ionic filter or a negative ion generator acts as a secondary defense against dust, allergens, and other germs. It disperses negatively charged ions into the air, which latch onto positive airborne pollutants. These combined ions will become heavier and drop, which will then be collected by the air purifier. As new particles enter a room, the True HEPA filter will need some time to cycle the air and draw them into the filter. Note that an ionizer must comply with the regulation set forth by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) on the ozone emission concentration limit.
ACH – The Air Changes per Hour (ACH) determines how often the air purifier can replace the air within a room with clean, fresh air every hour. This number is usually depicted with an x and a number following it. E.g., an air purifier with an ACH of x3 means that every 20 minutes, the air in the room filters out.
It is ideal to consider an air purifier with a higher ACH to purify the air in a large room. Please note that the air purifier’s ACH measurements are taken while running on the highest fan setting. If you don’t plan on running your purifier on high, choose an air purifier with an ACH that accommodates a larger room than where you plan to use it to effectively remove dust and dust mites, pollen, and other particles that cause allergies. Check out the best air purifiers for large rooms.
CADR – The Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) determines the air purifier’s effectiveness in cleaning the air within a particular size room and producing clean air by volume. CADR is measured in cubic feet per minute (CFM). The higher the number, the quicker it can remove dust in the air for each particle size range. Most devices are given three CADR ratings for smoke, pollen, and dust.
AHAM Certified – Check if the air purifier is certified by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM). The EPA recognizes AHAM to test and verify products for the Energy Star program to ensure safety and efficiency and provide CADR rating and size guidelines. An AHAM-tested air purifier is that it gathers all the information you need in an easy-to-understand number. The downside to AHAM tests is they are conducted in a manufactured environment which may not resemble the real-life conditions. To compensate for this limitation, choose an air purifier that is slightly more powerful than your requirement to accommodate the additional conditions in a real life house.
Noise Level – True HEPA filters and activated carbon filters add a lot of airflow resistance; hence it is challenging to keep the noise level low. Noise is measured in decibels and is represented on a logarithmic scale. This means that for every 10 dB increase, the sound level doubles. So a 60 dB noise level air purifier would be twice as loud as a 50 dB machine. If you plan to use the air purifier during sleep, consider the dB level at the lowest and highest setting
How to Reduce Dust in House
Dusty home can create an unhealthy environment for the occupants. While an air cleaner can make a huge difference, you will still need to do house chores to reduce the overall exposure. Below are some pointers you can follow to avoid dust accumulation in the house.
Clean air filter- Filters in ventilation, HVAC, air conditioner, and air cleaner require cleaning regularly. Check the manual on the filter’s periodic maintenance.
Vacuum regularly- Vacuum thoroughly and cover all corners of the house, including hard-to-reach places and carpet. To avoid stirring up dust in the air, consider a vacuum with a HEPA filter that traps the particles.
Change bed linen regularly- Clean your sheets, pillows, pillowcases, and comforters at least once every week in hot water to kill off dust mites and remove loose fiber. You can switch to hypoallergenic covers for better dust mites protection.
Avoid carpet and faux- While carpeting and rugs may look nice and feel great under your feet, the truth is that these materials are a magnet for dust and harboring dust mites. Do a deep cleaning of carpets and rugs with a vacuum regularly to stop the dust mites from multiplying, which can cause unpleasant allergic reactions. It is ideal to remove any carpeting and rugs that you can and replace them with solid flooring (e.g., hardwood, tile, laminate, or vinyl).
Avoid feather dusters- A feather duster moves dust from one place to another. You can use a damp cloth to wipe down surfaces to collect dust particles more efficiently than a feather duster.
Dust properly- Use a damp cloth or sponge to clean surfaces and trap dust. Start at the top and work your way down to avoid scattering too many dust particles in the air.
Change your HVAC air filter- The filters in the heating and air conditioning system get dirty quickly. Make sure to change this filter once per month so trapped dust doesn’t float back through the system and into the various rooms in the house.
Keep dirt out- Place high-quality doormats in front of every door and make everyone take off their shoes as they come in. Having a shoe tray to the door is also a good idea. This step will reduce the amount of dust and dirt that comes inside from the outdoors.
Clean Rugs Outside- Clean your rugs outside the house by beating them against a hard surface or draping it over a ledge and hitting it with a broom or other wide solid object to get the dust particles and dirt out.
Vacuum under Furniture– Clean underneath your couch and bed regularly, at least every two weeks, as they are often overlooked. Dust can easily travel to other areas of your home whenever there’s a draft in the room, or the air conditioner runs.
Open the windows- Ventilating your home with fresh air is the fastest way to filter out dust from your home.
Select Manufacturer Recommended air filters- Avoid cheap and flimsy air filters as they cannot provide complete protection and tend to break down quickly. Always go for manufacturer-recommended filters. Don’t forget to change filters regularly to eliminate dust effectively.
Best Dust Air Purifiers (With Reviews)
1. Hathaspace Smart True HEPA Air Purifier for Home
(5-in-1 Large Room Air Cleaner for Allergies, Pets, Asthma, Dust)
Breathe easier with the Hathaspace HSP001 air purifier and protect your family from pollutants such as dust, pollen, pet dander, odors, smoke, and VOCs. The 5-in-1 air cleaner can cover rooms up to 700 square feet, filtering 100% of the air every hour, making it ideal for bedrooms, common areas, and the office.
The Hathaspace HSP001 features a 5-stage HEPA filtration system that filters 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. The device can double up as an air cleaner and odor eliminator and features a unique honeycomb activated-carbon filter that absorbs odors, smoke, and VOCs. Ozone-safe and fully approved by CARB, you can separately turn on an anion generator that can target stubborn odors, including litter boxes, cigarettes, and old homes.
The Hathaspace smart air purifier comes with adjustable speed controls and smart auto-mode. An intelligent air quality sensor detects pollutants in the room and makes real-time adjustments to the fan speed. The machine also includes a digital display that reveals live air quality levels, so you always know what you’re breathing. The machine’s package consists of a smart air purifier, 4-in-1 true HEPA filter set, remote control, manual, and a 2-year warranty.
Pros
- H11 True Hepa Filter
- Large Coverage Area
- Whisper-quiet operation
- Easier to clean
- The front cover is easy to remove
Cons
- The mains lead is only 1.4 meters
- Lights are very bright
2. MOOKA High CADR Air Cleaner for 1076 Sq. Ft.
(Allergies, Pollen, Smoke, Dust, Pet Dander)
The MOOKA air purifier has a CADR of 300 m³/h and can efficiently cover areas up to 1076ft² (100m²), delivering fresh, pure air in just 1 hour. The aesthetically designed air purifier perfectly fits large, small rooms, bedrooms, offices, living rooms, nurseries, kitchens, and basements.
The MOOKA air purifier features a medical-grade 4-Stage filtration system that includes a pre-filter, Medical-grade True HEPA, activated carbon filter, and a cold catalyst filter. The pre-filter traps pet fur, hair, and lint, removing these contaminants from the air, while the activated carbon filter absorbs smoke, pets, and cooking odors. True HEPA filter captures 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns, such as pet dander, pollen, mold spores, dust, while the cold catalyst filter targets VOC’s and other harmful chemicals.
The MOOKA air purifier is easy to turn on/off and features, set fan speed mode (low, medium, fast), adjust timer option (1h, 2h, 4h). The three lights of the timer light up to remind you to replace the filter, and you can press and hold the timer and fan speed buttons for 3s to reset the filter lifetime counter. The manufacturer recommends replacing the filter every 3-6 months, depending on the air quality and frequency of use.
The air purifier generates only 23dB noise in sleep mode not to impact the sleep cycle. The machine features a child lock that efficiently prevents error operations caused by pets or children; press and hold the Child Lock button for 3s to lock/unlock the touchpad. The machine is CARB compliant and UL certified and comes with a 30-day no-hassle refund and a one-year return and replacement warranty.
Pros
- Medical Grade Filtration
- Easier installation process
- Easier to clean
- Affordable
Cons
- Slightly loud on normal modes
3. GermGuardian True HEPA Filter Air Purifier
(Eliminates Germs, Filters Allergies, Pets, Pollen, Smoke, Dust, Mold, Odors)
The GermGuardian air purifier kills germs and viruses, filters odors, and traps allergens with a True HEPA filter and optional UV C light to deliver crisp, refreshing air. The air cleaner purifies the air in medium to large rooms and covers 915 sq. feet at one exchange per hour, 458 sq. feet at two exchanges per hour, 305 sq. feet at three exchanges per hour, and 189 sq. feet at 4.8 exchanges per hour.
The GermGuardian’s 5-in-1 air purifier features a True HEPA air filter that reduces up to 99.97% of harmful germs, dust, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, and other allergens as small as .3 microns from the air. The machine comes with a PetPure antimicrobial treatment to inhibit the growth of mold, mildew, and odor-causing bacteria on the filter’s surface. It also includes an activated charcoal filter that helps to reduce unwanted odors from pets, smoke, cooking fumes, etc.
You can customize the GermGuardian air purifier with three-speed settings, ultra-quiet mode on the lowest speed setting, and an optional UV C light on an easy-to-use top panel. The machine comes with a five-year warranty. The lowest setting can be used as gentle white noise at night for a quiet, restful sleep. The air purifier comes equipped with indicator lights that automatically blink when replacing the filter or UV-C bulb. The manufacturer recommends changing the filter every 6 to 9 months, depending on use.
Pros
- True HEPA filter
- Long Warranty
- Wider Coverage
- Reduces Odors
Cons
- Noisy on higher settings
4. Coway Airmega AP-1512HHS (AP-1519P)
(HEPA Air Purifier)
The Coway Airmega AP-1512HHS air purifier is designed to accommodate room sizes up to 325 square feet. The Coway Airmega AP-1512HHS features True HEPA and activated charcoal filters to capture and reduce up to 99. 97% of 0.3 microns particles in the air, including pollen, pollutants, and other allergens. The air purifier can also reduce more than 90% of volatile organic compounds and fumes such as NH3 and CH3CHO.
The Coway Airmega AP-1512HHS works with the Coway IoCare mobile application, including indoor and outdoor air quality monitoring, filter notification, scheduling, and speed and smart mode control. It is also compatible with Alexa. You can ask Alexa about the indoor air quality or change the fan speed. You can receive notifications when your filter needs a replacement or set up smart reorders with the help of the Alexa app.
The Coway Airmega AP-1512HHS features a pollution sensor that communicates indoor air quality in real-time. The air purifier’s brightly colored LED lets you know how clean or dirty your indoor air is every minute of the day. It also features a timer that allows the device to run 1/4/8 hours before automatically powering off.
The Coway Airmega AP-1512HHS comes with three manual fan speeds and also includes an Auto mode. In the Auto mode, the machine automatically optimizes the fan speed based on the level of indoor air quality. If the device does not detect any pollution for 30 minutes, it will automatically stop the fan entering Eco mode to save energy. The air purifier has 80-watt power consumption and quiet operation with noise levels ranging from 24. 4 dB to 53.8 dB
Pros
- Alexa and Google Assistant Compatible
- Air Quality Indicator
- Quiet and Lightweight
- Excellent dust removal
Cons
- Difficult to setup Wi-Fi
5. RENPHO Air Purifier for Home
(Eliminate 99.97% Odors Smoke Mold Pollen Dust with 3-Stage Filtration System, No Ozone)
RENPHO air purifier helps prevent dust accumulation on surfaces and trap airborne mold spores, bacteria, and even pet odors. The air purifier filters air 3 times per hour in an area up to 103ft²/9.6㎡. The compact air cleaner is ideal for a house of any style and size, whether it is bedrooms, office, children’s room, pet’s room, and other small to medium-size spaces.
The Renpho air purifier features a 3 stage filtration system (Pre-Filter, True HEPA Filter, and Activated Carbon Filter) that effectively captures allergens, dander, pet hair, smoke, mold, and large dust particles. In addition, it can remove 99.97% of airborne contaminants as small as 0.3 microns. The machine comes with three fan speeds, from high, medium, or low, and a quiet sleep mode where you can set the device on the quietest setting (37 dB) that enables night light to help you sleep easier. The Lightweight air purifier is small enough for a bedside table or nightstand.
The filters on the Renpho air purifier can be vacuum cleaned, reducing the need to buy replacement filters. Check and clean the filters once monthly. The machine comes with a built-in replacement indicator that reminds you when you need to replace your filter. The Renpho air purifier does not use harmful UV or ions. The machine is Intertek ETL/CARB/CA PROP 65 certified for sale in California.
Pros
- Sturdy construction
- Lightweight and portable
- Competitively priced
Cons
- The noise level is a bit loud unless on sleep mode
6. InvisiClean Aura II Air Purifier
(For Bacteria, Dust, Mold, Allergens, Odor Elimination)
The InvisiClean Aura II Air Purifier eliminates common allergy triggers, including dust mites, pollen, and pet dander. The machine has a CADR of 170 CFM/ 289m³/h and covers 1,276 sq. ft. at one air change and 319 sq. ft. at four air changes per hour.
When the air enters the Aura II Purifier, it passes through a special prefilter featuring activated charcoal (carbon). This prefilter catches larger particles such as hair, dust, and pet dander – so they won’t clog the rest of the unit. Plus, it absorbs and neutralizes odors from smoke, cooking, pets, etc.; the air then passes through the True HEPA Filter, which captures up to 99.985% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns. The air purifier’s built-in ionizer constantly emits negative ions. These ions attract airborne particulates, which then clump together into larger clusters.
The InvisiClean Aura Air Purifier utilizes a low EMF radiation DC motor, stronger than the AC motors used in most other air cleaners. It delivers 170 cubic feet of purified air per minute – double the output of other models in its class and uses up to 82% less energy. The machine comes with an easily replaceable H13 99.985% true HEPA filter and activated carbon prefilter with an optional ionizer and disinfecting UV-C light.
The InvisiClean Aura II Air Purifier is conveniently compact – less than a foot wide and under 18 inches tall. It runs at four speeds – Low, Medium, High, and Turbo – for maximum effectiveness. The portable powerhouse also offers a filter change indicator, timer shutoff, sleep mode, and independent UV light and ionizer controls. The InvisiClean Air purifier is Intertek ETL Listed & CARB approved for sale in California.
Pros
- Well-built with a fairly heavy plastic case, the case is easy to care for and use
- Four-speed settings from low to turbo
- On its lowest setting, it is almost silent.
- The front case opens easily and has a magnetic button that turns the unit off to service the filer.
Cons
- No Smart features
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