Are you looking for a means to improve your indoor air quality? Then try using air purifiers! They safeguard homes from mold spores, airborne pollutants, chemical gases, and household odors. But since replacing air purifier filters frequently is hectic and costly, you can use washable filters. Our article explores the best air purifier with a washable filter for great air quality.
The best air purifier with a washable filter we reviewed is the Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier. It purified a large area well using its 3-stage filtration that contained a True HEPA filter, the latest PlasmaWave technology, and a washable carbon filter. Our second best choice is BlueAir 211 Air Purifier which only came second because it could clean medium to large rooms and was aesthetically pleasing. The third air purifier with a washable filter we selected is the Blueair Blue Pure 411 Air Purifier since it uses two fabric pre-filters and a collapsible carbon filter to eliminate odor, smoke, and mold.
1. Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier with True HEPA, PlasmaWave, and Odor Reducing Washable
- True HEPA filter captures 99.97% of airborne pollutants; dust...
- Washable AOC Carbon Filter, made from activated carbon granulars...
- PlasmaWave acts as a permanent filter to safely break down odor,...
- Smart Sensors gauge the air and our Auto Mode adjusts the fan to...
- CADR rated for 360 square feet room size. Suitable for medium and...
The Winix 5500-2 air purifier is the best among all the Winix air purifiers. It was a great choice; we sought a wide area filter. Also, this model used a 3-stage filtration that contained a True HEPA filter, the latest PlasmaWave technology, and a washable carbon filter. These three filtration stages helped trap about 99% of airborne allergens and boost the purifier's performance. Additionally, it got rid of air pollutants that we could breathe in. When the filter needed to be replaced, an indicator light went on.
This air purifier also came with a washable Advanced Odour Control (AOC) carbon filter to add more protection to the HEPA filter. Besides, it left fresh scents in our rooms, removing household odors. It was an optional filtration measure that we could switch on or off.
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Since this model came with a permanent pre-filter, we cleaned it after every two weeks. On the other hand, the carbon filter should be washed every three months. We, however, replaced the filters every twelve months with the help of a filter replacement indicator.
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One of its noteworthy features was Auto Mode. It tested the air quality and adjusted the fan as required. It also had a Smart Sensor, which worked when Auto Mode was used. These smart sensors detected lighting levels and automatically adjusted the LED intensity and the fan speed to match the environment.
Furthermore, it came with four different speed settings. This enabled us to set the speed limit to Low, Medium, High, or Turbo. It also changed the color to show the air quality; hence we always knew why there was a different fan speed. This model is ideal for individuals who want an air purifier with a washable filter for their mid-sized to large rooms. It worked well to remove dust, chemicals, and also odors.
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This all-rounder purifier with washable filters could cover up to 360 square feet (33.45 sq. meters). Even though most air purifiers with washable filters are silent enough to use in bedrooms, this Winix 5500-2 model was the quietest. It was designed to fine-tune the lighting. Similarly, when left in Auto Mode with lights off, it automatically shifted to Sleep Mode. This reduced the fan speed and faded the lights to avoid disturbance at night. Included was a remote control for the convenience of changing settings from anywhere in our room. Lastly, it came with a 1-year warranty.
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2. Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier
- SIMPLE ONE-BUTTON CONTROL: Easily adjust fan as-needed with one...
- CLEAN AIR IN MINUTES: Blueair's HEPASilent technology, delivers...
- ONE OF THE QUIESTEST AIR PURIFIERS: Quieter (31 dB) than whisper...
- COMBAT ALLERGENS: Helps reduce allergens and pollutants that...
- REMOVES ODOR & PARTICLES DOWN TO 0.1 MICRON: Ideal for smoke &...
The Blue Pure Air 211+ cleaner is ideal for medium to large rooms. It came with a color customization feature which made it not look like an air purifier with its whole aesthetic. Its outside pre-filters were available in five different colors, and it was up to us to get a color that matched our interior decor. Included in the kit are dark blue and grey pre-filters. We could also purchase other colors separately.
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This air purifier with washable filters competently cleansed the air for medium-sized to large rooms. It covered an area of 400-600 sq. Ft. (37.16 sq. metres-55.74 sq. meters) with the help of a 3-stage filtration system.
These included:
– The washable fabric pre-filter was the outer filter that caught the big contaminants. For example, dust mites, hair, or fur.
Meanwhile, the particle filter helped to eliminate irritants like allergens, pollen, mold spores, and even pet dander. This helped to reduce air congestion.
Lastly, the carbon filter eliminated odors and other gases. Therefore, the filter system of this Blue Pure model eliminated 99% of the air pollutants. All the filters were reusable. It was suggested that we replace them every six months.
The CADR rate of this air purifier with washable filters was 350, which helped to eliminate nasty particles or smells from the air. It worked at a rate of 350 cubic feet per minute. This boosted filtration and ensured no escape from pollutants because of the cleaning power.
We could use it either day or night because it was very quiet. The noise level was a significant aspect of the air purifier. This Blue Pure had a low noise level, even at the highest speed. We only had to switch the device to the low setting at night and relax. Finally, this purifier was very energy efficient and saved us a lot of money.
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3. Blueair Blue Pure 411 Air Purifier with a Washable Filter
- SIMPLE ONE-BUTTON CONTROL: Easily adjust fan as-needed with one...
- CLEAN AIR IN MINUTES: Blueair's HEPASilent technology, delivers...
- CERTIFIED QUIETEST AIR PURIFIER: Quiet Mark approved - quieter...
- ASTHMA plus ALLERGY: Removes 99.99% of pollen, helping reduce...
- REMOVES ODOR & PARTICLES DOWN TO 0.1 MICRON: Ideal for smoke &...
The Blueair Blue Pure 411 with a washable HEPA filter is on our list since it uses two fabric pre-filters and a collapsible carbon filter to eliminate odor, smoke, and mold. It functions via electrostatic filtration, removing 99.97% of airborne particles on five air changes an hour in a 161-square-foot room. Its sound levels are 17 – 46dB making it the ideal bedroom choice.
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The best feature of this unit is its 360 airflow that enables better air distribution. Additionally, it has easy-to-use controls consisting of a smile button that you can use t turn on or control the settings.
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4. Honeywell AirGenius 5 Air Cleaner
- TOWER AIR PURIFIER – Help make the air in your home cleaner...
- HELPS REMOVE MICROSCOPIC AIRBORNE PARTICLES - This quiet air...
- EFFECTIVE AIR CLEANING AND CIRCULATION –Honeywell Air Purifiers...
- PERMANENT FILTERS – Home air purifier includes a Permanent,...
- A BRAND YOU CAN TRUST – Backed with a 5-year warranty,...
Another great brand that is quite reputable is Honeywell for purifiers, dehumidifiers, or heaters. This is such a simple and effective model. This air purifier had a washable filter and it was quite powerful also because it had several layers of filters. It came with three cleaning layers: briefly, comprises of a pre-filter, a main filter, and an odor-filter.
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For other people, it was the top air purifier with a washable filter because of the iFD filter it used. Also, it eliminated 99% of particles in our air. All three filters were washable. This purifier was ideal for people looking to purify a medium-sized room of approximately 250 square feet (23.23 sq. meters). Moreover, it was perfect for anybody who kept pets as it reduced allergens and gases.
Honeywell AirGenius 5 Air Cleaner came with smart touchscreen controls that gave it an exclusive look and made it easy to read. We could choose from 5 different cleaning levels on its touchscreen according to our preferences or needs. The five cleaning levels included Allergens, Sleep, Max, Germs, and General Clean. Also, it was technically progressive and had a sleek look to it. It was silent and offered a 2-12-hour automatic shut-off function for added convenience.
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5. Airdog X5 Air Purifier
- [Nanoscale Active Filtration] Rather than merely collecting, the...
- [Patented Washable Filter] Do you know that HEPA filters that are...
- [Larger Purification Coverage] Designed with a wide 360° air...
- [Knowing Your Home’s Air Quality] With the built-in air quality...
- [Quieter Than a Whisper] The Airdog washable filter air purifier...
Airdog X5 air purifier has permanent TPA filters, which are fully washable and reusable. It utilizes electrostatic filtration to eliminate even the tiniest pollutants.
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The X5 has very strong motors whereby it facilitates two full air exchange within an hour in a room of 900 sq ft. We considered the air purifier very easy to operate, with an auto – function which constantly assessed the quality of air in our environment environment and adjusted the air purifier’s purifier, four fan settings to fight the contaminants. It also had a sleep mode where it turned off the lights by itself to help you star the night off on a good note.
The only drawback we noticed also was that this unit offered slightly less CADR/room coverage as compared to other units in the same price bracket. But it is a perfect air purifier with permanent or washable filters as a bonus feature.
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Factors to Consider When Buying the Best Air Purifier with Washable Filters
When purchasing an air purifier with washable filters, there are factors you should consider to ensure that you get the best one for your needs. Some of these factors include:
1. Filter Efficiency
The effectiveness of the washable filter is another consideration when choosing the right air purifier for the room. The efficiency should remove high portion of pollutants and separate particles in the air including dust, smoke, pollen and pet dander.
2. Room Size
You should also think about the size of a room in which you are going to place the air purifier. Select an air purifier relative to adequate coverage area since coverage area helps determine the size of the room an air purifier would effectively work on.
3. Noise Level
Some air purifiers produce a lot of noise when they are operating. Consider the noise level of the air purifier and choose one that produces minimal noise if you plan to use it in a bedroom or other quiet space.
4. Maintenance
Try and use an air purifier that is easy to clean and maintain since you will be using it for a long time. Choose an air purifier with filter, preferably those that are washable, so that you can easily clean it and put back again.
5. Cost
One should have a budget and regarding the air purifier, it should not be very expensive. Besides, include the cost of the filters that are used and the electrical power consumption.
6. Brand Reputation
You have to make sure that the air purifier you are going to buy has a good review and rating from a known brand. A reputable brand guarantees the effectiveness of the product that you intend to buy.
7. Additional Features
There are air purifiers that have smart control, sensor, and timers among other things. Think of the important factors and select an air purifier which possesses these factors.
Frequently Asked Questions on the Best Air Purifier with Washable Filters
1. Is there a washable filter for air purifiers?
Yes, this is the truth most of the air purifiers available in the market today come with washable filters. These filters are supposed to be washed and used over and over again and this means more savings and less waste.
Washable filters typically come in two main types:
- Washable pre-filters: They form the first layer of defense in an air purifier and are designed to trap larger dirt particles such as dust, pet fur, and pollen. Most of them are designed to be washable in foam or mesh material that one can easily wash with water.
- Washable HEPA filters: HEPA filters remove very small particles; smoke particles, bacteria, and virus particles inclusive of flu bugs. Some air purifiers even have HEPA filters which can be washed with water or vacuum cleaner.
In addition, not all air purifiers have washable filters and, therefore, it may be necessary to consult the user manual before making a purchase. Also, even if the filter is washable, you only get to use it for some time before it is necessary to replace it according to the manufacturer’s washing and replacement recommendations.
2. Is it worth buying air purifiers with washable filters?
If your use of air purifiers provides you with washing facilities for the filters, then it could be worth the investment. However, if you agree to clean the filter often, and if you can afford to lose somewhat efficiency in purifying the air, then go for this type of air purifier. If that’s so, investing in an air purifier with a washable filter can be a sound idea. But if you need the air to be as clean as it can be or if you don’t have time or willingness to wash the filters, than getting an air purifier with disposable filters is preferable.
3. Are HEPA air purifier filters washable and reusable?
The HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter is made of dense fibrous materials which efficiently trap all types of particles including dust, pollen etc. Even though some air purifiers employ pre-filters that are washable or the HEPA filters themselves are not washable or reusable.
To clean the filter, one rinses it, and in the process, the fibers are mascaraded and become useless in trapping pollutants and shortening its service span. Second, on HEPA filters the cleaning process may not effectively eliminate all trapped particles and these particles may be released back into the air.
As a result, most manufacturers advise on the kind of time interval to adhere to in order to replace HEPA filters and most commonly this falls between six months to two years.
4. Is a washable filter better than a HEPA filter?
It all depends with the kind of filtering that you wish to do depending on the kind of contaminants which are afloat in the place.
Filter of washing can also be of advantage since they can be used several times, hence saving costs in future. Although, compared to HEPA filters they are not as efficient particularly when it comes to particles such as allergens, bacteria, and viruses. This is because washable filters are better suited for larger particles such as pet dander, dust, and debris.
On the other hand HEPA filters are very effective in capturing small particles; therefore, they are preferable to individuals with allergies or respiratory diseases. However, they need to be changed from time to time, and this may prove to be very expensive.
In general, if you need the highest level of filtration and relatively small particles are the target, then you should prefer a HEPA filter. A washable filter may be ideal for you especially if you are coping with bigger particles and you are looking forward to incurring less expenses. It also make sense to note that some filters use both, washable as well as HEPA filtration technique for efficiency purposes.
5. How often should you wash a washable air filter?
The washable air filter cleaning frequency depends on the type of the filter, the environment it is used in or the frequency of use. For a washable air filter we suggest washing it every 3–6 months or as often as needed based on whether it is used in a dusty or polluted area or is used more than once a day.
But it is nonetheless imperative to consult the manufacturer’s guidelines to get a precise understanding of how often the filter can be washed. Depending on the type of filter, it may need to be washed more often than another type of filter may be washed only infrequently.
Also it is good to check up on the filter now and then and if dirty, wash it accordingly. If a filter is stained or otherwise looks to be obstructed by dirt or debris, then it should be cleaned even though it has not been three to six months since it had been done. This will also help ensure that the filter is operating optimally and assisting in maintaining good indoor air quality.
