Quality air can work wonders in making you feel better and productive. But air purifiers use many chemicals, and intaking them isn’t so healthy, especially if you’re sensitive to chemicals.
In this article, I’ve tailored a list of the best air purifiers for chemical sensitivity for those with allergies.
Best Air Purifier for Chemical Sensitivity
- Winix 5500-2
- Dyson HP04
- PARTU BS-08
- Levoit H13
- GermGuardian AC4200W
The 5 Best Air Purifiers for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity in 2022
Now, let’s go over every option and delve into their pros and cons to help you pick the top air purifier for MCS that won’t give you skin rashes.
1. Winix 5500-2
The Winix 5500-2 is the best air purifier for multiple chemical sensitivity in every sense and comes at a reasonable price with effective purification techniques.
Firstly, it has genuine HEPA filters that catch 99.97% of airborne particles, including allergens like pollen, pet dander, and dust mites. Combine that with the PlasmaWave permanent filter, and you'll eliminate any odors, allergens, chemical vapors, and pollutants.
Moreover, the Winix 5500-2 is equipped with smart sensors that gauge the air and uses Auto Mode to adjust the fan to provide the needed air filtration. There’s also a sleep mode that minimizes operation noise during the night.
It also comes with an AOC (Advanced Odor Control) carbon filter, which uses activated carbon granules to get rid of any home odors. With 360 square feet CADR rating, the Winix 5500-2 is powerful enough for medium to large rooms.
What’s more, it operates at only 27.8 dB; it’s so quiet that you might even forget that you have it on. And if you do forget, you don’t have to worry about energy consumption as this unit is Energy Star certified.
As a matter of fact, it comes with plenty of certifications, including AHAM CADR, CARB, and a CUL listing.
Pros:
- Sleek design
- Runs quietly even at fan speed 3
- AHAM-certified
- Remote control option
Cons:
- Auto mode’s sensor is rather weak
- Remote is hard to use without a backlight during the night
- Limited remote features
- Plasma wave turns on by default
2. Dyson HP04
The Dyson HP04 works in multiple ways; you can use it for heating or cooling or use the backward airflow mode to purify the air without them.
Capturing particles as small as 0.1 microns, it can capture any bacteria or allergens that could make your MCS worse.
If you like automation, you’ll appreciate that the Dyson HP04 has a sensor that automatically detects pollution levels and adjusts the purification level accordingly. Not only that, but it also reports the air quality on an LCD display.
Readings include nitrogen dioxide (NO2), VOCs, allergens (PM 10), and ultrafine particles (PM 2.5). It works perfectly in rooms up to 290 square feet; yet, it's still pretty quiet, with the lowest setting producing only 40 dB and the highest producing 57 dB.
Apart from the HEPA filtering, what makes it even more effective is that it integrates Air Multiplier technology, delivering more than 77 gallons of airflow in a 360° direction.
Moreover, this Wi-Fi-connected purifier works with Alexa to give you real-time reports of your home air quality, enable you to control your unit remotely, and even create a schedule for when you want the air purifier to work. You can also give it voice commands to turn on or off, set it to auto mode, or get updates.
Pros:
- Alexa-enabled and Wi-Fi connected
- 2-year warranty
- Can work as a heater or fan while purifying air
Cons:
- Relatively expensive
- Remote might glitch
- Inconvenient night design
3. PARTU BS-08
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly air purifier, you should definitely opt for the PARTU BS-08 that doesn't miss a chance to give you an affordable and highly functional unit.
Though it comes at a very affordable price, its filtration process consists of five stages, including pre-filtering, HEPA filtering, activated carbon filtering, a membrane net, and a mesh scaffold. The actual filtering includes the first three, while the latter two work on extending the lifespan of the filter.
The PARTU BS-08 can filter mold, bacteria, germs, pet dander, dust, smoke, and allergens from a room as large as 160 feet square.
And even on the highest level, the PARTU BS-08 operates at 48 dB, which is still quiet enough. With a 104 CADR, it does its purification job quite effectively and suits just about any room size, though it works best when used with medium-sized ones.
And you don’t have to worry about the costs building up because the replacement filters come at under $25. So, your MCS doesn’t have to cost you a fortune.
Pros:
- Highly affordable price
- Affordable replacement filters
- Decent operation noise level
- Five-stage filtration process
Cons:
- It takes some time to work
- May have a smell
4. Levoit H13 
The 3-stage filtration system on the Levoit H13 leaves no space for any pollutants to escape. It includes a pre-filter, a true HEPA filter, and a premium activated carbon filter that works in tandem to remove any amount of VOCs, large dust particles, odor, mold, smoke, pet dander or hair, and allergens.
Bear in mind, however, that if the issue that’s most troublesome for your MCS is dust, you might want to opt for another option as it doesn’t clear very tiny particles.
At only 25 dB, the operation of the Levoit H13 is really quiet, so you can count on it for a soothing environment and getting proper, uninterrupted sleep. Its compact design also allows you to keep it anywhere at home without taking up too much space.
Anyone would appreciate the indicator reminders built into the unit, which notify you when it's time to change your filters, typically every 6 to 8 months.
The Levoit H13 is equipped with a night light with two brightness settings you can choose from or turn off completely when it's bedtime to not be bothered by the light. Finally, the H13 is CARB-certified, FCC-certified, and ETL listed.
Pros:
- Compact and space-saving
- CARB and FCC certified
- Night light with two brightness settings
- Very quiet operation
- 4 ACH
Cons:
- Not the most effective at clearing dust
- Not a great long-term investment
- Noisy at higher speeds
5. GermGuardian AC4200W
If you’re an MCS sufferer looking for a purifier that works perfectly for small rooms, you should opt for the GermGuardian AC4200W. It suits rooms of about 105 square feet and has a 4 ACH rate at the maximum speed. Its CADR rating is 76 for dust, 77 for pollen, and 68 for smoke, which aren’t the highest numbers, but that’s why it’s meant for small rooms.
Its 360° purification makes the air around you cleaner and removes any pollutants that could make your MCS worse. This includes any VOC present, odor, mold spores, dust, and allergens with particles as small as 0.3 microns.
The HEPA filter enhances this unit's effectiveness in eliminating any smoke, pet odors, paint fumes, or cooking fumes, which is why it's great for MCS.
The GermGuardian AC4200W comes with a timer and four different speed settings, including an ultra-quiet speed setting that deactivates the display lights to provide more darkness during your bedtime.
In that mode, it produces only 30 dB, which means that you can sleep without any interruptions. The highest speed produces 50 dB, which is a little loud for a compact unit meant for small rooms.
Pros:
- Effective performance
- Convenient ultra-quiet speed setting
- 360° filtration
- Fits on a tabletop
- Ozone-free
- 3-year warranty
Cons:
- Louder than average
Choosing an Air Purifier
In this section, we'll go over the most essential features that could help you shop for the best air purifier for your needs.
Carbon Use
In short, treated activated carbon is the more common type for MCS air purifiers, but it’s usually treated with extra additives due to its inability to remove some chemicals from the air, like formaldehyde, to enable the carbon to become more reactive or adsorptive to those chemicals.
However, if your MCS or allergy symptoms are really severe, you might detect those additives. So, you have to be extra cautious when choosing a unit whose activated carbon is treated and consider just how severe your MCS is.
Available Space
You can’t count on your air purifier being too compact if you’re getting it to help you deal with your multiple chemical sensitivities, but you still have to match it to the size of your room.
If you choose one designed for small rooms, it'll be obsolete if used in more spacious areas, and one that's too large like some of the best air purifiers for large rooms it could expose you to more chemicals than a properly-sized purifier.
HEPA Filters
HEPA filters work on trapping over 99.97% of particulates found in air, which could be as tiny as 3 microns. And though they're super effective in trapping pet dander, dust, bacteria, mold spores, pollen, and more, they're not as effective when it comes to VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
Of course, that’s not great news since the VOC gases are essentially what cause issues for MCS sufferers, and that’s why it’s important to get a high-quality air purifier with an activated carbon filter. Those are more effective when it comes to removing VOCs as well as formaldehyde from the air.
On the other hand, HEPA-like filters of low quality come with components that use fiberglass or glue, which MCS sufferers can easily detect, defying the point of getting air purifiers in the first place.
Final Thoughts
Now that we’re done with our reviews on the best air purifiers for chemical sensitivity, we hope you’ve been able to decide which brand and products suit you the most. If not, here’s a quick recap of the available options.
If you’re looking for the best option overall, you should opt for the Winix 5500-2. It covers really wide areas, runs quietly even at higher speeds, can be controlled remotely, and doesn’t cost a fortune.
The Dyson HP04 will be an excellent choice for you if you’re someone who wants a real bang for your buck. This purifier acts as a heater and a cooler and gives you so much value for your money. And it does a great job as a standalone purifier, though it's a little expensive.
If budget is an issue, you can opt for the PARTU BS-08. Not only does it come at a highly affordable upfront price, but its replacement filters are also relatively cheap, making it a very pocket-friendly unit overall.
Additional Reading
