[social_warfare]
Air pollutants such as mold spores, pet dander, cooking gases, and tobacco smoke are all excellent reasons to search for effective indoor air purifiers. On my search for cost-effective units, I found that you can cut down the costs of replacement filters with powerful equipment that uses reusable filters. So if you’re on the hunt for an air filter that guarantees you the best bang for your buck, check my list of the best air purifiers with washable filters.
Best Air Purifier with Washable Filters
- Coway AP-1512HH
- Winix 5500 2
- Honeywell HFD 120 Q Quietclean
- Honeywell AirGenius
- Blueair Blue Pure 411
- Envion Ionic Pro Turbo
- Blueair Blue Pure 211
The 7 Best Air Purifiers with Washable Filters in 2021
1. Coway AP-1512HH
If you’re looking for a full-protection system that can cover medium-sized rooms without shelling out a bunch of cash, Coway AP-1512HH Mighty won’t disappoint.
Equipped with a 4-filtration system, three fan speeds, and a real-time pollution sensor, it’s super easy to use and guarantees a healthy environment throughout the day.
The first filter is a washable and permanent pre-filter that eliminates pet hairs and large dust particles. Next is a deodorization filter, which cleans the air from harmful gases, food smells, fumes, and VOCs.
These are followed by a true HEPA filter that sanitizes the air from any pollutants larger than 0.3 microns and a vital ionizer to remove allergens and bacteria. To top all that, it’s CADR-certified with 246/240/233 ratings, which indicates its high ability to clean indoor air.
Weighing 12.3 pounds, the model is transportable, and given that it can cover 361 square feet, it can be used in offices, classrooms, and bedrooms.
Apart from saving money on filters for replacement, it saves energy thanks to its auto mode, which automatically turns the unit off if there are no airborne particles detected for 30 minutes. It’s super-easy to care for and clean, thanks to the filter indicator light, which lets you know when it’s time to wash the filter.
Lastly, it operates quietly with a noise level of 24.4 dB, though it can reach 53.8 dB on higher settings, which can be irritating if you’re sleeping or working in the room. Overall, I’d recommend this unit to anyone!
Pros:
- Real-time air quality indicator
- Easy to clean
- Auto mode feature saves energy
Cons:
- Pricier than other options
- Can be loud on higher settings
2. Winix 5500 2
Winix 5500 2 is an air purifier that I’ll gladly leave on in the room while sleeping, knowing that I’ll have an undisturbed sleep. This workhorse of an air filter covers a sufficient area of 360 square feet using a true HEPA filter that removes 99.97% of mold, pet dander, and allergens larger than 0.3 microns.
However, the highlight of this model is its out-of-the-world sleep mode that’s aided with light sensors. Upon detecting low light conditions, it automatically dims its display lights, lowers the fan speed, and cleans quietly.
The four-stage air cleaning process involves a set of permanent filters. These include a pre-filter that can be cleaned every two weeks, a washable AOC carbon filter that eliminates foul odors, and an ionizer that works by PlasmaWave tech to neutralize viruses and germs.
It operates quietly with a noise level of 27.8 dB and is equipped with auto mode, smart sensors gauge, and indicator lights to allow for easy operation. Moreover, it comes with a remote control, which is something I really appreciate because I don’t like moving to the unit every time I want to change the settings.
If there’s one thing I’d complain about, it’s that it isn’t what you’d call a light air cleaner. Weighing 15.4 pounds, it requires a permanent space to sit in, and owing to its bulky design, this place needs to be big to accommodate its size.
Pros:
- Effective HEPA filter
- Easily washable permanent filters
- Washable AOC carbon filter
- Comes with a remote control
Cons:
- Only one year warranty
- Heavy
3. Honeywell HFD 120 Q Quietclean 
This energy star certified air purifier is all about efficiency and saving money. Apart from being built to last a lifetime, Honeywell HFD 120 Q Quietclean saves cash in terms of operating costs and electricity bills.
It’s an oscillating air purifier that sanitizes the air by circulating it five times per hour and captures 99% of airborne particles larger than 2 microns. The polluted air passes through three cleaning stages, starting with the oscillation control as well as a washable pre-filter and ending with a cleaning particle filter, improving the air quality drastically.
Not only that, but it also helps neutralize odors. I can’t remember the last time I suffered from the lingering smells of cigarette smoke or cooking fumes. It does a great job eliminating those and keeping the air fresh. No wonder it’s got CADR ratings of 100/132/110!
With a weight of 15.5 pounds, its weight is comparable to Winix 5500 2, though it’s smaller in size. It’s also easy to clean, doesn’t occupy much space, and comes with a five-year warranty, making it a great bargain.
Overall, it's an excellent piece of equipment, though it’d have been better if it covered more space than 170 square feet for users who want to use it in large rooms. Moreover, it operates at a noise level of 51.5 dB, which isn’t the lowest, but I can’t say I feel disturbed with it in the room.
Pros:
- Energy-efficient
- Study build
- Easy to care for
- Five-year warranty
Cons:
- Not suitable for large rooms
- Can be noisy
4. Honeywell AirGenius
Honeywell AirGenius is the most expensive model on my list, yet it indeed pays back with its high-efficiency, top-class performance, and tons of bells and whistles.
This tower air purifier can clean areas up to 250 square feet. It uses the latest filtration technology. With the help of IFD filters, it removes 99.99% of airborne particles, pet dander, and dust of sizes larger than 0.3 microns, making it the best air purifier for heavily polluted areas.
Moreover, it circulates the air five times per hour to kill allergens and viruses, making the air you breathe almost entirely void of any irritable particles.
The air purifier filters include a pre-filter, permanent particle filter, and a carbon filter to reduce foul odors. The first two are washable, while the odor-reducing one can be replaced every three months to ensure flawless results. All these are packed with a five-year warranty and a CADR rating of 160/170/161.
It operates at a noise level that ranges from 39 to 45.5, which is reasonably quiet. What’s more, it comes with an automatic shutoff timer, sleep mode feature, and smart touch screen for easy control. Plus, judging by my electricity bills, this one saves a lot of energy and money.
One thing that I’m not really a fan of is its weight. At a weighing of 17.9 pounds, it’s hard to say that it’s portable, but it’s not impossible to move.
Pros:
- High-tech IFD filters and carbon filter
- Easy to use and care for
- Energy star rated
- Five-year warranty
Cons:
- Expensive
- More on the hefty side
5. Blueair Blue Pure 411
Blueair Blue Pure 411 is proof that you don’t have to empty your pockets to breathe clean air. At a weight of 3.35 pounds, this is the cheapest and most portable unit on my list.
Although it’s capable of covering 161 square feet only, it’d be your faithful travel buddy as well as the air purifier you take to your work office and back to your bedroom to rest with healthy lungs. Apart from its light weight, it’s compact and doesn't take much space so you can put it on your work desk or nightstand.
On top of that, it’s easy to use thanks to the indicator lights that show the fan’s speed level, though I’d have preferred if there was an auto mode feature or remote control to adjust the settings from a distance. However, it’s not a deal-breaker since the unit works flawlessly and produces noises that don't exceed 46 dB, which is lower than whispering.
Performance-wise, this gem is equipped with a three-stage filtration system. The first is a pre-filter that isn’t only easy to clean but can also be changed to match your surroundings, giving your home decor a nice extra touch.
Below the pre-filter, there is a cleaning filter for tiny airborne particles along with a carbon one to eliminate gases and bad smells. Combine these high-quality filters with a CADR rating of 105 and you have an impeccable line of defense against air pollutants.
Pros:
- Compact and portable design
- Comes in a variety of colors
- Silent operation
- Energy-efficient
Cons:
- Can’t be used in large rooms
- Lacks auto mode and remote control
6. Envion Ionic Pro Turbo
Operating at a noise level of less than 40 dB, Envion Ionic Pro Turbo is the ideal air purifier to use in noise-sensitive areas, especially in work offices and studying rooms. However, that’s not the only area where it excels.
Coming at a size comparable to that of Blueair Blue Pure 411 and a weight of 7.8 pounds, the unit is easily portable and would sit gladly anywhere in the rooms without taking much space or looking ugly. Despite its small size, it can cover as much as 500 square feet, making it the best air purifier with permanent filters for vast spaces.
The unit scans the room three times per hour and captures 99.9% of allergens, viruses, dust, and mold in the air using a high-quality filter. Moreover, it boasts an air ionizer that neutralizes bacteria and germs, making the air you breathe safe.
Cleaning the filter is a piece of cake, thanks to the front-loading design that makes removing and installing the filter easier. Furthermore, it consumes less energy than a fluorescent lamp, which means you’ll be saving money on both filter replacements and energy.
The model would have been flawless if it wasn’t for its low ability to catch bad smells. Nevertheless, if the odor isn’t an issue for you, Envion Ionic Pro Turbo is one of the best air purifiers you can get.
Pros:
- Covers a huge space
- Whisper-silent operation
- Easy to clean
- Compact and portable design
- Elegant design
- One-touch operation
- Germicidal protection
Cons:
- Not effective against bad odors
7. Blueair Blue Pure 211
The last item on my list is the powerful and aesthetically pleasing Blueair Blue Pure 211. This powerhouse can provide clean air to rooms up to 525 square feet with a noise level that doesn't exceed 31 dB on lower speeds and 56 dB on the highest ones.
It works like magic using three robust filters that are also very easy to clean. The pre-filter is customizable and can be machine washed. It comes in various colors from which you can choose upon purchasing.
Next on the protection line is a filter that uses HEPASilent Filtration tech to remove air borne particles larger than 0.1 microns, followed by a carbon filter to eliminate bad odors. The whole unit delivers high performance with a CADR rating of 350 and weighs no more than 12.2 pounds, meaning it won't be a burden to move about or take with you anywhere.
However, the reason for putting it at the end of my list is that with its great power comes heavy electricity bills. It has the highest lifetime costs out of all the air purifiers I tested, yet it’s the unit I depend on when the air pollution gets really heavy.
Pros:
- Large coverage area
- High CADR rating
- Silent operation
Cons:
- High operation costs
Are Washable and Permanent Filters the Same?
In this category of air purifiers, you’ll come across the terms “permanent” and “washable” filters, as they’re used interchangeably. However, while both of them are cost-effective alternatives for disposable filters, they’re not the same.
In fact, washable filters, as their name indicates, can be soaked, rubbed with soap, and rinsed with water. On the other hand, a permanent filter can be ruined if it comes in contact with water. The ideal way to clean it would be by using a vacuum cleaner.
Sure, the former’s cleaning process can be a tad long and tiresome, but it ensures better results as sometimes it’s hard to remove the stuck dust in the filter pores by only using the hand brush of a vacuum cleaner.
What Are the Benefits of Using Air Purifiers with Washable Filter?
After spending some time with air purifiers with washable filters, I can gladly tell you that you’ll definitely be saving a sizable amount of money in the long term and worrying less about replacing your filters. Air purifiers can put a burden on your wallet, so saving on the operating costs is always a good idea, especially if you’re not compromising their functionality.
Actually, I find it more comfortable to take out the filters and clean them whenever I feel that the air is becoming less fresh instead of waiting till the filter expires because disposable ones don’t come at low prices.
Before I came across washable filters, I’d either pay a load of cash to stack my house with replacement filters or wait for days in an unhealthy environment till my order of new ones arrived. Now, the cleaning process doesn’t take more than a few minutes, and then I’m back with a clean filter and fresh air.
In terms of performance, they do a great job getting rid of dirt, dust, and plant spores. Moreover, they give you the chance to wash them more regularly, keeping your unit more efficient for a longer time since dirty filters can actually damage the unit in the long term.
How to Pick Air Purifiers with Washable Filters?
Now that I’ve thrown some light upon the best models on the market, let me point out a few factors to consider in air filters before paying your hard-earned cash.
Washable Filter Types
The first thing you should do when buying an air purifier is the filter types and their efficiency. Typically, washable filters come in two types: the famous HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters and the new tech IFD (Intense Field Dielectric) filters.
HEPA is the filtration system used in strictly clean environments such as hospitals and pharma industries. It’s capable of trapping 99.97% of airborne particles. Naturally, that includes pollen, dust, pet dander, and mold spores.
On the other hand, washable IFD filters are more advanced filters that can keep the air quality even higher. They use a different mechanism to filter out 99.99% of airborne particles, and their efficiency is unmatched.
Whether you end up with either type, you’ll be in safe hands. However, be aware of the HEPA-type filters. These aren’t precisely genuine HEPA filters, meaning they can be less effective. So my advice is always to double-check that you’re purchasing a true HEPA filter if you decide to go with this type.
Additional Filters
Other than these types, sometimes you’ll come across pre-filters that capture larger particles. These are useful additions if they exist together with one of the other types as they’re washable, easy to maintain, prolong the filters’ life, and further improve the air quality.
If the odor is an issue, look for units that use carbon filters as they can absorb volatile gases, filter out cigarette smoke, and clear the air from paint smells and fumes. Lastly, UV light effectively kills viruses and germs, so if this is a major concern, opt for models with this specific feature.
Cleaning Levels
Air purifiers are rated based on the size of pollutants they can trap and the number of their cleaning stages. Most purifiers with washable filters eliminate particles that are 0.3 microns in size or larger. This should be sufficient in areas where there’s high rates of pollution.
Cleaning levels usually range from three to five. More cleaning stages mean better efficiency and performance, so don’t settle for less than four stages if you live with lots of pets or suffer from allergies.
Coverage Area
Air purifiers are capable of covering a certain area, which usually ranges from 100 to 1000 square feet.
Naturally, the larger the area covered, the more expensive the unit will be, so it’ll be a waste of money and energy to purchase a unit that’s too large for the room. Likely, a small unit in a large area won't be as effective, so you’d want to consider the area of the room where you’re going to place the unit and be precise about it.
My recommendation would be to use a model that covers 100-200 square feet if you’re going to place it in a small bedroom or bathroom. However, if it’s intended to purify the air of large rooms or even the whole house, you’re better off with an air purifier that covers more than 500 square feet.
Size and Portability
Portability is an important aspect since most of the time you’d use your air purifier in the bedroom during the night and take it with you to the kitchen or living room in the morning.
Thankfully these units aren’t the size of washing machines. In fact, some of them have the size of a small suitcase and don’t weigh more than 5 pounds, so they can sit on a shelf or a nightstand and move with you quickly from room to room. However, some models can be really large and heavy. These will be perfect if you’re going to keep them stationary.
CADR Rating
The CADR, which stands for Clean Air Delivery Rate, is the cubic feet of air that a filter can clean per minute. It’s a measurement that helps users understand the air purifier’s efficiency in filtering all the particles of a given size in a certain room size.
To help you understand, suppose you have a unit with a CADR of 150. That means it replaces 150 cubic feet of dust, pollen, and pet dander with an equivalent amount of clean air.
Generally, it ranges from 10 to 450, and the higher the number, the higher the quality of the model. To get acceptable performance, try not to settle for a CADR of less than 100. Any ratings higher than 240 should be considered ideal.
Final Verdict
Now that I’ve come to an end, I can confidently say that Coway AP1512HH is by far the best air purifier with a washable filter you can get.
All the air purifiers on my list have their perks, yet this one combines them all and matches the needs of most users. Although it covers less space than Envion Ionic Pro Turbo, it boasts higher CADR ratings and a four-stage filtration system that doesn’t leave anything out.
Like Honeywell Airgenius, it incorporates high-end features such as the real-time pollution sensor and automatic shutoff. However, it comes at a more affordable price. Moreover, it works nearly as silently as Winix 5500 2 without being bulky and super heavy.
To cut to the chase, it’s a feature-loaded model that’ll keep your air clean, save you energy, and give you the best bang for your buck.
Additional Reading
