SingaporeMotherhood | Lifestyle

July 2023

10 Best Air Purifiers to Keep your Family & your Home safe from the Haze

Get your air purifiers ready: haze may be coming our way soon. This is due to a high likelihood of El Nino conditions which will bring hotter and drier weather to our region, thus increasing the risk of transboundary haze affecting Singapore and the region, the NEA has reported. While it’s unlikely to be as severe as the one in 2015 which led to school closures, we kiasu Singaporeans know that it is always better to be prepared, right? These can help:

10 foods and drinks that help fight the effects of the haze
Foods that boost the immune system
‘Cooling’ soups and drinks that soothe sore throats

And of course, so can air purifiers that help keep the indoor air at home clean. Here’s how to choose the right one for your needs.

How to Choose Air Purifiers

Pick an air purifier that features filtration technology and a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter, advises Nicholas Lee, VP and Market Leader, Asia Pacific, Philips Domestic Appliances. “This technology is used in operating theatres, bio-safety labs, and healthcare facilities where clean air is crucial.” As an added benefit, the filter is also effective in capturing and removing pollutants, bacteria, and viruses, he says.

But doctors recommend caution if you’re thinking of buying an air purifier just for virus eradication. “The HEPA standard was not designed to handle airborne viruses specifically, so expecting complete protection may be overly ambitious,” says Dr Benjamin Loh from the DTAP Clinic.

(See also: 12 Essential Tips to Buy the Right Travel Insurance for your Family)

Image: Photo by Alex Green

Still, Dr Loh adds, an air purifier can be useful, especially in enclosed spaces where there is poor ventilation, and if anyone in the household has asthma, allergic rhinitis, chronic lung diseases, or eczema — conditions which can be exacerbated by pollution.

This is because the risk of lower respiratory tract infections increases when there is exposure to particulate pollutants. In addition it is believed that pollution damages the airways, increasing the risk of infection, and has adverse effects on the immune system.

(See also: How to be an Eco-Conscious Parent in Singapore? Tiffany Wee, Naturopath and Nutritionist, tells us)

10 Air Purifiers for every Home in Singapore

1. Bio-X® Ultrasonic Humidifier

Not truly an air purifier, but when used together with the Bio-X Kleanze Air disinfectant, this tiny device packs a powerful punch, eliminating more than 99.99% of airborne bacteria and viruses. What’s more, it also acts as a deodoriser, and an insect-repellant — useful during dengue season. Formulated with botanical extracts, the water-based solution is non-poisonous, DEET-, chlorine-, and alcohol-free.

Bio-X Kleanze Air Pine or Lavender (240ml) Humidifier set, $38.80 (U.P. $56). Get it here.

2. Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde

Great even in bigger spaces, this new Dyson purifier with cone aerodynamics boasts a powerful projection of up to 10 metres, bringing clean air to every corner. Equipped with upgraded filtration, it delivers double the airflow compared to previous Dyson purifiers. That’s thanks to a three-phase filtration system that captures up to 99.95% of ultra-fine particles, while permanently destroys formaldehyde. Its new CO2 sensor also indicates when to ventilate, while its HEPA filter has a five-year lifespan. 

From $1,299. Get it here.

3. ECOM Mask EK 030 Plus

This industrial-grade air purifier, which will be used in the upcoming NDP2021, has four distinction filtration functions. It uses the world’s first Japanese-patented CIO2 (Chlorine Dioxide) filter, a primary anti-bacterial filter, a 12 metre-long HEPA filter, and a negative ion plasma generator. These effectively remove particles of 0.1 and 0.3 microns, while an AI sensor adjusts the filtration level required. You can even use it to deodorise, and humidify (if necessary) your space (up to 1,000 sqm) as well.

$988 (U.P. $1,280). Get it here.

4. LG PuriCare™ AeroFurniture

This statement-making device looks like designer furniture but it’s actually an air purifier, as well as a wireless charger! The LG PuriCare™ AeroFurniture has an advanced multi-stage filtration system that combines filters, including a 360° HEPA filter, to eliminate up to 99.9% of airborne bacteria and ultrafine dust particles as small as 0.01 microns. That it looks so good doing so is a welcome bonus!

$499. Get it here.

5. Philips 3000i Series Air Purifiers

These sleek tubular devices have a designer aesthetic that complement any room beautifully. What’s more attractive though? Their ability to effectively remove up to 99.9% of viruses and aerosols from the air. Tests have also demonstrated that the air purifiers can reduce levels of influenza A (H1N1) virus aerosols by 99.9%. And if you’re the kind who likes to be on top of things all the time, there’s a connected app that offers real-time feedback on pollutants around you.

From $525. Get it here.

6. RUHENS Classic Air Purifier (WHA500)

Compact and easy to use, Ruhens’ classic air purifier boasts a four-stage purification system. It uses a pre-filter for large particles, an anti-allergy filter for airborne particles such as viruses, a deodorisation filter for formaldehyde, and a HEPA filter that traps microscopic particles (0.3um) including bacteria, cigarette smoke, and common allergens. You’ll get a notification when any particular filter needs replacement.

From $299. Get it here.

7. SHARP 4-in-1 L Series Plasmacluster Air Purifiers

Sharp’s new L Series functions as an air purifier, a humidifier, an airborne bacteria inactivator, and a stand fan. Its Plasmacluster™ technology harnesses positive and negative ions in the air to form clusters around micro-particles, then render them inactive through a chemical reaction. There’s also a triple filtration system, including an Electrostatic HEPA Filter. This eliminates even the smallest floating particles (PM2.5), and up to 99.97% particulate matter including bacteria, airborne allergens, and mould spores.

From $1,199; online, and in shops islandwide

8. Speco Ion

Billed as “the world’s first smart sanitiser”, Speco Ion offers multiple functions in a single device. That’s right; it doesn’t just clean the air around you, it also carbon purifies, UV eradicates, ionises, disinfects and even sanitises. The Speco does all this using a medical-grade HEPA filter and UV purification system together with its Speco+ technology. A mouthful, yes, but together they actively destroy germs and viruses in the air, and sanitise surfaces as well. We hear it puts minimal impact on the environment, making this the perfect choice for those who want cleaner air, sustainably.

From $850. Get it here.

9. Sterra Breeze

Employing the same HEPA filter grade that hospitals use, the Sterra Breeze removes up to 99.97% of airborne particles. These include dust, pet fur, smoke, odour, formaldehyde, haze, viruses, bacteria, allergens, and micron particles. What’s more, you won’t even know when it’s doing that, as this medical-grade air purifier is whisper-soft on its lowest setting. It complies with strict European (RoHS and CE), IEC, and GB standards to make sure the air purifier is of world-class standard and powerful, yet safe to use at home.

From $349. Get it here.

10. Trident MINI air purifiers

Little but mighty, the Trident MINI is no ordinary air purifier. In fact its creators, A*STAR spinoff Plasma Science, describe it as an air sanitiser. The tech behind it is impressive, the results even more so. Trident uses cold plasma, advanced graphene electrostatic plates, and built-in UVC to actively disinfect the air — something HEPA filters cannot do. With these, viruses (including coronaviruses) and bacteria are eliminated by up to 99.8% in 15 minutes, and up to 99.99% in 30 minutes. We love how the Trident MINI is virtually soundless at level 1 speed so you can leave it on while the little ones sleep. Furthermore, a child lock function ensures that it’ll never be accidentally switched off by busy little hands.

From $899. Get it here.

(See also: ible Airvida: the smallest, sleekest, wearable Air Purifier that Removes 99.7% of Coronavirus)

All prices and information are correct at the time of publishing.

Featured image: Lifestylememory on Freepik

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10 Best Air Purifiers to Keep your Family & your Home safe from the Haze