Pets, such as cats and dogs, leave dander circulating in the air, as well as an off-putting smell – which is why having the best air purifier for pets can help clean your indoor air. As a fur parent (pet owner), you might have been worried about guests who inhale pet smells and dander that could make them sneeze.
So, with that in mind, we’re giving you our favorite suggestions – the LG PuriCare 360-Degree Air Purifier (a Wi-Fi-capable cleaner), and the IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier (for large rooms). With our busy life routines, we need an air cleaner that can do the job quickly and smartly – hence, these are our top picks.
In this guide, we’ll talk about these two air purifiers (and more suggestions) to get you started. Pet dander can cause allergy and asthma triggers, but an air puffier with a HEPA filter can clean them up.
Do air purifiers really work for pets?
Absolutely! Air purifiers, provided they have the right filters, can clean up pet smells and dander in your home. For busy fur parents, we think that the LG PuriCare 360-Degree Air Purifier is a great choice for you due to being Wi-Fi and Alexa-capable, allowing you to adjust the cleaning power from a distance.
So, what makes the LG PuriCare an air purifier for dust and pet hair (as well as pet smells)? Well, for instance, it has the following features:
- True HEPA filter – cleans up to 99.97% of pet dander (and other particles) as small as 0.3 microns
- Deodorization filter – absorbs pet smells and other bad odors in the house
- PM 1.0 sensor – you’ll know when your room is highly polluted so you can adjust the settings
- Low-noise – the air purifier only operates at 25 dB, making it suitable for bedrooms
With these specs, you can enjoy clean and fresh indoor air while being in the comfort of your fur babies. A combination of the true HEPA and deodorization filter can help eliminate pet dander and odor from your home – just make sure to place it in an area with good air circulation for it to work properly!
If you have a larger room and don’t necessarily need Wi-Fi functionality, we suggest the IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier, which can clean up to 1,125 square feet! Similar to the LG air purifier, this one also has a True HEPA filter, as well as a filter for odors (V5-Cell Filter – activated carbon).
What we like about this air purifier is that its HEPA filter is medical-grade (H14) so it’s suitable for homes with asthma and allergy sufferers. Therefore, if you want to hug Fido or Tabby without sneezing too much, this air purifier can help a lot!
Both the LG PuriCare and the IQAir HealthPro have a wide air intake (360 and 320 degrees, respectively) for thorough cleaning of your room. This makes it suitable for rooms with a not-so-good airflow or space design.
Do air purifiers remove pet smells?
Yes – air purifiers can remove pet smells, but only if they have the right filters for the job. What you should look for is a unit with an activated carbon filter, such as the BLUEAIR 211+ Air Purifier. Along with its HEPASilent filter for pet dander, this air purifier will also absorb pet odors with its activated carbon layer.
Able to clean up to 540 square feet, it has a fair CADR (clean air delivery rate) of 350 cfm, making it suitable for everyday use in your home, dorm, or wherever you stay with your pet. The norm in CADR is 200 to 300 so this is already a high amount for faster air cleaning!
With a simple and compact design, operating the air purifier is a breeze due to the convenient button at the top. You can set it to different speeds depending on your needs. Much like our two suggestions above, the BLUEAIR 211+ also has a 360-degree air intake for wider cleaning capability.
Best air purifier for pets under $100
If you’re looking for the best air purifiers for pet hair but don’t want to break your budget, we have a suggestion for you – the Germ Guardian AC4825E Air Purifier. As a unit with a tall design, this is suitable for living rooms, the kitchen, and bedrooms.
Covering up to 740 square feet of area, this unit comes with an H13 HEPA filter (medical-grade) to remove pet hair and dander, making it good for asthma and allergy sufferers. For pet odor, it uses an activated charcoal filter to neutralize bad smells (even those from a leftover dog or cat food bowl).
What makes this budget-friendly air purifier great is the inclusion of an optional UV-C light sanitizer, which will help reduce viruses and bacteria in your home. Like our previous suggestions, it also has 3 different speed settings to choose from.
How do you purify air at home for pets?
Managing pets can be a handful but rewarding at the end of the day. One common problem that fur parents often face is the change in air quality due to pet dander and smells lingering around the house. So, how do you purify your indoor air at home with pets? Here’s what you can do:
Bathe and brush your pets regularly
This may be common sense, but it helps that you keep your pet clean and fresh by bathing and brushing. By doing this, you’re getting rid of mats and tangles that could end up being pet dander swirling in the air. It’s best to do this more often during the dog or cat’s shedding season.
Likewise, you can take your pet to the salon for a better haircut that will be more manageable depending on the season. Keeping a pet requires proper fur management, after all.
Run your air purifier often
As we’ve given you suggestions for the best air purifier for pets, the next step is to run it as often as possible. We recommend at least running it the whole day or more so that it will thoroughly filter out the air you breathe and constantly get rid of pet dander and smells.
Designate an area for pets
If your pet likes to lounge on the sofa and your guests may find themselves sneezing or coughing, it’s best to keep your pet only in a specific spot in the house. This will help prevent pet dander and smells from lingering throughout the entire house.
Clean up your pet spaces
With a designated area for your pet, you should also clean it up regularly to avoid polluting the air you breathe at home. While you do have an air purifier to absorb pet smells and dander, cleaning your home (and pet spaces) regularly will lessen the job of the unit and conserve energy (and motor life).
How do you air out pet odors?
Let’s face it – even though we’ve bathed our fur baby, there will be times when the house can still smell like pets since they linger around. Pets are quite difficult to discipline even if you’ve only set an area for them. So, how do you air out pet odors in your home? Here are some ways:
- Wash pet areas with vinegar and baking soda (to get rid of the smell)
- Consider mopping the floors with the same solution
- Don’t forget to wash your pet’s toys!
- Bathe and brush your pet regularly
- Run your air purifier constantly
- Quickly clean any accidents after it happens
- Train your pet to do their business outdoors (or in a tray for cats)
By doing these tips, you can worry less about pet odors lingering in the house. After all, pet smells can be off-putting – especially to guests, so it pays to lessen it by using the best air purifier for pets and some cleaning habits in your home.
FAQs
Are air purifiers safe for pets?
Absolutely! HEPA air purifiers are safe for pets because most of them are ozone-free. Only those with ozone or ionizers are dangerous for homes with pets. Most air purifiers are okay for use with pets. In fact, some of them even have a lock for the controls to prevent curious paws from fiddling with the settings.
Is it okay to run your air purifier the whole day?
Yes – and we recommend it! Air purifiers running the whole day will constantly get rid of pet smells and dander (even when you’re away or sleeping). If you run the air purifier constantly at a slow speed, there won’t be much need for using the turbo mode, conserving your unit’s motor life.
How is medical-grade HEPA different from regular HEPA filters?
While both of them can easily get rid of pet dander and dust, medical-grade HEPA (H13 and above) can clean up particles as small as 0.1 microns, making them suitable for folks with allergies and asthma. So, if you or someone else in your household has allergies, consider getting an air purifier with H13 HEPA.
Conclusion
To wrap it up, we believe that the best air purifier for pets is the LG PuriCare 360-Degree Air Purifier for those who prefer using home automation, and also the IQAir HealthPro Plus Air Purifier for fur parents with large rooms.
For pet smells, there’s also the BLUEAIR 211+ Air Purifier due to its activated carbon filter. If you’re budget-conscious, the Germ Guardian AC4825E Air Purifier is also a good choice. Whichever you pick (depending on your needs), air purifiers are definitely helpful for pet owners in removing dander and smells.
