Last week’s wildfire smoke may have drifted through, but the lingering effects when it comes to the current Air Quality Index — and the risk of it returning — have more people than ever rushing to invest in air purifiers.
On the bright side, I‘m a bit of an air purifier connoisseur. When I lived in Las Vegas, dust was a constant battle, California wildfire smoke was common, and I share my space with two cats, so keeping the air fresh — for all of us — has always been a priority. Over the years, I’ve researched and tested a ton of air purifiers, and these are, hands down, the best of the bunch in a sea of dozens of options.
Why an air purifier is important with wildfire smoke in the air
Air quality across the region remains under advisory as wildfire smoke from Canada keeps the Air Quality Index in unhealthy territory. The smoke carries fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, with prolonged exposure linked to coughing, throat irritation, and worsened respiratory and cardiovascular issues.
Top 7 air purifiers I’d actually buy
GermGuardian Intelligent 22-inch Tower Air Purifier — $99 (reg. $130) One thing I love about GermGuardian is that you can get a specialized filter made specifically for smoke ($19.99), which comes seriously in handy as wildfire smog continues to linger in the air.
PuroAir 400 HEPA Air Purifier — A powerhouse when it comes to filtration, ideal if you want serious performance. My favorite air purifier that’s powerful and has an extremely thick quality 3-stage filter.
Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 — $350 (reg. $480) Sleek, smart, and multi-functional — it purifies and cools at the same time, which makes it a great pick if you’re dealing with both smoky air and summer heat.
Coway Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH — $240 A reliable, no-frills option that consistently gets the job done, especially in mid-sized rooms. Top-rated product.
Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max —$350 My yoga studio uses this large Blueair purifier, and I’ve personally witnessed it keep the air crisp in an environment that needs good purifying.
Dreo HEPA Air Purifier (Large Room, up to 1600 Sq Ft) — $73 (reg. $126) Affordable but packs a punch. I’ve been loving Dreo products lately — you can really tell they’re built with quality and up-to-date technology.
Levoit Core 600S-P Smart Air Purifier — $300 — Levoit is a fan favorite for a reason — many of its products are rated as top picks by reviewers, and right now several are sold out on Walmart. You can still snag them at Best Buy or on the official Levoit site.
Quick-Reference List:
- GermGuardian Intelligent 22-inch Tower Air Purifier — best for smoke-specific filtration
- PuroAir 400 HEPA Air Purifier — best for powerful HEPA filtration
- Dyson Purifier Cool Gen1 — best for purifying + cooling in one
- Coway Airmega Mighty AP-1512HH — best reliable, mid-size room option
- Blueair Blue Pure 211i Max — best for large spaces
- Dreo HEPA Air Purifier — best budget-friendly pick
- Levoit Core 600S-P Smart Air Purifier — best fan-favorite, widely trusted brand
Humidifiers to combat dry, scratchy throat irritation from wildfire smoke
Wildfire smoke dries out the air and leaves throats scratchy long after the haze clears, but humidifiers help add moisture back into the air.
