Best Air Purifiers For College Dorms: Top 5 Devices Most Recommended By Experts

Air purifiers play a crucial role in college dorms by maintaining a healthier and more conducive living environment for students. Dorms often house a large number of individuals in relatively confined spaces, increasing the risk of airborne pollutants, allergens, and germs. An air purifier helps mitigate these concerns by effectively filtering out dust, pollen, odors, and even potential pathogens, promoting better respiratory health and overall well-being among dorm residents. Heading off to college? You may want to pick up one of the best air purifiers for college dorms to make sure your new pad is top-notch.

What causes air pollution inside? Smoking indoors, wood-burning stoves, cleaning products, cooking and pet dander can all contribute to indoor air pollution. And there’s potentially more pollution in your home than you might realize. Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder found in a 2019 study that the average house is prone to indoor air quality levels on par with a polluted major city. Everyday activities like cooking and cleaning may be to blame. The authors believe that chemicals found in common household substances are even seeping outdoors, creating more air pollution than cars and trucks do.

The shocking finding led the researchers to suggest American homes need to be better ventilated, particularly when residents are cooking and cleaning. Boiling water on a gas stove, for example, led to higher levels of harmful particulates and gaseous pollutants. A similar study in 2022 by scientists from Texas A&M University also finds air quality inside domestic homes may actually be worse than within office buildings. Specifically, typical indoor air pollutants include mold, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from carpets, furniture, and paints, as well as fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Studies show extended exposure to these pollutants can cause a wide array of health conditions, ranging from relatively mild symptoms like a headache or dry eyes to much more serious life-threatening afflictions like cardiovascular disease and lung cancer.

Unfortunately, many college dorm buildings have been around for decades, housing elites of higher education, and aging in the process. To avoid mold and other harmful pollutants that result from living in old buildings, we can help! Breathe easy by investing in one of the best air purifiers for college dorms. If you have your own suggestions, clear the air and leave them in the comments below!

The Coway Airmega AP-1512HH tops our list of best air purifiers, and reviewers point to multiple reasons why it’s so darned good. The New York Times says, “Perfect for bedrooms, playrooms, and living rooms, the AP-1512HH is one of the best performing, most durable, and most economical purifiers we’ve tested.”

U.S. News also ranks it at the top, writing, “This affordable air purifier can purify rooms of up to 361 square feet. It features a washable pre-filter to snag large particles like dust and pet hair, a True HEPA filter to capture pollutants, and an activated carbon filter that can eliminate odors.”

If you have a smaller room (like a dorm) this is ideal. According to CNET, “Coway’s AP-1512HH is among the only air purifiers on the market that utilize both a HEPA filter and ionic technology to remove different kinds of particles in different ways. When testing the Coway Airmega, our favorite feature of the compact model is its energy-efficient eco mode. When the air quality in the room remains purified for more than 30 minutes in eco mode, the fan turns off to conserve energy, turning back on when particles are again detected.”

Tom’s Guide put this machine to the test: “Throughout our testing, one cube-shaped air purifier stood out above the rest. The Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Auto dominated the competition. It has the ability to clean the air in a large-sized room while using minimal power and creating very little noise.”

Good Housekeeping recommends this as an overall great choice: “If your home has multiple contaminants — pet dander, cooking fumes, airborne allergens, etc. — you want an air purifier with multi-level protection, like the Blue Pure 211+ Air Purifier. The device uses a three-part filtration system: a fabric one for dust and other large particles, a true HEPA one for smaller particles like mold and bacteria and a carbon-activated one for odors caused by smoke, pets and the like. That’s enough to clear up to 99.97% of common airborne pollutants across 540 square feet, which is the ideal size for a family room, master bedroom or large office.”

If you want a quiet purifier, this one fits the bill. According to Wired, “At its lowest setting, it’s remarkably quiet, but it also has an onboard sensor that automatically turns up the fan speed when it detects particles. Even if I left it on the lowest fan setting at night, it usually ratcheted up to the top fan speed by morning.”

Insider writes: “If you need a powerful air purifier for a medium-to-large room, the Honeywell HPA300 HEPA Air Purifier is your best option.”

“Not only is this Honeywell air purifier small and quiet, but it also has a low price point considering all of its efficient features. For starters, it can clean up to 2,250 square feet in less than an hour, meaning it’s great for large rooms. It also has three air-cleaning levels which trap microscopic airborne allergens and particles including dust, pollen, pet hair, dust mite debris, smoke, and more,” Esquire says.

According to Live Science, both experts and consumers approve of this purifier. “The Levoit 400S performed best to remove airborne particles in our at-home testing, capturing at least 99.5% and up to 100% or particles during testing. Its sleek and stylish cylinder shape with a neutral colorway makes it an easy addition to any room, while a color-coded display gives users a great visual on air quality at any given moment. The Levoit 400S scores an impressive 5 stars out of 5 on Amazon, with 85% of reviews giving it the full 5 stars.”

Safewise says it’s perfect for your bedroom: “The Levoit 400S is one of the quietest air purifiers on the market, making it perfect for a bedroom or nursery. It cleans up to 400 square feet five times per hour. The Levoit 400S has a much smaller footprint than other air purifiers, allowing you to put it on a dresser if you’re short on space. Plus, its LED display can be turned off entirely for restful blackout conditions.”

For a machine that pulls double or triple duty, The Spruce says this one is worth the splurge: “If you’re looking for a device that wears many hats, this Dyson model can purify, cool, and humidify your air. You don’t have to worry about its multitasking detracting from its effectiveness as a purifier since we saw an improvement in air quality just five minutes into using this device. It uses an H13 HEPA filter and an activated carbon filter, and it has 10 different power levels.”

“It’s rare to find a machine that can purify your air, humidify it, and cool down a space all in one – so I was impressed right off the bat. The Dyson has reported good air quality every time I’ve checked in – the only exceptions being after I’ve lit candles or cooked something on the stovetop. But when the air quality has dipped below ideal levels, it doesn’t seem to take much time for the purifier to do the job once I turn up the fan speed (it should be noted that this model also has an auto purify setting that will kick into high gear if the quality dips),” writes Architectural Digest.

Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. Study Finds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations. This post may contain affiliate links.

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