Best Affordable Air Purifier for Pet Dander | Buying Guide
Have you ever peeked at your pet’s skin? In all likelihood, you’ll notice a rich layer of white powder.
Dander or scurf is defined as “scaly dry skin that has been exfoliated, such as dandruff”. In humans, we most often notice dander (dandruff) as white specks on clothing.
Everything that has skin sheds it on a regular basis. And as animals shed dander, these flakes accumulate in the environment as dust. It’s this dust that might cause allergies over time as well as problems with airways. When people complain about pets causing them allergies, it might just be their beloved animal's dander causing it.
Accordingly, we have thoroughly sieved through the available purifiers in the market, considering product reviews on Amazon and firsthand user experiences. Moreover, those on a budget will be happy to hear that we've taking into consideration the best affordable air purifiers for pet dander!
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The Best Affordable Air Purifier for Pet Dander:
JINPUS Air Purifier
RevitalAir HEPA 4-in-1 Air Purifier
KOIOS True HEPA Air Purifier
MELEDEN Air Purifier
#1 JINPUS Air Purifier
JINPUS | Air Purifier
At the top of the list is a reliable purifier used by many pet owners. Despite its small size, it excels at purifying air even in larger spaces.
This is credited to JINPUS Air Purifier's 3-Stage filtration, which consists of a Fine Preliminary Filter, True HEPA Filter, and Activated Carbon Filter. With the filtration, this purifier should keep your surroundings fresh and clean, and it does exactly that.
Coupled with the purifier's negative ion generator, which helps to remove odors from the air, it is a a go-to purifier for many in aiding with pet allergies.
You can also hook up the unit to any available USB ports for use. In the cubicle or inside the car – JINPUS's Air Purifier keeps up with you thanks to the provided 1.5-meter USB cable. This also means that the unit can run off of a mobile phone power bank! Amazing.
This unit is also RoHS certified, meaning no toxic materials are used in its production.
However, the unit's size also means it has a small throughput. In the case of eliminating dust and dander, it may take a while before the purifier takes effect.
In addition, the manufacturer somehow forgot to consider the idea of using a power outlet, seeing how there’s no power plug. It only uses USB so you won't be able to plug it into one of your power sockets at home.
#2 RevitalAir Compact True HEPA 4-in-1 Air Purifier
RevitalAir | Compact True HEPA 4-in-1 Air Purifier
The air around us is chock-full of germs. Thankfully, the unit's UV-C lamp sterilizes air without emitting any ozone. This is thanks to man-made ultraviolet rays that, according to the manufacturer, kill “99% of mold, bacteria, viruses and other germs to 0.1 micron in size”.
This works in conjunction with a true HEPA-13 filter which catches particles down to 0.3 microns in size. The HEPA mesh ensures that dangerous particles all stay inside the unit.
Chemicals and sneeze droplets can float in the air too as fine mist, at which point we might breathe them in, but activated carbon pre-filters neutralizes these smoke, odors and droplets. This purifier excels at odor elimination.
Maintenance is relatively easy, as the unit is programmed to periodically check the filter and let you know when it’s time for a replacement. This filter replacement indicator light eliminates guesswork.
Sadly, the maximum run-time for the unit is 8 hours. If you want it to run longer than that, you have to keep resetting the filter.
Also, the unit requires a foot of clearance on all sides, so you have to make sure you have enough room for the unit before buying it.
#3 KOIOS True HEPA Air Purifier
KOIOS | True HEPA Air Purifier
Another one of the three purifiers on this list employing 3 stages of filtration. KOIOS' True HEPA Air Purifier ensures clean air. Its cylindrical design is a hallmark of sheer elegance which gives good results thanks to the 360-degree air intake and release for maximum flexibility.
Moreover, if you have other family members in the house, you do not need to worry about teaching them to use this unit, seeing how it has one-button operation for ease of use.
Odors are common for pets, but this unit catches odor droplets floating in the air without producing ozone, making it a green option suited for many.
However, this product may not be suitable for bedtime as, at maximum speed, it makes up to 50 dB noise - similar to a running refrigerator. Additionally, the unit may disturb light sleepers since the nightlight can’t be turned off.
Overall a flexible purifier that will be a worry free purchase with its 30-day money back guarantee and live 24/7 chat support.
#4 MELEDEN Air Purifier
MELEDEN | Air Purifier
Even the most hardcore luddite will be able to handle the MELEDEN Air Purifier as it just has one button for all controls. Pressing it twice sets the auto-shutoff to 8 hours. Talk about user friendly.
A lightweight at 550 grams (19.4 ounces), this air purifier is meant to follow you around like a puppy on a USB leash.
Air purifiers also typically come with a hidden filter cost but this unit sports a nice trick – simply wipe the filter with a towel or a clean dish rag to extend its life.
A compact unit, this purifier fits any dresser and along with its extra quiet operation, it makes a great bedside companion. Soon enough, you’ll fall in love with the gentle, airy kisses from MELEDEN Air Purifier.
However, this air purifier can’t really do much about odors in larger rooms, since it covers about 10 square meters (107.6 sq. ft.). One way around this would be placing it next to the litter box to absorb some odor but that’s about it.
One thing to note is that the manufacturer ships the unit with no wall charger but resourceful Amazon customers found a workaround – a spare 5-watt iPhone cable should work just fine!
Considerations when Buying the Best Affordable Air Purifier for Pet Dander
How pet dander can trigger allergies
Allergies are a health problem that can quickly escalate into a real emergency. They are triggered by small particles floating in the air, such as pollen and pet dander.
Scientists presume that allergies are created during childhood, when these particles somehow trigger the child’s immune system, but even adults with no history of allergies may develop allergic reactions later on in life.
When the body senses these particles, it starts a violent reaction, such as hay fever. This is where an air purifier can help.
Air purifiers suck in air from the environment and run it through a series of filters. Air courses through the filters that capture particles and expel clean, fresh air!
What types of filtration are in air purifiers?
Activated carbon filter
Activated carbon filters are make of a fine mesh with many small pores. Air passing through these pores goes right through but everything else gets stuck in the mesh.
This type of filter is excellent at capturing chemicals and odors but mediocre at filtering out pet dander. Of those listed, activated carbon filters are the most effective for odors!
A HEPA replacement filter compatible with the KOIOS True Air Purifier
UV Technology
UV technology uses a UV-C lamp that fries the air with shortwave radiation to create ozone that sterilizes the air.
This is perfect for killing bacteria and viruses but poor at filtering the air of particles, meaning it should have a set of filters before the air reaches the lamp.
HEPA filter
Consisting of fiber-like materials folded like an accordion – particles smash into these fibers and get stuck. This makes HEPA filters fairly good at capturing pet dander (although they may not be the most effective at filtering out odors and droplets).
Most air purifiers combine several types of purification. Of the five, HEPA filters are the most effective when it comes to pet dander.
Ozone
Ozone is a very reactive kind of air that is thought harmful for humans. Air purifiers that exclusively use ozone do exist but they are believed to exacerbate asthma symptoms, though ozone does kill bacteria, fungi and viruses.
Negative ions
Lastly, negative ions. They cling onto particles and make them too heavy to float, forcing them to stick to a nearby surface. An air purifier producing negative ions tends to make the surroundings dirtier, though the air does turn out cleaner.
What KEY feature should you look out for?
Sneezing, coughing, runny nose and trouble breathing can all be caused by pet dander. The key giveaway is that symptoms occur near a pet or in a house where a pet lives.
If the air feels stuffy, that too is a warning sign the air is getting stale. We typically get used to what the air feels like in our homes so listen to what guests think about the air in your home.
Pet owners should consider buying an air purifier, with key features being how many types of filtration the unit does.
The most effective combination is a HEPA filter with a activated carbon filter.
Bottom Line - Best Affordable Air Purifier for Pet Dander
Cleaning is a never-ending chore, especially if you have a pet. Pet dander constantly piles up in nooks and crannies all around us, especially in our homes. Previously, we might have considered pet dander just a nuisance; but now we know it can cause allergies or lead to overgrowth of dust mites, which then cause allergies.
Still, allergies are not that simple.
Dust and pollen from almonds, peanuts, birches, walnuts and other plants can also trigger an allergic reaction to pet dander and vice versa. The common factor in all these problems is household dust. No matter how hard we sweep, mop and vacuum, there will always be dust in our homes.
That’s where the air purifier comes in. An air purifier helps reduce the amount of dust, pollen and pet dander freely floating around.
In this case, we’ve recommended five great products, each with its own strengths.
JINPUS Air Purifier
Out of the five, JINPUS' Air Purifier proved itself the best affordable air purifier for pet dander due to its effectiveness, reliability, and great price point. You can carry it anywhere, plug it in and get instant relief; its negative ion generator is a unique feature worth trying too.
Pets are great, and owning one does have positive impacts on us and our loved ones. By all means, do have pets, just make sure they are clean! If not, keep your surroundings clean and you should be good to go.
