Best Air Purifier for Dorm Room

Last updated on Oct 15, 2021 Air Purifiers
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If you have ever been in a dorm room, you must have experienced some unpleasant smells. These might be from a roommate, some mixed leftovers, or air pollutants coming from outside. If you have allergies, such moments are really stressful. To get rid of such challenges, an air purifier can do a great job to improve the air quality in your dorm. In this regard, we have put up our list of best air purifier for dorm room to improve the air quality. 

Summary of our 5 best air purifiers for dorm room

Specifications1# Winix 5300-22# Medify MA-14 Air Purifier3# Pure Enrichment PEAIRPLG4# GermGuardian AC5350BCA5# Blueair Blue Pure 411
Room coverage360 ft2200 ft2200 ft2167 ft2161 ft2
HEPA filterYesYesYesYesNo
Noise level27 - 55 dB21-28 dB30-50dB24-46 dB17 – 46 dB
Auto modeYesNoNoNoNo 
Pre-filterYesYesYesYesYes
Stages of purification43343

Are air purifiers allowed in dorms?

The answer is yes. Air purifiers are allowed in dorm rooms. In fact, most people are encouraged to carry them. Air purifiers cleanse the air, which is important for your health and that of your roommates.

Should I get an air purifier for my dorm room?

Yes, you should. You should always consider air purification as an important need. An air purifier would ensure your air quality is good and clean. Especially considering the fact that most dorm rooms can get really stuffy from all kinds of air pollutants.

So when you are going back to school, on top of your long shopping list, you can include an air purifier.

How can I choose the best air purifier for my dorm room?

If you have been wondering what kind of purifier or what to consider before buying an air purifier for your dorm room, this article is here to save you the burden. Below are some of the factors you should consider:

Coverage

Different air purifiers come with varying coverage capacity. Some devices are meant for small rooms of about 100 square feet while others can cover up to 650 square feet. In this regard, when purchasing an air purifier ensure it covers at least the size of your dorm room.

Size

Air purifiers come in different sizes, and since most dorm rooms are small accommodating not more than 5 people, you will need to consider the dimensions of what you are buying. Perhaps, the best air purifiers for such rooms are those with less than 12 inches in width. This size can allow you to place the air purifier on a desk.

Noise

Noise is an important factor especially among students. You will need to be considerate about the noise levels an air purifier produces. On average a standard noise level for an air purifier is 36 dB. So, anything that goes beyond that may turn out to be distracting. 

 5 Best air purifiers for a dorm room

1. Winix 5300-2 Air purifier

Winix 5300-2
Winix 5300-2

First, on our list of the best air purifiers for dorm rooms, is the Winix 5300-2. You can get your air cleansed as you concentrate on your books at an affordable price. It removes harmful indoor air particles such as dust, smoke and chemicals.

The unit has a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) of 243, the device can swiftly remove dust suspended in the air. It is best used for medium rooms as it covers about 360 square feet.

Winix 5300-2 uses a four-level filtration system which includes a carbon filter that reduces the odors in the room and a true HEPA filter. 

It uses Plasmawave technology that safely breaks down airborne chemicals, allergens and other pollutants.  

Why the winix 5300-2 is good for a dorm room

  • Winix 5300-2 has a true HEPA filter that removes up to 99.99 percent of airborne particles including dust, smoke, and other particles as small as 0.003 microns. Since roommates usually go out for sports, they can bring dust/dirt into the dorm room. Additionally, some might be smokers, a habit that can quickly lead to deterioration of air quality. Whatever the case, 5300-2 air purifier removes all sorts of air pollutants. The 5300-2 is guaranteed to keep your dorm free from dust thus improving your air quality.
  • The unit is designed with the Plasmawave technology which works by neutralizing pollutants such as bacteria from the air. This means you have less chances of waking up to sore throats, cough, and other bacterial related infections.
  • Winix 5300-2 has an auto sleep mode feature, which operates at minimal noise. Those who are noise sensitive while sleeping will have no interruptions the whole night. 
  • The device has a washable fine mesh pre-filter, which is important for college students since maintenance costs are reduced.

Pros

  • Auto mode
  • Energy star certified 
  • Quiet operation

Cons

  • No remote control
  • Emits trace amounts of ozone  

2. Medify MA-14 Air Purifier

Medify MA-14
Medify MA-14

When planning to have an air purifier in your room, you have to think about Medify MA-14. The high-quality air filter is one aspect that makes the device robust. The filtration process includes the standard pre-filter and true HEPA filter to sieve out most air pollutants. 

The pre-filter covers the HEPA filter to prolong its life, by capturing large particles of pollutants such as hair, dust, and fur.

True HEPA filter captures up to 99.97 percent of particles small as 0.3 microns, virus particles, and fungi particles.

The device has features such as night light and sleep mode and it is majorly suitable for small rooms.

Why you need MA-14 air purifier in your dorm room

  • It quietly removes 99.9 percent of airborne toxins such as dust, smoke, odors and VOCs. Certainly, this will help increase the quality of sleep among the roommates. 
  • MA-14 air purifier has a h13 HEPA filter that eliminate almost all kinds of airborne particles. This includes mold spores and it does so by removing the airborne spores from the air. Most dorm rooms are usually small in size. These small spaces limit the airflow, leading to the development of mold. So, MA-14 will help dorm mates to keep mold free.
  • It has an easy to use control panel which includes sleep mode, fan speed, night light, as well as filter replacement indicator. So you will always be in position to know when to replace and alter the system functionality to ensure clean air. 
  • The device can clean up to 200 square feet in just 30 minutes. In case you are worried about bills, you can just run the unit immediately you enter the dorm for 30 minutes and enjoy the quality air.
  • Also the device is small in size. Since most dorm rooms are small, this device could be convenient as it can be placed anywhere. 

Pros

  • Ozone free
  • Quiet operation
  • Dimmable lights when in night mode giving you a better sleep
  • Filter Change indicator

Cons

  • Non washable filters

3. Pure Enrichment PureZone PEAIRPLG

Pure Enrichment PEAIRPLG
Pure Enrichment PEAIRPLG

Third on our list of best air purifier for dorm rooms is the PureZone air purifier. The unit has the capability to sanitize the air in your room, making it breathable. In addition to its modern design, it is fully customizable with 3 level fan speed settings.

The unit comes with a timer. This allows you to set the time of 2, 4 and 8 hours depending how long you would want it to operate. 

It has a 3-stage air purification filter including pre-filter, activated carbon filter, and true HEPA filter.

With its true HEPA filtration system, it means it can remove up to 99.97 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns.

Why you need pure enrichment Purezone in your dorm room

  • The pureZone setting on the device offers the best solution for setting a comfortable air quality for people suffering from asthma, allergies and other respiratory related complications.
  • The true HEPA filter on the device can capture 99.97 percent of dust, smoke and mold spores that are commonly known for causing respiratory complications in dorms.
  • The UV-C light can safely remove airborne germs and bacteria. This means that your dorm room will not only be free from dust, but also germs and bacteria.
  • The device is easy to use, as you can set it up in a short time.
  • It has features such as an automatic timer that turns off the unit in a space period of 2, 4, and 8 hours thus making it energy efficient. Your dorm guide will not be on your neck complaining about excessive energy consumption.

Pros

  • Filter reset indicator
  • Wider room coverage, making it suitable for all dorm room sizes.
  • Quiet operation

Cons

  • Filter replacement every 6 months
  • Scent of plastic, especially during the first use

4. GermGuardian AC5350BCA Air purifier

GermGuardian AC5350BCA
GermGuardian AC5350BCA

This is also another perfect air purifier for your dorm room. It is a 4-in-1 air purifier, which makes it perfect for those with dust related allergies.

This is a 4 in 1 air purifier. It comes with the true HEPA air filter that reduces up to 99.97 of airborne particles including dust, mold spores and other allergens of up to 0.3 microns. 

It also has an activated charcoal filter that helps remove unwanted smells in the room.

AC5350BCA has a filter replacement reminder that notifies you when you need to replace the filter. Only one single filter needs replacement in a space of 6-8 months. 

It is not just a filter, but also a germ killer, and safely removes odors. The GermGuardian is CADR rated 125, and it is ideal to use in medium and large rooms.

It is also easy to use as it includes a display panel containing UV-C control, filter change indicator and timer. You can set the device to ultra-quiet sleep mode.

Why you need GermGuardian AC5350BCA in your dorm room

  • The unit comes with a 4-stage air purification system that captures various pollutants.
  • Pre-filter: This is the first step of purification. It is responsible for removing large particles such as dust, dirt and air. This would make the room air safe for breathing.
  • Activated carbon filter: this minimizes dorm room odors and traps large dust and allergen particles that are common in these rooms.
  • True HEPA filter: this removes 99.97 of microscopic particles as small as 0.3 microns. This will help ensure quality air in the dorm room.
  • Ultraviolet (UV-C) light: this destroys airborne bacteria and viruses to keep you healthy.

Pros

  • Activated charcoal filter, which helps reduce room odors
  • Digital display
  • Air circulation of 4 times per hour
  • UV-C light technology which kills germs, viruses, and bacteria

Cons

  • Loud on maximum speed
  • The top light does not go off even when in sleep mode, making it uncomfortable for those who are light sensitive during sleep. 

5. Blueair Blue Pure 411

Blueair 411 air purifier for dorm room
Blueair Blue Pure 411

Blueair Blue Pure 411 air purifier can also play a significant role in removing dust in your room. It is purposely designed for small rooms.

Pure 411 comes with a 3-stage filtration system including a pre-filter as the first layer, carbon filter, and the main particle filter.  All these combine efforts to get rid of dust, strong odors. It removes dust up to about 120 CFM (200 m3/h).

The unit uses electrostatic HEPAsilent technology. This technology allows the device to operate with less noise when compared to other traditional Hepa air purifiers.

Unlike other air purifiers on this list, Blueair Blue Pure 411 has one button. A single button operates the whole device and let’s you know when its time to replace the filters.

Why Blueair Blue Pure 411 is good for your dorm room

  • The unit filters at air at an industry-recommended rate of 5 times per hour in 161 square feet room per hour. At this filtration rate you can effectively lower airborne particle levels in the room and maintain a healthy environment. 
  • The 3-stage filtration system can ensure your dorm room is free from several pollutants. This filtration system can capture large particles, such as dust and reduce the odors that may come from dirty clothes.
  • The unit operates with minimal noise levels which will help your sleep uninterrupted
  • The unit also comes with an auto LED dim, which automatically dimes to 10 percent brightness. So, those who are light sensitive at night or during sleep, Blueair 411 can be convenient. 
  • It has a filter change indicator. When the filter wears out, the device communicates through the LED warning system that turns red. As college students, it might be hard to understand when the filters need replacement. Therefore, this unit would provide real-time information about filtration replacement to avoid risking the air quality.

Pros

  • 360 degree air intake
  • Quiet operation
  • Easy set up
  • Energy star certified

Cons

  • No True HEPA filter
  • The dime light is somewhat bright

How can I improve air quality in my dorm room?

  • Invest in an air purifier

An air purifier would certainly do wonders in your dorm room. In fact, this would be vital for those suffering from allergies and asthma. Since air pollution in a dorm room is inevitable, an air purifier would be a perfect idea as it helps remove dust, dirt and other contaminants from the air.

  • Air cleaning plants

Although technology is increasingly simplifying our lives day-by-day, we should remember that our ancestors enjoyed quality air. Drawing from their knowledge, you can put air cleaning plants in a corner or on a table to help you clean the air. Plants such as Dragon Tree and Spider plant among others can be of great use towards improving your air quality.

  • Increase ventilation

Most students in the dorm rooms prefer keeping their windows and doors shut. But this is not really a great idea as it significantly contributes towards poor air quality. It is of great importance to keep these windows and doors open to allow free air circulation.  This would help get rid of smells, smoke and bad odors because the air would draw them out. 

Why is my dorm room so dusty?

  • Poor ventilation

You may notice that whenever you leave your windows and doors closed you find the room dusty. This means poor ventilation does not allow proper air circulation leaving most of the dust to settle in your room.

  • We carry the dust into our dorm rooms

Students are fond of playing many sports and every time they return to the dorm, they carry with them some particles of dust, mud, sand, grass, and the like. All these tend to remain in your clothes or shoes and then spread out throughout the dorm room.

  • Hair and skin

With very keen inspection of your room sheets, you will notice some of your dead skin cells and hair. These accumulate overtime and will gradually degrade into dust. However, the bad news is that it is impossible to avoid this. You just have to find ways of cleaning the dorm room better and more frequently. 

How should I get rid of dust in my dorm room?

1.  Avoid carpeting

We all believe that a carpeted floor looks elegant but the rate at which they hide dust is astonishing. Carpeted rooms need to be vacuumed frequently but this may not be possible for most students. This is because some might not be able to buy their own vacuums or some just don't have the time to vacuum. This means the dust in the room will pile up. Therefore, you may need to get rid of carpeting and reduce dust accumulation.

2.  Use Air purifiers

An air purifier might be your savior when it gets to chasing dust out of your dorm room. Purifiers come with advanced filters that trap dust floating in the air in the room. However, it should be noted that purifiers work on only airborne dust and not on dust that has already settled.

3.  Regular mopping

You should regularly mop your floor to ensure dust does not pile up. We usually carry dust on our clothes and shoes and then we dispose of them on the floor. In this case, regular cleaning wouldn't  allow dust to stay for long. In the long run, your dorm room gets cleaner and less dusty.

4.  Put window coverings

Most college windows are not effectively sealed, and this is the reason why curtains trap a lot of dust. So, you should always put curtains in your windows, and ensure you wash them regularly.

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