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Oct 17, 2024

Consumer Reports shares best air purifiers for smoke pollution

The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox. Wildfires can burn millions of acres, leaving behind smoke and dust that pollute the air. The smoke from wildfires can then travel

The latest breaking updates, delivered straight to your email inbox.

Wildfires can burn millions of acres, leaving behind smoke and dust that pollute the air.

The smoke from wildfires can then travel thousands of miles, affecting the air quality in your home.

To improve indoor air quality, Consumer Reports recommends using an air purifier.

"An air purifier is a good first line of defense inside of your home when combating smoke caused by wildfires," said Tanya Christina, an indoor air quality expert at Consumer Reports.

Christina works with testers to evaluate the effectiveness of dozens of air purifiers.

In its labs, Consumer Reports injects contaminants like smoke and dust into a controlled chamber to measure how well air purifiers reduce particle levels.

The top-performing purifier in Consumer Reports' tests was the Blueair, which removed dust, pollen, and smoke from larger rooms.

For maximum effectiveness, Consumer Reports advises keeping the fabric pre-filter off.

The Honeywell air purifier is another effective option for removing dust, pollen, and smoke, but it's most efficient when set to its highest speed.

For the best results, close and seal windows and doors with weather stripping or masking tape to help the air purifier work more efficiently.

"So, air purifiers really work best when you're using them with other methods that help improve your indoor air quality," Christina said.

Spend most of your time in rooms with few or no windows, and avoid rooms with outdoor vents.

If you're in an area affected by wildfire smoke, keep your air purifier running 24/7 and replace the filter as soon as the indicator light turns on.

Minimizing indoor smoke sources like fireplaces, candles, and incense can also improve air quality.