This Air Purifier Helps Me (and My Allergies) Wake Up Feeling Refreshed

I’d never considered getting an air purifier until recently — until I couldn’t avoid reading about the importance of air quality in homes and offices. And I suspect I’m not alone here.

The pandemic certainly played a role in this. But what really convinced me to test out an air purifier was my allergies. A particularly brutal bout of spring allergies landed me in the allergist’s office, where after a scratch test, I learned I was only allergic to the pollen of a couple of trees. How could that be? My allergist explained I likely had sensitivities to common allergens, but not full-blown allergies. Lucky me!

The appointment didn’t exactly solve my problem: My allergies were interfering with my sleep. I either had developed a scratchy throat or became super stuffed up by the time I hit the snooze button in the morning. I knew I didn’t want to overdo it on the allergy meds, so in an effort to not wake up congested every morning, I decided putting an air purifier next to my head each night was worth a shot. It couldn’t hurt, right?

I found the Clorox Tabletop True HEPA Air Purifier quite easy to plop on my bedroom nightstand. The sleek white cylinder doesn’t look out of place, and the gentle whirring sound it makes is ideal for a white noise addict like me. The night light feature is particularly nice when I’m winding down before bed, too. But it’s the catching-airborne-particles part I like best.

The device claims to capture 99.97 percent of allergens in the air while reducing viruses and bacteria. On the list of particles it traps are plant pollen, pet dander, mildew, mold, smoke, and dust mites. ​​I’m no scientist, so I didn’t try any experiments to test this statement, but my nose and throat can attest to my newfound good night’s sleep. Recently, I was so tired that I fell asleep without switching my air purifier on. I woke up a few hours later with a scratchy throat and finally turned it on. I didn’t wake up again. Was this a coincidence, or proof that this air filter helps me catch uninterrupted Zs?

I’m leaning toward the latter. I no longer reach for the tissue box first thing in the morning, which feels pretty darn good. I’ve been told I snore less, which is also a plus. I plan to take my purifier to my parents’ house next month, where I’ll sleep in the same room as our dog. Hopefully my little cylinder is up to the task of filtering out lots of beagle dander from the air. I have a feeling it will be.