5 Best Air Purifiers With Washable Filters 2023 (We Tested!)

In recent years, the popularity of air purifiers has surged to impressive levels. The demand for air purification solutions that are not only cost-effective but also user-friendly, easy to maintain, and highly efficient has experienced remarkable growth.

Best Air Purifier With Washable Filter

The area of air purifier filtration technology has seen a wave of innovation in recent times. In this article, we will delve into a lesser-known category of air purifiers—those equipped with washable or permanent filters. Based on extensive hands-on testing, I will present my expert opinion on the five most outstanding options you can buy.

Air purifiers with washable filters are gaining increasing popularity thanks to their simple maintenance and impressive performance. Their most compelling feature is the elimination of the need for filter replacements; instead, you only need to clean or wash them periodically.

While I typically recommend air purifiers with True HEPA filters, I was pleasantly surprised by the remarkable efficiency shown by air purifiers with washable filters like the Airdog, with its innovative Collecting Plates, and Honeywell, both of which I rigorously tested. So, as you read on, you’ll find my carefully curated recommendations for the best air purifiers with washable filters.

In a Hurry? Here Are the Best Air Purifiers With Washable Filters!

  • Honeywell AirGenius 5Best air purifier with a washable filter on the market. It’s intended for rooms up to 250 sq. ft., filters air through its 5-stage filtration system, and uses the ifD filter technology and an Ionizer. Furthermore, it gives you a 5-year warranty.
  • Honeywell HFD-120-QGreat value-for-money air purifier. It’s ideal for rooms up to 170 sq. ft. and uses an innovative ifD washable filter, but I wouldn’t say I like the lack of advanced features as seen on others.
  • Airdog X3 – Smart air purifier with an ionizer and a permanent carbon filter, excellent performance and very efficient but somehow overpriced. It covers rooms up to 215 sq. ft.
  • ENVION Therapure TPP240Tower shape air purifier that covers larger rooms up to 500 sq. ft. This is an air purifier with innovative filtration technology that uses UV light and a permanent filter.
  • Hamilton Beach 04386ACompact air purifier; ideal for smaller rooms and can easily be used on the desk. It’s a great air purifier that covers rooms up to 160 sq. ft. but is not as efficient as I would like it to be.

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Top 5 Air Purifiers With Washable / Permanent Filters

Combining the most important parameters such as performance, value for money, filtration technology, and other things to determine the quality and efficiency of these devices as accurately as possible, I narrowed the list of the best air purifiers with washable or permanent filters.

Honeywell AirGenius 5 – Best Air Purifier With Washable Filter

Honeywell AirGenius 5 - Best Air Purifier With Washable Filters
Honeywell AirGenius 5 air purifier.

Honeywell AirGenius 5 Highlights

  • The Honeywell AirGenius 5 is the best air purifier with a washable filter.
  • It uses five purification stages technology and is intended for rooms up to 250 sq. ft.
  • Credible successor to the AirGenius 4 model. The AirGenius 5 is extremely easy to maintain.
  • Honeywell gives a 5-year warranty for this model.

The Honeywell AirGenius 5 is the best washable filter air purifier designed for rooms up to 250 sq. ft. It’s featured by the 3-stage filtration system, which includes the washable pre-filter, ifD filter, and the Ionizer. Its patented ifD technology effectively eliminates particulate air pollutants with its electrical blast.

Honeywell offers the option of purchasing an additional “odor-reducing pre-filter,” which successfully reduces odors and smells. To extend the lifespan and cut the costs customers would otherwise spend on replacing temporary filters, the company has designed this “odor-reducing pre-filter,” which acts as a carbon filter. However, it is essential to remember that the “odor-reducing pre-filter” is not washable. If you opt to buy the odor-reducing pre-filter, the AirGenius 5 will no longer be a 100% air purifier with a washable or permanent filter.

When washing filters, be careful not to damage or puncture them! A damaged filter will not be effective, and there is no point in using it. Therefore, I recommend replacing the damaged filter with a new one immediately.

This Honeywell model can boast many options starting from 5 purification modes #1 Sleep, #2 Germs, #3 General, #4 Allergen, and #5 Max. You can also set a timer up to 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 hours, after which the air purifier will automatically turn off. 

The filter reset indicator will notify you when it is time to clean the filter. If you want ambient light, there is a “Light” option, which can be turned on/off as desired.

Filters Permanent Washable ifD Filter, Washable Pre-filter and Ionizer
Coverage 250 sq. ft.
Power Consumption 38W
Warranty 5-year

Honeywell HFD-120-Q – Great Value-For-Money

Honeywell HFD-120-Q - Best Air Purifier With Washable Filters
Honeywell HFD-120-Q air purifier.

Honeywell HFD-120-Q Highlights

  • Honeywell HFD-120-Q uses 3-stage filtration technology, including a washable pre-filter, a permanent washable ifD filter, and an ionizer as the last stage.
  • It is intended for rooms up to 170 sq. ft.
  • Honeywell gives a 5-year warranty on this model.
  • It has a filter reset indicator, which will alert you that it is time to clean the filter.

Honeywell HFD-120-Q is an air purifier with permanent washable filters. This is an inevitable and another outstanding device from the manufacturer Honeywell, which stands out for its quality and characteristics.

It is intended for rooms up to 170 sq. ft. and is an excellent choice for a smaller living room, bedroom, or similar room size. The Honeywell HFD-120-Q uses innovative ifD technology as the previously described AirGenius 5 model.

Honeywell HFD-120-Q uses 3 stage filtration system. The first stage of filtration is a washable pre-filter. The second stage of filtration is a permanent washable ifD filter. The third stage of filtration is an ionizer.

As we are used to, Honeywell devices use a filter reset indicator that will flash when it is time to clean the filter.

You can wash the pre-filter and the ifD filter with water or simply use a vacuum cleaner. The exclusivity of the Honeywell HFD-120-Q model is that it is AHAM Verified and Energy Star rated.

As for the previous model I wrote about, Honeywell also gives a 5-year warranty for this model.

Filters Permanent Washable ifD Filters, Washable Pre-filter and Ionizer
Coverage 170 sq. ft.
Power Consumption 43W
Warranty 5-year

Airdog X3 – Smart Air Purifier

Airdog X3 - Best Air Purifier With Washable Filters
Airdog X3 air purifier.

Airdog X3 Highlights

  • Airdog X3 is a premium and luxury device intended for rooms up to 215 sq. ft. It also performed well in slightly larger rooms.
  • All filters in the machine are permanent. It uses a carbon filter, which is also reusable.
  • It has air quality sensor, with advanced auto mode, the ability to connect to smart app, and many more options from advanced options.
  • It is the successor to the very successful predecessors of the Airdog X5 and Airdog X8 models.

The Airdog X3 is the latest model launched by Airdog on the Indiegogo platform.

This device uses revolutionary air filtration technology. It uses an electrode generator as its main filtering technology that captures pollutants with a filter plate. The X3 uses an ionizer but is CARB-certified, which means it is entirely safe to use. The device is straightforward to maintain. It has a Filter Cleaning Indicator option that will notify you when the time to clean the filter is.

The Airdog X3 does not use a HEPA filter or some similar filtration method, but Its filters are permanent and washable. The collecting plate, which is an essential part of the filtration, on which all dust and particles are collected, is washable and can be washed in a dishwasher. Besides, the pre-filter can also be washed or vacuumed with a vacuum cleaner. What is even more fascinating is that the Airdog X3 uses a reusable carbon filter, which does not need to be washed but is occasionally placed in direct sunlight and, in that way, regenerates its properties.

This luxurious, premium device is designed for rooms up to 215 sq. ft. The Airdog X3 did a fantastic performance in tests. It has proven to be much more efficient than some air purifiers, which, unlike the Airdog X3, use a True HEPA filter.

The price is slightly higher and aligned with the quality of the device, but since it uses washable air filters, I think this device pays off in the long run. It will especially be helpful if you have problems with allergies, pollen, or dust particles.

Filters Pre-filter, Electrode Generator, Collecting Plate and Carbon Filter
Coverage 215 sq. ft.
Power Consumption 27W
Warranty 1-year

ENVION Therapure TPP240 – Great For Large Rooms

ENVION Therapure TPP240 - Best Air Purifier With Washable Filters
ENVION Therapure TPP240 air purifier.

ENVION Therapure TPP240 Highlights

  • The filters on the TPP240 are permanent but not washable and must not be washed under any circumstances! It is important to point out that UV light needs to be changed.
  • Therapure TPP240 uses a HEPA filter in combination with UV light, plus arbitrarily leaves the possibility of using an Ionizer.
  • The warranty on this product is for one year.

ENVION Therapure TPP240 is a modern, impressive, and atypical air purifier. Therapure TPP240’s unusual epithet is the fact that the HEPA filter is permanent and not washable. The device’s sophistication is also reflected in the filter cleaning indicator, which will light up and give you a sign that it is time to clean it. I advise you to clean the filter with a dry cloth or a vacuum cleaner. Washing in water should be eliminated as an option, as in that case, the filter could disintegrate.

In addition to the HEPA filter, this model uses 3W UV light, which needs to be changed from time to time. Envion Therapure TPP240 also uses the Ionizer, which is turned off by default and can be turned on at the user’s request.

Unlike the previously mentioned air purifiers, the ENVION TPP240 is more affordable. Still, the Honeywell AirGenius 5 and Airdog X3 air purifiers have achieved much better performance.

However, if you want to strike a balance between price and quality, buying an ENVION Therapure TPP240 air purifier that uses a permanent HEPA filter is an excellent device for you.

Filters Permanent HEPA-type Filter, UV Lamp, Photo Catalyst Filter and ION Boost
Coverage 343 sq. ft.
Power Consumption 55W
Warranty 1-year

Hamilton Beach 04386A –  Compact Air Purifier

Hamilton Beach 04386A - Best Air Purifier With Washable Filters
Hamilton Beach 04386A air purifier.

Hamilton Beach 04386A Highlights

  • Hamilton Beach 04386A is a very small and affordable air purifier with a permanent filter. The device is very easy to use as well as maintain.
  • In addition to permanent HEPA filter, it also uses an ionizer.
  • It is designed for rooms up to 160 sq. ft., which means it is ideal for a small bedroom, smaller study, or similar room.
  • The filters on the 04386A air purifier model are permanent, not washable.

The Hamilton Beach 04386A is the smallest and most economical air purifier with a permanent filter on this list. This model is a great and budget-friendly device that uses the previously mentioned permanent or washable filters.

Hamilton Beach 04386A uses a permanent HEPA filter. In addition to the HEPA filter, the device also uses the Ionizer as an additional filtration stage. This air purifier is both miniature and compact and is designed for rooms up to 160 sq. ft.

It is most practical to use this device in a smaller bedroom or similar room of smaller dimensions. The filter on this device is permanent, and it needs to be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner or a dry cloth. I do not recommend washing Hamilton Beach 04386A filters with water. In that case, they could be damaged and even fall apart. This air purifier, in addition to being very cheap, also uses very little energy.

Filters Permanent Filters and Ionizer
Coverage 160 sq. ft.
Power Consumption 100W
Warranty 1-year

Are washable and permanent filters the same?

Generally speaking, both washable and permanent filters are, in some way, the same type of filter and are, in principle, permanent. Washable filters are permanent because you don’t have to change them, but you need to wash them. The best representative from this group of air purifiers is definitely our top pick, the Honeywell AirGenius 5 air purifier.

Washing the filter in the sink
In the image above, you can see the process of washing the filter in the sink.

With the development of technology, air purifier manufacturers have made washable HEPA filters, so you can wash them without fear. However, some devices use long-lasting, permanent non-washable filters. These kinds of filters should be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner or dry cloth.

Air purifiers with permanent filters mostly use ionizers as an additional stage of filtration. What is important to emphasize is that these devices are mostly CARB-certified and that you can therefore be sure that they do not produce an illegal amount of ozone.

Don’t be fooled by some marketing tricks. Some manufacturers put in the product description that they have washable filters; however, not all filters on that device are washable. Mostly, a pre-filter and a carbon filter are washable, while True HEPA needs to be replaced, and you should never wash it. Therefore, if you are not sure whether the filter is washable or not, you can reach out, and I will be pleased to help you.

Are washable HEPA filters as effective?

Technology advances every day, and washable HEPA filters can be as effective as the HEPA filters that are not washable.

Is a washable air filter worth it?

Let’s compare all the costs that customers who use standard air purifiers have with the costs that users of air purifiers with washable filters have. We can clearly conclude that it is much simpler and more convenient to use and maintain air purifiers with washable filters.

Interestingly, the price of an air purifier with and without a permanent filter is almost identical, and you pay nothing more at the very beginning. You save a lot of money that you would otherwise spend on replacement filters in the long run.

The only problem you may encounter is that some of these devices do not have a carbon filter. If they do, then that carbon filter is mostly not washable.

Furthermore, air purifiers with a True HEPA filter are much more efficient than air purifiers that use washable HEPA filters. Air purifiers with permanent or washable filters compensate for the lack of True HEPA filters by adding an extra filtration stage, an ionizer.

How long do reusable air filters last?

If used according to regulations, these filters can last for years. There are many cases where the filters lasted up to 5 years. It is crucial to maintain them on time, but it is even more important to maintain them properly.

The biggest problem is if you damage, puncture, or in any way break the filter, in which case it cannot be effective and must be replaced.

Maintenance of Washable Air Purifier Filters

The process of maintaining these filters is truly trivial. The air purifier will, in most cases, notify you when it is time to clean the filter because today, almost all models on the market have a filter reset indicator.

When you receive a notification from your device that it is time to clean the filter, you need to remove it. If the filter is washable, as is the case with our top washable air purifier Honeywell AirGenius 5, then it needs to be washed well. In case it is an ordinary permanent filter, clean it with a dry cloth or with a vacuum cleaner.

Regardless of the filter reset indicator, it is necessary to check the filters from time to time. If the filter is already dirty, please clean it even though the filter reset indicator did not light up.

In addition to the primary filter, a pre-filter needs to be cleaned once a month. That way, you will always keep the air purifier in perfect condition.

Pros and Cons of Washable & Permanent Filters

Every air purifier has its pros and cons. Check out the pros and cons of washable and permanent filters.

Pros

  • Reusable filters can catch all the known airborne particles like pollen, spores, dust, dander, or dirt.
  • You don’t have to spend money on replacement filters that very often come out more expensive than the device itself.
  • Filter maintenance is simple and does not require much time.
  • You can clean filters as often you like, and the more you clean them, the higher efficiency they have.
  • Some devices use innovative technologies and materials to improve device efficiency.

Cons

  • Some reusable filters are just not sufficient at eliminating airborne particles bigger than 2 microns. Catching spores, bacteria, allergens, and viruses with these filters is very difficult.
  • Washing the filter in water very often can lead to damage or holes in the filter, so such a filter will need to be replaced with a new one.
  • Over time, the efficiency of replacement filters weakens.

FAQ on Air Purifiers With Washable Filters

Will you save money by using a washable filter?

Yes, you will definitely save money if you opt for an air purifier with a permanent filter. However, the permanent filter may be damaged or lose its force during the time, in which case you are required to buy a replacement filter, but that would happen much less often than is the case with ordinary temporary filters that are changed 2-3 times a year.

What is the best air purifier with a washable filter?

The best choice is the Honeywell AirGenius 5 because it stands out as the best model of an air purifier with a washable filter that you can buy at the moment.

How do I know if my air filter is washable?

It is always clearly stated on the air purifier packaging or the product listing on the manufacturer’s website that the filters in the air purifier are washable. But be careful because pre-filter or activated carbon filter and true HEPA filter are not the same!

How do you clean a washable air filter?

You can wash them in the sink or wherever it is more convenient for you. However, some are dishwasher safe, but companies will clarify this in the declaration.

Final Thoughts

Buying an air purifier that uses a washable filter will save you from changing the filter 2-3 times a year

In order to make air purifiers with permanent filters competitive with a regular air purifier that uses a True HEPA filter, companies offer an option of purchasing an additional “odor-reducing pre-filter,” which acts as a highly efficient carbon filter and effectively reduces odors and smells. 

At this point, the Honeywell AirGenius 5 comes out as the winning air purifier with a washable filter. Not only will you not regret it, but you will also save yourself the extra cost of replacing the filter a few times a year and enjoy its effectiveness and the fresh air.

7 responses to “5 Best Air Purifiers With Washable Filters 2023 (We Tested!)”

  1. Sumit

    Air purifiers are not meant for molds, get a dehumidifier for that.

  2. Tammy

    Would any of these be good for mold?

  3. Crystal

    That winix creates ozone so that’s not a good thing.. do you have a good one like that without plasma wave/ ionizer in it. That is the only awful thing I see wrong with that one.

  4. Cookie

    I have 15 cats two dogs and birds in the house I need something that will really pick up the hair and has a true HEPA and washable A O C carbon filter And that is not expensive because all my money goes to all the animals feed and doctors. So hair and odor it’s a big must and clean air
    So can you help me decide which one would be the best pick thanks cookie

  5. Tom

    Some of these upon researching Amazon need expensive replacement filters .Like the Winix 5500-2!!!
    You need to do better reporting/reviews!

    • Milan Antonic

      Hello Tom,

      You have a good point. Winix replacement filters are maybe expensive for some users. But, the model you are talking about has washable “Pre-Filter” and “Washable AOC Carbon Filter”.

      So, you only need to replace the True HEPA filter, and in the best case, it would happen once in 12 months.

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