Indoor air quality is more important than ever—especially with many of us spending the majority of our time inside. From pollen and pet dander to cooking fumes and urban pollution, the air in our homes can be filled with invisible irritants that affect our health and comfort.
That’s where air purifiers come in. Whether you're looking to ease allergy symptoms, improve sleep, or create a cleaner environment, an air purifier can make a noticeable difference. In this ultimate guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about choosing the right air purifier.
What is an air purifier?
Air purifiers are designed to remove airborne particles and contaminants from the air. Using a combination of filters and purification technologies, air purifiers target pollutants such as dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke, odours, and bacteria—helping you breathe cleaner, healthier air.
Whether you're living in a city apartment, a suburban family home, or sharing space with pets or smokers, an air purifier can dramatically improve your indoor air quality. At Direct Vacuums, we stock a wide range of air purifiers to suit every household, including compact and refurbished options that won’t break the bank.
What are the benefits of using an air purifier?
Reduces Allergens
If you or someone in your household suffers from hay fever, asthma, or pet allergies, an air purifier can be a game-changer. Air purifiers with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters trap up to 99.97% of airborne allergens such as pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and mould spores—providing welcome relief during allergy season or year-round.
Eliminates Household Odours
Cooking smells, pet odours, and smoke can linger for hours—or even days—especially in smaller or poorly ventilated spaces. Air purifiers equipped with activated carbon filters are excellent at neutralising these unpleasant smells, helping your home feel fresher and more inviting.
Improves Sleep Quality
Allergens, dust, and poor air circulation can disrupt your sleep without you even realising it. Cleaner air reduces irritation in the nasal passages and lungs, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. Some air purifiers also operate quietly in sleep mode, so you can breathe easier through the night without any noise disturbance.
Boosts Focus and Productivity
Poor air quality can lead to brain fog, headaches, and fatigue—all things that make it harder to stay focused, especially if you work from home. Cleaner air means more oxygen flow to the brain, potentially improving concentration, cognitive function, and energy levels throughout the day.
Protects Vulnerable Groups
Children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are more susceptible to pollutants and airborne irritants. An air purifier helps create a safer environment by removing bacteria, viruses, and microscopic particles that can trigger respiratory problems or exacerbate existing conditions.
Reduces the Spread of Airborne Illness
Some air purifiers feature UV-C light or ionisation technology, which can help neutralise bacteria and viruses in the air. While not a substitute for good hygiene, this added layer of protection can be especially valuable during cold and flu season.
Improves Overall Indoor Air Quality
From reducing indoor dust build-up to tackling volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from paints, cleaning products, and furniture, air purifiers play a vital role in improving long-term air quality. This leads to a cleaner, healthier home—and a more comfortable living space.
Who are air purifiers good for?
- Allergy and asthma sufferers: If you deal with hay fever, asthma, or pet allergies, a HEPA air purifier can remove up to 99.97% of allergens like pollen, dust mites, mould spores, and pet dander, offering year-round relief.
- People who work from home: Spending long hours in the same room? An air purifier keeps the air fresh, reduces fatigue, and creates a healthier, more productive workspace.
- Apartment living: In flats or shared buildings, unwanted smells and smoke can drift in from other units. A compact air purifier helps filter out odours and pollutants from neighbours or outside traffic.
- Pet owners: Pets shed hair, dander, and odours—especially in enclosed spaces. An air purifier helps control smells and airborne allergens, making your home more comfortable for everyone.
- Studio apartments: When your kitchen is part of your living space, cooking smells linger. An air purifier helps reduce food odours and airborne grease, keeping your entire home feeling fresher.
Key Considerations When Buying an Air Purifier
Room size
Air purifiers are rated to handle specific room sizes. If you’re using one in a large open-plan area, you’ll need a more powerful air purifier with a higher CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate). For bedrooms or home offices, a compact air purifier may suffice.
Specific air quality concerns
Different air purifiers are tailored to different needs:
- Allergies and asthma: Go for a HEPA-equipped unit, which can capture 99.97% of microscopic allergens as small as 0.3 microns
- Pet odours and dander: Choose models with activated carbon filters, which neutralise odours and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
- Smoke and chemical fumes: A combination of HEPA and carbon filters works best.
Maintenance
Most air purifiers require filter changes every 6 to 12 months, depending on usage and the type of filter. HEPA filters may last longer, while carbon filters tend to wear out faster, especially in homes with pets or smokers. Some models come with filter change indicators to take the guesswork out of maintenance.
Multi-Purpose Air Purifiers
If you're short on space or looking for added value, multi-purpose air purifiers are a great choice. These models often combine air purification with other useful features like dehumidifiers, humidifiers, and fans. Whether you need cleaner air, better temperature control, or improved humidity levels, a multifunctional unit can do it all in one compact design.
Where should an air purifier be placed?
For optimal performance of your air purifier, place it:
- Near the source of the pollutants (e.g., near pets or smoke)
- Away from walls and furniture, to allow 360-degree air intake
- Elevated or centralised, especially in large rooms
- For bedrooms, place it near the bed for improved sleep.
- In living rooms or shared spaces, keep it central for better air circulation.
Clean Air Doesn’t Have to Come at a Premium Price
Whether you're battling allergies, household odours, or just want to breathe cleaner air, a high-quality air purifier can transform your home environment. And the best part? You don’t have to pay a premium price for premium performance.
At Direct Vacuums, we offer both brand-new and refurbished air purifiers that offer all the functionality of leading brands (at a much lower cost). Backed by a 3 warranty and quality-checked by our team, they're a smart and sustainable way to improve your indoor air quality.
The Best Air Purifiers from Direct Vacuums
Vytronix Air Purifier 55W Anti Allergen Odour Reducing HEPA Filter Carbon Filter
Our price £69.99
- Removes up to 99.9% of allergens, odours and certain bacteria
- Pre-filter + HEPA filter trap dust, pollen and airborne particles
- Carbon filter + de-ioniser reduces pet smells, smoke and gases
- Ideal for allergy and hay fever sufferers, even those with high sensitivity
- Quiet operation for 24/7 use—even at night
- 4 fan speed settings: Night Mode, 2 daily modes, and powerful Turbo
- AUTO mode adjusts settings based on real-time air quality
- Timer function (1 to 8 hours), perfect for night-time use
- Child lock, filter change sensor and auto shut-off for added safety
- Lightweight (4.7kg) and portable design with a 1.6m power cord
- Suitable for medium to large rooms up to 28㎡
AEG AX91-604GY NEW Air Purifier Battery Protection & Filter WiFi Connected Grey
Our Price £299.99 RRP £529.99 (save £230.00)
- Suitable for rooms up to 54m² – perfect for medium-sized spaces
- Ultra-quiet operation – noise level as low as 17 dB
- 9 fan speed settings – including Auto and Sleep Modes
- PureSense technology – automatically adjusts to air quality
- AirSurround system – circulates air in a spiral to reach every corner
- 5-stage filtration – removes 99.5% of particles as small as 0.3 microns
- Eliminates up to 99.9% of bacteria* – for cleaner, fresher air
- Built-in sensors – monitor temperature, humidity, light, odours, and more
- Smartphone control – use the AEG Wellbeing app to manage settings remotely
- 360° air intake – draws in air from all sides for maximum efficiency
- Filter indicator – alerts you when it’s time to clean or replace
- Washable filters – long-lasting and easy to maintain
Hoover HHP30C Smart Air Purifier 300 Wi-Fi Enabled Air Cleaner HEPA H13 Filter
Our Price £64.99 RRP £369.99 (Save £305.00)
- Clean your home's air in 10 minutes - remove allergens, fumes, cooking smells and cigarette smoke. Effective in a room of up to 110 square metres.
- 100% Pollen Neutraliser Technology – through the Hoover Air Purifier’s unique filtration system, pollen particles are instantly neutralised in the HEPA (H13) filter layer.
- Triple Layer Filtration – The H-Trifilter system of the air purifier guarantees the removal of 99.9% of allergens from the air, including pollen, dust, bacteria and viruses, as well as pet hair.
- Real-time Updates- the Air Quality LED Ring will change colour depending on the air quality detected to allow immediate feedback, a green LED means excellent air quality.
- Monitor through the hOn App – Connect the air purifier to WiFi to monitor indoor and outdoor pollution levels, humidity, temperature, and the air quality in your home in real time through the hOn App.
- Create a personal allergic profile for the air purifier using the Pollen Allergy Mode on the hOn App.
- Quiet Sleep Mode – the Hoover Air Purifier’s extremely quiet Sleep Mode goes through up to 10 air purification cycles while you sleep.
AEG AX31-201GY NEW Air Purifier with LED Display & Wi-Fi APP Silent 26dB Grey
Our Price £149.99 RRP £199.99 (save £50.00)
- Filtration - powerful 3-layer filter that removes 99.6% of all airborne bacteria as small as 0.3 microns. Effectively retains microscopic airborne contaminants and harmful gases
- Reach every corner of your home: with AirSurround technology that creates a smooth spiral movement covering up to 40m2. Cleans up to 3 times faster than previous generations.
- Extremely quiet: with only 26 dB (A) at its lowest speed and up to 49 dB (A) at the highest level, it can be used at night.
- Total control: continuous measurement of air quality. Automatic cleaning adjustment and visualises the current air quality using the colour signal on the device display
- Permanently connected: whether inside or outside the home, monitor the air quality in your home from the AEG Wellbeing app
Russell Hobbs RHDH1101B Portable Dehumidifier & Air Purifier Fresh Air Pro Black
Our Price £44.99 RRP £89.99 (save £45.00)
- 2-in-1 dehumidifier and air purifier – reduces humidity and filters airborne pollutants
- Ideal for rooms up to 20m² – perfect for home offices, living rooms, and utility spaces
- Removes up to 750ml of moisture per day – helps combat damp, mould, and condensation
- 1L water tank – auto cut-off function prevents overflow
- Captures 99.95% of airborne allergens – including dust, pollen, smoke, and bacteria
- Ozone-free filtration – safe and clean air with no ozone emissions
- Auto defrost function – prevents freezing at low temperatures
- Touch control panel with LED lighting – easy to use and modern in design
- Low noise operation – suitable for quiet environments and night use
- Compact and lightweight (2.8kg) – easy to move between rooms
