Do Air Purifiers Help with Smell? — 15 Types They Can Help With

Do Air Purifiers Remove Bad Smells and Odors?

Air purifiers can do more than just cleanse the air of dust and pet dander. They can also get rid of a wide variety of unpleasant smells by working to eliminate the odor-causing bacteria itself rather than masking it like a scented candle or air freshener.

In this article, we’re going to dive into the 15 most common smells it can get rid of so you can confidently purchase the best air purifier to remove odors you are concerned about.

To quickly jump to a specific part of the list, click on the smell you're looking to get rid of below:

Do Air Purifiers Help with Bad Smells?

In general, air purifiers are very good at removing all types of bad smells in a room. To have the most effective air purifier at removing bad odors, you’ll want to make sure the air purifier you purchase has activated carbon and HEPA filters.

Do Air Purifiers Help with Smoke?

Yes, air purifiers with HEPA and activated charcoal filters are proven to significantly reduce the amount of smoke in the air. However, it won’t remove smoke smells that are embedded in the carpet and furniture of your home. An air purifier will only help to remove the particles in the air that have not yet settled on a surface.

Do Air Purifiers Help with Wildfire Smoke?

Wildfire smoke can be very difficult to deal with given you can’t just open your windows and doors to naturally ventilate your home. An air purifier with an activated charcoal and HEPA filter has been proven to significantly decrease the amount of wildfire smoke in the air to give you healthier air to breathe.

Do Air Purifiers Help with Cigarette Smoke?

Air purifiers are great at decreasing the amount of cigarette smoke in the air. The best air purifiers to reduce cigarette smell have HEPA and activated charcoal filters.

It’s worth mentioning that an air purifier won’t get rid of the existing cigarette smoke smell that’s settled on a surface like a carpet, furniture, or clothing. It will only help to cleanse the air of new particles that are emitted while it’s running.

Do Air Purifiers Help with Weed Smell?

Now that marijuana has become legal in many places in the USA we’re getting a lot of questions on if air purifiers can help with weed smell. The answer is yes. An air purifier equipped with HEPA and activated charcoal filters has been shown to significantly reduce the smell of cannabis in the air.

One thing to note, an air purifier will not get rid of existing weed odors in your home, only new smells that are in the air while your air purifier is running will be captured and eliminated.

Do Air Purifiers Help with Dog Smell?

An air purifier equipped with a HEPA filter is very effective at removing dog smells. The most effective air purifiers have HEPA and activated charcoal filters to trap the odor particles as soon as they become present in the air.

But an air purifier won’t get rid of existing dog odors. Anywhere your dog has urinated and/or defecated will have trapped the smells on that surface and it will need to be deep cleaned or removed to get rid of the smell. An air purifier will only help to prevent the spread of new odors that enter the air.

Do Air Purifiers Help with Cat Smell?

If your home suffers from bad cat smells then an air purifier will help. An air purifier equipped with HEPA and activated charcoal filters has been proven to help cleanse the air of cat smell.

Unfortunately, it won’t get rid of the odor altogether but it will help to significantly decrease any new odors that enter the air. To completely rid your home of cat smell, you’ll need to properly clean all existing surface areas to remove embedded smells and continuously run your air purifier to capture new smells that enter the air.

Do Air Purifiers Help with Litter Box Smell?

Litter boxes can be some of the toughest smells to get rid of because it’s always present. Outside of ensuring your cat’s litter box is frequently changed, an air purifier can be used to cleanse the air of any new smells that enter the air. The best air purifier to help with litter box smells will have HEPA and activated charcoal filters.

Do Air Purifiers Remove Musty Smell?

Oftentimes musty smells are due to mold spores present in the room. An air purifier can help to remove musty smells by cleansing the air of these mold spores and leaving the room smelling fresh and clean. Not to mention much healthier for you to breathe.

However, it’s important to note that any mold on the surfaces of the room will not be cleaned by an air purifier and must be cleaned by a professional to remove the issue altogether. Without doing this, the smell will persist.

Do Air Purifiers Help with Mold Smell?

Ridding a moldy basement of mold smell can be difficult. Given there’s typically a lack of proper ventilation available, mold spores are left in the air and reproduce to have the problem persist. An air purifier can greatly reduce the smell of mold by capturing these mold spores in the air before they can reproduce and spread throughout your home. The best air purifiers for mold will have HEPA and activated charcoal filters to properly cleanse the air.

It’s important to state that while air purifiers can help to control the spread of mold particles in the air, they won’t help remove mold that’s already embedded on existing surfaces. A professional, deep cleaning will be required to fix a mold issue.

Do Air Purifiers Help with Kitchen Smells?

Even if you’re a world-class chef, there will be times when you want to get rid of bad kitchen smells. An air purifier is a great tool to sanitize and rid the air of even the strongest kitchen odors. To achieve the best results, you’ll want a purifier with HEPA and activated charcoal filters to effectively trap those strong smells.

Do Air Purifiers Help with Cooking Odors?

All types of odors, including curry and other pungent smells, can be cleaned with an air purifier when cooking. Just make sure the air purifier you purchase has activated charcoal and HEPA filters to get the best results.

Do Air Purifiers Help with Food Smells?

If you find yourself cooking meals with ingredients that linger in the air even after your cooking (I’m looking at you brussel sprout), then an air purifier is going to be key to keeping your home smelling fresh and clean.

To get the best results, you’ll want to buy an air purifier with activated carbon and HEPA filters as they’re proven to be highly effective at capturing all types of food smells.

Do Air Purifiers Help with Paint Smell?

After painting your home or bedroom, the last thing you want is for the paint smell to continue to linger for weeks. An air purifier equipped with HEPA and activated charcoal filters can help cleanse the air and rid your home of paint smell. But it won’t get rid of the harmful toxins of paint fumes.

Pro tip: If you’re planning to paint soon, then look for paint without volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to prevent these hazardous particles from entering the air. It’ll greatly benefit your health by not breathing it in.

Do Air Purifiers Help with Skunk Smell?

Yes, an air purifier with HEPA and activated charcoal filters can help with removing the skunk smell present in the air but it won’t remove the smell altogether. Any residue that is resting on a surface like carpets, walls, furniture, etc. will need to be deep cleaned and/or disposed of to rid the area of the smell. An air purifier will only clean the odor particles present in the air.

Ridding Your Home of Odors is Easier Than You Think

Don’t fall victim to believing that living in a home with bad smells is your only option. There are many ways to improve the air quality of your home and air purifiers can be one of your best defenses against even the strongest of odors. Plus, it’s a lot easier to implement than deep cleaning every day.

We’ve put together a list of our best air purifiers to help you find the right one for you. But if you’re stuck and want some help finding the right one for your unique situation, please feel free to contact our team of world-class air purifier experts. You can call us at (877) 791-8083 or send us an email at support@wellnessjunction.com and we’d be more than happy to help.