The 5 Best Air Purifiers for Bacteria and Viruses (2026)
Tayyabah Zahoor
January 16, 2026
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Yes, air purifiers can indeed remove odors from your home or office, but their effectiveness depends on several factors, such as the type of odor and the filters used. This is especially true for pet-related smells, where results can vary depending on the purifier’s design, filter quality, and room size, as explained in Do Air Purifiers Help With Pet Odor? Tips, Facts & Limits. Let’s look at how air purifiers remove bad smells and what you should check before choosing one for odor control.
Air purifiers work by filtering out particles and gases from the air. For odors, which are often caused by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other gaseous substances, not all air purifiers are equally effective.
The key to fighting odors in many air purifiers is the activated carbon filter. This special filter is great at trapping gases, VOCs, and smelly particles. Here’s why:
While activated carbon filters are the stars of odor removal, HEPA filters play a supporting role. They’re great at catching larger particles that might carry odors, like pet dander or cooking smoke.
When shopping for an air purifier to fight smells, keep these things in mind:
Different odors may require different types of air purifiers:
Smoke Odors: Look for purifiers with activated carbon filters. The Coway AP-1512HH Mighty and Levoit LV-H133 are good options.
Cooking Odors: HEPA filters with carbon filters work well. Consider the Winix 5510 or Blueair Blue Pure 211i.
Pet Odors: Choose purifiers with HEPA filters that can trap pet dander and hair. The Germ Guardian AC4825E and RabbitAir MinusA2 are effective.
Mold and Mildew: Opt for HEPA filters with antimicrobial coatings. Levoit Core 400S-P and Blueair Blue Pure 311i Max work well.
Chemical Odors: For VOCs, activated carbon or charcoal filters are best. Check out the IQAir HealthPro Plus XE Air Purifier and Austin Air HealthMate Plus Air Purifier.
While air purifiers can be very effective, they work best as part of a bigger plan:
Remember, air purifiers can help manage odors, but they’re not a fix-all solution. For serious or long-lasting odor problems, it’s always best to find and fix the root cause first. That said, for everyday smells—like pet accidents or lingering household odors—a well-chosen air purifier can make a noticeable difference. If you’re dealing with specific issues, such as pet messes or persistent plumbing smells, articles like The 4 Best Air Purifiers for Pet Urine Odor of 2026 and Best Air Purifier for Cat Litter Odor can help you choose the right model for fresher air in your home or office.
Tayyabah Zahoor is an expert writer with a Bachelor's degree in Physics. She specializes in creating content for affiliate websites, particularly about air purifiers. Using her scientific knowledge, she compares different air purifiers by analyzing their features and effectiveness. This helps her provide clear and helpful information to consumers looking for the best options.