An image provided to Business Insider appears to show a human dummy alongside packets of zip ties in Alison Weinsweig's apartment.
Courtesy of Alison Weinsweig
Alison Weinsweig told BI she lost over $170,000 in rent and spent almost 3 years trying to evict a tenant.
When she eventually got access to the apartment, she found it in disarray.
She said she cried after seeing blood-stained floors, cigarette burns, and a life-sized dummy.
When Alison Weinsweig, 67, rented her luxury Westwood apartment to a tenant in 2020, she never anticipated it would turn into an almost three-year ordeal, let alone one that would set her back more than $200,000.
It was a "strain on many levels," she told Business Insider.
"I felt terribly violated," she added. "I never thought I'd get him out. I thought I'd be stuck with him for the rest of my life."
When Weinsweig finally gained access to her property in April, she found it in an eerie state of disarray, which caused her to run out in tears.
Images provided to BI appear to show blood-stained floors, cracked countertops, and, disturbingly, a life-sized human dummy.
An image provided to Business Insider appears to show a human dummy alongside packets of zip ties in Alison Weinsweig's apartment. It was photographed in April this year.
Courtesy of Alison Weinsweig
Now she's left picking up the pieces, needing to fork out thousands in repairs, according to contractor estimates seen by BI, on top of the more than $170,000 she said she had already lost in unpaid rent.
Weinsweig, a semi-retired real estate broker, purchased the two-bedroom penthouse on Wilshire Boulevard in 2004, and lived there for a decade before moving to Pennsylvania to be with her unwell mother.
She had previously rented it out to two tenants without issue and expected Ramin Kohanim's tenancy to be no different.
"He appeared to be a reasonable tenant," she said, noting that a rental agency had vetted him, showing a Social Security Number, an acceptable credit score, and an account with significant funds.
But Weinsweig said that even if there were "red flags," she would have likely overlooked them — she was too focused on her mom getting better.
She explained that the first year of Kohanim's tenancy was unremarkable, despite some late payments. But after he signed on for a second year in July 2021, things got messy.
"He paid the first month and never paid anything again," Weinsweig claims.
Kohanim and his attorney didn't respond to BI's requests for comment.
Despite repeated excuses, Weinsweig says she received no rent for months, prompting her to take legal action in January 2022.
According to legal documents reviewed by BI, the tenant was subject to the COVID-19 Tenant Relief Act, which prevented evictions for nonpayment of rent for those experiencing hardship due to the pandemic.
After Kohanim's application for rental assistance was approved, Weinsweig received a fraction of the lost rent, and the case was automatically dismissed that summer.
Later that year, Weinsweig filed another lawsuit seeking possession of the premises and monetary damages, but it did not go as planned.
After dismissing her attorney and the case, she eventually rehired her first attorney and waited for LA County's eviction Moratorium to expire in March 2023.
It would take months of deliberation before the parties reached a settlement, but under the terms of a stipulated judgment in November 2023, Kohanim was ordered to leave by April this year.
According to legal documents reviewed by BI, Weinsweig agreed to pay the tenant $20,000, half of which was to be held in trust only to be paid out once he had vacated the property and followed the terms and conditions.
Although this felt unfair, Weinsweig thought it would give her a sense of finality, she said.
Kohanim left the property in April, but Weinsweig alleges that her former tenant has yet to return the keys or fob. However, this was the least of her worries.
According to a transcript reviewed by BI, in a hearing on May 23 at the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles, Weinsweig told the court that the apartment was left in an "absolutely deplorable" condition.
She told BI and the court that when she arrived at the property, she saw cigarette burns and trash everywhere, and what appeared to be blood on the floors of the bedroom and bathroom.
A photograph provided by Alison Weinsweig appears to show blood on the floor of the bathroom in her apartment.
Courtesy of Alison Weinsweig
Images provided to BI and the court appear to show the damage.
Other images provided to BI also appear to show a life-sized dummy on the bathroom floor, next to zip-tie packets. It's unclear why they were there.
Quotes from contractors, shared with BI by Weinsweig, suggest repairs could cost upwards of $24,000.
During the hearing, Kohanim conceded that there was "discharge" on a mattress, though he and his attorney dismissed the rest of the damage as normal "wear and tear."
The defense made no suggestion in the hearing that the images were staged or unreliable.
Kohanim's attorney told the court that his client wasn't the "best tenant in the world" or the cleanest, but he refuted that the apartment had been intentionally destroyed.
The judge disagreed, stating that "80 square feet of blood is not ordinary wear and tear."
He ordered that the $10,000 being held be returned to Weinsweig and the case be unsealed.
Weinsweig said she wanted the case unsealed to share knowledge of her ordeal. For her, that is a small victory worth holding onto.
"I felt vindicated when they lifted the seal because not only was I subject to all these injustices… I was compelled to keep it quiet," she said, adding: "This can't go unnoticed."
Annie Wang applied to Google 7 times before landing a software engineering role at her dream company.
Qingyue(Annie) Wang
Qingyue(Annie) Wang is a software engineer at Google.
Prior to landing her job, she was rejected by Google seven times.
Persistence and adapting her approach were key to finally achieving her dream job.
My journey to finally landing a job at Google was an emotional roller coaster. I went through seven rounds of rejections before finally achieving my goal.
But I'm glad I didn't give up.
I was sad to be rejected but understood why
In college, I double majored in computer science and math. I first became interested in applying to Google because I was intrigued by the cool products and good culture. I'd heard great things about the company and really wanted to experience it for myself.
In 2018, I applied to be a Google intern but was rejected twice. The first time, I failed the online assessment. Then, a recruiter reached out to me to give me a second chance. Unfortunately, I didn't pass on this attempt either.
I was sad but felt the rejections were reasonable; I lacked prior experience, had only solved a few technical problems before, and hadn't thoroughly prepared for the assessment. I regretted not properly preparing and wanted to be better equipped when the next opportunity came.
Preparation was lonely
The summer before my final year of college, I managed to land an internship at another company. When I returned from the summer break, I vowed to study harder for my post-graduation job search. Every day, after finishing my coursework and classes, I'd work on interview preparation.
It was a lonely journey. Most days, after my evening studies, I'd take the last bus home and walk through the long, dark neighborhood streets. Looking up at the stars on my walk home, I'd remember why I was working for my goal, grit my teeth, and do one more round of practice.
The experience made me understand rejection more deeply, but I never considered giving up. I knew my abilities could be improved over time.
The role I applied for was canceled
As I was about to graduate in early 2020, I finally secured an interview for a new grad position at Google. This role specifically required C++ knowledge. As part of my interview preparation, I studied a C++ book and worked on several projects to improve my C++ skills.
After the interview, I kept analyzing how everything had gone. The interviewer seemed pleased with my answers and gave me some positive feedback, which gave me some hope that I might've passed, but I wasn't completely sure.
I awaited the results with bated breath.
When I received an email from the recruiter to schedule a phone call, I was very nervous. I tried to guess from his tone in the email whether he was going to share good news or bad news. I felt vaguely uneasy, but I held onto hope as I answered his call.
"I received positive feedback from every round," he began. Hearing this, I was filled with joy. But when I heard him say "but…" my heart sank.
I felt like collapsing and tears flowed down my face. I don't remember what the recruiter said to me after that; I only remember trying my best to stay professional and make my voice sound calm.
Once I hung up, I couldn't hold it in anymore and started to cry out loud.
My rejection was not a reflection of my ability
Eventually, I calmed down. I remembered an ancient Chinese saying, "The times create heroes," which speaks to the profound impact current events have on individuals. I realized the fate of an individual, like myself at that moment, is inevitably influenced by the larger environment — in this case, a pandemic.
Not receiving an offer didn't reflect my abilities, bravery, hard work, or willingness to learn.
Despite my positive mindset, things didn't seem to improve. Later in 2020, I got another chance to interview for a Google role, but I didn't manage to pass the phone interview round because I failed to provide the optimal solution to a question they'd asked me.
Disappointed, I accepted this reality check; my understanding of basic algorithms needed improvement. I decided to focus on strengthening this area and prepare thoroughly for the next opportunity.
I intentionally practiced and addressed my weaknesses in algorithms, which helped me secure a job at Amazon.
My final attempt
While I valued my experience at Amazon, Google still felt like an elusive dream to me.
In 2022, a Google recruiter reached out again, reigniting the curiosity that had been suppressed in my heart for so long.
I decided to try again.
I realized that I had been too passive with job opportunities. I'd been using the same résumé and preparation for different types of interviews, without customizing my approach for each company. I felt like I was putting in a lot of effort to prepare, but I wasn't spending enough time reflecting and adjusting to fit the specific company.
This time, I learned my lesson and did things differently.
I set up a meticulous study plan, outlining daily tasks and review points. I repeatedly addressed complex problems and used any spare time to mentally revisit the problem-solving process. This helped me to quickly identify unfamiliar points and practice them deliberately. During technical question practice, I prioritized depth of understanding over quantity.
Of course, I still occasionally had doubts and thought, Is it worth spending so much time? How will I face myself if I don't pass this interview? But I knew that if I didn't try my best, I'd regret even more that I gave up.
During this period, I also landed an interview for a role at Apple, which would've required a completely different assessment to prepare for. Since I was working full-time at Amazon, my time was limited, so I decided to forgo the Apple interview — even if that meant burning that bridge — and fully devote myself to my Google prep.
I finally landed the job
I still remember the day I received the phone call. "Congratulations!" the recruiter said this time.
I immediately told my friends the news. Surprisingly, I was calmer than they were. My mind was completely blank because I couldn't believe it, but my friends were so emotional, even crying.
One of my longtime friends recalled how I'd struggled to finish my homework in college, how hard I worked to get my first internship, and how my family didn't support my job search after graduation.
While awaiting the official letter from Google, I received a gift: a white hat with the Google logo. It came with a congratulatory note. Holding the paper, I felt a wave of emotion and a strong sense of the power of persistence.
The congratulations card from Google.
Qingyue(Annie) Wang
I have the job of my dreams
It's been two years since I got the news that I'd finally landed a job at my dream company. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to finally experience Google's culture and even become an internal career coach to support other Googlers in their career growth.
Although my career journey didn't unfold as I had expected, I'm glad I had the chance to experience different company cultures, learn a variety of technologies, and engage with many cool projects.
I've come to view everything as a journey; the journey itself is what's important. Whether the outcome is good or bad, it's fleeting and will pass; the process is long-lasting.
Looking back, I am deeply grateful for not giving up. When I feel confused, I can remember those times when I showed strength and persistence.
Despite moving apartments three times in the past two years, I still keep the welcome letter from Google on my shelf and look at it every day. It reminds me of my tenacity and inspires me to keep pursuing my goals.
Qingyue(Annie) Wangis a software engineer and internal career coach at Google who is passionate about helping people achieve their career goals.
The first presidential debate on Thursday was a disastrous night for President Joe Biden.
Donald Trump fired off a number of lies and misleading statements about his record.
But Biden frequently stumbled with his words, doing little to allay concerns about his age.
Former President Donald Trump, 78, may have lied throughout the first presidential debate of the 2024 election, but the evening still may have provided a lift for his campaign as President Joe Biden, 81, struggled to find his footing during the debate.
Trump and Biden had their first face-off on Thursday evening, breaking with election norms by holding a debate months before voters head to the polls in November.
"Debates can be lost at any moment, but they can only be won in the first 20 minutes," Evan Siegfried, a former GOP strategist and crisis communications specialist, told Business Insider. "Unfortunately, Joe Biden lost all chances of winning."
In true Trump form, it didn't take long before he started spewing misleading or false information about his and his opponent's presidential records.
On the US economy, Trump said it was incomparable to history throughout his term. In reality, the pandemic brought in a major recession, and employment plummeted. Economic growth, even without factoring the impacts of COVID-19, has actually been stronger under the Biden Administration, according to The Associated Press.
On the US-Mexico border: Trump claimed that Biden will open the floodgates for immigrants. In reality, Biden has enacted restrictions on asylum applications and is on track to match the number of deportations Trump executed during his administration.
On foreign relations, Trump also lied about the US's trade deficit with China. "We have the largest deficit with China," he claimed. But the deficit has been at the lowest level since 2009, The New York Times reported.
CNN's fact-checker, Daniel Dale, estimated that Trump said false or misleading statements 30 times during the debate. Biden made misleading or false statements nine times by comparison.
But lying on the record has become expected behavior for Trump, and on Thursday evening he forcefully delivered.
For Biden, the debate could have been an opportunity to flex some of the strides he made during his administration, and in a few moments, he did — but not while convincing viewers that he's still fit for the job.
A constant narrative that has been swirling around Biden is that the 81-year-old political veteran is too frail for a second term, despite the president's insistence and the assurances from his White House doctor.
A report from Special Counsel Robert Hur in February said that Biden's memory and advanced age were reasons not to charge the president for his handling of classified documents.
As a result, a major onus was on Biden to prove that he's still mentally and physically fit for the job.
Throughout the Thursday debate, Biden's voice sounded raspy as the president struggled at moments to hold in a cough. He stumbled through his answers and rebuttals. In a few cases, his statements were incomprehensible.
"We finally beat Medicare", Biden said at one point. Trump, accordingly, pounced.
"His voice sounds terrible; he looks terrible," Siegfried, the ex-GOP strategist, told BI.
Even prominent Democrats agreed that Thursday was not Biden's night.
"I think there was a sense of shock, actually, on how he came out at the beginning of this debate," former senior Obama White House advisor David Axelrod said on CNN. "How his voice sounded — he seemed a little disoriented at the beginning of the debate. He did get stronger as the debate went on, but by that time, I think the panic had set in."
Still, the true impacts of Thursday's debate will be hard to determine since the event was held so far out from the election, Siegfried said.
"That's a question we can't answer because we've never had a debate this early," Siegfried told BI. "Remember, Obama stumbled in the Denver debate against Mitt Romney in 2012, and people started saying it's over, but, a few weeks later, he got right back up on the horse and showed that it was just a onetime thing. We're not going to have this until the next debate in September."
"It's going to be months of this narrative," he added. "And it's been a narrative that's been out there for the length of his presidency."
Louie Chan started travel nursing after working for two years in a lower-wage nursing position.
Travel nursing doubled her salary and renewed her passion for the job, but she says it was lonely.
Chan left travel nursing to become a full-time nurse coordinator and made over $200,000 last year.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation withLouie Chan,a 30-year-old nurse in the Bay Area. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
When I went to college in 2012, I couldn't decide what to major in. My Filipino parents emphasized the importance of a stable job because it would bring freedom. This was important to them because we didn't have much money growing up.
I decided to pursue nursing, a career path common among Filipinos. It turned out to be a perfect fit for me. When I graduated from nursing school in 2017, I took my first job as a telemetry nurse in southern California, earning $37 an hour.
After two years of working at that same hospital, I grew my wages to $45 an hour, which was below the average hourly rate for nurses in California. We didn't have a nursing union at that hospital to ask for better wages and got very small yearly raises.
I started travel nursing in 2020 to earn more
Chan at work.
Courtesy of Louie Chan
When the COVID-19 pandemic started, I heard there was a bigger need than usual for travel nurses. I decided to take a leap of faith, leave my family behind, and move to Texas for my first gig as a travel nurse. The agency I signed up to work for placed me in Texas. I didn't have a say in where I went for that first assignment.
I was motivated to sign up because the pay was extraordinary. I worked six days a week and did 12-to-14-hour shifts. While this was more than my usual schedule, I was making almost triple my former amount — I went from earning $45 an hour to around $121 an hour.
I worked at that job for a couple of months and then returned to California to rest for a few weeks. After that, I spent two years working as a travel nurse at different hospitals. I doubled my salary, grew my career, and regained my passion for the job.
A typical travel nursing job lasts 13 weeks, and the rates fluctuate
Hospitals bring in travel nurses because they're short-staffed. Most travel nursing opportunities are for 13 weeks at a specific location. After that, you can extend your contract for another 13 weeks or longer, depending on the hospital's needs.
I found open positions through travel-nursing agencies. When I returned from working in Texas, I worked at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles and Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto. As COVID-19 got worse, my pay as a travel nurse got higher. I made anywhere from $6,000 to $9,000 a week.
Usually, I worked six days on and eight days off. I liked the travel nursing schedule because it improved my work-life balance. I used my free time to travel around the cities I lived in and start a side hustle as a content creator.
Because travel nurses live away from home, we're given a tax-free stipend that covers housing and meals. I'd usually find an inexpensive hotel or rent a short-term apartment near the hospital.
The best part of the job is getting to live in new cities
As a travel nurse, you must be a fast learner because you enter a new hospital and start working almost immediately. It's a job for people who love being independent and can quickly pick up on the hospital's work culture and policies.
I loved the flexibility. I'd work at one hospital for 13 weeks and then take a month off to rest or travel before starting a new job elsewhere.
There are travel nursing jobs all over the world. I've always been interested in living in another country like Japan or Australia and would consider taking a travel nursing job abroad. If you're a nurse who wants a change of scenery, this is a dream opportunity, but there are some downsides.
It can be quite lonely
When working in a new place, you might not have the time to get to know people or make friends. When my shifts were done, I'd usually explore the city on my own, and every now and then, I'd make friends at work who I'd hang out with during my stay.
Some other nurses weren't nice to travel nurses because they knew we were making more money than them. I remember getting the worst patient assignments because I wasn't part of the core staff. There were also times when a group of nurses ordered food and invited everyone on the floor except the travel nurses. I didn't let their attitudes or comments bother me.
In other hospitals, the nurses were so grateful to have help because they were overworked and overwhelmed by the number of patients. In those jobs, I felt like I was making a difference.
Look into the tax implications of the job before deciding to become a travel nurse
People get into travel nursing and think they can give up their apartment, pack a suitcase, and live on the road. Travel nurses get tax-free stipends because the IRS assumes they're duplicating their expenses by paying for housing at home and where they live for the job.
Before committing to being a travel nurse, speak with a CPA or tax advisor to understand how to keep those tax-free stipends so you don't accidentally commit tax fraud. While I was a travel nurse, I was still making monthly payments on a house in California.
My days as a travel nurse are over
I'm now a full-time nurse coordinator in the Bay Area and enjoy working at my current hospital. I don't see myself pursuing travel nursing in the US again because I made over $200,000 last year and it's a healthy working environment. I also still make content on the side and may one day focus on that.
My experience as a travel nurse taught me that I have more nursing knowledge and critical care skills than I thought. It also taught me that I can live independently away from home.
Regardless of your career, you can't wait around and hope for a raise. Sometimes, you need to be the one to take bold actions and get paid what you deserve.
Supreme Court posted abortion-related decision in Idaho case, then removed it.
The decision, as written, would allow emergency abortions in Idaho.
A Supreme Court spokesperson confirmed that a decision was inadvertently posted online.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday appeared to have inadvertently posted an opinion in a closely watched Idaho case that would be the last abortion-related decision of the high court's current term.
Bloomberg News first reported that a copy of the decision was briefly posted on the court's website and then later removed. A Supreme Court spokesperson confirmed that something was inadvertently posted online but said the high court's final opinion remains unreleased.
"The opinion in Moyle v. United States, No. 23-726, and Idaho v. United States, No. 23-727, has not been released," a spokesperson said in a statement to Business Insider referring to the two cases related to the Idaho law. "The Court's Publications Unit inadvertently and briefly uploaded a document to the Court's website. The Court's opinion in these cases will be issued in due course."
In the copy posted online, the court would allow for emergency abortions to continue in Idaho, according to Bloomberg's report. The opinion would be based on the holding that it should not have reviewed the case in the first place.
The Biden administration has argued that a decades-old federal law should supersede Idaho's near-total abortion ban and thus allow doctors to perform emergency abortions that are outside the scope of limitations under the state ban.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, opinions were only released on the court's official website. But justices have long since returned to the practice of announcing rulings from their historic courtroom.
After the announcements are made the decisions are posted online, according to SCOTUSBlog, a prominent source of news from the Supreme Court.
The court had announced earlier Thursday that it was done releasing opinions for the day after releasing two decisions — one concerning an effort by conservatives to push back on the Biden administration pressuring social media companies to clamp down on misinformation, and the other related to a federal law about bribes to state and local officials.
Neither case was among the hotly anticipated of the current term. The Supreme Court has yet to rule on former President Donald Trump's request for sweeping immunity from criminal prosecutions, a decision that could become one of the most famous in the nation's history.
Every abortion-related opinion, too, has been closely watched in the wake of the Supreme Court's 2022 landmark ruling to reverse Roe v. Wade.
Jonathon Yarton is a real-estate agent who helps buyers and renters find spots in the Hamptons.
He says the rental market is booming and he sees premium rentals go for up to $1 million a month.
His favorite village is Sagaponack, and he recommends Southampton for access to NYC and retirees.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation withJonathan Yarton, a 27-year-old real-estate agent from Rochester, New York. It's been edited for length and clarity.
I've been a real-estate agent in New York City, Long Island, and the Hamptons for five years. I'm also on the second season of the HBO show "Selling the Hamptons," and I'm the founder of Finding Space, a weekly newsletter of the trends I'm seeing in real estate.
Six months into my career, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. I started helping people find rentals in the Hamptons as a way to leave the city. I'm also familiar with the Hamptons from visiting with friends.
Yarton in the Hamptons.
Courtesy of Jonathan Yarton
Two camps of people go to the Hamptons. Some go to retreat and get away from the world, and the other group goes to be around all the people. Both are valid reasons, but you should be informed before you visit, rent, or buy.
The rental market is on fire right now
Inventory for buyers is pretty low in the Hamptons. We're seeing a lot of the market move over $5 million, and I'm seeing more cash deals for those properties.
This summer's rental market is hotter than it's been in the last few years. I've rented to clients who have paid $50,000 for a month and clients who have paid over $100,000 for a month. The ultra-premium market can cost $1 million a month.
On the lower end, you do see people renting for just weeks. Due to the 5% tax on rentals under 30 days, we see people renting longer just to avoid that.
Once the borders opened back up after the pandemic, a lot of people ran to Europe. Now, I'm seeing a renewed interest in the Hamptons, even from people not based in NYC, which has been cool. I've even gotten some calls from clients in the UK.
Reality TV is giving international exposure to the Hamptons lifestyle, making people more curious to visit, but certain areas are better for visitors than others.
Sagaponack is my favorite spot
Sagaponack is quiet, the houses are gorgeous, the lot sizes are the biggest, it's the most low-key, and there isn't everyday traffic like in Southampton or East Hampton. Jimmy Fallon has a house out there, which put it on my radar.
Some of America's most private people live in Sagaponack. It's the kind of place where, if you're driving by, you'll miss it. It's not super lively, which is great for celebrities.
Sagaponack is my No. 1 recommendation if you want to be away from the crowds and remain exclusive while having access to the beach and East Hampton.
East Hampton has a bit more to do
People really gravitate toward East Hampton. There's just a little more life there, with restaurants, designer stores, and things to do.
Sag Harbor has an old fisherman-architecture vibe and feels a little more like a small town, which I love. There's something very charming about that, especially in the Hamptons, which can feel a little commercial. Every time I'm in Sag Harbor, I feel the local energy. The average house price depends but can range from $2 million to $25 million.
Amagansett is nice, too, but it's a little far out. Many people are looking for access, and access from Amagansett is tough, especially when you get onto the main strip headed toward Montauk.
In 2024, you would expect cell service to be top-notch, but it's not what you think it is. You really have to stick at your house out there. Some people love that.
If you're looking to rent in Amagansett, you should rent at a resort, and if you're looking to buy, you should buy something with a lot of amenities since you're farther away from the main activities.
Southampton is the best for retirees
Southampton has the name power and the big restaurants. It also has communities with pools, and your lawn, landscaping, and house color are all taken care of. Keeping up with an estate is a lot of work. In these communities, life becomes the vacation that you always wanted it to be.
Southampton is also a good option to be closer to NYC. For celebrities looking to make it a little faster to the Hamptons, Southampton is where they go; if they're looking for more activities but a little more off-the-beaten-path, East Hampton is where they end up.
These are the Hamptons hot spots for summer 2024
I always rave about this Mediterranean-inspired restaurant in East Hampton called Sí Sí. I love it. The food there is fresh, you get incredible sunsets, and then at night, it turns into a really fun party. It's absolutely one of the best places to be.
Then there's Gurney's in Montauk. It's well-known, and Sunday nights at Gurney's will always be popular. People like Surf Lodge in Montauk, too, but it's a hit or miss for me.
In Sag Harbor, the place to be is Le Bibloquet. People just eat that restaurant up. It's a staple out there.
Topping Rose in Bridgehampton is very nice for something a little more low-key. There's also this restaurant called Almond, with LGBTQ+ owners. As a gay man, when I was looking for a community out east, I found it at Almond, which was a very happy surprise.
Did you rent a house in the Hamptons this summer and want to share your story? Email Lauryn Haas at lhaas@businessinsider.com.
"Bridgerton," now in its third season, is one of Netflix's most popular and marketable series.
Netflix; Lush; iStock; Rebecca Zisser/BI
Jonathan Bailey was fully naked, lying on a slab at a bathing house in Morocco when a woman whispered a sentiment to him that he'd heard countless times before: "I love 'Bridgerton.'"
The actor, who stars as Anthony Bridgerton in the hit series, was across the world from his home in the UK. But, as Bailey told BI, "You're never too far from someone who loves 'Bridgerton.'"
Such is the global reach of Netflix's Regency-era drama, which released its third season in two parts this spring. Adapted from Julia Quinn's romance novel series of the same name and centered on the love lives of eight siblings from a noble family, "Bridgerton" has become a pop-culture phenomenon since its first season premiered in 2020. It's smashed viewership records, inspired "SNL" skits, and sparked renewed interest in the Regency era's fashion and culture — all proving that superproducer Shonda Rhimes still has the golden touch.
On paper, a show about high society in 1800s England doesn't seem like an obvious slam dunk. But "Bridgerton" is not your mother's stuffy historical drama. From its steamy sex scenes to its "color-conscious" casting to its deliberately modern touches like a soundtrack full of orchestral covers of pop songs, "Bridgerton" grabbed viewers' attention by offering something familiar yet unique, sexy yet demure.
That's translated into big wins for Netflix. Season one was viewed by 82 million households globally in its first 28 days, surpassing Netflix's own projections and dethroning the fantasy series "The Witcher," which previously held the record with 76 million views; season one of "Bridgerton" is still one of Netflix's most popular English TV shows. The fan base's appetite has only grown larger since 2020: A prequel spin-off series, "Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story" premiered in 2023; a web series following one lucky fan couple as they planned the "Bridgerton"-themed wedding of their dreams premiered in 2024.
With "Bridgerton" mania sweeping the world each time a new season drops, brands are also hopping on the bandwagon, collaborating with the Netflix series to release everything from "Bridgerton"-branded bath bombs and body balms to satin pillowcases and scrunchies. It's a testament not just to the show's distinct marketability but to its fervent fans, who are opening their wallets and snapping up products so quickly they sell out.
The fans have a point: why simply like a TV show when you can be a part of the Ton?
'Bridgerton' provided escapist entertainment during a period of isolation
Phoebe Dynevor as Daphne Bridgerton and Regé-Jean Page as Simon Basset in season one of "Bridgerton."
Liam Daniel/Bridgerton
"Bridgerton," created by Chris Van Dusen, was set up for success from the start. With the backing of Shondaland, "Grey's Anatomy" and "Scandal" creator Rhimes' production company, it had built-in hype, not to mention a legion of already-established fans of Quinn's New York Times-bestselling book series.
When season one premiered in December 2020, it also had the benefit of a captive audience. With the world months into COVID-19 lockdown, people were confined to their homes and yearning for connection — or at least, something to watch while sitting inside.
Then there was the show itself. The world of "Bridgerton" presented an alternate universe: a reimagined Regency era that normalized diversity and had no shortage of drama or titillating sex scenes. All of it struck a chord with viewers.
"I think 'Bridgerton' came at a time when we all just really desperately needed an escape," said Cat Quinn, a contentcreator who frequently posts about the show. "People just wanted to step into this fantasy that was filled with these gorgeous characters and costumes and sets and storylines — something that was unapologetically romantic and sexy and beautiful."
The show's aesthetic took hold: Regency-core became a fashion trend, people suddenly took a lot more interest in drinking tea, and Vitamin String Quartet's covers saw a surge in streams after being featured on the show in dreamy ballroom sequences and intimate scenes.
It helped that the show's diversity and deliberately anachronistic choices made the era feel more modern and approachable, like a historical fantasy anybody could feel comfortable reveling in.
"Shonda Rhimes opened the doors of historical period romance to these communities of people who never saw themselves represented in that space before," Quinn, the content creator, said. "It really set the stage for other releases like 'Barbie' and showed that women's stories are not only worthy of being told, but also [can be] incredibly successful blockbuster hits and lifestyle brands."
Will Tilston, Florence Hunt, Luke Thompson, Ruth Gemmell, Luke Newton, and Nicola Coughlan in "Bridgerton" season three.
Liam Daniel/Netflix
Julia Quinn's 2000 novel "The Duke and I," which was adapted for season one of "Bridgerton," reentered The New York Times bestseller list for the first time in years after the show premiered. And this time, more than two decades after "The Duke and I" was originally published, a new audience could dissect the book on a new platform: TikTok.
In the "BookTok" corner of the app, where avid readers discuss their favorite books, users began cataloging the differences between the source material and the show and discussing elements of the novels that didn't age well. All of it was a boon for sales of Quinn's novels and the popularity of the often overlooked (but now-booming) romance genre in general, as many viewers discovered "Bridgerton" and then sought out the books to continue getting their fix of the story.
The 'Bridgerton' aesthetic is eminently marketable
Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington in season three of "Bridgerton."
Liam Daniel/Netflix
A show with such potent fan and aesthetic appeal is the perfect storm for brands, who were eager to collaborate with Netflix and Shondaland for product tie-ins. For season three of "Bridgerton," Netflix and Shondaland partnered with companies to sell everything from makeup and patterned rugs to pet accessories and macarons.
But these brands didn't simply put the "Bridgerton" logo on a product and call it merch. Instead, they took care to develop products that feel like they could have been plucked directly from the "Bridgerton" set — or, at the very least, evoke the same feeling of the show.
Cassandra Morales Thurswell, founder and CEO of Kitsch, said that the Netflix and Shondaland teams gave the hair care company "freedom within a framework" to design their products. The result was Kitsch's season three collection, which uses a print directly inspired by Daphne Bridgerton's beaded and embroidered dress from season one.
Kitsch's latest "Bridgerton" collaboration was inspired by one of Daphne's costumes from season one of the show.
Liam Daniel/Netflix; Courtesy of Kitsch
The Republic of Tea released four new teas encased in collectible tins focused on the main characters in season three: a ginger peach vanilla tea for Colin Bridgerton and Penelope Featherington, a lemon mint black tea for Eloise Bridgerton, a rose chamomile tea for Francesca Bridgerton, and a triple Earl Grey tea for the three eldest Bridgerton sons.
The Republic of Tea vice president of sales and communication Kristina Tucker described the process as an "integrated collaboration" in which a select few people at the beverage company got glimpses into the characters and colors that would be used in the season three months before release to help craft their product.
But not every company has a product that's as seamless a fit in the "Bridgerton" world as tea. Bath & Body Works chief customer officer Maurice Cooper told BI that the company viewed collaborating with "Bridgerton" as "a big opportunity for us to think differently about how we would deepen fandom."
A company once known for fruity body sprays might not be synonymous with Regency-core elegance yet, but Cooper said the collaboration is helping Bath & Body Works build a new identity. "It made sense for us because when you look at the demographic profile of 'Bridgerton,' it is a younger audience, it is more diverse, and this is really critical to our growth journey as well," he said.
Bath & Body Works teamed up with "Bridgerton" to create a 36-piece collection of candles, body care, and more.
Courtesy of Bath & Body Works
For kitchenware and houseware brand Williams Sonoma, a "Bridgerton" collaboration was an easy way to lean into already rising food and design trends around entertaining, teatime, and picnics.
"You're seeing so much floral and femininity in fashion, but the same is also true for home design, where maximalism and pattern play and traditional details and 'grandma chic' are gaining popularity," said Kendall Coleman, Williams Sonoma's vice president of public relations. "It can be very chicken or egg, which came first. But the truth is they're just playing so well together, and as people are exploring these design trends and these food trends, it's running parallel to the popularity of that show."
All these inescapable "Bridgerton" collaborations walk a fine line between satisfying passionate viewers and oversaturating the market. Season three of the show "didn't so much premiere as invade," Los Angeles Times culture critic Mary McNamara wrote in a column about the series' marketing blitz. Yet she conceded that, for the most part, the series' publicity tour and brand collaborations have been met with praise.
For now, people are buying into the marketing — literally. Melody Morton, creative concepts director at the cosmetics company Lush, said the brand saw an uplift of 25% in sales from new subscribers for their "Bridgerton"-themed subscription box, which featured products like a Penelope Featherington cleanser and a diamond-shaped body scrub.
Not only did Bath & Body Works' "Bridgerton" products sell well, Cooper said, but they helped attract younger customers to stores thanks to promotional efforts on social media, where the "Bridgerton" campaign was the company's "most engaged" effort of the year.
Not to mention, "we had people showing up in Regency garb to buy our products," he added.
The 'Bridgerton' hype is a win-win for the show and for fans
"Bridgerton" stars Hannah Dodd, Jessica Madsen, and Jonathan Bailey at the season three promenade activation in New York City.
Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Netflix
The weekend before the season three premiere, "Bridgerton" transformed a plaza in New York City into a Regency-style market and promenade that featured items from collaborations with Bath & Body Works, International Delight, Ladurée, Kiko Milano, and more.
More than 2,000 fans and influencers waited in lines spanning several blocks for hours, eager to immerse themselves in the pop-up; catch a glimpse of stars Jonathan Bailey, Jessica Madsen, and Hannah Dodd; and watch dancers perform as live musicians played classical renditions of Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball" and Billie Eilish's "Bad Guy."
Bailey tossed "Bridgerton"-themed bracelets at fans waiting to get in, scents from the Bath & Body Works collection wafted through the air, and people dressed as members of the Ton greeted guests with special issues of Lady Whistledown's gossip column filled with information about the pop-up's activities. Madsen and Dodd told BI that one fan even drove 11 hours to attend the promenade takeover.
The event felt exclusive yet egalitarian — exactly like the world of "Bridgerton." With its expansive marketing blitz, Netflix has shown its crown jewel doesn't have to be rare to be considered precious.
Celine Dion performs at Cotai Strip Cotai Arena on June 29, 2018 in Macau, China.
Visual China Group via Getty Images
Celine Dion opens up about her struggle with Stiff Person Syndrome in her new Amazon Prime documentary.
Dion says she tried to perform through pain by increasing her medication dosages, especially Valium.
"I don't want dramatic, but I could've died," Dion reveals. "Too many pills. The show must go on."
Celine Dion breaks down in tears in her new Amazon Prime documentary, "I Am: Celine Dion," while reflecting on her final concerts before she was diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome.
The documentary includes footage from performances in 2018 and 2019, including clips when Dion was struggling to hit certain notes.
"I need my instrument. And my instrument was not working. So we started to elevate the medicine," she explains.
Dion recounts one particular moment at a concert, just as she was about to take the stage, when she felt the effects of her medication wear off.
"From my dressing room, getting backstage, saying good luck to everybody, the crowd insane, my adrenaline, my heartbeat, my pressure, I'm like, 'The dream is about to come true again for me tonight. I love it so much,'" she recalls. "But then I feel a spasm, and my voice goes up. The medicine was burned out. It was gone."
At one point on tour, she says she was taking up to 80 or 90 milligrams of Valium every day.
"That's just one medicine," she says. "I don't want dramatic, but I could've died."
"I was taking those medicines because I needed to walk, I needed to be able to swallow. I needed medicine to function," Dion continues. "One more pill, two more pills, five more pills. Too many pills. The show must go on."
"The show must go on," Celine Dion says in her documentary.
Amazon Prime
Dion completed a 22-show greatest hits tour in 2018 before launching The Courage World Tour in 2019. She postponed the first four shows in Montreal, telling fans she had a throat virus. Later concerts were rescheduled due to a "common cold" before the entire tour was shut down due to COVID-19.
After the tour resumed in 2022, Dion continued canceling and rescheduling shows. When she announced her diagnosis, she decided to cancel all remaining dates.
"I can't lie anymore," Dion says in the doc. "From a sinus infection to an ear infection to whatever. Sometimes I would point my microphone toward the audience, and I would make them sing it. There's moments where I cheated and I tapped on the microphone like it was the microphone's fault."
The documentary also shows more recent footage of Dion in the recording studio, fighting to project her voice and reach her famous falsetto.
While the producers in the studio with Dion say they're pleased with her vocal progress, Dion says she's not satisfied — especially because she doesn't want to disappoint her fans.
"I'm not quite sure if I'm going to be capable of singing. But I can't live in doubt," Dion explains to the camera. "Maybe I can sing another kind of repertoire. But then it's going to be their choice to still like me or not."
Job hunters are complaining of a pretty brutal recruitment market.
ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images
The Great Resignation is long gone; the power is shifting back into the hands of employers.
More people are staying in their jobs, and companies are squeezing budgets, leaving job hunters in a brutal market.
Job seekers face more interview rounds, personality tests, and on-site assessment days.
The hiring process seems to have become increasingly complex in recent years, with job seekers facing new tests, more interviews, and months of waiting to hear back from prospective employers.
Job seekers have been taking to social media to complain about jumping through various hiring hoops just to secure an entry-level job. A scroll through the hashtag "job search" on TikTok, and you'll see many videos of people lamenting about applying for hundreds of jobs and going through drawn-out hiring processes, only to be ghosted by companies.
"There has been a dramatic shift in the employment market over the past few years," Chris Abbass, founder and CEO of recruitment firm Talentful, told Business Insider.
He explained that in 2021 and 2022, companies struggled to retain and attract talent, but the labor market has stagnated since the "Great Resignation," when a wave of people quit their jobs and started new ones.
Now, more people are staying put in their roles, dubbed the "Big Stay," and companies are tightening their purse strings in response to economic hardship, shifting the market back into the hands of employers.
"This manifests in companies being more selective about who they hire, moving slower through the process, and only hiring folks who tick all — or 90% — of the boxes," Abbass said.
Jumping through hoops
Peter Cappelli, Wharton professor of management and director of the school's Centre for Human Resources, how hiring practices shaped up a few years ago compared with the present day.
Back in 2019 he wrote in the Harvard Business Review: "Businesses have never done as much hiring as they do today. They've never spent as much money doing it. And they've never done a worse job of it."
Cappelli told BI that hiring practices have remained pretty bad since then.
He said that in recent years, the hiring process has slowed down as the number of interview rounds has increased: "It reflects a lack of understanding by employers about what they're actually looking for."
"The most bizarre aspect is that few companies seem to look to see whether they are actually hiring good people. They look to see whether the process is cheap instead," he added.
The recruitment market has been pretty brutal for job hunters. They've had to adapt to new hiring techniques with the advent of AI recruitment tools, like AI chatbots that can do first-round interviews with candidates.
Rapid advancements in automation and AI have also impacted hiring decisions, Abbass explained, with companies pausing to consider how this new tech can help them drive productivity without hiring more employees and, in some cases, laying off existing workers.
Hiring has shifted online
One big shift in hiring practices has been the COVID-19 pandemic, which changed how companies conduct interviews, Nikita Gupta, cofounder of Careerflow.ai, an AI career coach platform that tracks job postings and builds resumes for job seekers, told BI.
"Many interviews and job assessments now take place online, which means candidates need to adapt to virtual interactions and later demonstrate their skills remotely," she said.
These tests are meant to give a deeper insight into a candidate's suitability for a role and weed out hiring biases. But if they're designed badly and over-relied upon, these assessments can overlook the best-qualified candidates, especially those who find them anxiety-inducing.
Entry-level candidates are bearing the brunt
Entry-level jobs in big-name firms in management consulting, Big Tech, and finance also appear to be harder to come by right now. Some firms say they're considering pulling back on these roles to lean more heavily on AI.
Plus, if these firms cut back their graduate hiring, it ramps up the competition for a smaller pool of roles — potentially meaning more interview rounds, assessments, and presentations for job seekers.
Those starting out in their careers also aren't as used to such intense evaluations.
"The pressure to get their first job makes it even more stressful," Gupta explained. She added that the process can be emotionally draining and incur a financial cost if candidates need to travel to interviews.
"While these steps help find the best fit, they make it hard for people just starting their careers," said Gupta.
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We tested more than 30 models to find the best and most effective air purifiers.
Blueair; Honeywell; Levoit/ Business Insider
Sneeze attacks, a runny nose, itchy eyes, or a cough that doesn't want to go away. These are just some symptoms those of us sensitive to irritants and allergens must put up with when mold, dust, smoke, chemical emissions, and dander are in the air. When thoroughly cleaning your home and keeping your windows don't get the job done, the best air purifiers can help remove allergy triggers and leave you breathing easily.
I interviewed three experts and tested over 30 units to find the best air purifiers that will improve air quality. Our top pick is the Honeywell PowerPlus HEPA Air Purifier; it removed the most pollutants, allergens and VOCs in our tests and operated quietly. For a budget option, consider the Lasko LP300 HEPA Tower Air Purifier. It's well under $100 with low filter replacement costs, though it's best for small rooms.
Best budget: Lasko LP300 HEPA Tower Air Purifier - See at Amazon
Quietest: Blueair HealthProtect 7470i Smart Air Purifier - See at Amazon
Best for small rooms: Levoit 300S Air Purifier - See at Amazon
Longest-lasting filter: Shark NeverChange Air Purifier Max - See at Amazon
Best overall
The Honeywell PowerPlus HEPA Air Purifier (model number HPA3300) was the top model when looking at the combined performance in our volatile organic compound (VOC) and particulate matter testing. A little over an hour into our test, it had removed 99% of the particulate matter and the VOC levels were among the lowest at the end of the testing period. While it hasn't specifically been certified by AAFA, these numbers suggest this is an excellent air purifier for allergy sufferers and for people sensitive to other irritants.
Setup was quick and intuitive — I just removed the packaging and plug the unit in. And there's little maintenance. Just wipe the unit down with a dry cloth every three months. When the filter indicator light turns on (approximately once a year) replace the three true HEPA filters, which are widely available and cost $89.95 yearly.
The PowerPlus had the best combined performance of removing particulate matter and VOCs from the air.
James Brains/Business Insider
The HPA3300 isn't without its negatives. First, it's one of the loudest models we tested. When on low fan speed, it's no louder than the surrounding noise, but on high, it registered 58.9 decibels (dB), which is about as loud as a normal conversation. At over 20 pounds, it isn't as portable, though it does have a handle to help with transport.
That said, it's similar to most models in power use and filter replacement costs, and we think its performance makes it the best air purifier overall, especially for allergy sufferers and for medium-to-large rooms.
The Lasko LP300 HEPA Tower Air Purifier is $65 cheaper than any other unit tested, has the lowest filter replacement cost, and, at under 10 pounds, doesn't feel like a heavy-duty appliance.
We found it performed just as well as models that cost three or four times as much. The Lasko air purifier quickly removed airborne dust and debris. With 30 minutes to spare in the testing period, our air quality monitor registered no particulate matter. Though its performance wasn't as impressive with VOCs, it did a good job keeping the levels in a safe range.
The Lasko LP300 HEPA Tower Air Purifier is one of the cheapest air purifiers we tested but is as effective as units twice its price.
James Brains/Business Insider
Setup was straightforward and took about five minutes. The Lasko's light weight makes it easy to move around, so you can take it with you from room to room, which you may need to do since its low CADR makes it better suited for small rooms. If you need more oomph, consider the LP450, which is only $16 more and covers twice as much space.
The Lasko was one of the few units we tested that was louder than ambient sound levels, even when on low. At 45.6 dB on low, it was a little bit louder than a typical library. On high, it was only 51.6 dB.
The biggest negative of this model is that it uses a lot of power. This is likely due to its lack of an auto mode that adjusts with the air quality, which is another negative.
Filters are affordable and widely available, too, with an expected cost of $35.99 yearly.
Quietist
The Blueair HealthProtect 7470i Smart Air Purifier is the quietest and most high-tech model we tested. On high speed, it's about as loud as a quiet office. On low, the 7470i is no louder than ambient sound.
The Blueair HealthProtect 7470i features a digital color touch screen that allows you to operate the appliance and track the temperature, humidity, and air quality for VOCs and three different particle sizes.
If you're planning on using an air purifier in your bedroom, the Blueair HealthProtect 7470i Smart Air Purifier is the quietest you can buy.
James Brains/Business Insider
The Blueair app (iOS and Android) puts the data and functions at your fingertips wherever you are, including the ability to set a schedule. It's also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. I found the app worked well for the most part, though there were times when the data readouts took up to an hour to refresh. Also, connecting to the app upon initial setup took a few tries, which added 10 minutes to the process.
The HealthProtect 7470i has a HEPA-type filter (see our FAQ for how this differs from a true HEPA filter) that looks like a partially open book and features an RFID chip that tracks the filter life. The filters are comparatively affordable, about $55 annually, and can be ordered in the app or through major retailers, including Amazon. Other than replacing the filter, the only other maintenance is occasionally vacuuming or washing the two prefilters.
In the air-quality tests, the Blueair purifier performed well. After the two-hour testing period, it had one of the lowest VOC readings, and it removed 99% of the particulate matter. The power consumption was about average among the units I tested, which is impressive considering the midrange CADR.
I found the Blueair HealthProtect 7470i is a little too unwieldy to easily move from room to room. At 27.2 pounds and without good handles, this is a purifier you'll want to keep in one spot.
Best for small rooms
The Levoit 300S Air Purifier is an excellent option for bedrooms and other small rooms because it has three layers of filtration. The pre-filter captures larger debris, including hair and pet dander; the true HEPA filter collects smaller airborne particles; and the carbon filter helps reduce VOCs and odors in the air.
The carbon filter's performance was evident in our testing as the Levoit 300S was among the best at removing VOCs. The purifier also did well with particulate matter, removing virtually all (99.2%) of it from the air during the testing period.
The small but mighty Levoit 300S Air Purifier is great for small bedrooms or home offices.
James Brains/Business Insider
The setup was a snap. I had the unit up and running in under 5 minutes and connected to the VeSync app (available for iOS and Android) in another five. The Levoit 300S is the most affordable WiFi-connected air purifier I've tested, and the smart functions work well. I could easily monitor and schedule it from anywhere, and the air quality readings were almost identical to the readings on our testing monitor.
The Levoit 300S is Energy Star-certified and has an auto mode that adjusts the fan speed based on the air quality. It proved to be one of the lowest energy consumers we tested.
Maintenance is minimal: vacuum the pre-filter once or twice a month and replace the filter every 6 to 8 months when the indicator light turns on. Filters are affordable and widely available, costing about $55 a year.
The noise level at high fan speed was average, a little louder than in a quiet office. But at low speed, it was no louder than ambient noise.
Longest lasting filter
While most filters need to be replaced quarterly — and we've seen some filters last up to a year before needing to be changed —Shark takes long-lasting filters to the next level. The Shark NeverChange Air Purifier Max can last up to five years before you need to replace the filter, and when you do, that filter costs $90, which is significant because some filters cost that much just to run annually. The size of the room (up to 1,400 square feet) and the amount of time you run the unit will ultimately determine how much life you get out of the filter, but according to Shark, the five-year number is based on running the air purifier in a 300-square-foot room at the highest speed for 12 hours a day.
From a performance perspective, the Shark took less than 15 minutes to reduce the amount of particles from incense smoke in a 200-square-foot room by 90%. It's also one of the quietest models, just behind the Blueair: an unobtrusive 46 decibels when running on high, and ambient at other levels.
The Shark NeverChange Air Purifier Max is a large, powerful option to improve the indoor air quality in your home.
Camryn Rabideau/Business Insider
All controls are handled directly on the unit. The Shark NeverChange Air Purifier Max is not WiFi-equipped, but the LCD screen can show the clean air percentage, the cleanliness level of the pre-filters, or real-time particle count. You can also adjust the fan speed or let it run on Auto. It has one of the lowest energy uses, at about .08 kwh a day.
Despite minimal upkeep costs, it's not completely maintenance-free; two pre-filters, which catch larger particles like pet hair, need to be wiped or vacuumed periodically. The display screen shows a filter-life percentage and will alert you when the filters need cleaning.
Finally, the Shark NeverChange is a larger model, and while you can move it around from room to room, it won't be the most comfortable to do so. Shark also offers a smaller version rated for rooms up to 650 square feet.
Over the last year, I've tested 30 air purifiers, and there are several that we almost included in our guide that are still worth considering:
Additional air purifiers we recommend
Air purifiers under $250
Instant Air Purifier 300: The makers of the wildly popular Instant Pot have ventured out of the kitchen for the first time with this unit, and it's a great reasonably priced solution. It was one of the top removers of VOCs, didn't use much power, and was easy to clean and maintain. Yet it was one of the worst at removing particulate matter, and it operates loudly.
Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty: We like this purifier because it adjusts the fan speed based on the air quality, which led to low power usage. However, in our tests, it was noisy, did poorly removing VOCs, and was just average at removing particulate matter. The Airmega Mighty has four stages of filtration: pre-filter, deodorization, true HEPA, and "vital ion" ionization. We don't recommend using the ionization function (see why in the FAQ). Fortunately, you can manually turn it off.
Brondell Horizon O2+: For how affordable this Brondell air purifier is, it did an outstanding job, and I'd recommend it if our top budget pick isn't available. It was one of the top removers of particulate matter in our tests and was easy to maintain and clean. The biggest negative is that it doesn't have an auto mode that adjusts the fan speed based on air quality. This would have been nice since it consumes a lot of power.
Air purifiers under $450
Coway Airmega 250: This is the best air purifier I've tested from Coway. The 250 was one of the best removers of particulate matter. It also used minimal electricity in our tests, thanks to the fan that adjusts based on the air quality. However, it didn't beat any of the models in the above categories, and it didn't perform well at removing VOCs from the air.
Mila: Mila is an affordable smart air purifier that has a variety of filter options (only available on the company's website) depending on what air quality issue you want to address. I tested the heavy-duty Overreactor, which is a hospital-grade H14 HEPA filter, and the Basic Breather. The Overreactor was in the middle of the pack in our air purifying tests. The Basic Breather was outstanding at removing particulate matter. But both operated loudly, and there wasn't anything else that made them stand out.
Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Auto: This is the updated version of the Blueair Blue Pure 211+, the top pick in our previous version of this guide. The main addition is an auto mode, which adjusts the filtering speed and intensity based on the air quality. We found it did a good job of filtering the air while using minimal electricity, but it was loud, and filters are expensive and only available on the Blueair website.
Air purifiers over $450
Alen Breathesmart 45i: This Alen air purifier relies on a medical-grade H13 true HEPA filter, which did an outstanding job of removing particulate matter from our test room. This model is also easy to set up, transport, and maintain. However, filter replacement will set you back about $140 per year, and it didn't do well reducing VOCs in the air.
Coway Airmega 400S: Our previous pick for the best smart air purifier, the Coway Airmega 400S is an attractive unit that barely makes any sound and adjusts the fan speed based on the air's pollution level, which lends itself to low energy use. It lost its title due to its average performance in our purifying tests and its smart features aren't as fancy as our smart pick from BlueAir.
RabbitAir MinusA2: If we had a "most visually appealing" category, this model would win. We weren't particularly impressed with how well it did cleaning the air. However, it was easy to set up and maintain. Plus, the filter replacement costs are reasonable.
Which air purifiers we don't recommend
PhoneSoap AirSoap: The biggest reason the AirSoap isn't in our guide is because it relies on ionization to clean the air, and there is no way to turn it off. In fact, we don't recommend ionizing air purifiers for most people (read why here). The benefits of ionization are questionable, and there's a risk of negative health issues due to the low levels of ozone the AirSoap produces. However, it did well in our air purifying tests, operates quietly, doesn't have filter replacement costs, and is easy to set up and transport.
Aura Air Mini: Like the AirSoap above, the Aura Air Mini relies on ionization to clean the air. It's unique in that it is only three inches deep and wide and 4.5 inches high. It runs for up to six hours on a single charge. It's designed to be used in small spaces, but we're not sure of the use cases. You wouldn't want to use it in public and potentially expose vulnerable individuals to ozone. And in your car, you already have a filtration system.
Dyson HP09: As a space heater, The HP09 does an outstanding job of heating and cooling rooms up to 800 square feet in size. The only problem is that it was one of the worst performers in our air purifying tests.
Honeywell Insight HPA5300B: I like the looks of this air purifier, and it's easy to maintain and has widely-available filters. However, it used a lot of electricity and is loud on high speed. Plus, its performance in the air purifying tests was unimpressive.
IQAir Atem: We were hoping this would be a good compact option, but it performed poorly in the air purifying tests and has high upfront and filter costs.
BetterAir Biotica800: The Biotica800 releases a probiotic mist for 30 seconds every 70 minutes. It runs quietly during those 30 seconds, and its electricity use was too low for our smart plug to register anything. However, if it does anything to clean the air, our air quality monitor didn't notice.
EnviroKlenz Air System Plus: This is the heaviest and least visually appealing purifier we tested. It's designed to take a beating and is used by the US Navy. However, it had the highest VOC reading at the end. It doesn't have an auto mode, used the most electricity, and has the highest filter costs of the bunch.
How we test air purifiers
A sampling of the air purifiers we've tested for this guide over the years.
James Brains/Business Insider
I've been reviewing heating, cooling, and air-quality devices for the past three years. For this guide, I personally tested 30 air purifiers for at least one week each and consulted with Ravi Pandey, MD, an internal medicine specialist on staff at several South Florida hospitals; Junfeng Zhang, PhD, professor of global and environmental health at Duke University; and Bryan Buckley, the brand manager for One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning.
Based on my research and interviews with experts, the most important features to consider when shopping for an air purifier are its ability to remove irritants from the air, long-term costs, and ease of use.
Here are the main ways we test each model:
Purifying: I burned incense in a 200-square-foot room with the windows and doors closed and used an air-quality monitor to take measurements of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter in the air every 15 minutes. After the incense burned for 15 minutes, I turned on the air purifier's auto mode, which adjusts the fan speed based on the air quality. If it didn't have an auto mode, I used the highest setting. I looked at both the percentage removed and the amount of VOCs and particulate matter left after two hours. For context, all of the recommended room sizes in our guide are calculated assuming an eight-foot ceiling and four air changes per hour (ACPH).
Setup: I timed how long it took me to set up the air purifier from the moment I opened the box until the unit was running. This includes connecting to an app when applicable. I made note of any unusual or confusing steps. Most models only required removing the packaging and plugging in the unit. This generally took five minutes or less.
Portability: I moved the air purifiers around my house making note of how easy they are to carry. If a model weighed more than 20 pounds or is hard to move in a tangible way, it lost points. Most units were easy to move and featured handles.
Long-term costs: Electricity and filter replacement are the biggest long-term costs. These can often outpace the upfront costs. I looked at how much a year's supply of filters costs and if they're widely available and not just on the manufacturer's website, which can make it hard to price shop. I also used a smart plug to measure the power consumption of each unit over the course of 24 hours under normal circumstances on the same setting I used for the purifying tests.
Noise: An air purifier's operation should not get in the way of hearing the TV, sleeping, or having a conversation. To test this, I used a sound meter to measure the air purifiers on their highest and lowest settings from four feet away. On low, most units were indistinguishable from ambient noise.
Maintenance: I cleaned each air purifier per the manufacturers' recommendations and noted how easy each model was to clean. I also noted whether there were indicators to let me know when to clean or replace the filter.
Air purifier FAQs
We use an air quality monitor to measure the effectiveness of every air purifier we test.
James Brains/Business Insider
Why do I need an air purifier?
An air purifier does what its name implies, cleaning odors, pollen, pet dander, and more from indoor air. According to the EPA, units with HEPA filters can improve symptoms of COPD and asthma sufferers and effectively remove ash and smoke particles.
What do air purifiers remove from the air?
The type of filter a purifier has determines what pollutants it can remove. HEPA filters are popular because they can remove smoke, pollen, bacteria, pet dander, dust, mold, and other particulate matter of 0.3 to 10 microns. Activated carbon filters can remove VOCs and other gases.
What does HEPA mean?
HEPA is an acronym for "high-efficiency particulate air." The EPA defines a true HEPA filter as a filter that captures at least 99.97% of airborne particles that are 0.3 microns in diameter. This includes bacteria, dust, pollen, and mold.
Are all your picks true HEPA filters?
No, but we give preference to true HEPA filter air purifiers in our picks. The exception is the Blueair 7470i, which has a HEPA-type filter that performed just as well, if not better, than most true HEPA models.
What's the difference between true HEPA and HEPA-type filters?
True HEPA filters capture 99.97% of airborne particles that are 0.3 microns in diameter. According to the EPA, true HEPA filters can more easily catch particles larger or smaller than 0.3 microns. There's no standard for HEPA-type filters.
Can an air purifier prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus?
Can HEPA or H13 purifiers capture viruses, including the coronavirus?
Ravi Pandey, MD, a specialist in internal medicine in Florida, said HEPA air purifiers wouldn't eliminate the coronavirus. Still, they help, especially when used with mask-wearing, hand washing, and social distancing.
What can you do to get the most out of your air purifier?
Bryan Buckley, the brand manager for One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, suggested always keeping your air purifier running in one spot. He added that you need continuous air purification to clean the air and maintain good air quality levels.
Where do you put an air purifier?
Air purifiers are best in high-traffic areas, such as your kitchen, living room, or bedroom. A purifier is also excellent at removing smoke from cooking. Buckley said you should position the unit to blow clean air where people gather and close your windows during use.
How often do you change the filter?
It varies. Manufacturer guidelines range from every 3 to 24 months. We list the replacement schedule for the models in our guide. Follow the schedule in your air purifier's user manual for optimal efficiency and performance.
How can you keep your air clean if you don't have an air purifier?
You can clean the air without a purifier by cleaning regularly, ventilating with fans, and storing chemicals outside of your house. Junfeng Zhang, PhD, professor of global and environmental health at Duke University, recommended wearing N95 masks in polluted areas.
Are air purifiers worth it?
If you cannot take steps to improve your indoor air quality by other means or the pollutants still seem to stick around, an air purifier is an intelligent choice. Even the worst air purifiers we tested improved indoor air quality.
Are ionizing air purifiers safe?
Ionizers can generate ozone, a lung irritant. Enesta Jones, an EPA spokesperson, said even low amounts of ozone could cause shortness of breath, chest pain, throat irritation, and coughing. Because of this, we don't recommend any ionizing air purifiers.
Can air purifiers help with wildfire smoke?
Yes. Zhang recommended air purifiers with HEPA filters to improve indoor air quality in areas affected by wildfires. Air purifiers will be most effective if you keep windows and doors closed. Also, have purifiers in each room rather than moving one from room to room.
Air purifier glossary
In this guide, we throw around a lot of terms you may not be familiar with. Here are a few definitions of terms and acronyms that are commonly used when talking about air purifiers:
CADR: Clean air delivery rate. Typically measured in cubic feet per minute or cubic meters per hour, the CADR tells you how much air an air purifier can clean.
cfm: Cubic feet per minute. This is the most common unit of measurement used to express how much air an air purifier can clean.
HEPA: High-efficiency particulate air. True HEPA or HEPA-type filters are generally considered to be the gold standard in the industry. For more details, see our FAQ section.
VOCs: Volatile organic compounds. These compounds have low water solubility and high vapor pressure. They are commonly produced in the manufacturing of refrigerants, pharmaceuticals, and paints and are often found in paints, craft materials, adhesives, markers, furniture, pesticides, cleaning supplies, and more.
Best overall: Honeywell HPA300 HEPA Air Purifier
The PowerPlus had the best combined performance of removing particulate matter and VOCs from the air.
James Brains/Business Insider
The Honeywell PowerPlus HEPA Air Purifier (model number HPA3300) was the top model when looking at the combined performance in our volatile organic compound (VOC) and particulate matter testing. A little over an hour into our test, it had removed 99% of the particulate matter and the VOC levels were among the lowest at the end of the testing period. While it hasn't specifically been certified by AAFA, these numbers suggest this is an excellent air purifier for allergy sufferers and for people sensitive to other irritants.
Setup was quick and intuitive — I just removed the packaging and plug the unit in. And there's little maintenance. Just wipe the unit down with a dry cloth every three months. When the filter indicator light turns on (approximately once a year) replace the three true HEPA filters, which are widely available and cost $89.95 yearly.
The HPA3300 isn't without its negatives. First, it's one of the loudest models we tested. When on low fan speed, it's no louder than the surrounding noise, but on high, it registered 58.9 decibels (dB), which is about as loud as a normal conversation. At over 20 pounds, it isn't as portable, though it does have a handle to help with transport.
That said, it's similar to most models in power use and filter replacement costs, and we think its performance makes it the best air purifier overall, especially for allergy sufferers and for medium-to-large rooms.
Best budget: Lasko LP300 HEPA Tower Air Purifier
The Lasko LP300 HEPA Tower Air Purifier is one of the cheapest air purifiers we tested but is as effective as units twice its price.
James Brains/Business Insider
The Lasko LP300 HEPA Tower Air Purifier is $65 cheaper than any other unit tested, has the lowest filter replacement cost, and, at under 10 pounds, doesn't feel like a heavy-duty appliance.
We found it performed just as well as models that cost three or four times as much. The Lasko air purifier quickly removed airborne dust and debris. With 30 minutes to spare in the testing period, our air quality monitor registered no particulate matter. Though its performance wasn't as impressive with VOCs, it did a good job keeping the levels in a safe range.
Setup was straightforward and took about five minutes. The Lasko's light weight makes it easy to move around, so you can take it with you from room to room, which you may need to do since its low CADR makes it better suited for small rooms. If you need more oomph, consider the LP450, which is only $16 more and covers twice as much space.
The Lasko was one of the few units we tested that was louder than ambient sound levels, even when on low. At 45.6 dB on low, it was a little bit louder than a typical library. On high, it was only 51.6 dB.
The biggest negative of this model is that it uses a lot of power. This is likely due to its lack of an auto mode that adjusts with the air quality, which is another negative.
Filters are affordable and widely available, too, with an expected cost of $35.99 yearly.
Quietist: Blueair HealthProtect 7470i Smart Air Purifier
If you're planning on using an air purifier in your bedroom, the Blueair HealthProtect 7470i Smart Air Purifier is the quietest you can buy.
James Brains/Business Insider
The Blueair HealthProtect 7470i Smart Air Purifier is the quietest and most high-tech model we tested. On high speed, it's about as loud as a quiet office. On low, the 7470i is no louder than ambient sound.
The Blueair HealthProtect 7470i features a digital color touch screen that allows you to operate the appliance and track the temperature, humidity, and air quality for VOCs and three different particle sizes.
The Blueair app (iOS and Android) puts the data and functions at your fingertips wherever you are, including the ability to set a schedule. It's also compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant. I found the app worked well for the most part, though there were times when the data readouts took up to an hour to refresh. Also, connecting to the app upon initial setup took a few tries, which added 10 minutes to the process.
The HealthProtect 7470i has a HEPA-type filter (see our FAQ for how this differs from a true HEPA filter) that looks like a partially open book and features an RFID chip that tracks the filter life. The filters are comparatively affordable, about $55 annually, and can be ordered in the app or through major retailers, including Amazon. Other than replacing the filter, the only other maintenance is occasionally vacuuming or washing the two prefilters.
In the air-quality tests, the Blueair purifier performed well. After the two-hour testing period, it had one of the lowest VOC readings, and it removed 99% of the particulate matter. The power consumption was about average among the units I tested, which is impressive considering the midrange CADR.
I found the Blueair HealthProtect 7470i is a little too unwieldy to easily move from room to room. At 27.2 pounds and without good handles, this is a purifier you'll want to keep in one spot.
Best for small rooms: Levoit 300S Air Purifier
The small but mighty Levoit 300S Air Purifier is great for small bedrooms or home offices.
James Brains/Business Insider
The Levoit 300S Air Purifier is an excellent option for bedrooms and other small rooms because it has three layers of filtration. The pre-filter captures larger debris, including hair and pet dander; the true HEPA filter collects smaller airborne particles; and the carbon filter helps reduce VOCs and odors in the air.
The carbon filter's performance was evident in our testing as the Levoit 300S was among the best at removing VOCs. The purifier also did well with particulate matter, removing virtually all (99.2%) of it from the air during the testing period.
The setup was a snap. I had the unit up and running in under 5 minutes and connected to the VeSync app (available for iOS and Android) in another five. The Levoit 300S is the most affordable WiFi-connected air purifier I've tested, and the smart functions work well. I could easily monitor and schedule it from anywhere, and the air quality readings were almost identical to the readings on our testing monitor.
The Levoit 300S is Energy Star-certified and has an auto mode that adjusts the fan speed based on the air quality. It proved to be one of the lowest energy consumers we tested.
Maintenance is minimal: vacuum the pre-filter once or twice a month and replace the filter every 6 to 8 months when the indicator light turns on. Filters are affordable and widely available, costing about $55 a year.
The noise level at high fan speed was average, a little louder than in a quiet office. But at low speed, it was no louder than ambient noise.
Longest-lasting filter
The Shark NeverChange Air Purifier Max is a large, powerful option for improving indoor air quality in your home.
Camryn Rabideau/Business Insider
While most filters need to be replaced quarterly — and we've seen some filters last up to a year before needing to be changed —Shark takes long-lasting filters to the next level. The Shark NeverChange Air Purifier Max can last up to five years before you need to replace the filter, and when you do, that filter costs $90, which is significant because some filters cost that much just to run annually. The size of the room (up to 1,400 square feet) and the amount of time you run the unit will ultimately determine how much life you get out of the filter, but according to Shark, the five-year number is based on running the air purifier in a 300-square-foot room at the highest speed for 12 hours a day.
From a performance perspective, the Shark took less than 15 minutes to reduce the amount of particles from incense smoke in a 200-square-foot room by 90%. It's also one of the quietest models, just behind the Blueair: an unobtrusive 46 decibels when running on high, and ambient at other levels.
All controls are handled directly on the unit. The Shark NeverChange Air Purifier Max is not WiFi-equipped, but the LCD screen can show the clean air percentage, the cleanliness level of the pre-filters, or real-time particle count. You can also adjust the fan speed or let it run on Auto. It has one of the lowest energy uses, at about .08 kwh a day.
Despite minimal upkeep costs, it's not completely maintenance-free; two pre-filters, which catch larger particles like pet hair, need to be wiped or vacuumed periodically. The display screen shows a filter-life percentage and will alert you when the filters need cleaning.
Finally, the Shark NeverChange is a larger model, and while you can move it around from room to room, it won't be the most comfortable to do so. Shark also offers a smaller version rated for rooms up to 650 square feet.
What else we tested
A sampling of the air purifiers we've tested for this guide over the years.
James Brains/Business Insider
Over the last year, I've tested 30 air purifiers, and there are several that we almost included in our guide that are still worth considering:
Additional air purifiers we recommend
Air purifiers under $250
Instant Air Purifier 300: The makers of the wildly popular Instant Pot have ventured out of the kitchen for the first time with this unit, and it's a great reasonably priced solution. It was one of the top removers of VOCs, didn't use much power, and was easy to clean and maintain. Yet it was one of the worst at removing particulate matter, and it operates loudly.
Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty: We like this purifier because it adjusts the fan speed based on the air quality, which led to low power usage. However, in our tests, it was noisy, did poorly removing VOCs, and was just average at removing particulate matter. The Airmega Mighty has four stages of filtration: pre-filter, deodorization, true HEPA, and "vital ion" ionization. We don't recommend using the ionization function (see why in the FAQ). Fortunately, you can manually turn it off.
Brondell Horizon O2+: For how affordable this Brondell air purifier is, it did an outstanding job, and I'd recommend it if our top budget pick isn't available. It was one of the top removers of particulate matter in our tests and was easy to maintain and clean. The biggest negative is that it doesn't have an auto mode that adjusts the fan speed based on air quality. This would have been nice since it consumes a lot of power.
Air purifiers under $450
Coway Airmega 250: This is the best air purifier I've tested from Coway. The 250 was one of the best removers of particulate matter. It also used minimal electricity in our tests, thanks to the fan that adjusts based on the air quality. However, it didn't beat any of the models in the above categories, and it didn't perform well at removing VOCs from the air.
Mila: Mila is an affordable smart air purifier that has a variety of filter options (only available on the company's website) depending on what air quality issue you want to address. I tested the heavy-duty Overreactor, which is a hospital-grade H14 HEPA filter, and the Basic Breather. The Overreactor was in the middle of the pack in our air purifying tests. The Basic Breather was outstanding at removing particulate matter. But both operated loudly, and there wasn't anything else that made them stand out.
Blueair Blue Pure 211+ Auto: This is the updated version of the Blueair Blue Pure 211+, the top pick in our previous version of this guide. The main addition is an auto mode, which adjusts the filtering speed and intensity based on the air quality. We found it did a good job of filtering the air while using minimal electricity, but it was loud, and filters are expensive and only available on the Blueair website.
Air purifiers over $450
Alen Breathesmart 45i: This Alen air purifier relies on a medical-grade H13 true HEPA filter, which did an outstanding job of removing particulate matter from our test room. This model is also easy to set up, transport, and maintain. However, filter replacement will set you back about $140 per year, and it didn't do well reducing VOCs in the air.
Coway Airmega 400S: Our previous pick for the best smart air purifier, the Coway Airmega 400S is an attractive unit that barely makes any sound and adjusts the fan speed based on the air's pollution level, which lends itself to low energy use. It lost its title due to its average performance in our purifying tests and its smart features aren't as fancy as our smart pick from BlueAir.
RabbitAir MinusA2: If we had a "most visually appealing" category, this model would win. We weren't particularly impressed with how well it did cleaning the air. However, it was easy to set up and maintain. Plus, the filter replacement costs are reasonable.
Which air purifiers we don't recommend
PhoneSoap AirSoap: The biggest reason the AirSoap isn't in our guide is because it relies on ionization to clean the air, and there is no way to turn it off. In fact, we don't recommend ionizing air purifiers for most people (read why here). The benefits of ionization are questionable, and there's a risk of negative health issues due to the low levels of ozone the AirSoap produces. However, it did well in our air purifying tests, operates quietly, doesn't have filter replacement costs, and is easy to set up and transport.
Aura Air Mini: Like the AirSoap above, the Aura Air Mini relies on ionization to clean the air. It's unique in that it is only three inches deep and wide and 4.5 inches high. It runs for up to six hours on a single charge. It's designed to be used in small spaces, but we're not sure of the use cases. You wouldn't want to use it in public and potentially expose vulnerable individuals to ozone. And in your car, you already have a filtration system.
Dyson HP09: As a space heater, The HP09 does an outstanding job of heating and cooling rooms up to 800 square feet in size. The only problem is that it was one of the worst performers in our air purifying tests.
Honeywell Insight HPA5300B: I like the looks of this air purifier, and it's easy to maintain and has widely-available filters. However, it used a lot of electricity and is loud on high speed. Plus, its performance in the air purifying tests was unimpressive.
IQAir Atem: We were hoping this would be a good compact option, but it performed poorly in the air purifying tests and has high upfront and filter costs.
BetterAir Biotica800: The Biotica800 releases a probiotic mist for 30 seconds every 70 minutes. It runs quietly during those 30 seconds, and its electricity use was too low for our smart plug to register anything. However, if it does anything to clean the air, our air quality monitor didn't notice.
EnviroKlenz Air System Plus: This is the heaviest and least visually appealing purifier we tested. It's designed to take a beating and is used by the US Navy. However, it had the highest VOC reading at the end. It doesn't have an auto mode, used the most electricity, and has the highest filter costs of the bunch.
How we test air purifiers
We use an air quality monitor to measure the effectiveness of every air purifier we test.
James Brains/Business Insider
I've been reviewing heating, cooling, and air-quality devices for the past three years. For this guide, I personally tested 30 air purifiers for at least one week each and consulted with Ravi Pandey, MD, an internal medicine specialist on staff at several South Florida hospitals; Junfeng Zhang, PhD, professor of global and environmental health at Duke University; and Bryan Buckley, the brand manager for One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning.
Based on my research and interviews with experts, the most important features to consider when shopping for an air purifier are its ability to remove irritants from the air, long-term costs, and ease of use.
Here are the main ways we test each model:
Purifying: I burned incense in a 200-square-foot room with the windows and doors closed and used an air-quality monitor to take measurements of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter in the air every 15 minutes. After the incense burned for 15 minutes, I turned on the air purifier's auto mode, which adjusts the fan speed based on the air quality. If it didn't have an auto mode, I used the highest setting. I looked at both the percentage removed and the amount of VOCs and particulate matter left after two hours. For context, all of the recommended room sizes in our guide are calculated assuming an eight-foot ceiling and four air changes per hour (ACPH).
Setup: I timed how long it took me to set up the air purifier from the moment I opened the box until the unit was running. This includes connecting to an app when applicable. I made note of any unusual or confusing steps. Most models only required removing the packaging and plugging in the unit. This generally took five minutes or less.
Portability: I moved the air purifiers around my house making note of how easy they are to carry. If a model weighed more than 20 pounds or is hard to move in a tangible way, it lost points. Most units were easy to move and featured handles.
Long-term costs: Electricity and filter replacement are the biggest long-term costs. These can often outpace the upfront costs. I looked at how much a year's supply of filters costs and if they're widely available and not just on the manufacturer's website, which can make it hard to price shop. I also used a smart plug to measure the power consumption of each unit over the course of 24 hours under normal circumstances on the same setting I used for the purifying tests.
Noise: An air purifier's operation should not get in the way of hearing the TV, sleeping, or having a conversation. To test this, I used a sound meter to measure the air purifiers on their highest and lowest settings from four feet away. On low, most units were indistinguishable from ambient noise.
Maintenance: I cleaned each air purifier per the manufacturers' recommendations and noted how easy each model was to clean. I also noted whether there were indicators to let me know when to clean or replace the filter.
Air purifier FAQs
In this photo, you can see an air purifier's HEPA filters, which do the bulk of the heavy lifting when it comes to cleaning the air.
James Brains/Insider
Why do I need an air purifier?
An air purifier does what its name implies, cleaning odors, pollen, pet dander, and more from indoor air. According to the EPA, units with HEPA filters can improve symptoms of COPD and asthma sufferers and effectively remove ash and smoke particles.
What do air purifiers remove from the air?
The type of filter a purifier has determines what pollutants it can remove. HEPA filters are popular because they can remove smoke, pollen, bacteria, pet dander, dust, mold, and other particulate matter of 0.3 to 10 microns. Activated carbon filters can remove VOCs and other gases.
What does HEPA mean?
HEPA is an acronym for "high-efficiency particulate air." The EPA defines a true HEPA filter as a filter that captures at least 99.97% of airborne particles that are 0.3 microns in diameter. This includes bacteria, dust, pollen, and mold.
Are all your picks true HEPA filters?
No, but we give preference to true HEPA filter air purifiers in our picks. The exception is the Blueair 7470i, which has a HEPA-type filter that performed just as well, if not better, than most true HEPA models.
What's the difference between true HEPA and HEPA-type filters?
True HEPA filters capture 99.97% of airborne particles that are 0.3 microns in diameter. According to the EPA, true HEPA filters can more easily catch particles larger or smaller than 0.3 microns. There's no standard for HEPA-type filters.
Can an air purifier prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus?
Can HEPA or H13 purifiers capture viruses, including the coronavirus?
Ravi Pandey, MD, a specialist in internal medicine in Florida, said HEPA air purifiers wouldn't eliminate the coronavirus. Still, they help, especially when used with mask-wearing, hand washing, and social distancing.
What can you do to get the most out of your air purifier?
Bryan Buckley, the brand manager for One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, suggested always keeping your air purifier running in one spot. He added that you need continuous air purification to clean the air and maintain good air quality levels.
Where do you put an air purifier?
Air purifiers are best in high-traffic areas, such as your kitchen, living room, or bedroom. A purifier is also excellent at removing smoke from cooking. Buckley said you should position the unit to blow clean air where people gather and close your windows during use.
How often do you change the filter?
It varies. Manufacturer guidelines range from every 3 to 24 months. We list the replacement schedule for the models in our guide. Follow the schedule in your air purifier's user manual for optimal efficiency and performance.
How can you keep your air clean if you don't have an air purifier?
You can clean the air without a purifier by cleaning regularly, ventilating with fans, and storing chemicals outside of your house. Junfeng Zhang, PhD, professor of global and environmental health at Duke University, recommended wearing N95 masks in polluted areas.
Are air purifiers worth it?
If you cannot take steps to improve your indoor air quality by other means or the pollutants still seem to stick around, an air purifier is an intelligent choice. Even the worst air purifiers we tested improved indoor air quality.
Are ionizing air purifiers safe?
Ionizers can generate ozone, a lung irritant. Enesta Jones, an EPA spokesperson, said even low amounts of ozone could cause shortness of breath, chest pain, throat irritation, and coughing. Because of this, we don't recommend any ionizing air purifiers.
Can air purifiers help with wildfire smoke?
Yes. Zhang recommended air purifiers with HEPA filters to improve indoor air quality in areas affected by wildfires. Air purifiers will be most effective if you keep windows and doors closed. Also, have purifiers in each room rather than moving one from room to room.
Air purifier glossary
In this guide, we throw around a lot of terms you may not be familiar with. Here are a few definitions of terms and acronyms that are commonly used when talking about air purifiers:
CADR: Clean air delivery rate. Typically measured in cubic feet per minute or cubic meters per hour, the CADR tells you how much air an air purifier can clean.
cfm: Cubic feet per minute. This is the most common unit of measurement used to express how much air an air purifier can clean.
HEPA: High-efficiency particulate air. True HEPA or HEPA-type filters are generally considered to be the gold standard in the industry. For more details, see our FAQ section.
VOCs: Volatile organic compounds. These compounds have low water solubility and high vapor pressure. They are commonly produced in the manufacturing of refrigerants, pharmaceuticals, and paints and are often found in paints, craft materials, adhesives, markers, furniture, pesticides, cleaning supplies, and more.