Breathe easier this summer with these 5 air quality products
Even in the warmer months, it's not always possible or wise to throw open all the windows.
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Allergy season is ramping up, and there will be plenty of day ahead where it's just too hot to open your windows. That means closed windows and long hours inside, with less exposure to fresh air.
Still, as always, there are ways to beat the challenges of the season, and we’re here to point you in the right direction with these five suggestions.
LEVOIT Air Purifier
Amazon.ca
Dust, pet dander, mould spores, allergens, any number of irritants can build up over the course of the summer. A good air purifier can freshen things up in your home, and this option from Levoit is a good balance of function and price point, not to mention well-reviewed by those who bought it from Amazon.ca. With a proper HEPA filtration system using three filters, it’s a good fit for any mid-sized home, and if you want a version that’s good for just a single bedroom, Levoit offers smaller models.
Best features:
Cleans the air in a 900-square-foot room in one hour
Features three fan speeds, auto mode and a quieter sleep mode
Rated 4.4 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
Honeywell Mist Humidifier
Amazon.ca
AC air is dry air – that’s not great for your sinuses, nor for your skin, either. You can breathe easier with a good humidifier, especially in the bedroom, and of the many options out there, this one is the best value for money. The mist will help keep those nasal passages clear, and those who ordered it from Amazon.ca report it’s silent enough not to interrupt your sleep. It’s priced well enough to afford more than one for each bedroom, too, which we think is a good investment.
Best features:
Two-litre tank, with a four-litre version also available
Up to 20 hours runtime per fill
Rated 4.4 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
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ThermoPro Indoor Humidity and Temperature Gauge
Amazon.ca
Keeping track of the humidity in your home can give you some sense of control, or at least, some heads-up on when to deploy the humidifiers. This design from Thermapro won us over. Simple, sleek and inexpensive, it’s a runaway hit among Amazon.ca users, more than 100,000 of whom took the time to give it a review on the platform, a good indication that Thermapro has done something right here.
Best features:
Easy tracking of humidity and temperature, with daytime highs and lows
Can be stood on a tabletop or magnetically mounted to your fridge
Rated 4.5 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
First Alert Carbon Monoxide Alarm
Amazon.ca
Dry air and irritants can be uncomfortable. Carbon monoxide, in high enough levels, can kill. This winter, if you haven’t already, invest in a proper carbon monoxide alarm. This one from First Alert is unobtrusive and easy to mount, and offers good detection of the potentially deadly gas.
Best Features:
Alarm chirps when battery is low or it’s time to replace the unit
Includes 9V battery
Rated 4.6 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
How To Grow Fresh Air
Amazon.ca
If you’re botanically-minded and would prefer not to splurge on gadgets this season, you could try cleaning the air in your home the old-fashioned way: with carefully selected and tended houseplants. But not all such plants are created equal, so before you start, maybe have a read of this book – it explains the science behind houseplants and air quality, then takes you through the plants themselves and how they can help best. A great place to start.
Best Features:
The author was the lead on NASA’s 1989 Clean Air Study, which tested plants on their ability to purify the air
Kindle edition also available
Rated 4.7 out of 5 on Amazon.ca
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Our trusted Product Specialists recommend high-quality items that we think will enhance your experience with Canadian weather conditions. Prices and availability of items are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
