6 Best Air Purifier With Permanent Washable Filter in 2023

Let's get this out of my chest. Hamilton Beach TrueAir Compact Pet is not the best air purifier with a permanent HEPA filter. However, it still offers good filtration, and more importantly, it is dirt cheap with almost zero maintenance cost. The small 8.1 x 16.4 x 10.8 inches framework fits perfectly for most homes, dorms, or shared rooms that don't have space to spare. Thanks to the unique design, you can place it standing up or lying flat without affecting its airflow distribution. The fitting is solid despite the plasticky build and lack of premium touches. The front removing panel snaps in and out easily, even after multiple rounds of cleaning. Rounding up the exterior tour is an expected 1-year warranty for an air cleaner at this price point. Nothing out of the norm.

With proper cleaning, no dust, hair, or pet dander will be too difficult for this pet machine. Inside the 3-stage filtration, there is a permanent pre-filter that can be washed and reused indefinitely. The pre-filter is there to trap large particles like dust and hair while protecting the washable HEPA filter. The permanent HEPA filter also does not require replacing; it can be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. At full capacity, the HEPA-grade filter can trap 99% of airborne pollutants like mold, pollen, and mildew that are too tiny for our naked eyes. Slightly below the True HEPA standard, but we will touch on this later. For smoke and odors coming from cigarettes, pets, or food, you have the optional carbon zeolite filters that can deal with it. It is the only filter that is non-washable and has to replace on time to maintain its efficiency. Since the carbon filters only cost about 10 dollars annually, there is no reason not to go ahead.

Hamilton Beach TrueAir Compact Pet can reach up to 140 square feet of room size. Not the widest in air purification but will serve its purpose well for table use. Usability-wise, you can set it to WhisperClean for a completely silent operation or QuickClean for maximum performance. We usually leave it in the more powerful QuickClean mode since the noise output is within our acceptance level. Again, this compact air cleaner is best used on top of a cabinet, work desk, island table, or tabletop, lying vertically or horizontally, minus the wobbly feel. Plain vanilla set with no complicated controls or setting to manage.

Hamilton Beach is a washable HEPA filter air purifier that everyone can afford, but not without some downsides. First, it has a rather weak airflow output that is only meant for close-range purifying. The HEPA-grade filter is also a prominent downgrade in allergen removal compared with a true HEPA filter. Features-wise, it is as simple as it gets, with only 3 fan speeds to tinker around with. The lack of a timer and dial knob control is annoying but not the end of the world. All in all, Hamilton Beach TrueAir is created specifically for people who need clean air yet do not need all the fancy stuff. Do not expect anything more, and you'll be fine.

In short: An affordable, compact air purifier with a washable HEPA filter. Upgrade to the cheap carbon zeolite filters that help remove nearby smoke and odors that previously couldn't. ⚠️ Buy this if you want a budget permanent air purifier and don't mind the slightly inferior filtration.

A washable filtered air purifier that many will be familiar with. Honeywell AirGenius 5 is the top-of-the-line model that goes beyond what most reusable air purifiers offer. House in a modern black exterior with bottom blue accent light, the 11.5 x 29 x 11.5 dimension and 14 lb weight is not overly bulky and will fit a small home well. Being a Honeywell model, the build quality is great, and you can move it regularly from room to room every day without ever feeling the whole thing would fall apart. The design has nice touches, such as the premium touch screen control, rear hidden air inlet, and a 7 preset timer that can be set to turn off the machine. Complimenting all that is the 5 years warranty that would give the owner worry-free ownership. An assuring and perhaps a money-saving feature that many take lightly off.

Honeywell AirGenius 5 patented QuietClean ifD technology is the most effective reusable filters of all time. It can remove up to 99.9% of airborne particles, including dust, mold, pollen, pet dander, bacteria, and viruses. A worthy alternative over a HEPA filter in dealing with airborne pollutants, yet you can reuse it as often as you please. The filter has an estimated 3-5 years of lifespan, with just some light vacuuming around twice a year. There is also an optional ionizer that emits millions of negative ions into the air. The released ions cause other particulates to merge and eventually fall for the ifD to capture due to the increased weight. Finally, a washable foam pre-filter is reusable yet great at trapping large particles and protecting the ifD filter. We highly recommend you opt for the odor & gas reducing pre-filter upgrade that does the same thing plus removes toxic fumes like VOCs, cigarette smoke, radon, and cooking stove odors. It is not washable and reusable so you will have to replace it every quarterly.

With a highly adjustable 5 cleaning mode (Sleep, Germs, General cleaning, Allergen, Max cleaning power) plus oscillation, there is a use for every scenario. Honeywell AirGenius 5 is ideal for bedroom and living room with the option to crank up the performance during allergy season. Sleep mode works best when you need quietness without giving up air purification. The other mode is inter-swappable and varies in fan speed. At Max cleaning power speed, AirGenius 5 can cover up to 250 square feet of room space with minimal air changes. CADR mirrored the coverage at 160 cfm for dust, 170 cfm for pollen, and 161 cfm for smoke. Not the greatest, but ample for a washable air purifier segment.

Let's address the elephant in the room. The drawback of a permanent filter over a conventional HEPA filter is the overall efficiency. It falls short of a True HEPA filter capturing capacity even though AirGenius 5 is not too far off. Adding to that, you will have to deal with the hassle of filter cleaning every month compared with a conventional HEPA filter that only has to be replaced annually. Lastly, the optional carbon filter is non-washable, as doing so will damage the chemical adsorption materials. You will still need to replace it in due time, similar to a HEPA air cleaner. The MRSP is also higher than a conventional air purifier, but at least it is still accessible for most folk. Honeywell AirGenius 5 will serve you well if you prioritize convenience over absolute performance.

In short: Not all Honeywell air purifier filters can be washed; Honeywell AirGenius 5 is the one that can do so. It is the best air purifiers with a permanent filter cater to large rooms. The only thing you need to add or replace is the optional odor pre-filter. ⚠️ Buy this if you want the best permanent filter device from Honeywell.

Winix 5500-2 is not a washable air purifier by any stretch of the imagination. We decided to include it on our list because the overall package is too good for you to skip. With its low 150 dollars discounted price, awesome permanent pre-filter, and strong HEPA filtration, consider this as a hybrid air purifier that you can get the best of both worlds.

A conventional yet clean design, Winix 5500-2 houses multiple filtrations in its 15 x 23.6 x 8.2 inches body with 15.4 lb in weight. It is far from small and light as it needs to account for the filter space. You can still move it around for room to room purifying for those that rely on a single air purifier. The front panel can easily be detached to remove the permanent pre-filter for cleaning without the need to flip over the air purifier. A time-saving, attention to detail that you will truly appreciate in the long run. As with all Winix models, fitting is tight with no leakage and harmful gas released during operation. The "only" 2 years warranty is a big contrast to Honeywell's 5 years; we are confident that Winix 5500-2 will outlast the warranty period.

Winix 5500-2 does not hold out on features either. You'll get dual sensors, a front air quality indicator, a filter change indicator, and a timer as standard. A stark contrast to the typical permanent air purifier that focuses on simplicity over function. The auto mode also automatically sets the fan speed to high when the air quality drops. Auto Sleep mode activates once the light is off and locks the fan speed to the lowest with dimmed indicator light. As the icing to the cake, you're getting a remote control for added convenience. All these for less than what you're paying for with Honeywell AirGenius 5.

Here's the controversial part of why Winix 5500-2 differs from a pure permanent air purifier setup. The 4-stage filtration comes with a mixture of disposable and non-disposable filters, including a washable pre-filter, a true HEPA filter, an activated carbon filter, and PlasmaWave Technology. The permanent pre-filter is great at trapping large particles like dust, dirt, and hair. Since it is washable, the pre-filter can be reused to prolong the HEPA and carbon filter lifespan. Speaking of HEPA, the superior True HEPA filter is excellent at capturing 99.97% of the microscopic particles as small as 0.3 microns. No airborne mold, pollen, dust mites, pet dander, or germs will be able to bypass the filter. As for odor and smoke particles, the activated carbon filter will have no trouble removing the harmful particles from cigarettes, cooking, VOCs, pet, radon, and asbestos. Lastly, PlasmaWave produces Hydroxyls to break down stubborn allergens for the filter to capture. It is safe and reusable, so you will only have to maintain the HEPA and carbon filter.

For the low price of just around 150 (after discount), You'll get a wide 360 square footage of air cleaning coverage with 2 air changes per hour. The best on the list with an undisputed track record. The high clean air delivery rate is 243 cfm for dust, 246 cfm for pollen, and 232 cfm for smoke. Great for bedroom, living room, garage, kitchen, basement, playroom, nursery, or home office use.

Again, we have to emphasize, Winix 5500-2 is more of a hybrid washable air purifier with a permanent filter. Bar the permanent pre-filter and PlasmaWave; every filter here is non-washable with a limited lifespan. You are expected to replace the true HEPA filter and activated carbon filter annually for it to work. That is around 80 dollars of recurring cost year in, year out. The noise level is also on the louder side compared with other washable air purifiers, given that a bigger motor fan is needed to draw airborne pollutants in. Only go with this if you don't mind the recurring payment as a trade-off for the outstanding filtration.

In short: A hybrid washable HEPA air purifier that exceeds every aspect. The perfect model if you don't mind the high annual recurring cost. ⚠️ Buy this if you have second thoughts about a permanent/ washable air purifier.

A cheap. triple-action permanent purification with a huge running cost. Envion Therapure TPP230H is not your typical washable HEPA filter air purifier. It is a mix between a conventional and a permanent air purifier with an emphasis on filtration efficiency. For example, you can clean the HEPA filter to boost performance with the removal of trapped dust particles. At the end of 6 months, you will still need to replace the HEPA filter to get rid of trapped fine allergens. The UV-C Germicidal lamp is excellent at killing bacteria and viruses but with a limited usage time. The non-washable photocatalyst filter can remove chemical odors like asbestos, VOCs, and tobacco smoke. Very useful but can be a hassle to change.

Continue with the multi-level filtration; Envion Therapure TPP230H is centered around a HEPA-Type filter that captures microscopic particles. While it is not the same filtration level as a True HEPA filter, you do gain the advantage of being able to clean and reuse it many times. Another filterless technology is the ionizer that releases millions of negative ions into the air. The charged ions will merge with other positive ions pollutants to form a single particulate that will fall for the washable HEPA filter to capture. Lastly, the UV lamp + photocatalyst filter kills and halts pathogens like mold, mildew, and germs from spreading. The UVC light is very effective but note that the light intensity will drop as time goes by before the inevitable replacement.

Ideal for medium room size purifying, Envion Therapure TPP230H washable HEPA air purifier can cover up to 350 square feet of room space. One of the better ones on this list, but you will have to account for the bigger motor fan and replaceable filter. Noise output is low, partly due to the tower form factor and hybrid filtration setup. You can place Envion in a bedroom, living hall, office, basement, or anywhere you spend the most time without any issue. Official CADR tally with the airflow at 132 cfm for dust, 155 cfm for pollen, and 152 for smoke. Not the finest, but far from weak for its category. Everything is exactly how it should be.

Moving to the downsides, this is undoubtedly an inexpensive, washable HEPA filter air purifier with a few flaws of its own. The main one is the high filter replacement cost that can go higher than a brand new unit in just 2 years' time. It would defeat the purpose of a washable air purifier even though you get the perk of better filtration performance. CADR is slightly on the lower side compared with its purifying coverage, which translates to a longer air cleaning time. Controls and features are a little bland as well, with zero autonomous support. You could easily solve all the drawbacks above by opting for a HEPA air purifier like Winix 5500-2 (more on this later). If you want an air purifier with a permanent HEPA filter and zero recurring cost, look elsewhere.

In short: A wonderful multi-stage UV air purifier with a washable HEPA filter to extend its lifespan. You do have to replace the UV light and photocatalyst filter to enjoy the full air cleaning benefits. ⚠️ Buy this for the low selling price but stay tuned for the high running cost.

Fancy a Honeywell air purifier with a washable filter like AirGenius 5, but prefer something cheaper? In comes Honeywell AirGenius 4 True Allergen Remover. A washable filter air purifier that costs 50 bucks less than AirGenius 5. From the exterior design, everything looks identical to the former, including the 11.5 x 29 x 11.5 inches dimension, premium touch panels, and black housing. The slim profile allows it to be placed in a tight area without causing any obstruction. Practicality is great with air pulled in from the ground and distributed via the front outlet. Overall, build quality is tight, with no off-gassing detected during our test. The 5-year warranty adds a sense of security from any malfunctioning parts or sudden breakdowns. A further compliment goes to the high-quality removable panel capable of withstanding the constant opening and closing for filter cleaning.

Let's focus on Honeywell's permanent filtration that separates it from the rest of the crowd. Honeywell AirGenius 4 uses the same patented QuietClean ifD technology that removes up to 99.9% of allergens as small as 0.3 microns. A proven technology that will save you a lot of time and money finding the replacement filter. By regularly maintaining the filter, mold, pollen, and pet dander will all be gradually removed from the air. To boost the ifD filter efficiency, you have both the ionizer and washable pre-filter assisting with the filtration. The ionizer creates a static field that electrostatically charges ions and attaches to other ions in the air. The now heavier particulates will fall for easy capturing. The pre-filter focuses on trapping large particles like dust and pet hair to free up space in the ifD filter. Until now, the maintenance cost is nil unless you opt for the upgradable odor-reducing pre-filter that helps capture strong smoke and odors from cigarettes, cooking, and pets. The filter is non-washable but a must in our book unless you are 100% sure your home is free from smoke pollutants.

Same story with the airflow performance. You'll get decent 250 square feet of air cleaning coverage, dust CADR at 160 cfm, pollen CADR at 170 cfm, and smoke CADR at 161 cfm. Suitable for small to medium room sizes such as living hall, bedroom, kitchen, and basement. There are also 4 fan speeds that you can cycle between Sleep, General, Allergen, and Max speed mode that varies in noise output and power consumption. Noise level is particularly low in sleep mode; however, most people will stick with the more powerful general mode for everyday use and only choose max speed when indoor air quality has dropped to an unhealthy level.

There are some trades off when opting for an air purifier with a permanent filter. Starting with the lack of a True HEPA filter comparison in its setup. A popular and proven filtration that deals with the irritants in the air. The troublesome cleaning is also here, where you will have to wash or vacuum the filter every 2 to 3 weeks. It is an unavoidable task in order to maintain air cleaning efficiency. The purchase price is also slightly steep but not beyond an impossible realm. You will save up a lot in the long run as there is no recurring cost to bear.

In short: A cheaper and slightly lower-end version of our favorite washable air purifier. For more comprehensive coverage, opt for the filter odor-reducing pre-filter upgrade. ⚠️ Only Buy this if AirGenius 5 is unavailable or way too expensive.

The third ifD ready model we have in our best air purifier with a washable filter list. Honeywell HFD-120-Q QuietClean Tower is one of the more dated models here that is reaching the end of its cycle. You can clearly tell from the exterior design and clunky controls that may not be appealing for some. However, the slim 9.6 x 26.1 x 7.9 inches dimension is highly usable and isn't too tall or big to fit in most homes. You can easily move it around by grabbing the handle for cleaning or multi-room usage. Build quality is decent, with no off-gassing detected. Despite being the cheapest in its series, you get the same Honeywell comprehensive 5 years warranty as standard.

Honeywell HFD-120-Q QuietClean uses the familiar ifD filter that requires no replacement as it is washable. Same case with the permanent pre-filter that can be reused after cleaning. The washable air purifier can remove airborne mold, spores, pollen, dust mites, pet dander, and even germs that cannot be seen through our naked eyes. At the end of the month, simply vacuum out all the pollutants, and the filter will be good as new. Like every Honeywell series, you can opt for the HRF-K2 Filter K Pre-filter upgrade. The carbon pre-filter set will cost around 16 dollars, and you will have to replace it every 3-6 months, depending on indoor air quality.

Take nothing away from its air cleaning capacity as it is still a 3-stage filtration air purifier classic setup. Honeywell HFD-120-Q can cover a good 170 square footage of space silently, thus perfect for an office room, bedroom, baby room, or laundry room. A weaker coverage compared with other AirGenius series, but you're paying far less with the same technology. CADR is acceptable at dust-free 100 cfm, pollen-free 132 cfm, and smoke-free 110 cfm range. It will take time to filter the air, so we recommend leaving it on for at least a couple of hours at max speed.

So what's the con with this washable air cleaner besides the dated design? First off, it is not effective against smoke particles unless you opt for the carbon pre-filter upgrade. A setback that is inherited with all permanent air purifiers. Features are rather plain compared to other AirGenius series with built-in timers. Interval cleaning is unavoidable and can be a hassle depending on how dirty is the indoor air. Lastly, it is not a direct replacement for a True HEPA filter which we mentioned countless times here. Go with HFD-120-Q QuietClean if you want to save up some cash and don't mind the slightly weaker performance.

In short: An older, dated, washable air purifier that still works like a charm in removing airborne pollutants. ⚠️ Go with this if you want the cheapest ifD powered model currently available.