The 3 Best Air Purifiers For Mold - Spring 2025

The NuWave OxyPure is the best air purifier for mold that we've tested. This unit's main selling point is its multi-stage filtration system that uses washable instead of disposable filters. This system comprises a stainless steel mesh pre-filter that can easily trap dust or clumps of hair, two 'Bio-Guard' filters to trap mold, viruses, and bacteria, an ozone filter, and a combination HEPA/pellet-type activated carbon filter. Except for the HEPA/activated carbon filter, which needs replacing every year, these filters have a 20-year lifespan, so while the unit's upfront cost is rather high, you won't have to spend a fortune on replacement filters. As expected for something this expensive, the NuWave is jam-packed with features. You can operate it from your smartphone using the NuWave Connect companion app, which leverages its built-in particle counter to give you an overview of ambient air quality in your home. You can also use the app to set operating schedules or change the device's settings.

Actual air filtration is very good; the OxyPure provides a very high clean air delivery rate, making it an efficient option for larger rooms. It also does a fantastic job of trapping relatively large particles like mold spores. That said, there's no getting around the fact that this machine is very pricey. If you don't need any of the NuWave model's fancier features, you might be better off purchasing multiple instances of a cheaper model.

Check out the Winix 5500-2 if you're looking for an air purifier that can easily deal with mold spores without totally breaking the bank. While its clean air delivery rate falls slightly behind the NuWave, it isn't by much, and certainly not by the margin the on-paper price discrepancy would seem to indicate. Its HEPA filtration system has no trouble dealing with particles like mold spores, and it features a built-in particle sensor that allows it to change its fan speed depending on ambient air quality, so you won't have to babysit the device too much. That said, unlike the NuWave OxyPure, this air purifier lacks Wi-Fi connectivity, so you can't operate it from your smartphone while away from home. 

This air purifier has a particle ionizer that imparts a negative charge to airborne particles, causing them to clump together and fall out of the air, where you can then clean them up later. However, ionizers produce ozone, a respiratory irritant, as a byproduct. We didn't find this system to have much impact on overall unit performance, so we recommend you leave it off.

If you want a compact air purifier for dealing with mold, the Levoit Core 200S is worth a look. While it can't compete with a full-size unit like the Winix 5500-2 in terms of clean air delivery rate, it still offers a solid performance and will do quite well in smaller spaces, like a bedroom or office. Its main filter technically isn't HEPA-certified, but its filtration performance is still sufficient to trap particles like mold spores. One advantage over the Winix model is its integrated Wi-Fi connectivity, which allows you to run the device while you're away from home, set operating schedules, and set up reminders to replace its filters. Unfortunately, unlike the Winix, it lacks a built-in particle sensor that would allow it to adjust its fan speed automatically depending on real-time air quality.