This post lists and compares the 7 best air purifiers to reduce VOCs (offgassing from new building materials).
I also focus on which units have the highest amount of sorbent material, the least amount of offgassing, and are best for the chemically sensitive.
I have a separate post for air purifiers that work best for mold, however the True HEPA filter in these units does help in capturing mold spores.
This post contains affiliate links. Upon purchase, I earn a small commission through affiliate links at no extra cost to you.
What to Look for in a Good Air Purifier:
Good Amount of Tolerable Sorbent Material – How many lbs, type of material, tolerability of material, does it have potassium permanganate (which may be harder to tolerate but provides better absorption of many VOCs), do they have test kits to try the material.
Ideally “True HEPA” – 99.97% of particles done to 0.3 microns.
Around 5 ACH – CFM to tell you the air changes/hour, you want a least 1 ACH, ideally 5.
Minimal Offgassing – Plastic or glue in the unit? Glue in the filters? Motors “burned in” or encased/sealed?
Other Comparisons – How loud they are (dB), the cost of replacing filters, and year established (so you can feel certain they will be around to replace filters and parts).
Air Change Per Hour(ACH)
What are Air Changes Per Hour (ACH) – This is how many times you are “replacing” the air in the room per hour, this is a key area of comparison with air purifiers. ASHRAE (The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) recommends a minimum of 4 ACH for patient rooms in hospitals, 5 for intensive care units, and 25 for operating rooms.
How Many ACH Do We Need – For the purposes of those extremely sensitive to mold and VOCs, we want about 5-10 air exchanges per hour. To maximize how much air in the room the air purifier can process, put it in a central location.
How Do You Calculate the ACH From a Unit’s Specs – You always want to find the CFM of the unit. The CFM is the capacity of the unit to move air – how much air it moves through the machine. CFM stands for Cubic Feet Per Minute. You need the CFM to calculate ACH. I have two calculators here to properly size these units.
If you are interested in PCO technology that is more geared towards filtering mold, see my article on air purifiers that use that technology. This article is about the classic types.
Top Brands of Air Purifiers for MCS and Offgassing
1. AllerAir
AirMedic Pro 5 Ultra $1049 * 28-30 lbs carbon * “Super HEPA” * 400 CFM * 39-62 dB @ 6 feet * EST 1994
Filter replacement: Carbon Filter 2-5 years $172; Super HEPA 2 years $131; Pre-filter 3 months $132
Some of the most extremely sensitive folks prefer this brand but not all have tolerated it. All-metal. Filters don’t offgas. No glue on the HEPA like true HEPA has. Option to have true HEPA which has glue.
AirMedic Pro 5 HD MCS is made for MCS – The burn-in motor by running and offgassing it for 6-8 hours. You can choose the carbon blend from an option of 7 blends in a test kit. It has 24lbs carbon and is dB 35-60 @1ft.
You can buy some models at Walmart or through Amazon.
Healthmate Plus $885 * 250 CFM * 15 lbs of Activated Carbon Impregnated with Potassium Iodide and Zeolite * True HEPA * dB 50-66 3-5ft (they are not sure) * EST early 90s
There are different filter options with different types of carbon/absorptive material. Again, reactions are often attributed to Potassium permanganate. You can test out their different filter options.
Steel units, plastic on the wheels, not plastic inside.
Some with extreme MCS have picked up offgassing, but many with MCS prefer this brand.
EnviroKlenz is a slightly different technology than the others here. I have been using this unit and am happy with it.
Like the others, this unit has a HEPA filter, but instead of charcoal/PP/zeolite it uses minerals including magnesium oxide, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide to neutralize VOCs, chemical odors, and smoke.
The EnviroKlenz according to the literature, destroys most pollutants. Contrary to odor masking methods, the nanocrystalline materials contact, adsorb and then neutralize the odor-causing substances.
It is effective against aldehydes and pollutants and particularly effective against different kinds of smoke and pesticides. Activated carbon does not help that much with formaldehyde and smoke can be difficult to filter as well. My preference for this unit comes from its ability to deal with formaldehyde and smoke.
EnviroKlenz materials will chemically dismantle many VOCs. Hydrocarbons will be absorbed but not chemically modified.
The company has a number of patents and it has been tested you can see that info here (you can search and read patents here), and for a summary of research articles and references on this technology the company also provides a technical report.
Filter replacement costs: Mineral cartridge 4-5 months 100$, HEPA every 2-3 years $150. Rated the same as true HEPA.
This air purifier has been in production for 8 years.
400 Series Air Purifier $775 * CFM 380 * 60% Coconut shell carbon / 40% potassium permanganate (Standard Mix) 8 lbs * not true HEPA, 99.97 * dB 22-24 @3ft * EST 1974
Filter replacement: HEPA which can last up to 2-3 years $112. Pre-filter 2-3 months $13. Carbon media tray 6-9 months, up to a year $75
They have a sealed motor – bearings are sealed in. They run the motors outside for 2-3 days first to offgas them.
Metal construction uses no adhesives, has HEPA filters without any glue. These are made for the chemically sensitive and some of the most extremely sensitive like this brand.
They sell filter sample kits so that you can check out the different materials used. Generally, for the extremely sensitive, PP is difficult to tolerate. The most sensitive should start with their pure Bituminous coal filters.
Having a sealed motor will be key for the most sensitive. The downside is this one has a lot less carbon than the other models.
IQAir Multigas $1299 * CFM 300 * 12 lbs granular activated carbon & Alumina impregnated with Potassium Permanganate * True HEPA * dB 35-69 at 3 ft. * EST 1963
Their HealthPro is (40 to 300 CFM) (2 air changes/hr in 1125 sq. ft), dB 25 to 59
Filter replacement: Multigas cartilage 2 years $400; Post Filter 2.5 year $129; HEPA about a year (on 10 hours a day on speed 3) $109; optional Filter Pads $79
This might be one of the best-known brand names in air purifiers. Some people with MCS swear by it. But, the most severely sensitive do not always tolerate it.
The unit is made of plastic and the offgassing of the unit itself might be an issue. The potassium insert can be hard to tolerate for many (which is not a unique issue to this brand). Some people have sent back filters that smelt especially sweet or strong and received ones that were more tolerable.
Nevertheless, this is a favorite and well-trusted brand for many with MCS who want a robust top-of-the-line air purifier.
You can buy the Healhpro and Multigas directly through the IQAir website. The Multigas can also be found on Amazon.
Amaircare 3000 $759 * 265 CFM (in 1688 sq ft 1 ACH) * Claims no offgassing * Depending on the option you choose it contains up to 30 lbs of carbon * True HEPA * dB 43 to 61 @ 6 ft * EST 1994 * Made in Canada
Made of metal, no plastic or foam. The HEPA is rated at 2-5 years when the prefilter is maintained. One person with moderate MCS said the HEPA filters smelled like chemicals. He requested a new one which was better.
On top of the plain carbon, they also have the following filter options for a wider range of filtration: Formaldesorb option for formaldehyde, Acitisorb for nitric and hydrochloric acid, Multisorb for a mix of VOCs. They don’t say what is in these sorbent mixes but presumably they are adding to the carbon.
Airpura C600 $900 * 440 CFM (2 air exchanges an hour 2000 sq. ft. with) * 26 lb Coconut Shell Carbon * dB 28.1 – 62.3 @6ft. * EST 2004
Filter replacement: Carbon filter 2-3 years $350; Post filter 1 year $100; Pre-filter 6-12 months $40; HEPA (not true HEPA) 1-2 years $60
Airpura does not use any silicone, rubber, or plastic in their gaskets or internal parts and the body is made up of non-off gassing powder coated steel. The motor and electrical parts are separated in a sealed chamber that prevents any off-gassing while protecting the components from any of the contaminants.
Other units contain different carbon mixes for specific chemicals. The F600 DLX has 26 lbs of Activated Carbon with Potassium Permanganate for extra help with formaldehyde.
There are only a few companies that have gone the extra mile to fully disclose what is in their rugs.
These are the top companies making healthy area rugs safe for those avoiding toxins in the home, as well as safe for nurseries with crawling babies, and sensitive pets.
Those avoiding chemicals should avoid area rugs with synthetic latex backing, glues, synthetic moth treatment which is a pesticide – usually permethrin, and other topical treatments such as stain guard treatments.
For those very sensitive to chemicals, you may even want to avoid rugs treated with detergents, bleach, or dyes (possibly even the eco dyes).
This post is an overview of the different types of weatherstripping for doors and windows, what they are made of, and which materials are the less-toxic options that are low in odor and do not contain PVC.
These three heavy-duty cleaners will cover all household needs for safer degreasers. They are all biodegradable, non-hazardous, and non-toxic.
Ranked by the strength of the cleaners, and their ability to act as a degreaser ECOS PRO is the mildest, AFM Superclean is in the middle, and Crystal is the toughest (truly industrial) degreaser and cleaner on the list.
Super clean and Crystal are fragrance-free and ECOS comes in unscented or with natural fragrance.
The usual paints recommended for radiators include enamel paints and oil-based paints. These are often higher in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and that won’t be suitable for everyone.
If you are repainting your radiator then you need to find out if it has an oil or water-based paint on it. If it has an oil-based paint on it, we have to use special paints or primers to go over that. It could also have a varnish on it and not a paint.
In some cases, a rust-resistant paint is needed and you generally want the paint to be able to withstand 200 degrees F.
This post goes over the VOC-free, non-toxic options that will work on new and old radiators.
Walls in mobile homes have a vinyl layer on the wallboard and battens covering the seam gaps. It is possible to remove the battens and mud over the seams. It is also a good idea to prime the walls with BIN Shellac primer to stop any offgassing or leaching of plasticizers from the vinyl.
Fabrics, especially those for furniture, and carpets are typically treated for soil, stain, and water resistance with per and poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Scotchguard is one well-known brand.
But many people have health concerns and environmental concerns with these “forever chemicals”.
Some companies make stain-resistant upholstery fabrics and carpets that are free of PFAS, but they do not list which chemicals they have used to replace them.
A review of the literature shows that non-fluorinated stain guard treatments are most likely acrylic, polyurethane, or silicone-based coatings.
First, a History of “Whack A Mole” on Toxic Solvent-Based Strippers
Pre-1970s benzene was a popular paint stripper, it was later determined to be carcinogenic. It was replaced by methylene chloride, a very fast and effective paint remover. Methylene chloride/dichloromethane (DCM) is now considered a neurotoxin and a possible carcinogen that has caused many fatalities. It is banned in the US and many countries.
The latest replacement, NMP (n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone), which is not as harsh as Methylene Chloride, and is actually quite tolerable for many chemically sensitive folks, does have a Prop 65 warning for birth defects or other reproductive harm. I list only one paint remover with this chemical alongside the best alternatives.
In the mainstream realm, new formulas are being sold with acetone, turpentine, toluene, and xylene. I don’t list any paint strippers with these solvents because their higher VOC levels emit the strongest fumes and they are challenging to use.
An Alternative – Safer Solvents?
There are better options now, lower (and even zero-VOC) formulas. Safer more environmentally friendly solvents include dibasic ester, bio-based solvents, and alcohol solvents.
In this article, I look at those options along with “soy-based” and “citrus-based” paint and varnish strippers – though these terms are misleading because they don’t refer to the active majority ingredient. (Often the majority ingredient is NMP, but I list brands with safer solvents).
You still need to wear protective gear including safety glasses, gloves, and a mask. Though all of the options here can technically be used indoors.
These safer solvents are effective but they take considerably longer on most coatings than the harsh solvents of the past.
Solvent-Free Options to Remove Paint
Depending on what kind of paint or varnish you are removing and what the substrate is, there may be other (solvent-free) options. In this post I discuss – boiling with baking soda, mechanical options, and eco-friendly water-based options.
PS. Paint strippers and paint thinners are different solvents. Paint thinnerscan be found here.
Achieving a natural or non-toxic finish that is durable enough for a table or desk top is only possible with a few select brands and products.
We can’t quite get to the same level of durability as an oil-based polyurethane, but we can get quite a good level of durability with either of these options.
There are two ways to go, the all-natural route with drying oils, finished with a wax for extra durability, or with a non-toxic water-based polyurethane. Both options are food safe, relatively durable, but differ in their application, odors, offgassing, and maintenance.
