Empty Promise or Actually Useful: The Air Purifier for Allergy Sufferers
People with pollen allergies suffer especially in spring and summer. Due to climate change, many plants bloom at the same time, and the lack of rainfall doesn't clean the air enough. Air purifiers are supposed to provide real relief.
The dry spring is driving some of us nearly crazy. The air is not only full of fine dust but also saturated with all kinds of pollen.
Allergens Are Everywhere
It's clear that allergens of various kinds can also be found at home. This is especially true for people who are particularly sensitive to household dust, pet dander, or mold.
But even during pollen season, especially in spring and summer, allergens are very present in the house and apartment. Pollen enters through open windows from flowering plants and trees. We also bring it home on our clothing.
Pollen enters the home through our clothes
In the past, doctors recommended changing clothes daily and always washing them immediately. Even today, it might make sense not to remove your clothes directly in the bedroom, but rather in the bathroom. But let’s move on to the new promise: the air purifier.
Tilted windows are also a good entry point
If we keep the window open in spring, about 250 pollen particles per cubic meter will enter the home through a tilted window. Briefly airing out the apartment can flush out about a third of this air. Vacuuming and dusting are also helpful, but it’s not possible to eliminate all of it.
However, according to the German Allergy and Asthma Association, good or very good results can be achieved by filtering the air with an air purifier.
95 percent in 10 minutes?
It is possible that 95 percent of the pollen in the air could be removed in just 10 minutes. Even the less expensive devices are effective, which is why the DAAB clearly recommends air purifiers for pollen allergies.
Air purifiers and air filters are manufactured by various companies. If you don’t want to make your entire home pollen-free immediately, you can easily opt for a lower-priced segment and still get some relief. Nasal congestion and watery eyes should disappear quickly.
The Stiftung Warentest foundation has evaluated various air purifiers. In 2022, the Xiaomi Mi Air Purifier Pro had the highest effectiveness.
News references:
DAAB. (2025). Good news for pollen allergy sufferers – air purifiers effective against pollen.
Stiftung Warentest. (2022). Breathe better – air purifiers tested.
Mein Allergie Portal. (2025). Air filters for allergies? Are air purifiers useful for allergy sufferers?