(Last Updated On: June 14, 2023)

5 Best Air Purifiers to Prevent Black Mold in Your Bathroom

air filter for pet allergies from dogs

By Mirakle Stillman

12 min read

We’ve updated this buying guide to confirm availability and prices of recommended air purifiers. Due to current shipping volume nationwide, there are potential delays for some products.

Mold, a common fungus found almost anywhere in nature, exists where moisture is present. What better place to store up moisture than where all the water action is? That’s right, the bathroom. The build-up of that moisture can determine whether the mold will grow or remain controlled. When it comes to black mold prevention, we often don’t think about it until the problem has already occurred. Black mold can seem like an inconvenient hassle when you aren’t prepared to deal with it. Fortunately, you can easily prevent the issue with something as simple and efficient as an air purifier.

Black mold holds the most potential danger. The scientific name is Stachybotrys chartarum and it gets its name from its dark color. It’s more likely to grow on things made from cellulose, like paper, drywall, and wood, but can appear anywhere warm and wet. There’s no doubt this type of mold can and does occur in the bathroom.

If you have an existing black mold problem in your bathroom, you’re better off physically cleaning and removing it at the source, usually with a bleach solution. You must also remove the moisture accumulation source. It’s also important to note that air purifiers will not remove all mold spores from the air. Spores are everywhere, and therefore it’s pointless to worry about removing every single one.

Top Pick

Alen BreatheSmart 45i
Air Purifier
$430 Buy Now

Products in this article are independently selected and featured editorially. If you make a purchase using these links we may earn commission.  How We Rate

An air purifier can help reduce the concentration of spores in the air and keep the air from becoming too damp around it. Staying consistent with changing the filters can also remove an unpleasant smell resulting because of an existing mold problem. An air purifier can offer a long-term solution for preventing an inevitable increase of moisture that is sure to occur in your bathroom. Air purifiers don’t only work in the bathroom but also in other home spaces known to develop large quantities of moisture, such as in a basement or living room. Remember, though an air purifier can help long-term mold spores in the air, only physically cleaning up the mold and removing the moisture that allowed it to grow will solve a visible mold problem.

Best
Alen BreatheSmart
45i with Carbon
Air Purifier

$430 Buy Now
2nd Best
Rabbit Air
BioGS 2.0
Air Purifier

$370 Buy Now
Better
Austin Air
Bedroom Machine
Air Purifier

$995 Buy Now
Good
Coway AirMega
AP-1512HHS
Air Purifier

$230 Buy Now
2nd Good
Sharp
Plasmacluster Ion
Air Purifier

$230 Buy Now
Best
Alen BreatheSmart 45i Air Purifier $444 Buy Now

Pros

2.4 lbs of carbon
H13 grade of HEPA
Multiple color options: White, Expresso, Graphite, and more
Sleep Score.com certified, proven to produce better sleep
Lifetime warranty
Great value

Cons

Weight
Features and Specs
  • Dimensions: 8.5 x 15 x 25 inches
  • Weight: 21.4 pounds
  • Four-stage filtration system
  • Medical-Grade True HEPA filter and B4-Pure filter
  • 800 square feet room coverage
The Alen BreatheSmart 45i Air Purifier is a sleek and sophisticated air purifier that can clean bedrooms up to 800 square feet in size every 30 minutes. It’s True HEPA filter can remove airborne particles including allergens, dust, orders, pet dander, bacteria, and mold spores. It also comes with a HEPA Silver filter, which helps kill airborne bacteria, germs, viruses, and more. Additionally, the Alen BreatheSmart 45i’s Laser Smart Sensor can not only detect airborne particles, but also automatically adjusts to your environment. With four fan speed options, its WhisperMax Technology allows you to sleep peacefully. Moreover, its LED color display allows you and your loved ones to check the air quality at a glance.
2nd Best
Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0 Air Purifier $370 Buy Now

Pros

24/7 lifetime technical support
BioGS HEPA filter and Activated Charcoal filter captures 99.97 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns
Energy Star rated

Cons

One-color option: white
Features and Specs
  • Dimensions: 16.6 x 9.8 x 22.2 inches
  • Weight: 16.8 pounds
  • Energy Star Rated
  • 625 square feet room coverage
The Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0 air purifier cleans bedrooms up to 625 square feet twice every hour. As an Energy Star-rated air purifier, the Rabbit Air BioGS 2.0 is very quiet. It also comes with a four-stage filtration system, washable pre-filter, and childproof feature, which pauses the air purifier's operation when you remove the front panel. It also comes with a five-year warranty as well as 24/7 lifetime support. 
Better
Austin Air Bedroom Machine Review
Austin Air Bedroom Machine Air Purifier $995 Buy Now

Pros

Five-year warranty
True Medical-Grade HEPA filter captures 99.97 percent of airborne particles larger than 0.3 microns
Multiple color options: Sandstone, Midnight Blue, and White
Metal body and paint do not off gas and VOCs as Plastic bodied units do
Made in USA

Cons

Heavier than other competitor products
Features and Specs
  • Dimensions: 14.5 x 14.5 x 23 inches
  • Weight: 53 pounds
  • Five-stage filtration system
  • Three fan speeds
If you or a loved one suffers from a sleep-related problem, the Austin Air Bedroom Machine Air Purifier is a wise choice. Be confident that you will not only sleep better, but also continuously breathe clean air. Its True medical-grade HEPA filter eliminates up to 99.97 percent of all airborne particles larger than 0.3 microns. This includes dust, pet dander, pollen, gases, and other allergens. With three speed settings for its fan, the Austin Air Bedroom Machine air purifier boasts a 360-degree intake system and a five-stage filtration system. Additionally, its High Efficiency Gas Arrestance (HEGA) carbon cloth absorbs gases, chemicals, bacteria and other viruses. With 15 pounds of carbon, this unit will do the job - even if it does so noisily. It's recommended that the filter be changed once every five (5) years under normal conditions, and more often under harsh air conditions.
Good
Coway Airmega AP-1512HHS HEPA Air Purifier $230 Buy Now

Pros

True HEPA filter and Activated Charcoal filter captures 99.97 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.3 micron
Works with Alexa
Coway IoCare Mobile App

Cons

Covers up to 325 Sq Ft
Features and Specs
  • Dimensions: 22.5 x 22.2 x 12.4 inches
  • Weight: 19.76 pounds
  • Three-stage filtration system
  • 325 square feet room coverage
  • Energy Star Rated
The Coway Airmega cleans the air up to 325 square feet and comes with a washable pre-filter. This air purifier is energy-efficient with a True HEPA filter and an Activated Charcoal filter, capturing airborne particles. If you enjoy smart devices' convenience, its Coway IoCare mobile App allows you to monitor the air quality indoors and outdoors. The air purifier also works with Alexa showing the indoor air quality in real-time.
2nd Good
The Best Air Purifier for Bedrooms
Sharp Plasmacluster Ion Air Purifier $200 Shop Now
The Sharp Plasmsacluster Ion Air Purifier comes with a high-efficiency HEPA filter and 15 pounds of activated Carbon to eliminate odors and harmful chemicals in the bathroom. The unit’s three-stage filtration system includes a long-life True HEPA filter and Activated Carbon filter, which captures up to 99.97 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns. With a coverage area of 259 square feet, the Sharp Plasmacluster Ion air purifier is whisper quiet and has a Plasmacluster Express Clean mode, which provides an extra boost of cleanness. Additionally, the Sharp Plasmacluster Ion air purifier comes with a washable pre-filter for larger airborne particles, which helps extend the overall life of your filters. 
Features and Specs
  • Dimensions: 8.2 x 15.1 x 21.3 inches
  • Weight: 11 pounds
  • Three-stage filtration system
  • True HEPA filter eliminates airborne particles traditional filters cannot trap
  • 259 square feet room coverage

Why We Love It

Low noise operation
True HEPA filter captures 99.97 percent of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns
Authentic HEPA and active carbon filters last up to two years

Take Note

One-color option

Top Air Purifiers for Mold Prevention in Your Bathroom

When choosing an air purifier for mold, the critical component is to pick one with a HEPA filter. They are essential to getting the most quality air. Mold spores die inside the HEPA filter because the environment inside is dry. This means mold can’t reproduce due to needing moisture to thrive. HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters and can remove at least 99.7% of dust, bacteria, mold, and more.

Make sure also to check the warranty of the air purifier before you buy it. Mold can always come back, so invest in a purifier that will last you a long time or can at least be replaced if not. Run your air purifier at all times to keep your air fresh and mold-free.

What to Consider When Choosing An Air Purifier

It would help if you considered multiple factors before going out and investing in an air purifier for your bathroom. Assessing these different circumstances will help you make a suitable investment and get an air purifier that will be up to the challenge your bathroom gives it.

What is your family’s health history?

Is there anybody in your family that is predisposed to allergies, asthma or other respiratory issues? If so, consider how often you should purify the air and clean the bathroom. According to the American Lung Association, mold exposure can cause allergic reactions, asthma symptoms, and other upper and lower respiratory problems. With or without allergies, anyone may experience eye skin, nose, throat, and lung irritation when exposed to airborne mold spores.

How much is your bathroom used?

Room usage will have a significant impact on the effectiveness of the air purifier. It is a given that your bathroom will be used every day, at least a couple of times. Therefore, you must consider how many people live in your home and how often they use the bathroom. The more bathroom usage, the more it will demand out of your air purifier.

What’s the size of your bathroom?

If your bathroom is on a larger scale, it will require more out of the air purifier’s cleansing abilities. Familiarize yourself with what is known as a clean air delivery rate, otherwise known as CADR. The measurements aren’t perfect, but it’s the best way to gauge how strong the air purifier will be for your space. A purifier with a lower clean air delivery rate will struggle to purify the air in a large room. In contrast, one with a higher clean air delivery rate should do just fine, so, rule of thumb, big bathrooms need a higher CADR-rated air purifier.

What are the types of pollutants you may come across?

There are common types of pollutants that are always going to be present in your bathroom. It’s helpful to recognize what contaminants are in there when it’s time to check for any visible changes, such as mold. Bathrooms are one of the most common air pollution sources in homes, which increases the importance of an air purification system, especially if there are family members with compromised immune systems. Showerheads and faucets will naturally accumulate bacteria and mold from the moisture in your bathroom, and if it’s not monitored correctly, the situation can go from bad to worse.

Do you have quality ventilation?

Bathrooms should have adequate ventilation to vent moisture outside the house. If they don’t, condensation can build on the walls, ceiling and allow mold to grow where you didn’t expect. Air-conditioning can act as a dehumidifier and help control humidity levels in the house, mainly the bathroom where mold spores can be a problem.