Winix - C535

I'd go with the Winix because it has a real HEPA filter and its AHAM certified. Having said that, if the units don't have enough power for the size of your rooms, they won't do much. You can get a much better C545 on Winix Americas website for $130 right now, and if that would put you over budget, refurbished C545s are only $90 (also on Winix America's website). I purchased a few refurbished C535s (the older model) years ago and they served me well.

That's a good one. Just don't rely on auto mode and you may want to buy some blackout stickers to reduce the amount of light coming from those super bright lights.

i got this because it uses a more common filter type (shape). if you can get 90 off why not, but this one works well. https://www.walmart.com/ip/944548256?sid=2f7ccfb1-5e97-4522-8812-91142dc5c3da

First thing I want to say and it's important. The most important thing you need to know is that the air purifier has got to have true HEPA that is not an option ... 3m/filtrete is a joke of a purifier. They are terrible and do not last. biggest problem you have with their air purifiers are they are not sealed purifiers. There is a lot of dust that gets through other places and bypasses the filter in the unit and then what happens is it collects after the output vent so you will eventually start seeing dust there. Another is their filter cost. It's insane. if you look at their filter replacement schedule, it says the filter lasts 12 months used six hours a day.... air purifier are supposed to run 24/7 to have full effect so if you run it 24 seven that’s every three months their filters are also small... but I personally recommend and have used the past is these two for your size room are these I'll link. you get an air purifier that is going to be more powerful in your price range and will last for starters... There’s a reason why you want something with a higher CADR is because it will clean the air more frequently in that room and clean it better. You will get more air changes per hour basically and that’s a good thing. Also, you’re not gonna have dust getting past your filters and leaking out of the top of collecting everywhere else. You will also get a true 12 month filter when you run it 24/7. It comes with a TRUE HEPA and four replacement carbon filters. One of them will even include a additional year of filters if not both of them out of the box. The Coway Airmega is also another amazing air purifier for the price, however the filter costs have you replacing filters every 3 or 4 months with full use. Alen is also expensive from the get go but filters are annual. I have used these Winx purifiers in the past and I love them the plasmawave can be turned on or off I'd it's a concern but it doesn't produce ozone. I am just linking site so you can get all the information on them however I don’t know if you have a Costco membership or they still sell them or not but it was a great place to get these at an even cheaper price. https://www.winixamerica.com/product/c535/?_gl=1*1v4e0th*_up*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAjwwLO_BhB2EiwAx2e-35mFNXJgc1BeCOGMGegBQ-An_KwmCD6L29mTNy-0yyIBkVrET2C_jhoC034QAvD_BwE https://www.winixamerica.com/product/c545/?_gl=1*u8q5cp*_up*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAjwwLO_BhB2EiwAx2e-35mFNXJgc1BeCOGMGegBQ-An_KwmCD6L29mTNy-0yyIBkVrET2C_jhoC034QAvD_BwE

As an alternative to the 5500-2, what about the C535? I picked mine up at Walmart because I wanted one last minute. It doesn't come with a remote, but it works perfectly with the 5500-2 remote, which probably won't help you unless you have an IR blaster.

Winix c535 from my local Walmart super center was around $170 out the door and it comes with 2 hepa air filters + 9 carbon filters.

They claim the two filters + carbon filters are good for 2 years total

Credentials : I currently have a Golden and a St. Bernard, before them I had three Great Pyrnees,,,,at the same time. I've also owned 19 vaccuums 😂 I have two Shark robot vaccuums that run on a staggered schedule, constantly. Essentially, they're always "sweeping." I use a silicone broom ,too, and that works way better than I ever expected it to. I also mop with a bissel crosswave every day and swear by it. That takes care of our entire downstairs, which is all LVP flooring.  As for our regular vaccuum, we have a Kenmore Intuition, and I love it for all the carpeted areas. It comes apart just like a Shark- I can do the couch, the stairs, all the nooks and ceannies, etc- except the suction is way better than a Shark (I said what I said.) I don't deal with hair coiling around the brush head all that often so that hasn't been an issue for us.  We also use a silicone broom on all the furniture, in conjunction with a mattress vaccuum, and it works great. We have a Winix air purifier in every single room, I love them. The filters get vaccuumed once a week and we replace them every 6ish months. People always remark that our house doesn't smell like dog, which a huge achievement as a Saint owner lol.  As for the dogs themselves, they get brushed outside every three days, like clockwork. They also get deshedded and groomed regularly at the groomer. Constant brushing and regular grooming really helps with the allergy thing. The bed: duvet covers that get switched out once a week, sheets washed once a week as well. Being a dog owner is just a battlefield of dog hair, the best defense is having a good offense. Between the vaccums, the air purifiers and the grooming, we're doing okay. We may not be winning the war, but by God it feels like we've won some key battles.  Edit for spelling*

I'm on mobile browser so it's hard to link so I'll just tell ya! We have the C535 for all the common areas, and the C610 in all our bedrooms. Then for the bathrooms and pantry we use the LEVOIT Mini Cores (I like these for small areas, but I have to change the filters more frequently.) 

Fwiw after going down a similar rabbit hole to OPs I ended up buying the C535 from the Winix website. I think you can get the filters for that one from Costco but my memory kinda sucks.

Do have the Coway 250 as an option? I got one for $250 open box or refurbished on Amazon. It’s amazing. The sound it makes is very pleasant and it’s easy to clean, and aesthetic. The Coway or 240 is also a good choice and comes in white. The Winix 5500-2 or C535/C545 is also a solid choice and a bit more affordable. I believe Costco has good deals on the C545. Lastly, you could check local marketplaces. I got some Winix, and Blue Air purifiers (the 203 slim, 403, and 503) for a great price.

We bought a Winix. Like it so much that we bought another one. It comes with a set of replacement filters. You can also buy additional ones from Amazon.

One is a C535, the other is a C545.

Then that's good. I have the Winix Air Purifier, C535 with remote. $35 - $50 for a new generic filter. Winix filters are expensive.

Really! I bet $70 for 1. I buy the generic brand from Amazon for half the price and they work the same . My Winix is unbelievable. If you fart or even spray any chemicals, cooking. It turns red capturing all the odors from the chemicals. The orange, 10 minutes later it turns blue again. Even though the kitchen is far from the living room . I use my Dyson vac to clean the filter. Winix is a good product. I wouldn't buy yours because it's too small. $130 vs $200 = it's only $70 difference and I got the top of the line .

Winix is good but they keep changing the models in Costco and also the cost of the original filter is as expensive as the new purifier itself. However, you can get 3rd party filters from Amazon which can help lower that cost. The Winix 535 vs 545 the hepa filter size changes.

I have the Winix C535 (two of them) and they are great. Quiet, effective, easy to get filters for.

I prefer winix products, they do there job , nothing fancy

Yes, they really work. You only have to run it for a week and check the washable filter to know it works. We have winix and levoit, both are relatively inexpensive and pull a ton of crap out of the air.

I have a Winix that we use in the common areas. I like that it has HEPA filtration because my husband has emphysema. I can't say that it helps a great deal with dust though. I think my unit was $300-$400.

I have two Winx filters and they work really well but after 3 years or so the motors start making a ticking sound. I contacted the manufacturer who is not willing to sell me a motor and suggested I just buy a whole new units...

Winix Plasma Wave is an affordable effective unit. I used three when I lived in a polluted area. I now use it sporadically to clean up the plastic dust and other crap that accumulates in a home

I’ve been really impressed by my Winix. I have a huge one that really seems to do the job. I change the filter once the year but vacuum it all out more often than that to keep it running really well.

I’ve been using my Winix with Plasmawave since 2019 without issue, and that includes moving about once per year. These units have held up to that. I can tell you they really work. I have a mold allergy, and mold is literally everywhere in outdoor or indoor air with spores just waiting to land in a suitable environment for growth, but I have no symptoms at home with my two small Winix. I also have pets. These reduce any odors from that, and they are at what one might consider end of life for a typical air filter system. 5 years is typical. 10 is incredible. I am not washing the pre-filter nearly as often as I should and am slow to replace the carbon and HEPA filters sometimes, so 5+ is just astounding in my case.

The PlasmaWave I looked at used an ionizer which is a huge no for me.

PlasmaWave is just a glorified ionizer. I personally cannot stand the scent of ionizers, it gives me headaches.

Any filter with a charcoal filter layer will help some (Winix is one brand commonly available at Costco…I also have a more elaborate Rowenta)…my Winix came with multiple charcoal layer replacements. Dealing with total incontinence here, and not to criticize your MILs efforts, but you might want to look into the actual sources of the odors. Chairs, clothes that sit around waiting for wash, previously soaked furniture or carpet? If bedding or fabric furniture smells and you can replace it, do so. I use a combo of Depends on my father, and all his sleeping or seating surfaces have a first layer of puppy pee pads (Costco has large ones that work well and are cheap), and then a fabric layer on top (whether sheets or a chair cover or towel, tucked into the sides of the chair). Once he’s wet, after I changes his pants all clothes and chair covers and bedding goes in the wash (3-5 loads a day).  For the mattress you can find on Amazon washable mattress covers (the whole bed ones don’t work that well but that’s my base layer and then a thicker more absorbent one that I fit across the middle section of his bed, and on top of that layered dog pee pads).  So again, not sure if any of this advice helps but this method works for me.

I have 2 Winix HEPAs that have been running 24/7 for 6+ years. I clean the screen every week or so, replace the carbon every month, and the HEPA every ~8 months.