Cabin Air Purifier Test: A $35 Ionizer That Actually Works

Despite regular care and maintenance, I know most of us who keep our boats closed and locked up for days, sometimes weeks, still open up to a not-so-fresh smelling boat—see “Managing Holding Tank Odors: For Fresh Water and Salt Water.” Like most of you and as a long-time sailor, I am aware of this and have pretty much learned to expect and accept it, within reason.

Although one’s immediate reaction is often to blame the sanitation components, the reality is that smells can come from a variety of places. A common source, of course, is the head. But not to be neglected are the bilge, garbage left onboard from the last trip, the combination of products onboard, etc. Even empty soft drink and beer cans can develop an odor when left inside a hot cabin for a while.

Tips to Reduce Odors

So, acknowledging this, if you’re leaving for two or more days, taking out the garbage and empty cans is a great first step. If your ice box or cooler is not refrigerated, or is turned off when leaving, the cover or lid should be removed or left open. Like a home fridge, there is nothing smellier than a fridge left closed when not working. Even after cleaning the rubber seals, the odor may have been absorbed in the rubber seal and remains difficult to get rid of. Hint: If you want to clean and rejuvenate your rubber seals, I use Pine-Sol cleaner. Spread some on the rubber surfaces and let it soak in. It works great to bring your rubber seals and components back to almost new condition.

For more info about everyday products that I keep and use onboard, you can check out this video.

However, if you’ve done your proper maintenance and followed the above steps, but still want a fresher smelling boat, this affordable, rechargeable air purifier delivers.

Safety Note: There are some risks that should be considered. Since this device generates ozone, albeit at low levels, this can cause some health issues related to COPD for example—especially in small enclosed spaces with little or no ventilation. Do not leave it on while you are onboard. Another effect of ozone is that is makes dust particles stick to surfaces. Lastly, higher levels of ozone can cause nearby rubber components to dry and crack—do not leave it on for extended periods of time, but rather use it as a chemical treatment for odors as needed. Although this product does delivers on it’s intended purpose, please be aware of these risks.

Air Purifier Test

Since I’m always on the lookout to learn and find new ideas and products, I started to see many social media posts about an air purifier that claims to be the latest and greatest wonder product.

Out of an abundance of precaution and security, I rarely click on links found on these social media posts. Instead, I search for the product listing on safer sites like Google, Amazon, etc.

First, I read the reviews and even post questions when possible. Once I have some level of confidence the product appears legitimate, I purchase the item with my own money, so I can test and use the product and report back honestly and fairly.

What We Tested

This is the case of the Ionizer Air Purifier, which caught my attention. It claims to effectively clean and filter the air and remove smells. Plus, it is compact, quiet and requires no maintenance other than recharging. Sounds too good to be true, right?

Most posts and ads on social media are selling these units for more than $85 each with a small rebate if buying two or more units. I was able to find the same item on Amazon for $35 each and purchased two.

Note: Even though this test is only months old, the specific ionizer we tested is no longer widely available under the same name. Similar “smart pet odor purifier” units are still sold for litter boxes and small spaces. Look for a compact, rechargeable ionizer with an advertised 10–20 day runtime, motion sensor, and wall/ceiling mount, and expect to pay under about 40 USD.

Once I received them, I opened one and set it for an initial overnight charge. Each unit comes with its own USB to micro-USB charge cable, mounting bracket, a 3M peel/stick mounting pad and a manual. The packaging was very well made and labeled the product as Smart Pet Odor Purifier. But really, odor is odor, so this is not a concern.

How We Tested

Since it is winter here in Canada and my boat is all wrapped up for winter, I still wanted to test it. So, I started with the smelliest part of the house—the kitchen garbage cabinet. I suspect all readers, at one time or other, have opened their own garbage container or cabinet and have been hit with a nasty smell.

With my wife’s collaboration (and permission), we did not empty or change the garbage bag for 10 days, leaving table and cooking scraps, such as fish, meat, chicken, coffee ground, etc. inside. And yes, it was getting pretty smelly in there—even in the house. Also, not to be ignored, the many cleaning products stored in the same cabinet also contributed to this colorful mosaic of odors.

After the smell was getting on our nerves, I put the air purifier inside the cabinet. Using a Post-it note, I wrote the date when I started and each time that I needed to recharge it. Each charge lasted 16 days, which was impressive.

Test Results

What was more impressive is that it only took about 45 minutes for the cabinet to stop smelling when we opened it. We left the full garbage bag there for another two days and the air purifier delivered the same great performance. After changing the bag, I left the device inside the cabinet for about eight weeks. The reduction of smells, even from the cleaning products inside the cabinet, was very noticeable.

For the fun of it, I also dropped the device inside an old, smelly plastic garbage can that had absorbed a bad smell into its plastic over the years. I closed the lid and went back 30 minutes later and stuck my head in the garbage can. To my great surprise and that of my nose, the smell was practically non existent. Now, I knew that once the device was removed, it would not be long for the smell to return. Without cleaning the garbage can, odors would return without the device. However, for the onboard purposes of this device, these tests were very convincing. After all, both devices would be installed permanently inside the boat—one in the head and another in the main cabin.

Pros and Cons

What I like:

• The compact size and solid build.
• It comes with all required install and charge accessories.
• Easy to charge and operate.
• The single light clearly lets you know what is happening.
• Easy twist on and off the mount bracket for charging or moving to another location.
• The price on Amazon, which is half the price listed on social media posts.
• Super low maintenance—no filter changes or cleaning.

What I don’t like:

• I am unsure if the device is operating while charging and if it can be left plugged in.
• The mode indicator light is somewhat bright. I travelled with it last month and had it on the toilet water tank in my hotel room, and had to close the door as the light was a little too bright. On the other hand, it was kind of a night light, so we knew where the bathroom was.

Conclusion

If you can find it at a good price, under $40 USD, I would recommend the air purifier to keep your boat smelling fresh (see safety note above for proper use). Remember, it isn’t a replacement for regular and proper tank and sanitation line maintenance, make sure to review “Managing Holding Tank Odors: For Fresh Water and Salt Water” to keep your systems in order.