Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice. All statements are merely the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to indoor air purification.
Clarifion Air Ionizer is an air purification device that’s more affordable than most air purifiers. The brand describes it as a “mini but mighty” air device that can “help keep homes fresh.”
But are air ionizers as effective as air purifiers? Are they safe? How does an air ionizer work? And how do real users rate and describe the effects of the Clarifion Air Ionizer?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more as we review medical studies on air ionization to give our take on whether it’s a safe and healthy option for improving indoor air quality.
We’ll share real, unsponsored user reviews of Clarifion Air Ionizer and explain whether or not we recommend the device.
Are Air Ionizers Safe and Effective?
Ionization is a technology that has been studied in clinical research.
A medical review published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences examined how well this type of device can improve indoor air quality and whether there are any health risks. There were both positives and negatives associated with the use of this technology.
The good news is that air ionizers appear to be effective for removing contaminant matter from air. Inhalable dust counts were reduced by around 50% with their use, which is a benefit for allergy sufferers, and particulate matter was reduced by over 50%. Inhaled particulate matter may irritate the lungs and contribute to cardiovascular disease, so this is a health benefit.
The main health risk of ionizers is their generation of ozone. This compound is made of three oxygen molecules, and “is a powerful oxidant and may seriously harm our health” according to the study authors.
A clinical trial published in the Indoor Air journal found that an ozone-generating air purifier actually increased the number of particulates in the air, and the researchers concluded that “These results add evidence to the potentially harmful effects of ozone generation in residential environments.”
Based on the available evidence, we do not consider air ionizers to be safe if they emit ozone. They may be effective for reducing airborne contaminants and allergens, but it seems illogical to use an air purification device that may emit oxidants into the air.
It’s unclear to us whether or not Clarifion’s devices emit ozone. We cannot find this information on their website, and we hope that in the future the brand not only clarifies this but also provides proof if they claim that their devices are ozone-free.
The creation of ozone or lack thereof seems to be the most important determinant for air ionizer devices so we find it quite strange that Clarifion doesn’t clearly publish information about this.
How do Air Ionizers Work?
Air ionizers electrically charge particulate matter in the air, which allows the matter to “deposit” on walls, floors and other surfaces and removes it from the circulating air according to the first medical review cited in the previous section.
A YouTube video published by the Home Air Guides channel is less than three minutes long and visually represents how air ionizers work:
Are Air Purifiers a Better Option?
Air purifiers have a simpler mechanism of action than air ionizers. These devices physically trap particulate matter in a filter device, similar to how water purifiers work.
High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) purifiers are well-studied and clinically shown to be effective. A 2021 medical review analyzed the effectiveness of air purifiers for controlling indoor contaminant levels.
HEPA filtration was found to reduce indoor air particulate matter between 37% and 64% depending on device. No side effects or adverse outcomes were reported.
As we explained in our review of the Air Doctor air filtration device, we consider HEPA air purifiers to be the best options on the market for reducing indoor air contaminant levels. Air purifiers seem to have only upsides: they reduce air pollutant levels while emitting no questionable contaminants into air.
Air ionizers have the downside of potential ozone emission.
Real Customer Reviews of Clarifion
Clarifion’s devices are sold on Amazon, which is a more objective resource for customer reviews than a brand’s website in our opinion.
The brand’s most-reviewed product on Amazon is currently the single air ionizer, which has been reviewed over 8,500 times and has an average review rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.
The top positive review is from a user named “Kenneth J” who claims that who claims that the device improved their sleep quality:
“Get this, I sleep with an Apple Watch on to monitor my sleep. The doctor advised me to invest in these watches. Anyway, it is blutooth so it talks to my computer. I looked at my weekly sleep analysis and it looks like I am sleeping an average of 16 minutes more each night since purchasing these ionizers!!! You can't put a price on sleep so I told my doctor and he said ‘whatever you're doing, keep doing it.’”
The top negative review is written by a user named “K.T.” who suggests the device may be a fire hazard:
“That's where things got a bit frightening -- the device was HOT to the touch -- not just warm, but HOT...hot enough I had to drop it onto the counter after unplugging it. I was shocked (figuratively, not literally electrocuted)...I got online in surprise and discovered the reviews about it catching fire -- I have ZERO doubt or surprise. I can't imagine if you plugged this in and left it for a month or more -- which it would be easy to do!”
A TikTok user named “katrinaforeal” claims that the Clarifion purifier was quiet and convenient:
@katrinaforeal #amazonhome #clarifion #airpurifier #airpurifierfilter #airpurifiers #airpurifierportable #allergies #allergytok #allergiesgotmelike #allergysolution #greenscreen ♬ original sound - katrinaforeal | amazon finds
Where to Buy Clarifion Air Ionizer for the Best Price
Clarifion’s air ionizer is sold at a variety of online retailers. Here’s the price breakdown at the time of publishing this article:
Walmart: $43.99 (link)
Brand website: $39.97 (plus shipping, link)
Amazon: $39.99 (link to official Amazon listing)
Including the cost of shipping, Clarifion Air Ionizer is currently cheaper on Amazon than on the brand’s website.
Our Recommended Air Purifier
As we referenced in our Molekule review article, several brands have tested the efficacy of air purifiers including ConsumerLab and Consumer Reports.
We consider testing from independent third-parties to be more reliable than testing published by air purifier brands.
Blueair is consistently rated among the most-effective air purifier brands, and the Blueair Blue Classic 605 received top marks from both ConsumerLab and Consumer Reports. This device is shown to remove 99% of air particles down to 0.1 micron, and is also energy-efficient. It’s an air purifier rather than an air ionizer, which we believe is a safer category of device because it does not release potentially harmful oxidants.
Interested consumers can check out the Blueair Blue Classic 605 at this link to its official Amazon listing.
