Air-O-Swiss: The Air Washer
There are many types of washers out there- vehicular, clothes, dishes- but the term “air washer” brings to mind something mythical or maybe even mystical. We decided to see what, exactly, an air washer does in the form of the Air-O Swiss Digital Air Washer 2055D. We tested out the black model and in case you were wondering, the “D” stands for digital.
Not only is the air washer a humidifier, but also a spiffy air filtering system. It traps common allergens like pet hair, pollen particles, and dust. For those who suffer from sinus pressure and or allergies to pet dander, a good filter can make a world of difference. We’ve seen devices using UV-C light before, but this model offers something different.
A definite perk of the 2055D model is that it is equipped with an ‘Ionic Mineral Stick’ for anti-bacterial protection of water, so there is no replacement filters to purchase (a common downfall of most humidifiers that can end up costing a small fortune over time). The pre-ionizer feature causes the dust particles to form clusters, making it easy for them to be captured by the constantly rotating discs. This particular air washer has a hygrostat for automatic monitoring of humidity levels with a programmable desired humidity from 30% to 70%.
We must say, even after a couple nights of sleeping, we could tell a definite difference. The sound was a bit disturbing though, the low setting being only a mild annoyance but the higher setting one was sleep-disturbingly loud. We tested it primarily in smaller spaces, as the model is meant for any room up to 750 square feet. After a couple weeks, I could tell a difference in my skin and hair- I suffer from unbelievably and annoyingly dry skin and my skin didn’t feel as parched as it normally does. My nose was less stuffed up in the mornings and I noticed my partner’s allergies didn’t flare up as much.
However, we were disappointed with how much cleaning this required (or maybe how dirty our air really is)! After the span of about two and a half weeks the cleaning light indicated it was time for a clean and in the month we have had it, we have cleaned it twice. Of course, it’s necessary to clean humidifiers regularly, even weekly. But the small opening to clean the tank was limited which made it a more taxing task than we would’ve liked. Another small nitpick: the digital display is a little bright for our liking, and did not appear to be adjustable.
As with many similar systems, for an added bonus is you can put cotton wool doused in essential oil in the fragrance capsule section, allowing it to act as convenient air freshener. And for those with questions on which model is appropriate, the Air-O-Swiss website as has a feature that allows you to answer a few questions to help decide on the particular unit that would be best for your living quarters or work spaces. Overall, it’s a nice-looking, solid way to clean and freshen (and wash) your air. Available widely online for around $400 or less.
