HoMedics TotalClean 5-in-1 Tower Air Purifier review

HoMedics has grown into a world leader in personal wellness, manufacturing some of the world’s best-known, most innovative personal health, wellness, and electronics brands. Before testing the HoMedics TotalClean 5-in-1 Tower Air Purifier, we have never had an issue with anything bought from them in the past. 

At under £250, it is slightly expensive, but if you suffer from anything such as colds, stuffy noses, dusty building work, asthma and pet hairs, we cannot recommend this product highly enough. It is definitely money well spent, although depending on your room size, you can opt for a small or medium size which works out cheaper than the large size we tested. 

Of course, there are far more reasonably priced air purifiers on the market, but not all guarantee a 360° True HEPA filtration - that removes 99.97% of airborne bacteria and allergens. This type of pleated mechanical air filter – for high-efficiency particulate air filter – is amongst the best you can get if looking for the best air purifier.

HoMedics TotalClean 5-in-1 Tower Air Purifier: Key specs 

• Suitable for rooms up to: 109M²/H / 1176FT²/H 
• Filter: True HEPA & Carbon Odour Filtration + UV-C Light
• CADR: 110
• Night mode?: Yes
• Smart?: No
• Dimensions: L25.7 x W25.7 X H64.3cm 

HoMedics TotalClean 5-in-1 Tower Air Purifier: Set-up 

The machine is super easy to set up and just involves plugging it in, putting it in the right setting and pressing the button (all labelled). Even those who aren't very tech-savvy when it comes to setting things up will be up and running within seconds. It was a very smooth process that didn't need an instruction leaflet to follow.

HoMedics TotalClean 5-in-1 Tower Air Purifier: Performance 

The HoMedics TotalClean performed very well, and almost instantly, I felt as though the hairs shed by our dog were being sucked up. It is easy to use and has many functions, such as multiple speeds, different lighting levels and a drawer with a pad where you can put essential oils in. It doesn’t weigh too much but is quite bulky to lug around, although my two older sons, aged 19 and 20, easily transported it from downstairs to their rooms.

Fortunately, myself and my kids don’t have asthmatic or breathing problems, so I am not sure how effective it works in terms of health issues but, with elderly parents, I think having the air purifier on made them feel more Covid safe, particularly as I usually have secondary school children coming in and out of the house on play dates. Also, as already mentioned, dog hairs seemed to vanish almost immediately. It also lets out a cooling sensation, so it felt very refreshing on the days I was working from home and the house was stuffy.

 HoMedics TotalClean 5-in-1 Tower Air Purifier: Design

The design of the HoMedics TotalClean 5-in-1 Tower Air Purifier is what lets it down, in my opinion. The white colour (it is also available in black) of the product is somewhat clinical and prevented it from achieving a five-star rating. It is also a rather old-fashioned looking product with no modern design, so this area could be improved. I tested the large size, which is quite bulky and not ideal for a small bedroom or office, although, in our sizeable downstairs living space, it was better hidden on the side of our sofa. 

The digital buttons provide a nice touch in terms of ease of use, but, again, there was nothing fancy about them. 

HoMedics TotalClean 5-in-1 Tower Air Purifier: Sustainability & longevity 

With the Homedics TotalClean 5-in-1 Tower Air Purifier, you don't have to worry too much about energy consumption. Instead, it operates on low power and consequently cuts down on electricity bills. 

Regarding durability, I only trialled it over six weeks and am happy to report it worked well.

The machine's HEPA filtration system works so well that it meant there was less need for me to vacuum around as it sucked up the dust and dog hairs. The HoMedics TotalClean 5-in-1 air purifiers also have a replace filter indicator that lets you know when it's time to be replaced. The average replacement time lasts around 12 months.

With an auto-off timer, this feature enables the air purifier to turn off after a set period. This avoids the need to switch on and off the machine frequently, as it can be set to run at a specific time.

HoMedics TotalClean 5-in-1 Tower Air Purifier: Our verdict 

This product has been a great addition to our home. With three teenage boys and a dog, I can honestly say the air in our house feels cleaner than ever. It took a good few weeks to notice the difference, but with football boots constantly strewn on the floor, dog hairs from our cockapoo and the cooking odours coming from feeding a family of five, the house certainly felt a lot fresher.

The HoMedics TotalClean 5-in-1 Tower Air Purifier certainly came into its own, especially on weekends when the kids have friends over and are often stuck in one room watching football. I didn’t have to worry about the stale air or the smell of beer from the university student’s rooms; the purifier sucked it all up. And the addition of oils helped create the most beautiful scent. I used a few drops of lavender oil at home, but this is not essential.

Tested during the school and university holiday break, we were impressed with how much it could do in providing a clean atmosphere, and its easy-to-use choice of settings meant it is very family-friendly. Plus, when the grandparents in their eighties came over, I felt the purifier added another safety level from Covid as it made them feel more at ease in a crowded room. Also, my older sons use weights at home, and I loved that the purifier provided good ventilation, especially if they forgot to open the windows. 

About this review, and the reviewer 

Suzanne Baum is a celebrity interviewer and beauty and lifestyle editor who regularly reviews products across numerous titles. The HoMedics TotalClean 5-in-1 Tower Air Purifier was used mainly in the large downstairs living space but was moved into bedrooms on the odd occasion.