The Mila Air Purifier removed all traces of incense and food from our tester's home, leaving it impressively fresh and clean.
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We Tried the Mila Air Purifier and Our House Has Never Smelled So Fresh
Updated on Sep. 30, 2024
If you have allergies, then there’s a good chance you’ve tried an array of remedies to alleviate some of your suffering. From local honey and over-the-counter medications to obsessively cleaning your carpets and removing household dust, there are plenty of ways to reduce allergens in the home. Another way to improve your quality of life? Investing in a good air purifier.
We’ve tested many air purifiers over the years, from the compact Blueair Air Purifier to the whole-room NuWave OxyPure Air Purifier and dozens in between. But one really stands out among the rest: the Mila Air Purifier.
We were so intrigued by this smart appliance that we couldn’t wait to get our hands on it to see if it actually worked as promised. Expert product reviewer Pamela Bondurant set this air purifier up in her home to see how much it would really improve her air quality. She then shared her findings, which we compiled for this dedicated Mila Air Purifier review. Here’s everything you need to know.
What is the Mila Air Purifier?
The Mila Air Purifier is a smart HEPA air purifier that removes up to 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns. This includes things like smoke, allergens and house dust. It also has a dual-flow carbon filter, which removes odors and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from paints, carpets and pressed wood. In addition to monitoring the air quality in your home, the Mila also monitors carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, humidity levels and room temperature. All of this information is easily monitored via the LED screen and the free Mila Cares app.
Unlike other air purifiers, which use a one-size-fits-all filter approach, the Mila Air Purifier offers seven different filters to address specific needs. For example, there’s a basic filter, a filter designed to target allergens and even a heavy-duty carbon filter for homes with pets.
The Mila Air Purifier is only available in one size and style. It’s small—measuring 10 inches long by 10 inches wide by 14 inches high and weighing under 10 pounds—but mighty, designed to work in rooms up to 1,000 square feet.
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PAMELA BONDURANT/FAMILY HANDYMAN
we tried it
Mila Air Purifier
A stylish design and customization options make this smart device a worthy addition to your home.
Mila Air Purifier Product Features
The Mila Air Purifier may be small, but it’s loaded with features that make it one of the best air purifiers on the market.
Room Coverage
According to the brand’s website, the Mila Air Purifier is ideal for rooms up to 1,000 square feet. This smart appliance learns the size of each space and automatically adjusts to ensure the same level of performance whether you place it in a small bedroom or large living room.
Modes
The Mila Air Purifier has several different modes. Through the device’s manual mode, you can set a deep clean mode, night mode, white noise mode, energy saving mode, quiet mode, bedtime mode, and wake-up settings. Bondurant, who tested each one, notes that each mode worked well. However, she points out that if the device is in quiet mode, it may take longer to clean the room.
Another option is the automagic mode. In this mode, the Mila determines optimal settings based on room type, time of day, sensor readings and personal preferences.
Filters
While most air purifiers have one generic filter, Mila offers seven different filters to meet your home’s specific needs. Each option has a HEPA filter that targets certain types of particles and allergens. Some options also have carbon filters for odor and VOC filtration. Filters should be replaced every six months and vary in price, ranging from $59 to $99.
- The Basic Breather: This filter is designed for those who don’t have any specific needs and just want cleaner, fresher air. It has a HEPA12 filter, which is best for things like pollen, dust and smoke. It does not have a carbon filter.
- The Big Sneeze: Designed for people with allergies, this option is equipped with a HEPA13 filter that traps pollen, dander and dust. It does not have a carbon filter.
- The Rookie Parent: New parents will appreciate this one, which has a HEPA12 filter and a carbon filter that handles VOCs, gasses and odors—yes, including those from stinky diapers.
- The Critter Cuddler: This filter is a must for anyone with pets. It has a HEPA13 filter, a carbon filter specifically designed to handle ammonia removal and a washable Mila Sock for larger particles and fur.
- The Home Wrecker: Making some home improvements? A HEPA12 filter and a dual layer of 1.96 pounds of modified granular carbon specifically target formaldehyde and odors from things like paint.
- The Mama-To-Be: A HEPA14 filter targets the tiniest particles and pollution, while a carbon filter eliminates odors and VOCs.
- The Overreactor: This bad boy boasts a HEPA14 filter and a carbon filter with 1.25 pounds of modified granular carbon specifically targeted for formaldehyde.
How We Tested It
The Mila Air Purifier arrived at Bondurant’s Florida home in a sturdy, colorful box complete with instructions and a QR code to retrieve the app printed right on the inside. The purifier itself was fully assembled and neatly tucked into a cloth bag. Bondurant paired the device to her phone and set it to ‘automagic’ mode. The Mila calibrated its sensors and got straight to work.
“It did not indicate that the house was very polluted but it still ran for a bit,” explains Bondurant. “It did show the indoor temperature and humidity and it matched what my thermostat was also saying, which was interesting and comforting to me.”
Burning Incense
The real test came in the morning when Bondurant’s incense kicked the Mila into high gear.
“In the mornings I burn incense and usually within about three minutes of the incense being lit the device would come on,” she explains. “The AQI would go up from zero to the max level. It would stay at that level in my room until the incense went out.”
According to Bondurant, the device would run on full blast in automagic mode for about 30 to 45 minutes after the incense was out. By the end of its run-time, her home was back down to zero AQI. In other words, her air was as fresh and clean as it was before she lit her incense.
Cooking
“I also noticed that it would come on pretty quickly when starting to cook even if I wasn’t cooking anything too crazy,” adds Bondurant. “Just turning on the toaster would alert the Mila and it would start cleaning.”
After it cleaned, the Mila went into standby mode. Bondurant notes that during this time, the Mila runs very quietly, and the device’s screen says, “It smells like victory. Woohoo, this room has been particulate-free for eight hours.” Or, however, how many hours it’s been particulate-free. Cute!
Various Modes
Bondurant points out that some modes are more obvious than others. “I couldn’t really tell what the difference was on some modes, but it definitely came on if I told it to go into deep clean mode from the app. The device would start cleaning.”
Different Filters
Additionally, Bondurant notes that there wasn’t an easy way for her to test all three filters she received over the course of a week. “I don’t see anything on the filters that I’ve used for testing for almost a week. So far, they are not showing any signs of being used,” she says. As a Florida resident, Bondurant doesn’t often battle tons of dust in her home and, therefore, could not speak to whether or not this air purifier helped with dust. However, she feels confident that the Mila Air Purifier would help curb dust if she lived in a drier climate.
At $349, this air purifier isn’t the most expensive device on the market. It also isn’t the cheapest. That said, Bondurant insists that it’s a worthwhile purchase. “At $349, the air purifier sounds like a lot of money,” she admits. “But based on it’s capabilities and my experience, and add in the app control and attractive design, I think it’s a very good value.”
Pros:
- Customizable filters
- Informative phone app
- Sleek, modern design
- Intuitive automagic mode
- Quiet, nighttime and white noise modes
- Carbon monoxide sensors
Cons:
- Filters cannot be washed or reused
- Control panel on the device is not as useful as the app
Why You Should Trust Us
As shopping and home experts, our job is to help you find products that will improve the quality of your life and home. Our editors and testers are homeowners and apartment dwellers who know how important it is to feel safe and healthy at home. Many of us are also allergy sufferers who know just how life-changing clean air can be.
We’ve tested dozens of products designed to improve the overall air quality of your home, including the best dehumidifiers for crawlspaces and the popular Frigidaire dehumidifier. We’ve also tested our fair share of air purifiers, including the Levoit 400S, Honeywell True HEPA, and Aura Air Purifier.
For this article, we sent the Mila Air Purifier to one of our expert product reviewers to see how it improved the air quality in her home. She immediately noticed cleaner, fresher air as the Mila worked hard to eliminate odors that arose from incense and cooking.
FAQ
How long do Mila air filters last?
The filter is supposed to last six months; depending on your environment, it may need to be replaced sooner. Filters are not designed to be cleaned and reused. You can extend the life of your filter by purchasing a washable Mila Sock. This works as a pre-filter to capture larger particles and fur.
Does Mila Air Purifier get rid of mold?
The Mila Air Purifier monitors humidity levels and lets you know if and when you are at risk for mold. Its HEPA filters also work to remove mold spores from the air. However, it does not treat active mold that is already present in your home. A good dehumidifier will also help prevent mold and mildew growth.
How much does it cost to run a Mila Air Purifier?
Since you have to replace your Mila filter every six months, there are some costs associated with running your Mila Air Purifier. Depending on which filter you choose, you can expect to spend anywhere from $59 to $99 every six months. However, Mila Cares has an auto-refill option that will help you save up to 30%.
What Other Reviewers Had to Say
“I plugged it in and left to run errands. When I returned, it was like I’ve never breathed before, the air felt crisp and beautiful,” five-star reviewer Monky Kid writes. “This feels like a luxury product every step of the way, from the cute packaging to the thoughtful and fun design of the app. I have full control over everything Mila does and can set it to clean extra before bed or while I’m away. The app also gives me thoughtful notifications about the air quality in my area as well so I am protected inside and out!”
Erin S, another five-star reviewer, has been using the Mila Air Purifier for over a year now and has even invested in a second device.
“It definitely pulls dust and smells out of the air,” Erin explains. “I like being able to set routines so it kicks on my white noise an hour before bed and turns off when I need to be up in the morning. I can override the auto if I want more air movement during the day or I’m up later. When I have a migraine, I crank it way up, and it helps block out everything else. This is on my short list of tech that I truly love. Customer service is amazing, too.”
And five-star reviewer Kevin Dunne credits the Mila Air Purifier with saving his life. Literally!
“We installed this unit a week before we turned our heating (gas boiler) on for the season,” Dunne explains. “The boiler is in the basement and the air purifier is on the 2nd floor. Within an hour, the air purifier started detecting carbon monoxide. The level of carbon monoxide kept rising. When it reached 150 PPM we turned off the boiler and the level of carbon monoxide dropped to almost zero within 10 minutes. We were able to use this data to get our HVAC company to come out and service the boiler.”
Mila vs Dyson Air Purifier
Compared to other air purifiers we’ve tested, the Mila Air Purifier is the only one that offers customized filters and settings. It’s also the only air purifier with a carbon monoxide sensor to keep you and your loved ones safe.
At $349, the Mila costs slightly more than half the price of the Dyson Cool Link air purifier. And depending on the filter you choose, it may be more effective. For instance, the Mila’s Overreactor filter removes 97.89% of VOCs, including formaldehyde and ammonia, whereas the Dyson Cool Link removes 94.86%. That said, it’s worth pointing out that the Mila filters without carbon do not remove any VOCs.
Additionally, the Dyson’s futuristic design may not match the aesthetic of some homes. The Mila, on the other hand, blends seamlessly with most aesthetics.
Final Verdict
If you’re in the market for an air purifier, then the Mila Air Purifier is an excellent choice. Of course, you could just buy an air quality monitor, but this smart device can be customized to suit your individual needs and is sensitive enough to detect odors throughout your home. Moreover, it has a sleek modern design that will blend in with any home aesthetic.
Where to Buy the Mila Air Purifier
The Mila Air Purifier can be purchased directly from Mila Cares or from Amazon for under $400. Filters are sold separately and range from $59 to $99, depending on which one you choose. Once your unit arrives, no assembly is required. All you’ll have to do is insert the filter, plug it in, and you’ll be breathing better in no time.
On Sale
PAMELA BONDURANT/FAMILY HANDYMAN
we tried it
Mila Air Purifier
The Mila Air Purifier monitors air quality, humidity, temperature, carbon dioxide and will even alert you if carbon monoxide is present.
