For Delhi’s post-Diwali smog woes, here are 6 gadgets for breathing easier

Air purifiers for home

(Image: Xiaomi)

Air purifiers should be considered an absolute essential during intense pollution episodes, as they remove fine particles, allergens, smells and harmful gases from the air inside your home. These come with HEPA filters that do a great job at capturing particulate matter and pollutants, giving you cleaner air to breathe indoors. You can find air purifiers ranging from Rs 6,000 to Rs 50,000 and up, but here are some of the best affordable options for your first purchase:

Realme TechLife Rmh2019 Portable Room Air Purifier (Rs 3,999)
Samsung AX32BG3100GGNA Portable Room Air Purifier (Rs 7,255)
Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Lite (Rs 10,999)
Dyson Pure Cool Me (Rs 19,990)

In-car air purifiers

(Image: Hyundai)

You’ll also want to breathe easy while driving, so check out the air purifier accessories some car companies like Maruti Suzuki offer. There are also third-party purifiers you can purchase to keep in your car’s cup holder. Keeping one of these compact units in your car will help filter the air while you’re on the road.

Air quality monitors

(Image: InkBirdPlus)

Knowing the pollution levels around you is the first step to protecting yourself. Air quality monitors measure the concentration of particulate matter, gases and other pollutants in the air. This allows you to make smart choices about your activities and determine when you need to whip out an air purifier or mask.

The InkBirdPlus Air Quality Monitor for Rs 3,314 is a solid starter unit that also tracks CO2, HCHO, TVOC, and humidity levels. For a more advanced option, look at the Temtop M10 Air Quality Monitor. You can even get portable monitors to keep in your car and track pollution levels on the go.

Steam inhalers

(Image: Lifelong)

Breathing in warm steam can help moisturise your airways and loosen up mucus, protecting your lungs from the dire effects of pollution. It can also relieve congestion from colds, sinusitis, bronchitis and other respiratory woes. You can try a steam inhaler device like the Lifelong 3.5 Litre Top Fill Room Humidifier for Rs 1,999 or the Medtech Steam Inhaler for Rs 1,899.

High-tech masks

(Image: Philips)

If regular masks aren’t cutting it, you could try more advanced electronic masks. Supply is limited and there aren’t a ton of options, but masks like the Philips Series 6000 Fresh Air Mask use a fan and filters to maximise fresh air while blocking pollutants.

Another high-tech mask option is the Dyzon Zone headphones, which play music and channel purified air to your mouth and nose. The earcup compressors draw air through dual filters and shoot streams of clean air through the mask’s visor.

Humidifiers

(Image: Agaro)

Humidifiers can improve indoor air quality by increasing the humidity level, which can alleviate some health and comfort issues caused by dry air, while also helping with dry skin, itchy eyes, and sore throats. But they are not a magic bullet for indoor air pollution. You may need to use them with other methods to make sure your air is healthy and comfy. Check out humidifiers like the Agaro Caspian Cool Mist Ultrasonic Humidifier for Rs 1,930 to get started.