Between keeping windows closed, sniffing pollen from Christmas trees, and recirculating germs brought home from daycare, winter is prime time for bad indoor air. And while there are prettier and pricier air cleaners on the market, Consumer Reports recently gave some of its highest marks to the $230 Whirlpool Whipsure 450 (pictured).

Unlike some higher-end models, the true HEPA-filter Whipsure emits no ozone, and in Consumer Reports' tests, it wiped the floor with Oreck's and Sharper Image's $700 and $500 models, respectively. Of course, there are also some no-cost steps you can take to clean the air before forking over for a purifier, and Consumer Reports lists some of those, too.

How are you keeping the air clean in your home this winter? Let us know in the comments.