CUE Air Washer: Don’t just trap dust! Wash it away.

The dirty secret of air purifiers: filters just store dust in bulky plastic you throw away every few months — and can breed filth. What if pollution were removed, not stored? Watervation looked to nature: rain doesn't use filters, it physically washes dust and pollen out of the sky. The CUE Air Washer brings that home. Its patented RainTec® system uses a spinning-top vacuum to lift water silently — no pump, no breakable nozzles — creating a 360° water shield and fine "water-net" that scrubs airborne particles, odors, and gases as air passes through. There are no disposable filters: changing the water means a clean filter every day, and it doubles as a humidifier. The team began R&D in 2018, reached proof-of-concept in 2022, completed prototype validation in November 2025, then unveiled at CES 2026 and won the 2026 iF Design Award. Launched in March 2026, it drew 1,526 backers and $547,417, around 18,247% funded.