--- description: Find out why Mila is one of the best inventions of 2021 title: Mila: The 100 Best Inventions of 2021 image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8e6afcdc2cbc5f50/698a1e9c929fadd843bf7e0e/best-inventions-2021-Mila.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 --- Nov 10, 2021 # A Fine-Looking Filter Mila by [TIME Staff](/author/time-staff/) ## TIME Staff Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close  Amid growing concerns about airborne diseases and pollution, sales of home air purifiers are surging. But while high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters have been shown to reduce most bacteria and a bevy of fine airborne particles, there is at least one problem: “Most air purifiers look like refrigerators sitting in the corner,” says Grant Prigge, CEO and co-founder of [Mila](http://www.milacares.com "undefined"). So Prigge set out to make something that looks as good as it performs. His company’s eponymous purifier ($349) not only boasts sleek midcentury-modern aesthetics but also includes a slew of consumer-friendly features not found on competing models, including a radar detection system that senses when people are present and turns down the noise. Backed by Electrolux and Vulcan Capital, Mila also sells a subscription-based menu of filters (from $59) tailored to pet owners, home renovators, the allergy-prone and more. _—Alison Van Houten_ **Buy Now:** [Mila](https://amzn.to/3CA95qp "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","@id":"https://time.com/collections/best-inventions-2021/6113021/mila/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/collections/best-inventions-2021/6113021/mila/"},"headline":"A Fine-Looking Filter","datePublished":"2021-11-10T11:15:51.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-02T23:56:46.806Z","description":"","url":"https://time.com/collections/best-inventions-2021/6113021/mila/","keywords":["list","franchise","best inventions","Best Inventions 2021"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8e6afcdc2cbc5f50/698a1e9c929fadd843bf7e0e/best-inventions-2021-Mila.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"TIME Staff","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/time-staff/"}],"creator":"TIME Staff","articleSection":"","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8e6afcdc2cbc5f50/698a1e9c929fadd843bf7e0e/best-inventions-2021-Mila.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/collections/best-inventions-2021/6113021/mila/","name":"A Fine-Looking Filter"}}]}] ```