Abstract: An improved air cleaning device is provided for removing solid particulate matter from a contaminated air stream. The air cleaning device comprises a main housing having an air inlet and an air outlet. The air cleaning device further includes a wash section having a tubular housing with its upper end forming the contaminated air inlet and its lower end being open to the interior of the housing. A wash liquid disperser adjacent the upper end of the wash section housing injects a wash fluid into the contaminated air stream, while a venturi downstream from the dispenser accelerates the contaminated air stream now intermixed with the wash liquid downwardly through the wash section housing. The venturi comprises a pair of baffles each having an upper edge portion, a lower edge portion and forming a convex surface therebetween. The baffles are attached to facing walls in the wash section housing and so that the convex surface of the baffles face or protrude toward each other.