If you’ve ever wondered how to combat indoor air pollution and breathe easier, look no further than the power of plants. Mother nature has gifted us with these magnificent, living companions that can not only beautify our spaces with vibrant energy but can also play a significant role in purifying the air we breathe.
While all plants have a net positive effect on the quality of the air around us, these lush and magnificent houseplants effortlessly remove toxins and purify the air in your home.
So join me below to learn how a bit of green can transform your home into a sanctuary of clean, rejuvenating air. Get ready to embrace an invigorating new reality as we uncover the botanical superheroes that will have you gasping for all the right reasons.
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Best Plants To Improve The Air Quality In Your Home
Aloe Vera
Among the house plants that can help you improve the air quality in your home, Aloe Vera reigns supreme.
This succulent plant native to arid regions of the world, has been treasured for centuries by various cultures for its remarkable healing properties and versatility. Its distinctive fleshy leaves are filled with a gel-like substance that contains a wealth of beneficial compounds making it a popular ingredient in various skincare and medicinal products.
When it comes to air purifiers, though, Aloe Vera stands out as an exceptional choice. It excels at cleaning indoor airborne toxins like benzene and even remove formaldehyde, which are easily emitted by common household cleaning products and even your furniture. Aloe Vera also does a fantastic job at absorbing CO2 levels, as you can see from this study published in Cleaner Engineering and Technology magazine.
Add to this the fact that caring for an Aloe Vera plant is relatively easy, and it is easy to see why Aloe Vera is one of the most popular all-around options to improve indoor air quality of your home.
Snake Plant
The plant commonly known as the Snake plant, Saint George’s Sword, Viper’s Bowstring Hemp, and even humorously referred to as the Mother In Law’s Tongue, for its sharp, sword-like leaves that grow upright, has gained immense popularity among indoor gardeners for its vibrant beauty and air cleaning qualities.
The Snake plant is one of the most effective at removing toxins such as formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, trichloroethylene, as well as other nitrogen oxides and other harmful toxins from the air.
The Snake plant also stands out because while most plants release carbon dioxide (CO2) into the air during the nighttime, this evergreen perennial defies the norm by continuing to convert CO2 into fresh oxygen.
Whether you call it the Snake plant, Mother In Law’s Tongue, or Saint George’s Sword, this visually captivating houseplant offers substantial air-purifying benefits that can transform your home into a cleaner and healthier environment.
Warning: the Snake plant is known to be toxic to dogs and cats, so pet owners are advised to consider an alternative to ensure the safety of their beloved animals.
Eucalyptus
For centuries, the Eucalyptus plant has been revered for its medicinal properties, offering relief from various ailments. This is because its leaves are rich in compounds such as eucalyptol, cineole, and tannins, which possess antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and expectorant properties.
But Eucalyptus can also play a crucial role in the quality of your home’s indoor air. The plant acts as a purifier, drawing in toxins from the air around you and releasing fresh, clean oxygen in return.
Areca Palm
The Areca palm is a popular and visually striking indoor palm tree that offers numerous benefits for your home.
Not only does it add a touch of elegance to your living spaces, but it also contributes to clean, healthy indoor air. This is because the Areca palm acts as a natural air filter, purifying the surrounding atmosphere by effectively removing trichloroethylene, benzene, and formaldehyde.
Additionally, it helps to combat air dryness by releasing moisture and increasing humidity levels.
So, if you are looking to elevate the aesthetic appeal of your home by introducing some elegance and vitality via house plants, but also promoting a healthier and more comfortable environment, the Areca palm is a solid choice.
Dracaena
The Dracaena plant, known for its remarkable foliage and versatility, offers more than just aesthetic appeal, it also possesses a fantastic ability to effectively improve air quality by removing harmful toxins.
One of the main reasons the Dracaena is one of the best air-purifying plants for your home is that it is very effective at a process called phytoremediation, where it absorbs pollutants through its leaves and roots, and converts them into harmless substances or stores them deep within its tissues.
Pro-Tip: If you or someone in your house smokes, the Corn varietal (Dracaena Frgrans) is a wonderful option since it is known to quickly and effectively remove cigarette smoke from your home.
Boston Fern
The Boston Fern is a favorite among plant enthusiasts and an unsung hero when it comes to improving the indoor air quality of your home.
With its lush, vibrant, and graceful fronds, this fern not only adds a touch of natural beauty to any space but also works tirelessly behind the scenes to purify the air you breathe.
Keep in mind that the Boston Fern needs bright, indirect light to thrive, and it needs to be kept away from drafty rooms and especially from heat sources such as heating vents.
It also requires weekly watering to maintain its soil moist but not waterlogged. This can be a downside for those seeking a hassle-free plant. However, for those willing to invest the time and effort, the Boston Fern’s air-purifying benefits make it worthy of your consideration.
Peace Lily
So far, we’ve introduced you to a variety of air plants, ranging from large to medium-sized beauties, that are known for their air-purifying abilities. However, in the realm of air-improving flora, size doesn’t always matter. Enter the Peace Lily, a remarkable plant that defies expectations with its compact nature.
Don’t let the Peace Lily’s small size fool you, because when it comes to plants for indoor air purification, this little gem is a force to be reckoned with.
Besides having the ability to effectively filter out the most common pollutants such as ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene, the Peace Lily can catch even airborne mold spores.
Ficus
In stark contrast to the petite Peace Lily, the Ficus is a magnificent and sizable plant, capable of reaching impressive heights of up to 10 feet when cultivated indoors.
Despite its grand stature, this verdant giant remains delightfully low maintenance while delivering a powerful punch in the realm of air improvement.
The Ficus plant, known in some places as the Weeping Fig, effortlessly tackles common household pollutants and efficiently separates the air in your home, making it a remarkable choice for creating cleaner, healthier spaces.
Ficus plants need bright sunlight, so finding a well-lit spot for your specimen will ensure its optimal growth and air-cleaning prowess.
Garden Mum
The Garden Mum, most commonly known as the Chrysanthemum, is a highly popular flowering plant cherished for its vibrant, eye-catching blossoms and impressive versatility, not to mention its air-purifying abilities.
The colorful flowers of the Garden Mum, which are easy to cultivate in a variety of environments, are particularly effective in removing volatile organic compounds.
In addition to its air-cleansing prowess, the Garden Mum is also known for its longevity and resilience. With proper care, this species of plant can bloom easily and imbue your home with a bright array of colors and intricate petal formations.
English Ivy
The Hedera Helix plant, more commonly known as the Common English Ivy, is another highly efficient and potent air-purifying houseplant.
Despite some detractors, thanks to its resilience and versatility, the English Ivy, with its trailing vines and evergreen appeal, has gained popularity over the years.
Various studies, such as this one from the IEEE have shown that the English Ivy plant can remove a significant quantity of airborne pollutants and other contaminants. This results in a remarkable ability to improve allergy and asthma-related symptoms.
If English Ivy is not your thing, you can also look to Spider Ivy, or Spider plant in a hanging basket for a low-maintenance solution to reduce indoor toxins and help purify the air.
All-Natural Air Purification – The Final World On Improving Air Quality With Plants
Federal scientists have identified indoor air pollutants as a major environmental issue in the United States. Not surprisingly, the quality of the air inside your home has a significant impact on your health, just like outdoor air.
The presence of indoor pollutants can cause a range of side effects, from temporary irritation of the eyes and throat to more serious long-term conditions like chronic respiratory disease and cancer.
The good news is that you don’t have to spend a fortune on expensive equipment to maintain good indoor air quality. The 10 plants above provide a simple, affordable, and highly effective solution for reducing air pollutants and other common household contaminants.
These remarkable plants will not only keep your living space vibrant but will also work tirelessly to eliminate the numerous hazards that invisibly lurk in the air we breathe.
So if you want to create a cleaner environment in your home, start with one or two of these 10 plants to improve air quality in your home, and let us know in the comments below if you experience a noticeable improvement.
