Houseplants and Clean Air
Pothos, Spider Plants and More Help Fight Indoor Air Pollution
Aug 1, 2008
In these days of buildings with sealed windows, massive air circulation systems, and state of the art building materials, indoor air pollution is more common and more serious than ever. Harmful toxins are everywhere, found in everything from grocery bags to rugs, and they give off fumes that irritate sinuses and lungs and lead to serious illness, especially in those with conditions like asthma.
Cigarette smoke is another leading cause of indoor air pollution and can also lead to serious illness. The smoke contains a long list of chemicals and poisons including toluene (also found in paint thinner), ammonia, formaldehyde, and acetone. Harmful fumes and chemicals are also found in household cleaners, pesticides, paints, adhesives, and even in printers, copiers and fax machines which give off ozone.
Having clean air is more important than ever, and houseplants can help! Here are a few of the best houseplants for cleaning the air:
Philodendron- These easy to grow,leafy green vines have been proven to help remove formaldehyde (often found in new rugs and vinyl as well as cigarette smoke and even grocery bags!) fumes from the air. They make great climbing and hanging plants.
Gerbera Daisy-These cheerful flowers, which come in a variety of colors, have been shown to help remove both benzene and trichloroethylene from the air. Both chemicals are found in inks, solvents, and paints. Benzene is also found in man made fibers and cigarette smoke. They do well on a sunny windowsill. Keep the soil evenly moist at all times and remove spent flowers to help encourage new blooms. They are thirsty plants so check often!
English Ivy-This plant has been shown to also help remove Benzene from the air. They like medium light and evenly moist soil. They also appreciate being misted every so often. They make lovely hanging plants and also love to climb.
Spider Plants- These were the first plants shown to help clean the air. They work best against formaldehyde. These beloved hanging plants come in several varieties, all which make babies at the ends of their leaves. They prefer medium light and evenly moist soil.
Golden Pothos/Marble Pothos- Pothos will help remove formaldehyde from the air. Keep in a bright window, but not in direct sunlight, and water whenever the soil feels dry. These plants are tropical vines so they do best in a hanging basket or wherever they have the space to climb. Smaller specimens look great on tabletops.
Snake Plants- Also known as "Mother in Law's Tongue," these plants lend visual interest to any room with their upright, sword like foliage. These plants help remove a variety of chemicals from the air, including nitrogen oxide and formaldehyde. Snake plants are very easy to care for and will even tolerate neglect. They like bright light, but will grow in everything from direct sun to shade. Allow the soil to dry before watering.
To get the most out of these plants, there should be 1 per 100 square feet of your home. In addition to the plants on our list, all plants take in carbon dioxide, produce oxygen, and add moisture to the air, which helps prevent dry skin and sore throats in the winter. All houseplants do a little something to help the air we breathe, so pick up a few today!
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