5 Air-Purifying Plants for Your Home
Spring is officially in full swing! Time change? Check. Easter eggs and chocolate? Check. Mimosas and brunch al fresco? Check. Spring cleaning… we’ll get to that.
While not always our favorite part of the spring season, a deep cleaning of your home is a wonderful way to welcome in the season’s freshness. And what better way to bring that freshness into your home than with some new greenery? Even better, why not pick out some of the best air-purifying houseplants, according to NASA’s Clean Air Study. These plants will basically do your spring cleaning for you:
RUBBER PLANT
In addition to being a dramatic accent in a room, rubber plants — with their signature burgundy-shaded leaves and rubbery texture — can remove airborne toxins and fight tropical diseases and parasites. Studies have proven the plant’s ability to remove formaldehyde from the air, which is found in cleaning supplies and furniture. While these plants look great, and have a lot to offer a room, be careful if you have pets; the rubber plant is toxic to pets if consumed.
NASA Notes: Removes formaldehyde from the air. Consumption is considered toxic to pets.
BOSTON FERN
Ferns are fantastic for removing common airborne pollutants — including formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene — which have been thought to cause headaches, trouble breathing, and the growth of cancerous cells. The Boston fern also combats winter dryness by raising indoor humidity. This plant is considered non-toxic for pets, so makes a great option for pet owners. But it is considered a best practice to keep any small plants out of reach of pets and small children.
NASA Notes: Removes formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene from the air. Considered non-toxic for pets.
ARECA PALM
The original clean air study by NASA, in 1989, declared the Areca Palm to be one of the most powerful air-purifying plants, particularly for its ability to remove formaldehyde from an indoor environment. This one also gets bonus points for having a non-toxic status.
NASA Notes: Removes formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene from the air. Considered non-toxic for pets.
PEACE LILY
Not only is the Peace Lily beautiful, but according to the data, it is also an air-filtering powerhouse, successfully purifying the air of the highest number of toxins out of all plants in the study. NASA studies show that this lily can filter benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, toluene, and ammonia from indoor air. These toxins can cause headaches, respiratory problems, and an increased risk of cancer; it’s an understatement to say that removing them would be good. To top it all off, the Peace Lily can also remove airborne mold that aggravates allergies and asthma symptoms. Jon VanZile, author of Houseplants for a Healthy Home, recommends placing a few in your bathroom to reduce mold growth. Just keep them out of the reach of pets.
NASA Notes: Removes benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, toluene, and ammonia from the air. Consumption is considered toxic to pets.
SNAKE PLANT
Snake Plants have been popular houseplants in the United States for the past century. Also known as the Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, this plant is also one of the most effective at purifying the air, successfully removing benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene from indoor air. One of the biggest draws of these plants is their ease of growing — requiring little attention, minimal watering, and only indirect sunlight. Plus, you can boil the leaves to make a holistic medicine to treat pain and irritation when applied directly to your skin. Just don't eat it.
NASA Notes: Removes benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene from the air. Consumption is considered toxic to pets.
A good houseplant is the next best thing to a live-in housekeeper. Plus, they add a little pizazz and coziness wherever you place them, and they can even help you get a better night's sleep. Can any other single item in your home claim so many benefits, for both health and aesthetics? Time to get the spring cleaning started. The first item on the list: shopping for some new houseplants.
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