10 Indoor Plants That Clean The Air In Your House

indoor plants that clean the air

We often think that only the outdoor air can be polluted, however, the air in your house may also contain harmful chemicals. The Environmental Protection Agency in the United States claims that spending 90 percentages of time at home with poor air quality can trigger great harm to the overall health.

Air pollutants inside the house can cause some health problems such as chest tightness, coughing, sore throats, frequent headaches, itchy or watery eyes, asthma attacks and shortness of breath.

There are many factors causing air pollution, some of which are radon gas, carbon monoxide, benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and ammonia.

All these harmful pollutants can appear because of paint, cigarette smoke, chemicals in carpets, plastics, numerous furniture and building materials as well as cleaning solutions.

Nature can help us to get indoor air purification by supplying an effective, simple solution.
Decorating your house with some plants that clean the air will aid in naturally removing pollutants at home.

In fact, a NASA study in 1989 suggests that people should have at least a plant having the ability to purify the air for each of 100 square feet of office or home space. Today, VKool.com will give you a list of top 10 indoor plants that clean the air in your house. This writing will show the detailed information about indoor plants that you can place in your house to help in purifying the air from reliable sources. Keep reading this article to understand more!

Top 10 Indoor Plants That Clean The Air In Your House

1. Peace Lily

peace lily

This is the first of top 10 plants that clean the air I want to show you. The peace lily is beneficial in breaking down and neutralizing harmful gasses such as formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, trichloroethylene, carbon monoxide, and ammonia contained in your house.

Besides, it can also absorb acetone and alcohol emitted due to adhesives, certain cleaners, and electronics from the air.

The peace lily needs indirect or medium sunlight. You just water it 1 or 2 times per week without letting water stand on it.

Plus, you have to use the liquid fertilizer to help it in growing generously for once per month.

To make it present the best air-cleansing ability, you should always keep the foliage clean.

In addition, this plant occasionally has white blooms during the summer, which will improve the interior of the office of home space.

See more: Top 15 home gardening tips and tricks for beginners

2. Boston Fern

This plant is also very effective among plants that clean the air. It has the ability to get rid of formaldehyde found in pressed wood products and glues.

Boston fern can also eliminate toluene and xylene from the air. Additionally, it can help you to ease toxic metals such as arsenic and mercury from the soil.

Boston fern likes living with indirect sunlight. Nevertheless, a small bit of sunshine can promote its growth.

You should water it on a regular basis to keep the soil always hydrated. But you have to make sure that the soil will be not soggy.

Besides, you have to provide it with a balanced fertilizer 2 times per month. Remember to let this plant avoid cold drafts as well as warm air.

Boston fern can live in an environment with a fairly high level of humidity, so you may even let it stay in the bathroom. Plus, you can hang it on the basket to decorate your house or office.

Read more: 12 Health and environmental benefits of trees

3. Bamboo Palm

The bamboo is also called as the reed palm. Among plants that clean the air, it can assist in filtering out both trichloroethylene and benzene. When you place a bamboo near furniture, it will also help a lot in getting rid of formaldehyde.

The bamboo can grow better in shady spaces and is not difficult to care for. You just keep the soil hydrated and avoid watering too much as well as ensure a proper draining.

Besides, you should let it expose to cool drafts and remove wilted or dead leaves regularly.

The bamboo can make the landscape inside your house greater. It may grow from the height of from 4 to 8 feet and look beautiful when placed in corners. Additionally, it is also a friendly plant for pets.

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4. Rubber Plant

The rubber plant is another of top 10 plants that clean the air. It is considered as an air purifier and strong toxin eliminator that you may grow indoors easily. The rubber plant is particularly beneficial in eliminating formaldehyde in the air. Plus, it also aids in removing carbon monoxide.

In order to grow the rubber plant, you should let it in the space of filtered, full or bright light and tropical, wet conditions. Do not forget to water it regularly and supply it with the high-nitrogen fertilizer monthly.

In addition, you should trim it regularly to keep it in size.

Use a soft cloth dipped in tepid water to gently wipe the deep and broad green leaves so that the plant is always shiny.

Another option is to use the rubber plant as a decorative element on the table or a windowsill or shelf. You may even put it on the floor near the entryway or next to the fireplace.

Note: Do not let the milky latex extracted from this plant contact to your skin because it can lead to skin irritation.

See more: How to plan a garden layout for beginners

5. Florist’s Chrysanthemum

florists chrysanthemum

Also called as hardy garden mum or florist’s daisy, the florist’s chrysanthemum plant is an effective plant which can help to purify the air.

This kind of plants that clean the air has strong air-cleaning effects removing benzene, trichloroethylene, ammonia, formaldehyde, and various chemicals.

Florist’s chrysanthemum needs providing with bright and indirect light to properly grow. You should remember to water it regularly for twice or thrice weekly to maintain the soil’s humidity.

In addition, you should also supply it with the fertilizer once per month. It will have various colors of flower such as orange, red, white, lavender, and yellow.

Read more: How to care for Bonsai trees – 9 ways to master Bonsai caring art

6. Weeping Fig

This popular plant is one of the most common indoor plants, which has the ability to reduce harmful chemicals in the air. It is also helpful for eliminating chemicals such as formaldehyde and benzene as well as xylene.

The weeping fig can grow quickly in a bright space and just need directly absorb a little morning sunshine. Besides, you have to ensure that the soil is always moist.

This kind of plants that clean the air also needs being provided with enough fertilizer during the growing season. It is very sensitive to cold drafts and you should protect it from strong drafts.

The weeping fig has a spreading canopy and a single trunk. You can let it sit at your corner or in entryway and foyers.

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7. Spider Plant

Often called as the airplane plant, the spider plant is a perennial herb helping to ease air pollution in the house. It can also help you to reduce formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene.

Spider plant is very easy to grow in the house and can put up with harsh weather. It will grow better if stayed in the indirect and bright.

You should water it regularly but do not let the soil get soggy.

The spider plant will make your home interior more beautiful. You can hang it or place in the corner of your house.

8. Snake Plant

snake plant

The snake plant is also called as mother-in-law’s tongue and is another good plant you can grow in your office and house for air purification.

This plant can help to ease formaldehyde, benzene, and nitrogen oxide. Additionally, it will aid in decreasing the levels of carbon dioxide.

You can place the snake plant at a non-lighted area. It generally likes living in the drier conditions with a little sunshine. Therefore, you do not need to water it too much, particularly during the winter.

The bedroom is the best place to put this kind of plants that clean the air because it can boost a slight oxygen production when you sleep.

Or you can place it in the bathroom or corner in your office or house.

9. Red-Edged Dracaena

This is known as an excellent air-purifying plant (plants that clean the air). Red-edged dracaena has wide and long leaves variegated with the red lines.

Red-edged dracaena may do the work of various smaller plants. It can assist in removing toxins inside your house such as benzene, xylene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene.

To grow this plant in your house, you have to always keep the soil moist without being soggy. It can have a height of up to 15 feet; hence, you will have to trim it if needed.

Because its leaves often accumulate dirt, you should use a damp cloth to wipe them regularly.

10. English Ivy

This is one of the best indoor plants that can purify the air. The English Ivy has dense foliage that can successfully aid in absorbing prevalent indoor chemicals and pollutants.

It also has the air-filtering effects which can help you to reduce bad chemicals such as carbon monoxide, benzene, trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene. Moreover, it will make the air having cigarette smoke clean.

The English Ivy can grow easily and only need a small space, medium sunlight, and moderate temperature. You may perch it on your floor or hang it, depending on the available space in your house.

At the early growing stage, you have to water it generously and simply maintain the humidity of soil. You can provide it with fertilizing to keep it healthy.

Indoor Plants That Clean The Air – Additional Tips

  • You should increase the ventilation inside your house to let fresh air come into it. This, in turn, helps a lot in removing indoor pollutants.
  • You can install a HEPA filter in the office or house.
  • If you use a gas stove, you’d better let the kitchen window be opened while you cook to ease the buildup of nitrogen dioxide.
  • Do not use house cleaning products containing ammonia, chlorine, and VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
  • Remember to bathe your pet on a regular basis. You can brush it outside in order to ease allergens in the house.
  • You should use hot water to rinse the bedding once per week if you can and let it dry in the direct sunshine.
  • Use a dust mop or damp cloth to dust everything in your house.
  • Avoid using chemical air fresheners because they have toxic chemicals.
  • You can make a homemade air freshener by mixing essential oils with baking soda.
  • Nevertheless, you should be careful that some of the houseplants such as red-edged dracaena, English ivy, weeping fig, peace lily, florist’s chrysanthemum, and rubber plant may be toxic to your pets.

Related article: Types of houseplants that clean indoor air and lower stress

If you want to have more information about lifestyle, access our main Lifestyle page. After reading the writing of 10 indoor plants that clean the air, hope that you will know the best plants to place in your house as well as their benefits. If you have any question, please freely ask me, I will answer you soon. Also, if you know any other plants that clean the air in your house, please let us know by sharing it below.

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