subject: 10 House Plants You Can Use As Air Purifiers [print this page] 10 House Plants You Can Use As Air Purifiers
You already know how houseplants cheer up a dull office and beautify your house. But did you know that many common houseplants are terrific as indoor air purifiers? It's true, according to scientists at NASA and other respected scientific sources.
Indoor air purifiers are becoming more common as people tighten up their homes and offices in the interests of energy efficiency. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as well as cigarette smoke and other chemicals in the air can irritate respiratory tracts, cause headaches, and in some cases make indoor air quality worse than that outdoors even in cities! Houseplants can do wonders when it comes to cleaning up indoor pollution.
Here are 10 houseplants some of which you may already have that are great choices for fighting indoor air pollution.
1. The Areca palm tree is, according to NASA, the top houseplant for purifying indoor air. It has the added bonus of being a terrific humidifier as well. In fact, you can turn off your humidifier in the winter in rooms with Areca palms.
2. The peace lily is the perfect houseplant for beginners. It's a good all-around air purifier, it's beautiful, and it's easy to grow, even for those without green thumbs. They're also readily available, often found in malls, retailers, and even floral departments of supermarkets.
3. English ivy is a great choice for stagnant dry air, and it is aces at removing airborne mold. According to WebMD.com, English ivy removes up to 60% of airborne mold in its vicinity after just six hours. It's a great choice for those with allergies.
4. Aloe vera is one of the most common houseplants. It's found in kitchens everywhere due to its healing properties for cooking burns. It also does a great job of getting formaldehyde out of the air. Add in the fact that it's easy-care, and it's a terrific all-around choice.
5. Spider plants are popular because of their beauty, and because of their charming habit of making "baby" spider plants, but they're also very good at removing carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide from the air. It takes only 24 hours for spider plants to work their magic.
6. Heart-leaf philodendron is another popular beauty, and it is one of the best for eliminating formaldehyde from the air. It's also easy care and grows at a satisfying rate.
7. Boston ferns add to any dcor, beautifying even the most dull office space. They are also the number one plant for getting formaldehyde out of the air. All in all, they're a great choice for combating indoor air pollution.
8. Dracaena is the perfect choice for getting VOCs out of the air of newly-carpeted rooms. It removes formaldehyde at a fast rate, and gets xylene out of the air too. They like lots of light, as long as it isn't direct.
9. Chrysanthemums are the perfect choice to add to your home or office as the weather starts to turn cold and you're ready to shut the windows for the winter. They're at their peak then, and they do a great job of removing benzene from the air.
10. Date Palms add a touch of the tropics to your home or office, and they are good all-around air cleaners, taking out VOCs effectively.
