Best Houseplants For Air Quality
15 Houseplants That Can (Literally) Clean Your House
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Household plants can help make any room seem more like home. Whether hung from a hanging basket, thoughtfully placed in a corner, or sitting on a windowsill, plants make any environment brighter. But did you know that household plants can also make the indoor air you breathe in healthier?
Back in 1989, NASA scientist B.C. "Bill" Wolverton carried out a study called The NASA Clean Air Study. Through this study, he conducted experiments to see if common household plants were able to purify the air of toxins. The findings were then released under a report titled "Interior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution Abatement," and the discoveries were fascinating. Wolverton concluded that many household plants did indeed hold the power to eliminate harmful toxins, such as formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, and others. And although these names may not be part of your everyday vernacular, they are found virtually everywhere — plastics, rubbers, carpeting, glues, cleaning products, the list goes on. But how exactly does this happen?
"Plants filter the air in two ways — both physically and chemically," said Christopher Satch, head of plant science and education at The Sill. "Plants physically filter the air by acting as a dust cling. Living beings are statically charged and actually pull the dust out of the air. Ever notice how dusty your plants get compared to other objects? That's them doing a good job! Reward your plant by wiping it down so that it can cling more."
"Additionally, plants clean the air chemically," Satch said. "The objects that we interact with — computers, plastics, rubbers, paints, anything synthetic — breaks down over time and releases VOCs into the air like benzene and formaldehyde, which we breathe in. Plants literally rip these nasty compounds apart and turn them into inert CO2, water, and nitrogen gas. It's important to have plants in the home not only to improve your mental health and boost creativity, but also your physical health as well. Bear in mind that you will need several plants to be really effective."
If you are interested in learning more about the best plants to purchase to help purify your household air, then look no further. We pored over the NASA studies, looked through research, and connected with the brilliant plant experts at The Sill to help put together a list of 15 amazing air-purifying plants you can purchase today. Your urban oasis is just a click away.
Bird's Nest Fern
The Bird's Nest Fern ($9) does best in indirect sunlight and is able to clear the air of formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene. It also looks great in a hanging pot!
Philodendron
The sprawling Philodendron ($6) can grow up to 10 feet in length, making it a good plant to keep high up. This plant is great for filtering out formaldehyde.
Pothos
Rubber Plant
ZZ Plant
Majesty Palm
The Majesty Palm ($49) can easily dress up any space. Besides making any room come alive, according to Costa Farms, this palm can remove toxins such as benzene, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide from the air.
Boston Fern
The Boston Fern ($15) can act as a humidifier and can also remove formaldehyde from inside the home.
Ficus Tree
According to NASA's Clean Air Study, the Ficus Tree ($50) is effective at removing airborne formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene.
Lily Turf
According to Plants for the Future, an organization that provides research and information on horticulture, the Lily Turf ($15) plant is especially effective at cleansing the air of toxins, such as ammonia.
Weeping Fig
According to the New York Botanical Garden, the Weeping Fig ($12) is great at removing indoor air pollutants. Extra points if you have it near a window with a southern exposure — the Weeping Fig thrives best here.
Flamingo Lily
Also according to NASA research, the Flamingo Lily ($19) is easily able to cleanse the air of formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, and ammonia.
Lady Palm
The Lady Palm ($50) removes toxins from the air and is very resilient against plant insects.
Mum
Add some color to your household and purify the air while you are at it. According to Healthline, the Garden Mum ($5) is amazing at removing toxins from the air, especially ammonia.
Snake Plant
Snake Plants ($11) are a great addition to any home. "The snake plant can clean formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, toluene, and such from our everyday lives," Satch said.
"Also take a minute to assess your living situation," Satch added. "When you have the option to, buy products made out of paper, metal, wood, or glass. These materials do not pollute the air like plastics, computer parts, and paints do."
Spider Plant
The Spider Plant ($12) looks great from a hanging basket and can eliminate up to 90 percent of airborne toxins. Add one for every 100 square feet of space for optimal results.
