Plants: Nature’s Air Purifiers
Houseplants are a great way to improve the air quality in your home, especially if you live in an urban area where fresh air is a luxury. As the winter months settle in, houseplants will keep your home’s atmosphere healthy… and your spirits are buoyed by the green, too.
Different houseplants are known for different purifying properties:
- If you have a diagnosed issue with formaldehyde, for example, stock up on any of the following genuses: aloe vera, philodendron, bamboo, rubber plants, English ivy, ficus, or Boston ferns.
- The Draceana known as “Janet Craig” is great at sucking up cigarette smoke.
- Dwarf Date Palms can neutralize xylene, a toxin found in paint and solvents.
- Peace lilies mask acetone (like in nail polish remover).
- Spider plants are a remedy for carbon monoxide. (Although if you suspect a carbon monoxide issue in your house, best to get a carbon monoxide alarm and have it looked at right away!)
- Mums (aka chrysanthemums) take care of the scent of ammonia.
- Palms (like the Areca Palm or Lady Palm) are great catchalls for generally clean air. Like a splash of color? Gerbera Daisies are good for this, too.
NASA has actually conducted an official study on the matter (The Clean Air Study, natch), so if you want to hear what the scientists have to say, Wikipedia hosts the breakdown of common houseplants and how they rate: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_air-filtering_plants