Live Well

Houseplants that Naturally Purify Air

Have you ever considered how much time you spend indoors? Particularly during cold, snowy winter months, many of us only venture outside to shovel or take the trash to the curb. That’s why welcoming a few air-friendly indoor plants into your home can help. According to research from NASA, the addition of a few potted plants can help purify the indoor air you and your family are breathing.

The following plants are considered tops for reducing processing carbon dioxide vis photosynthesis, and literally cleaning the air, which in turn helps lower inhabitant stress, high blood pressure, depression, and metal fatigue:

  1. Peace lily
    Like the name suggests, these lily plants boost the peace and wellness in your home. Peace lilies flower during warmer months, emitting a subtle sweet scent while absorbing benzene, trichloroethylene, ammonia, and formaldehyde particles from inner air. To enjoy their massing air-cleaning benefits all year long, place your peace lily in a shady area of the house and spitz the plant’s soil, but resist the urge to overwater. Keep in mind, if you have cats or dogs, this lily is toxic.
  1. Aloe vera
    While aloe vera is already a renowned sunburn, psoriasis, and wound healer. Add to the fact that this plant also removes pollutants like formaldehyde from the air within your home sweet home. And yes, if you just so happen to burn yourself baking chocolate chip cookies, you can break off an aloe leave and use the vitamin-rich inner gel to soothe your pain and speed healing.
  1. Spider plant
    Believe me when I say, you want this sort of spider in your home. Spider plants are easy to care for and they rid the inner air of pollutants like xylene and formaldehyde. Unlike the creepy, eight-legged insect, spider plants flourish in bright, indirect sunny spots.
  1. Ficus
    This hardy plant, also known as a weeping fig, can grow in heights up to 10 feet tall. So before you decide to “get figgy”, make sure you have the ceiling height to accommodate this low maintenance air purifier. Ficus will remove air pollutants like trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, and benzene. Yuck.
  1. Dracaena
    In addition to being a great roommate, the dracaena comes in over 40 varieties (i.e., red, white or cream variegated leaves) so you can easily match it to your decor. Dracaena plants remove harmful xylene, benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from inner air. However, vets warn they can be toxic to cats and dogs.