Maintaining air quality is one of the biggest challenges for homeowners and using a plant that improves air quality is a natural way to remove various toxins and pollutants from the home’s inside air. Studies have shown that in many cases the inside air quality in residential homes is much worse than the outside air. There are appliances that can clean the air and regular replacement of furnace filters is necessary to maintain air quality but dropping common houseplants not only beautify the room but can also remove harmful pollutants from the home’s air.
There are many species of plant that improves air quality in your home
Houseplants are the ultimate accessory for homeowners for both home decor and healthy living purposes. Adding a plant that improves air quality to any room will enhance and lift the overall atmosphere of the space. These common houseplants are also easy to find, require very little maintenance and can fit into any lifestyle:
- The garden mum is one of the more versatile and affordable houseplants that can effectively clean the air in your home. They are widely available in grocery, hardware and gardening stores and can be used outside the home as well as inside. A NASA study gave garden mum’s the distinction of being an air purification champion and this type of plant is known to remove, benzene, ammonia, formaldehyde and xylene which are all common residential indoor air pollutants.
- Spider plants are the perfect houseplant for busy and forgetful homeowners. This plant requires very little maintenance and attention as long it is left in an bright area as it does not require direct sunlight. Spider plants grow long shoots which could produce smaller spider plants that increase its air scrubbing ability. Spider plants process harmful formaldehyde and xylene from household air and make empty room corners functional.
- When it comes to complimenting your home's unique style, the 40 different types of Dracaena plants offer a wide range of houseplants that will fit into any decor or theme. Some species even have traces of colors that offer even more individual style. These plants are excellent at removing benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and xylene from the air but they are not known as being pet friendly and pet owners should consider other types of houseplants.
- The Ficus/Weeping Fig is another amazing low maintenance plant that grows better when it's soil dries between watering. The Ficus is one of those versatile houseplants that can flourish outside during the spring and summer and be brought indoors during fall and winter to spruce up the inside and clean and purify the air. Requiring just indirect sunlight, these plants can take over its space and have been known to grow to over 10 feet tall. This species is great at removing benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from your home's air.
- The small size of Peace Lily's make them a great choice for tables and desks. While small in size, these little flowers are air scrubbing pros removing pollutants like ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from the surrounding air. The only downside is that these plants do flower at certain times of the year and could release pollens and floral scents which allergy sensitive people may react to. Relatively low maintenance, Peace Lily's do need moist soil but flourish is shady areas of the home or office.
- If you have any areas of your home that have high humidity, the Boston Fern is the ideal plant for air cleaning in that room. These ferns grow well in cool locations with indirect sunlight but they do need moist soil and should be checked and watered daily. Boston ferns are effective at processing formaldehyde and xylene from the air and you should give it a good once a month soaking.
- As the name implies, the Snake Plant or Mother in Law's Tongue is impossible to kill but ironically requires very little attention and grows better in drier conditions. This particular mother in law does bring benefits to your home by removing benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and xylene which has been commonly found in household air.
- Bamboo Palm is considered an air cleaning machine in the houseplant category. Growing from 4 to 12 feet, these plants can filter and purify large amounts of air just based on its larger size. Bamboo palms have a serene and calming effect when added to any room and are completely pet friendly. These large plants effectively scrub the air of benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and xylene from the home. Make sure to place them in areas of full sunlight so they can achieve full growth.
- Aloe Vera is a super plant that not only purifies the air of formaldehyde but also produces oils that have many skin healing and conditioning benefits. This low maintenance miracle also looks great in any design theme and will complement any space with both its beauty and healthy living properties.
Placing a plant that improves air quality is an easy and efficient way to maintain the environment in your home but you may be experiencing other more serious air quality issues that require a specialists attention. A certified and trained air quality specialist will provide a complete and detailed air quality report for your home and offer solutions that are specific to your home’s air quality needs.
Using a plant that improves air quality is a smart choice for better health in the home
Houseplants not only add life to any space, they can also help purify the air inside the home. Indoor quality has always been a challenge in residential type properties as many factors can contribute to lower quality air. Strategically placed plants can process and remove harmful toxins and pollutants that can build up inside. While plants are super effective, they aren’t a 100% solution and a highly trained air quality specialist from InchByInch can provide detailed air quality testing and solutions and preventative measures for increasing and maintaining air quality.