Why shell out thousands of dollars for an expensive air filter when you can use a simple potted plant?
In the late 80s, NASA studied houseplants as a way to purify the space station. While they did not manage to build an air purfier from plants, NASA discovered that plants do make a difference in the air quality of a home. In fact, their research suggests homeowners should keep one plant per 100sqf of home or office space.
The plants help filter out VOCs, volatile organic compounds, which are chemical compounds in vapour-form that enter the air, contributing to air pollution in and out of the homes. While each plant doesn't filter out ALL the VOCs – it is impossible as there isn't even a full-list of all known VOCs – they do filter some.
The more you know…: VOCs include chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, carbon monoxide and xylene. All these can be found in products such as paints, furniture wax, polishes, even in inks and paint thinners.
Don't worry, only small traces of most linger in the air of homes.
But just to play it safe, here are 14 of the best plants to use for cleaner air at home:
1) Gerbera Daisy
2) English Ivy
3) Spider Plant
4) Selloum Philodendron
5) Golden Pothos a.k.a. Devil’s Ivy
6) Peace Lily
Pet owners avoid this plant! It is poisonous to animals.
7) Chinese Evergreen
8) Bamboo Palm
9) Snake plant a.k.a. Mother-in-Law’s Tongue
10) Heartleaf Philodendron
11) Red-edged Dracaena
12) Cornstalk Dracaena
13) Weeping Fig
14) Pot Mum also known as Florist’s Chrysanthemum
