You try to eat right and exercise to keep your body healthy, but keeping your home healthy is just as important. Adding highly-rated air-purifying houseplants to your space is an easy way to make your home healthier. We’ve selected the best plants that clean indoor air and are also easy to care for.
We spend the majority of our time indoors where the air quality tends to have 2-5 times more volatile organic compounds (VOCs) than outdoors. Everyday things like the upholstery for furniture, the wood in your floors and cabinets, and chemicals in the cleaning products under your sink can emit a variety of toxins including benzene and formaldehyde, which are both known to cause cancer and other health issues.
Luckily, removing these toxins and cleaning the air indoors is as easy as finding the right indoor plant. In one NASA study, it was found that certain houseplants removed up to 70% of formaldehyde from the air! Keep your home healthy with one (or all!) of these easy indoor plants that not only look beautiful but also naturally clean your indoor air and can even boost your mood.
Sansevieria
Highlighted in NASA’s study of plants that remove air pollutants, Sansevierias (also known as a snapke plant or mother-in-law’s tongue) are incredibly easy to care for and are highly adaptable to all different types of light conditions.
—
Removes: benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and xylene
Golden Pothos
Low-maintenance and hardy, the Neon Pothos was also featured as highly effective in NASA’s study of plants that remove air pollutants.
—
Removes: formaldehyde
Kimberly Queen Fern
This variety of fern helps raise the humidity and improves air quality just like it’s cousin the Boston Fern—however, it’s cleaner and doesn’t shed as much.
—
Removes: formaldehyde and xylene
Dracaena Janet Craig
Incredibly easy to care for, Dracaenas not only remove toxins, but have also been found to improve attention span and boost memory.
—
Removes: benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and xylene
Red Aglaonema
Also known as a Chinese Evergreen, Aglaonemas are resilient and adapt to nearly every light condition.
—
Removes: benzene and formaldehyde
