You probably spend most of your time indoors, whether at home or at work, so it’s important to ensure that the air you breathe inside is clean and healthy. Poor air quality can lead to lots of health problems, including asthma.
EPA studies have found that indoor pollutant levels can be two to five times higher than outdoors. Poor ventilation, synthetic building materials and chemicals used for cleaning can add up to create a toxic environment inside your home.
Luckily, Mother Nature has your back. Many houseplants can metabolize some toxic chemicals, removing them from the air you breathe. Plus, as plants remove carbon dioxide from the air, they release fresh oxygen into your home.
NASA has performed numerous studies on how to purify the air that astronauts breathe in space. Their studies have shown that the maximum benefit is achieved by combining multiple types of plants, because each species excels at removing certain types of toxins from the air:
Best Houseplants for Purifying Indoor Air Quality
Golden pothos (Epipremnum aureum) reduced air levels of benzene and trichloroethylene in one NASA study. This plant is sometimes known as devil’s ivy because it is nearly impossible to kill. The drawback of this particular species is that it is very toxic to dogs and cats.
Ferns are especially good at filtering formaldehyde out of the air. One of the best fern species for air purification is the Japanese royal fern (Osmunda japonica).
The common garden mum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) is a very popular plant for purifying indoor air. Not only does it remove multiple toxins from the air including trichloroethylene, benzene, formaldehyde and ammonia, but it is also colorful, affordable and easy to find. A number of pests love to eat these mums, however, so keeping this plant alive can be tricky.
On the other hand, spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) are some of the easiest houseplants to grow. This plant is a great choice for those just starting to consider indoor plants to improve indoor air quality. These plants love bright, indirect sunlight. They are useful for removing formaldehyde and xylene from the environment.
Houseplants in the Ficus genus often have the ability to purify your room’s air quality. Some popular favorites in this group include the rubber plant (Ficus elastica) and weeping fig (Ficus benjamina).
If you’re looking to clean the air in a room which receives low light, there are a few plants to suit your needs: umbrella tree (Schefflera), Chinese evergreen (Aglaonema), or mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata). All of these houseplants thrive in low light environments.
Refresh Your Home Environment
If your home environment is feeling stale and ready for a refresh, visit Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet. Also, visit theLOFT at our Acworth, Georgia location for a unique collection of home decor and furniture, including hand-crafted wood furniture made by local artisans.
We partner with local craftsman who can create custom furniture that reflects the latest industry trends and styles. Rather than purchasing furniture that is made a world away invest in a piece that is built with reclaimed wood from a local barn or mill. It’s no wonder that furniture made from reclaimed wood is extremely popular, since it gives the furniture a sense of local history and a distinct personality.
Visit one of our Atlanta area furniture stores today!
