It’s no secret that pollutants are everywhere, but did you know they are also inside your home?
No matter what you do, you can always find something in your air. Whether you or a family member smoke indoors, use chemical cleaning products, cook, or even simply open the windows now and then, the air inside your home is almost certainly polluted to some extent.
The pollutants you have depend on your activities. Every home will probably have dust, maybe a little bit of mold, and some pollen. If you use chemicals inside the home, you could be breathing in benzene or even formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is one of the most common pollutants in the home.
The good news is that there’s a simple, inexpensive solution to some of these problems: houseplants. Not only do they brighten up a room, they can purify your air, for a lot cheaper than buying an electronic air cleaner. House plants produce negative ions, which attach to allergens and chemicals in the air and remove them from the air, leaving your air clean and safe to breathe in.
Here are some of the most common air purifying plants:
Spider plants may have a creepy name, but they’re one of the easiest plants to care for. They simply need some indirect sunlight (and some water of course) and they’ll filter out xylene and formaldehyde, both found in paint and chemicals.
Aloe vera does way more than clean the air. The liquid found inside the leaves can soothe burns and heal wounds. Just try our Natural Skin Gel for proof of how effective Aloe Vera is for the skin! It also takes care of formaldehyde. Aloe vera thrives best in direct sunlight.
Another good choice for formaldehyde and xylene is the Boston fern. They’re a little more high maintenance but do best with indirect sunlight and moist soil.
The peace lily filters benzene and acetone out of the air, but is much harder to care for. Not only is it not safe with pets around, but it requires regular watering, though not much light.
Another flower, the chrysanthemum needs a lot of sun, but can clean the air of benzene, ammonia, and xylene. They’re easy to find at any store that sells plants.
The snake plant is one of the easiest to take care of because it needs barely any light or water. It takes care of formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, and trichloroethylene, which can be found in dry cleaning and other products.
No matter your skill at taking care of plants, you can find one to suit you that will take care of common pollutants in your home, and make you and your family healthier! Plants also bring a bit of nature into your home and will make you feel happier and more grounded.
