Given that indoor air quality is typically 7-10 times worse than outdoor quality,
I take every precaution I can to cleanse the air in my home. Aside from using a vacuum with a HEPA filter twice weekly, using HEPA air purifiers, and eschewing as many products that contain toxic chemicals as I can (cleaning products, air fresheners etc), I fill my living room and bedroom with plants that have been scientifically proven to purify the air of specific chemicals.
Here’s a list of the top 15:
Philodendron scandens `oxycardium’, heartleaf philodendron- Philodendron domesticum, elephant ear philodendron
- Dracaena fragrans `Massangeana’, cornstalk dracaena
- Hedera helix, English ivy
- Chlorophytum comosum, spider plant
- Dracaena deremensis `Janet Craig’, Janet Craig dracaena
- Dracaena deremensis `Warneckii’, Warneck dracaena
- Ficus benjamina, weeping fig
- Epipiremnum aureum, golden pothos
- Spathiphyllum `Mauna Loa’, peace lily
- Philodendron selloum, selloum philodendron
- Aglaonema modestum, Chinese evergreen
- Chamaedorea sefritzii, bamboo or reed palm
- Sansevieria trifasciata, snake plant
- Dracaena marginata , red-edged dracaena
NASA conducted an interesting study that found that particular plants worked well for filtering specific chemicals. For example, Bamboo Palms, and Peace Lilies were some of the group that were found to be most beneficial is filtering out the carcinogenic formaldehyde from our air.
It is best to have a selection of about 15 plants from the above list for a home that is around 2.000 square feet. I have about 10 in my living room and around 5 in each bedroom.
It’s funny this should come out today — I was researching this very topic this morning! Thanks, Sophie! Now I have all of the info at hand!
Are any of these plants toxic? With kids running around, that’s always a concern of mine.
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