How to Clean Air with Houseplants

Member

By Susang6
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating: (31 Ratings)

Peace Lily

You have heard the saying “my house is making me sick”. Chances are it’s true. There are high levels of pollution in our homes. Cleaning products, tobacco, paint, varnishes, and ammonia are among a few of the toxins that are in our home air. We could open our windows, and plug in an air purifier, or we could add some houseplants. Several specific houseplants absorb harmful toxins. These plants not only clean our air, but they also increase morale and keep us healthy. Here are some houseplants that will clean the air in your home.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Philodendron
Spider plant
Ivy
Palm
Peace Lily

Step 1

Philodendron

Place the philodendron on a plant pedestal in your bedroom or den. The philodendron is an easy care plant. It prefers indirect light. Philodendron will remove formaldehyde from the air.
Step 2

Hang an arrangement of english ivy in your kitchen; it will look great trailing down the side of a bakers rack, or in a hanging container next to a window. English Ivy will remove tobacco from the air.
Step 3

Spicer Plant

Remove formaldehyde toxins from your home with a spider plant. This plant has runners that produce attractive foliage. Leaves are green with touches of cream. A healthy plant will produce a delicate flower. This plant is the perfect size for any room.
Step 4

Peace Lily

Place the peace lily under a floor lamp or in a corner of a room. This plant is easy to grow, and prefers indirect light. The peace lily plant has large leaves and bears an interesting white flower. This plant will clean the air in your home by removing the chemical benzene from the air.
Step 5

Palm

Breathe easier by placing a palm plant in the corner of a large room. The attractive foliage will give the room an exotic appearance and will remove the chemical trichloroethylene. Palm prefers a warm location, away from drafts, and indirect light.
Step 6

When your home air is clean, you will notice that you and your family will be happier and healthier. Be sure to place a houseplant in every room. On average, it takes 24 hours to filter the toxins from the air.

Comments

ssweeks6 said

Flag This Comment

on 11/1/2009 Clean air using house plants is a great article. Thank you 5*

francisfour said

on 9/4/2009 Thank you for this article. I have had several plants in the past but they always get infested with tiny bugs. What do I do? Have any ideas? I love plants and would like to put this article to use. Other than my problem, very well descriptive article. You know what you are talking about. Good job!!!!

EarthMother said

on 8/14/2009 How to Clean Air with Houseplants - talk about bring the outdoors in. It makes sense since outside is so clean and healthy if it wasn't for our poluting it. Smile!