Plants add many positive benefits to a home. They brighten up any living space and make it more inviting. In addition, plants add oxygen to a room, which can improve the health of you and your home. As an aside, we always recommend that, if you have a forced air gas furnace, have a reputable duct cleaning service out once a year. Something we discovered recently is that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that indoor air quality is often up to 10 times worse than outside! So consider adding one or more of these indoor plants to help purify the air in your home.
Aloe Vera
This easy-to-grow, sun-loving succulent helps clear formaldehyde and benzene, which can be a byproducts of chemical-based cleaners, paints and more. Aloe is a smart choice for a sunny kitchen window. Beyond its air-cleaning abilities, the gel inside an aloe plant can help heal cuts and burns.
Spider Plant
If you tend to neglect houseplants, you’ll have a hard time killing this resilient plant. With lots of rich foliage and tiny white flowers, the spider plant battles benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene, a solvent used in the leather, rubber and printing industries. In fact, NASA places this plant among the top 3 types of houseplants that are great at removing formaldehyde specifically.
Gerber Daisy
This bright, flowering plant is effective at removing trichloroethylene, which you may bring home with your dry cleaning. It also absorbs carbon dioxide and gives off oxygen overnight, which is said to improve your sleep! Add one to a room with lots of sun.
Chrysanthemum*
The colorful flowers of a chrysanthemum can do a lot more than brighten a home office or living room. The blooms also help filter out benzene, a common household chemical and known carcinogen which is commonly found in glue, paint, plastics and detergent.
Peace Lily*
Peace Lilies are known for removing benzene, and are said to remove mold spored in the air, making them great for bathrooms, kitchens and laundry rooms. They also purify the air of trichloroethlene, a chemical found in cleaners and solvents; and remove alcohols, acetone, and formaldehyde.
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*Please take note that some plants are poisonous to pets. If you have animals in your home, check with the ASPCA for a list of poisonous plants to avoid.
