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Thursday, December 10th, 2009 | Author: admin

Using Houseplants to Clean Your Home’s Air

There is a heightened interest for many people to include house plants that effectively clean the air in their living environments.

Many building products commonly found today in homes contain harmful chemicals – formaldehyde, benzene and carbon monoxide are just a few of the airborne pollutants that can cause health problems down the road.

Listed below are houseplants that not only will absorb noxious pollutants in the air, but will also release fresh oxygen into your home’s environment. An additional benefit is that the care of these plants is very minimal, yet their benefits are incalculable.

Peace Lilly – this plant is identified as having long, dark green leaves and has a lily that produces a bloom that had a white hood. It can be grown in minimal light, but the ideal is a situation that provides full sunlight for the majority of the day. Peace Lilly’s are effective filters of formaldehyde, a chemical commonly emitted by particle or pressed wood found in floor coverings and furniture, fire retardants, household chemicals and clothing that’s permanent – pressed. Kerosene and natural gas are additional sources of much of the formaldehyde found in homes today.     

English Ivy – this plant effectively removes formaldehyde, and it’s usually available in over dozens of varieties. English Ivy is best grown in a hanging basket, since it climbs quite rapidly, and should be located in a place that receives indirect sunlight only. Also note – English Ivy should not be situated in an area directly in front of or below any heat registers in your home.

Rubber Plants – easy to recognize by their thick, green and dark shiny leaves, this plant is best located in an area that receives minimal sunlight. Rubber plants are good at removing formaldehyde from the air.

Palms – these are found in many varieties; areca, lady and bamboo are the most common. Not only are palms effective are removing toxins from the air, but they also have the added benefit of adding up to a gallon of moisture into the air every day. Palms are ideal for those homes that need a lot of heat during the winter, since their humidifying properties are well – known. Palms tend to do best when they’re grown in indirect light, and they should be watered to the point where their soil is faintly moist, but never obviously wet.

Florist Mum – also known as the Chrysanthemum, Florist Mums come in a variety of colors; yellows, pinks and reds are the most commonly found. Florist Mums are effective plants at ridding your home’s air of chemicals like ammonia (cleaning supplies) and benzene (often found being emitted via pesticides, gasoline, ink and paint).  

Along with the use of a Hepa purifier, houseplants can greatly add to an efficent and productive air purification system for your home. Their air filtration qualities have been well – documented over the years, and they definitely deserve a place in any home environment.

Relevant Posts

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The study concluded that common decorative houseplants such as bamboo palms and spider plants not only make indoor spaces more attractive, they also help to purify the air.

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As well as serving to beautify your interior, houseplants provide oxygen and help to clean the air.

Econundrum: 5 Houseplants That Clean Your Air

The five species listed below were the all-around top scorers; they excelled at removing all the chemicals tested.

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You might be surprised to know that the air inside your home could be dangerous.

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