You may have heard that houseplants help purify the air, but did you know that they can actually remove toxins like benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene?! These chemicals are VOC's or volatile organic compounds which are commonly present in paint, home furnishings and other household products and contribute to indoor air pollution.
With a baby on the way, I have become somewhat obsessed with creating a clean and healthy environment throughout the house. So not only am I cleaning and organizing everything in sight, but I'm also adding plants to each room of the house. I recently purchased a new Dracaena Marginata for the living room, so I was thrilled to find out that it is a great air purifier!
NASA's Clean Air Study researched common houseplants to see their effectiveness in the cleaning air. Different plants were found to be better at eliminating different chemicals. Bamboo palm, Dracaena 'Janet Craig', Mother-in-law's tongue, Dracaena Marginata, Peace lily, green Spider plant, and Golden Pathos were found to be the top seven for removing concentrations of formaldehyde in the air. Unfortunately, formaldehyde is often present in the air from furniture and cabinetry made of particle board and MDF (medium density fiberboard). It can also be found in permanent press fabrics (clothing and draperies). The good news is that NASA's research estimates 15 to 20 of the test houseplants can purify the interior of a typical house of 1,800 square feet!
The even better news is that the plants tested are very easy to grow and maintain; I've had a Pathos plant for over five years, despite months of neglect! And if you're new to gardening, an indoor plant is an easy place to start. Many of the houseplants on this list are also my favorite to use in decorating. The Bamboo Palm and Dracaena in particular have a great architectural feel to them. Check out this great post on Web Ecoist or the list on Wikipedia (click on the plant name) to see photos of all the plants tested for purifying indoor air quality.
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