How House Plants Clean up Your Home's Air

Clean Up Your Home's Air With Houseplants

June 2, 2017

Nobody wants to breathe unhealthy air, but with all the chemicals used to manufacture everyday products, it's hard to know how to get good indoor air quality in your home. There are a number of solutions available. One that might surprise many people is houseplants. In addition to bringing beauty to your home, houseplants can actually help clean your air. The plant itself acts as a filter for many different gases, some of which occur naturally in the air and some of which are emitted from our furniture, electronics, and other household items. In addition, microbes in the plant's soil help remove even more pollutants. With such a large variety of houseplants that can help improve your indoor air quality, you should be able to find one that fits your home and gardening abilities. Here are some attractive, easy-to-grow options to choose from:
  • The Spider Plant - Spider Plants are great at removing formaldehyde, a gas emitted from many building materials, unvented gas stoves, and cigarette smoke. Spider plants are easy to care for. They prefer indirect sunlight and do well in hanging baskets that can be kept out of the reach of pets and small children.
  • The Bamboo Palm - In addition to formaldehyde, the Bamboo Palm is good at filtering benzene, a cancer-causing gas found in gasoline emissions and tobacco smoke. Bamboo Palms like lots of direct sunlight. They can grow fairly tall, so use them in rooms where you have plenty of space. They're also non-toxic for cats and dogs, making them a good choice for homes with pets.
  • The Lady Palm - The Lady Palm is good for filtering ammonia, which can be found in many cleaners, dyes, and fabrics. The Lady Palm is a slow grower but can get as tall as 13 feet over time, so it's a great choice for rooms with high ceilings. The Lady Palm does well in indirect light.
For more information about indoor air quality or other HVAC concerns in the Des Moines area, contact Lozier Heating & Cooling today! Our goal is to help educate our customers in the greater Des Moines, Iowa area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).