Fun fact: NASA did a study in 1989 to see which plants best purified the air of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Not-so-fun fact: Your home’s air is probably filled with those VOCs.
According to the Environmental Protection agency (EPA), the average home’s air is two to five times more polluted than the outdoor air.
How is that possible?
Well, you may be unknowingly polluting your air with variety of cleaning solutions and other products that emit chemicals.
Common VOCs found in homes include:
- Benzene (a carcinogen that can cause cancer) – Found in paint, glue, furniture wax, and detergent.
- Formaldehyde – Found in pressed wood products, furniture and personal care products
- Trichloroethylene – Found in glues, spot removers, rug cleaning fluids, paints, paint removers and metal cleaners.
But worry not!
Give these seven NASA-approved plants a home in your home, and they’ll start cleaning your air pronto.
1) Bamboo palm
Removes:
- Benzene
- Formaldehyde
- Trichloroethylene (a chemical found in the dry cleaning process).
The bamboo palm also has other uses, including repelling spider mites and emitting moisture, which helps since the air in Bullhead, Lake Havasu, Prescott Valley and Kingman can be quite dry.
2) Gerbera Daisies
Removes:
- Trichloroethylene
- Benzene
Do you have sleep apnea or other breathing disorders? Place gerbera daisies next to your bed. They continue to release oxygen at night, helping you breathe easy and get a good night’s sleep.
3) Peace lily
Removes:
- Acetone
- Ammonia
- Benzene
- Ethyl acetate
- Formaldehyde
- Methyl alcohol
- Trichloroethylene
- Xylene
The Peace lily is easy to grow, only requiring low bright light and weekly watering.
4) Spider plant
Removes:
- Formaldehyde
- Carbon monoxide
- Benzene
- Xylene
Makes a great indoor plant since it tolerates artificial light well. Place it near your fireplace or in your kitchen to absorb the carbon monoxide out of the air.
5) Chrysanthemums (also called Pot Mum)
Removes: Benzene (found in many laundry detergents, plastics and glues)
This flower thrives in bright indirect sunlight and lives for about six weeks.
6) Snake Plant
Removes: Formaldehyde, commonly found in personal care products and pressed wood products, like particle board).
Place the snake plant in your bathroom and around your living room near new furniture.
Warning: This plant is toxic if ingested. So keep it away from pets.
7) Massangeana Cane
Removes: Formaldehyde
Because it is tolerant of indoor light and inexpensive to buy, the Mass Cane is a widely used interior plant.
Worried about your home’s air quality?
Does anyone in your home have asthma or allergy problems?
Are you worried that your home’s air is making their lives miserable?
Live in Las Vegas, Bullhead, Lake Havasu City, Kingman, or Prescott Valley? Talk to Pitzer’s One Hour about our indoor air quality solutions, like the Micro Power Guard Air Cleaner.
By Brian Cline
Brian Cline is the general manager for Pitzer’s One Hour Air Conditioning and Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Northern Arizona. He can be reached at brian@pitzerair.com.