According to a study commissioned by NASA, houseplants don’t just make your home look prettier and more welcoming; they also serve to clean the air of common toxins including benzene, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde. Sources of these toxins include oils, paints, plastics, tobacco smoke, foam insulation and pressed wood products such as flooring, cabinets and furniture.
The top ten house-cleaning plants are listing below. For maximum effectiveness, a home or office should have one potted plant per 100 sqare feet.
Bamboo Palm
Chinese Evergreen
English Ivy
Gerbera Daisy
Janet Craig/Dracaena
Marginata/Dracaena
Mass Cane/Corn Plant
Mother-in-Law’s Tongue
Pot Mum/Chrysanthemum
Peace Lily
Warneckii/Dracaena
More resources:
Zone 10 (a homeowner’s plant and garden website with an easy-to-understand summary of NASA’s findings)
NASA article on plants for indoor air quality
NASA’s Environmental Assurance Program (links to published research at bottom)
