Best Air Purifying Plants for Every Room in Your House

The air inside our homes may seem clean, but in reality, it often contains hidden pollutants that pose great health risks. Individuals who suffer from respiratory or cardiovascular disease are most susceptible to indoor air pollution, especially when exposed to long periods of it at a time. 

So what causes indoor air pollution?

According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are many factors that contribute to inadequate air quality, and that includes sources like household cleaning products, cooking emissions, and tobacco smoke. Additionally, pollution that release gas and/or particles in the air, high temperature, and humidity levels can increase the concentrations of said pollutants.

Many cleaning, cosmetic, and hobby products contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which are chemicals that can release gas into the air. These VOCs come from everyday products we often find in grocery stores. When these products are used, they release gases that can stay in the air even after you’re done using them, which may affect the air quality around you.

Some common household sources of VOCs include:

• Aerosol sprays, such as air fresheners and moth repellents
• Cleansers and disinfectants
• Hobby supplies, such as graphics and craft materials (including glues and adhesives, permanent markers, and photographic solutions)
• Dry-cleaned clothing
• Paints, paint strippers, and other agents
• Stored fuels and automotive products
  
• Wood preservatives
• Office equipment, such as copiers and printers, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper

One way to combat VOC's is by introducing air-purifying plants in your home. Studies, including the famous NASA study done by Dr. Bill Wolverton in 1989, have shown that house plants naturally absorb toxins in the air, filter out the harmful chemicals, and even increase humidity in one's environment. Plants naturally photosynthesis, which later turns carbon dioxide (a natural byproduct), water, and sunlight into oxygen and energy. 

Let's explore the best air-purifying plants for each section of your home and how they contribute to cleaner, fresher air.

Best Air Purifying Plants for Each Home Section

Living Room: Large and Statement Plants

For larger rooms, such as the living room, it's best to find a plant that can cover a wide range of space to not only expunge toxins such as formaldehyde, but also increase humidity. Larger plants with bigger leaves such as the Areca Palm and Rubber Plant are effective in removing commons toxins found in homes. The increased humidity can combat the dry air caused by a modern home's heating and cooling system.

• Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)
  • Light Needs: Prefers bright, indirect light but can tolerate some low light
  • Maintenance: Requires moderate watering and occasional cleaning of the leaves to keep it healthy
• Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
  • Light Needs: Prefers bright, indirect light but can adapt to lower light levels
  • Maintenance: Low maintenance overall, needs occasional pruning, and watering when the soil dries out
• Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
  • Light Needs: Tolerates a wide range of light conditions, from low light to bright, indirect light
  • Maintenance: Low maintenance, drought-tolerant, and requires minimal watering
    

Bedroom: Plants for Better Sleep and Clean Air

Enhancing air quality promotes a more peaceful and restful sleep environment.

• Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
  • Light Needs: Bright, indirect light and can tolerate some direct sunlight
  • Maintenance: Water moderately, but ensure it has good drainage to avoid root rot
• Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller)
  • Light Needs: Bright, indirect light but can tolerate some direct sunlight
  • Maintenance: Very low maintenance, requiring minimal watering, let the soil dry out completely between waterings
• Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum spp.)
  • Light Needs: Moderate to low light
  • Maintenance: Easy to care for, keep the soil moist and remove dead flowers regularly, can tolerate occasional neglect
    

Kitchen: Plants to Combat Cooking Pollutants

Common kitchen toxins include formaldehyde, carbon monoxide from stoves and ovens, and benzene (another VOC) released during cooking, especially when preparing meat. VOCs can also come from paints, cleaning products, and even burning food. To help mitigate these risks, it’s recommended to incorporate plants that can absorb carbon monoxide and other harmful compounds.

• Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
  • Light Needs: Prefers bright, indirect light but can tolerate lower light levels.
  • Maintenance: Very easy to care for, needs moderate watering and occasional trimming to maintain its shape
• Herbs (Basil, Rosemary, Mint)
  • Light Needs: Herbs like basil, rosemary, and mint need bright light to grow well
  • Maintenance: These plants need regular watering and occasional pruning to encourage growth, make sure to harvest leaves regularly to prevent them from becoming too leggy
• Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)
  • Light Needs: Thrives in low to moderate light, but it does best in indirect light
  • Maintenance: Low maintenance, needing occasional watering when the soil is dry, that can be pruned as needed
    

Bathroom: Moisture-Loving and Mold-Resistant Plants

Bathrooms are prone to have molding and mildew issues, thus having high-humidity plants such as Boston Ferns and Bamboo Palms, help alleviate those problems. They are also low in maintenance when it comes to light, which are great for bathrooms that don't have much sunlight.

• Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
  • Light Needs: Prefers indirect light but can tolerate lower light levels
  • Maintenance: Low maintenance, requires consistent moisture and high humidity, should be watered regularly to keep the soil moist
• Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)
  • Light Needs: Prefers low to moderate light.
  • Maintenance: Low maintenance, needs occasional watering when the soil dries out, and should be placed in a spot with humidity
• Orchid (Orchidaceae)
  • Light Needs: Needs bright, indirect light but can tolerate some lower light conditions
  • Maintenance: Orchids are more particular and require specific care, including watering when the roots are dry and occasional fertilizing; they also benefit from a high-humidity environment like a bathroom
    

Home Office: Plants for Productivity and Clean Air

Home offices often contain supplies that release harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzene, and other VOCs found in furniture, electronics (like printers and scanners), and cleaning products. Incorporating air-purifying plants can create a healthier workspace, reducing the risk of fatigue, headaches, and discomfort.

• English Ivy (Hedera helix)
  • Light Needs: Prefers moderate to bright, indirect light
  • Maintenance: Easy to maintain, just water when the soil dries out; may need regular trimming
• ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
  • Light Needs: Thrives in low to moderate light and can adapt to low-light spaces
  • Maintenance: Low maintenance, requires minimal watering and can tolerate neglect in terms of light and water
• Philodendron (Philodendron spp.)
  • Light Needs: Prefers moderate to bright, indirect light but can also adapt to lower light conditions
  • Maintenance: Low-maintenance, needing moderate watering when the soil is dry
    

Conclusion

By including air-purifying plants in your home, you can naturally improve the air quality, reducing common toxins, and boost overall well-being. Each plant can provide a certain effectiveness based on what you might need in your space. Prioritize having clean air is a simple yet powerful way to create a more comfortable and productive living space.