Top 5 Non-Toxic Houseplants for Cleansing the Air!
Did you know that indoor air pollution is two to five times higher than outdoor air pollution, it can even be 100 times higher?!! On top of that, the average person spends 90% of their time indoors. When I learned these facts from the Environmental Protection Agency, I wanted to figure out ways to help keep indoor air quality healthy.
One way to help purify the air in your home is by having houseplants. You can easily find houseplants that cleanse the air with a quick google search, however it’s not as easy to find which of these houseplants are non-toxic. This blog posts includes the top 5 non-toxic houseplants that you can use to help cleanse the air in your home and make it safer for all members of your family by being non-toxic for dogs, cats, and kids.
Do Houseplants Really Cleanse the Air?
Yes, houseplants do cleanse the air but it can vary based on the the environment.
You may be familiar with the NASA study from 1989 which reported on plants removing harmful chemicals like benzene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde from the air. Science shows that plants do remove chemical toxins, however applying the results to homes are different because the studies were done in controlled lab environments. So there doesn’t seem to be many studies about results in a typical home, and variable growing conditions. If you want to learn more about how plants purify the air and what studies have been done then check out this research article.
If you are looking for additional ways to cleanse the air, then check-out my post about 7 simple tips to purify air in your home.
Top 5 Non-Toxic Houseplants That Cleanse The Air
According to my research, here are non-toxic house plants for cats, dogs, and kids that also do a great job cleansing the air.
Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Spider plants are one of the most popular non-toxic houseplants and are easy to care for. This PubMed study states spider plants are known for “purifying indoor air by absorbing carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, xylene, and many other hazardous gases.”
Gerbera daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)
This houseplant is a beautiful addition to your home and can be used as a low-maintenance plant with the added benefit of purifying the air. According to the NASA study, It’s known for removing formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and benzene from indoor environments.
Broadleaf Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa)
This is another non-toxic houseplant that’s great for purifying your home, and it can withstand low light. According to the NASA study, It can remove benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, toluene, and ammonia from indoor air.
Kimberley Queen Fern (Nephrolepis obliterata)
This is another non-toxic plant that can help clear the air. They are also easy to care for and great low-maintenance plants. Another benefit of this fern is that it removes formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene from indoor environments.
Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis)
Moth orchids are one of the most popular houseplants and also one of the easiest to care for. They are known for their ability to remove pollutants including formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene from indoor environments.
Final Thoughts
Whether you choose one or several of these non-toxic houseplants, you will be doing your family a great service by helping to cleanse the air and BONUS plants have other benefits like having positive feelings, stress reduction, productivity, pain reduction, and quicker recovery after surgery. With so many beautiful options to choose from, adding plants to your home is an easy and effective way to improve your family’s health and well-being.
