18 Best Plants For Cleaning The Air In Your House According To NASA
Clean air act.
Research shows that houseplants deter illness, improve focus, and even help with the Big O — oxygen (what the hell kind of botanical garden do you think this is?). Certain plants have been proven to not just produce oxygen, but actually clean the air by removing toxic vapors and chemicals. That’s why the eggheads from NASA have extensively researched this in order to identify which plants will give you the cleanest breathing room. Unfortunately none of them will keep your kid from “catching the vapors.” They’re just going to have to outgrow that.
Back in 1989 NASA released a Clean Air Study where they, with the help of the Associated Contractors Of America (ALCA), determined then best houseplants for your home. The research, which centered around chemicals benzene, trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, xylene, and ammonia. It found that English Ivy, Peace Lilly, Florist’s Chrysanthemum, Red-Edged Dracaena, and the popular Varigated Snake Plant were among the best options for cleaner air, despite their arguably aggressive names. If those don’t strike your fancy, NASA identified 13 additional plants (18 total), including the wicked awesome Boston Fern. And you can get a good idea of what each plant looks like, as well as what toxins they take care of, thanks to a handy infographic from Love The Garden.
The NASA recommends one potted plant per 100 square feet of indoor space, which means that these house cleaners may ironically give your kid a lot more dirt to spill. It’s also important to note that many of these plants are toxic to many housepets, so be sure to check the toxicity levels on your greenery before bringing your into the home. No matter how many houseplants you buy, no one is going to breathe easy if the cat is pushing up daisies.
[H/T] My Modern Met
This article was originally published on
