A few houseplants can do wonders for your home. Something about them makes things seem fresher and more inviting. As it turns out, there is proven science behind that fresh feeling. During the 1989 NASA Clean Air Study, researchers tested a variety of common houseplants for their ability to remove common airborne pollutants like benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene. These substances are found in most homes, and they come from a wide range of sources – cigarette smoke, new carpets, paints, plastics, rubbers, dyes, household cleaners, insulation, plywood, paper products, inks, adhesives, and more.
The study’s results were nothing short of amazing. Researchers found that many houseplants were capable of removing up to 87% of indoor air pollutants from a confined space in under 24 hours. If you’d like to put the purifying power of plants to work in your home, here are some of the best to try!
7 Best Air-Purifying House Plants
Mums. The plant with the most purifying power is the Chrysanthemum morifolium, or the potted mum, that you can find at garden centers and grocery stores in the fall. While mostly a fall outdoor plant, you can bring them in when the weather gets cold. And you’re going to want to! During NASA’s tests, these beauties cleaned up 61% of the formaldehyde, 53% of the benzene and 41.2% of the trichloroethylene—all while sending up a profusion of colorful blooms.
Gerbera Daisies. Gerbera daisies are another colorful flower that packs a purifying punch. In 24 hours, this flower removed half of the airborne formaldehyde, 67% of the benzene and 35% of the trichloroethylene.
Peace Lilies. Among all the plants in this study, the peace lily is one of the most popular. The Clean Air Study showed that in one day, peace lilies can remove up to a quarter of some airborne toxins. The benzene test, however, is where these plants really stood out, sucking up an amazing 79.5% of this toxin.
Dracaena. It turns out that the dracaena family is really good at air purification – particularly when it comes to benzene. The Marginata variety, or red-edged dracaena, is one of the best, removing up to 80% of this toxin from the air. Janet Craig, a green dracaena, removes 77.6% of benzene, and Warneckei, the striped dracaena, works well against benzene and formaldehyde, removing half of both toxins from the air.
English Ivy. If you like trailing plants, then English ivy is a must for your houseplant collection. It was the top plant at benzene removal, taking care of 90% of the toxin within 24 hours, and it also removed small amounts of other toxins as well.
Snake Plant. It goes by a number of names – St. George’s sword, mother-in-law’s tongue or simply sansevieria – but it’s easily recognizable by the long, stiff leaves edged in yellow. This plant removes 52.6% of airborne benzene along with a substantial amount of formaldehyde.
Ficus. A staple plant in homes and offices, ficus trees are great at toxin removal. During NASA’s tests, these trees cleaned up 47.4% of the airborne formaldehyde they were exposed to along with 30% of the benzene and 10.5% of trichloroethylene.
The plants listed above are some of the best at removing airborne toxins, but they’re by no means the only houseplants that will get the job done. Most plants will absorb toxins to some degree, and the NASA study also found that with continued exposure over a period of six weeks, houseplants doubled their capacity to clean up the air.
Other Toxins Houseplants Remove
Furthermore, benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene aren’t the only toxins that plants will remove. They’ll take care of a wide range of pollutants found in smoke, solvents, finishes and household chemicals. What’s more, the plants aren’t the only things that reduce pollution levels. The potting soil helps, too. The NASA study found that leaving the soil exposed so that there was room for air to circulate between the plant’s lowest leaves and the soil line increased toxin absorption by 15%.
If you’ve ever kept houseplants, then you know that caring for them can be good for the soul; the NASA Clean Air Study proves that they’re good for your health, too.
Amber Kanuckel is a freelance writer from rural Ohio who loves all things outdoors. She specializes in home, garden, environmental, and green living topics.
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