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You can clean your home to get rid of dirt and dust, but what do you do to reduce harmful toxins from cleaning products, external pollution, and packaging?
Already known for absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, a number of indoor plants also help remove toxic chemicals from the air. So, while you pull on the yellow rubber gloves and scrub, a well-placed indoor plant can do the other cleaning for you. Read on to find out more about the best kinds of air-purifying plants, and how to look after them.
At All Green, you can find indoor plants to clean the air in our huge nursery range. Visit us in-store at our nursery in Hoppers Crossing, or check out our range online.
5 indoor plants that clean air and remove toxins
From beautiful trailing plants like Devil's Ivy, to succulents like Mother In Law's Tongue, here are the best air purifying indoor plants.
1. Devil's Ivy
Also known as the Money Plant, Devil's Ivy is a favoured indoor plant of Feng Shiu and Vastu. It is considered an energy force that cleanses the negative energy of a room. This makes sense because it does remove a wide range of toxins and pollutants from the air.
The tough trailing Devil's Ivy will grow virtually anywhere you place it. It's very easy to look after, and will easily tolerate neglect for a while before it gets grumpy. it's one of the few plants the can grow in little to no light, and survive drought-like conditions and cold temperatures.
Removes toxins such as:
- Formaldehyde
- Benzene
- Xylene
- Toluene
- Carbon monoxide
2. Peace Lily
Another great low maintenance plant, the Peace Lily doesn't just remove toxins from the air — it also has a high transpiration rate. This means it also humidifies indoor air. Increasing the humidity in your home, and reducing the toxins in the air, will benefit your respiratory systems and skin health — especially for those who suffer from hayfever, allergies, or asthma.
To get the best results from your Peace Lily, make sure it is watered thoroughly and then allowed to dry out between waterings. The leaves should be misted frequently with warm water and washed occasionally to prevent pest infestations.
Removes toxins such as:
- Formaldehyde
- Trichloroethylene
- Benzene
- Acetone
- Alcohols
Pro tip: The plant's leaves contain calcium oxalate and should be kept away from furry pals, babies, and toddlers.
3. Spider Plant
With rich foliage and tiny white flowers, the Spider Plant removes a range of toxins from the air (while also looking very pretty). They're easy to maintain and will grow quite happily in medium-to-light shade and moist air. This plant is best known for decreasing carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide levels.
- Formaldehyde
- Benzene
- Xylene
- Toluene
- Ethylbenzene
Pro tip: Spider plants thrive best in cool-to-average temperatures and dry soil.
4. Mother In Law's Tongue
While most indoor plants release carbon dioxide at night, this plant continues to release oxygen. This is why it's also known as 'the bedroom plant'. In fact, if you placed 6-8 plants in one room, one person could survive with no airflow.
Best of all, Mother In Law's Tongue is low maintenance, and hard to kill. Place yours in a position where it will experience light for a couple of hours a day, and water once every couple of weeks.
Removes toxins such as:
- Formaldehyde
- Trichloroethylene
- Benzene
- Xylene
- Toluene
Pro tip: The only way to make this plant unhappy is to overwater it. To avoid this, dig your finger in the soil until it reaches your first knuckle. If it is moist, do not water.
5. Bamboo Palm
These tropical plants don't just help purify the air. They also repel spider mites. During winter, when the temperature falls and the air gets dry, Bamboo Palms add humidity to the air.
To keep your plant happy, place it in a position out of direct sunlight, and take special care not to overwater your plant or leave it sitting in water — these can lead to root rot.
Removes toxins such as:
- Formaldehyde
- Trichloroethylene
- Benzene
- Xylene
- Chloroform
Pro tip: Feed your Bamboo Palm all-purpose liquid fertiliser during hot summers to keep it thriving.
