8 Indoor Plants That Clean The Air In Your Container House

Shockingly, indoor air quality can be just as bad as outdoor, and in some cases is even worse. Poor air quality in your container home can lead to coughing, sore throat, shortness of breath or cause an asthma attack. Fortunately, there are a lot of ways to help improve the quality of the air you breath. You can increase ventilation, buy an air purifier, turn on your ac, or you could choose the cost effective and long-term solution of purchasing indoor plants that will do it for you. Houseplants can help get rid of toxins, decreasing the risk of allergies, asthma, cancers and other diseases. It is for this reason that they are increasingly finding their place in modern homes, not to mention the fact that they add a touch of aesthetic beauty to your home.

Household Toxins:

The top toxins that can be found in your air indoors are benzene, formaldehyde, xylene and trichloroethylene. Benzene is found in paint, glue, gasoline, detergent, and adhesives. Formaldehyde is most often in grocery bags, shampoos, disinfectants and cosmetics. Xylene is located in nail polish, paint thinner, printing ink and adhesives. Trichloroethylene is found in dues, paints, adhesives and other household products. These can be found in most homes and the plants below help to decrease the presence of these toxins in your home.



Spider Plant

The spider plant is an incredibly easy plant to grow and maintain, and also helps clean up the air quality in your home. This plant actually can clean up to 90 percent of air toxins in just two days! Spider plants grow very quickly and as the leaves flourish, they also absorb the harmful pollutants in the air. This plant thrives in bright, indirect sunlight and reduces formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene in your home. This is a great starter plant for air purification since it can take care of a lot of pollutants fairly quickly.



Dracaena

The Dracaena plant is one of the most popular indoor plants in America due to how easy it is to maintain and for its unique look. This plant removes benzene, formaldehyde, xylene and toluene from the air. This plant can grow to epic proportions, growing as high as 15 feet. This plant comes in over 40 different variations, which gives you plenty of options to choose from, and can be toxic to household pets if consumed.



Aloe Vera

Most people are already familiar with aloe vera since it is often found in healing products. An aloe vera plant is a great choice for a room with plenty of sunlight and for someone who lacks a green thumb, since it is one of the hardest plants to kill. They are incredibly easy to maintain, only needing substantial light and to be watered every few weeks. This plant helps to clear out formaldehyde and benzene, which are common air pollutants found in household cleaners and paint chemicals. Having an aloe plant also provides you with the healing attributes of the aloe gel to treat burns and cuts, so it has two benefits in one!



Peace Lilies

Peace lilies can help improve the quality of your air by 60 percent. This particular plant is special because it can take care of mold and mildew in your home, and works brilliantly in humid environments like a bathroom. Peace lilies actually absorb the mold spores into its leaves, which are then sent to the root and used as food for the plant to grow. This plant can also help to remove other toxic chemicals in the air from products like alcohol and acetone. Try putting these in one of your most humid areas and see how the appearance of mold improves.



Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums are decorative flowers that come in a wide range of colors, that also provide medicinal qualities and help to purify your air of benzene, xylene, formaldehyde, ammonia, trichloroethylene and toluene. While the health benefits of aloe are well known, most people may be unfamiliar with the medicinal qualities of chrysanthemums. This plant can be used in tea form to provide Vitamin C, respiratory relief and detoxifies the liver. Having this plant in your home, it is important to keep in mind that it is poisonous to pets and will need to be kept far away from them. These can be found in any plant nursery or floral shops, and make great plants for both decor and health purposes.



Weeping Fig

The weeping fig, also known as a ficus, is an evergreen plant that can grow up to 10 feet tall. This plant cleans up benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene in your home. It’s a fairly easy plant to grow, needing only indirect sunlight and minimal watering. However, this plant is also poisonous to animals so be careful where you put it.



Bamboo Palms

Bamboo palms, also known as reed palms, are a pet friendly plant that helps to remove formaldehyde, toluene and xylene from your environment. These grow as tall as 5 to 7 feet and don’t need a lot of light. This plant can grow small berries and flowers, which makes it a beautiful plant to have in your home.



English Ivy

English ivy is an evergreen climbing vine that helps to reduce formaldehyde along with fecal matter that has become airborne. This is especially useful for homes with household pets which are prone to greater fecal matter than most. In nature, english ivy can be invasive and take over regions, but as a potted plant it is a great addition to a home.

Most people enjoy having plants in their home for aesthetic purposes, but now that you know how well they can help your indoor air quality, they serve an extra purpose. With the large variety of plants to choose from, you can find the right one for your based on how much effort you want to put into maintaining them, the pollutants that concern you most and the overall look of the plant. Try having a few different types around the house and see how your air quality improves over time. Keep the air you breath fresh and pure for the best environment in your container home!
Share on Google Plus

About Peter Paul

Welcome to containerhomesplans.com. I've spent my career helping people upgrade their homes and improve their lives. I learned first hand about home renovation from my father, who hand-built our family home.
    Blogger Comment
    Facebook Comment