Turn over a new leaf with some help from these air-purifying plants
Air-cleaning houseplants like snake plants, spider plants, and peace lilies remove common indoor pollutants such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from your home.
Your houseplants work best when you match them to your space, placing low-light options like English ivy in dim rooms and humidity-loving Boston ferns in bathrooms.
You can improve indoor air quality by choosing flowering plants like gerbera daisies or chrysanthemums, which filter pollutants through both leaves and petals for stronger results.
Hiring a local gardening professional helps you select the right plants for your home and keeps them thriving with proper care advice tailored to your space.
Whether you have a green thumb or not, bringing plant life into your home is an easy way to clear the air—literally! That’s because many common, easy-to-care-for houseplants have been scientifically proven to eliminate air pollutants that are common in indoor environments.
Use this guide to find a houseplant for freshening the air that suits both your personal preferences and indoor gardening skill level.
Also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, snake plants do a lot of heavy lifting despite how low maintenance they are. They’re part of the dracaena genus, a category of plants that’s filled with houseplants for clean air, like warneckii and marginata.
According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s 1989 clean air study, snake plants are among the most effective at removing common volatile organic compounds (VOCs), like benzene in detergent, trichloroethylene in paint, and formaldehyde in cleaning agents. And, unlike plants that rely on sunlight to produce oxygen, snake plants actually work by night. Keep this houseplant in your bedroom to ensure fresh, clean air while you sleep.
Spider plants are low-maintenance but they have a lot of air-clearing capabilities. The NASA study that they greatly reduce levels of benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and xylene—a compound found in many solvents and paint thinners—in indoor environments.
This flowering plant is another that’s great at reducing levels of benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene, among other VOCs. Though it may begin to wilt when left unwatered for an extended period of time, a quick run under the sink is usually all it takes to make it bounce back to its original greatness.
But this plant is also toxic to animals, so make sure to keep it out of reach from any furry friends in your household.
English Ivy is a great option for you if you don’t get a lot of natural light in your home because it’s actually better off in shaded or dim environments than sunny ones. Like the other plants on this list, it’s also adept at removing VOCs like benzene and formaldehyde from indoor settings.
Recent research from the Netherlands shows that Boston ferns, among other ferns, are some of the most effective houseplants for removing VOCs from indoor environments, including benzene and formaldehyde. They thrive in humid atmospheres and indirect light, so they’re a perfect option to put in your bathroom.
Golden pothos only need to be watered every one to two weeks depending on the dryness or humidity of your environment. And they’re shown to reduce sizable amounts of common VOCs, despite how little care they need.
Found in an array of pink and silver shades, Chinese evergreens are stunning houseplants for clean air. Like the others on this list, they’re also great at removing benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and trichloroethylene from indoor spaces. Care for them by ensuring the soil is moist after waterings and rewatering when the top two inches have fully dried out.
This flowering plant produces long-lasting blooms and does a great job of purifying indoor spaces. In fact, the NASA study found that it filters out higher levels than most other, non-flowering plants, largely thanks to additional filtering properties from its flower petals. Keep it in bright, indirect light, water whenever the top two inches of soil are completely dry to the touch, and expect colorful blooms from late spring through fall.
Chrysanthemums, also known as mums, are another indoor, flowering plant that is especially adept at filtering common VOCs, like benzene and formaldehyde. Unlike gerbera daisies, though, they need to be watered every other day to stand the test of time.
Bamboo palms top the list of non-flowering plants with strong air-purifying capabilities. The NASA study found that they’re unmatched at removing benzene from indoor environments, as well as similarly high levels of formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. Requiring only low light and weekly watering, they’re also extremely easy to care for.
Rubber plants are especially sensitive to mold and, as a result, produce more oxygen than other plants to combat the associated risks. That means that, in addition to ridding indoor spaces of VOCs like mold spores and formaldehyde, they also fill your home with fresh, new O2. Care for them by placing them in indirect light and watering them every one to two weeks.
The philodendron genus includes an array of large-leaf plants like elephant ear and monstera deliciosa, all of which have been shown to reduce small amounts of formaldehyde in indoor environments. These types of plants thrive in indirect light and with weekly or biweekly waterings.
We have bought and sold numerous times over the past 50 years. Sherman Hall and Top Line are top notch. Thorough and detailed, he explains every possibility, probability, and eventuality. High class and pleasant. The best.
Top Line Home Inspections, LLCSupreme Brick & Chimney did a great job with a cleaning and inspection of the fireplace! He was efficient, on time, and very pleasant. The space was kept very clean, and the fireplace was spotless when he was done. He also performed a thorough inspection, and did a great job talking us...
Supreme brick & chimneyCustom Paint Jobs LLC is the go-to choice for all your painting needs. They painted both the interior and exterior of my house flawlessly. Their work speaks for itself!
Custom Paint Jobs, LLCThey were very helpful with design, very quick to respond, good quality work, and competitive pricing!
Cooks CabinetsOn time, clean and finished fast. Windows seem sturdy and the finish is good. Caulking was done with no smudges. Would recommend.
Window Depot USA of Central OhioIf I could give 10 stars for Kitchen Tune Up, I would. I cannot say enough good things about my experience with Kitchen Tune Up and the entire team involved in the process of my kitchen project. They went above and beyond as far as service and quality with my cabinets, paint, countertops, and...
Beginning with the estimate, Larry and Peyton were super helpful in getting my new condo's interior re-painted. Not only was the job well done, but also done in a super timely manner as promised.
Five Star Painting of Plain City and PowellGreat job...edging and pre clean up went well with a great job with seal coat. Friendly, efficient and professional.
All Star Paving and SealingWe were having 2”x 2” tile installed . There was a small installation error and the new additional replacement tile was from a different lot and the colors didn’t match. Joe assured us that he would rectify everything , which he did without hesitation. We decided to go with the 18” x 36” tile...
CarifaTileWe live in a condo and had space to add a tall cabinet. The problem was the space was already occupied by our catsâ litter box. We needed to still keep the litter box in that same corner. Beiler Custom Cabinets was able to work with our need and design request. What was created was an...
Beiler Custom Cabinets, LTDFrom average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Curious about air duct cleaning costs? Get insights into pricing factors, benefits, and how to tell when it’s time for a good cleaning.
Perhaps you want to clean your ductwork but aren't sure when is the best time to clean air ducts. We'll explain everything to help you get on the right schedule.
Thinking about getting your air ducts cleaned to improve energy efficiency? Read these duct cleaning guidelines all homeowners should know before they do.
Air duct cleaning can dramatically improve the air quality of your home. To ensure you are hiring a trained and honest professional, consider doing some research first for the best results for your money.
Don’t fall victim to air duct cleaning ripoffs and scams! Make sure you understand these 5 common scams to avoid throwing away money on your HVAC system.
Dirty air vent covers can reduce air quality throughout the home. Here are some easy and efficient ways to clean air vent covers in your house.
