With summer time upon us, it’s time to think about improving your indoor air quality for your Dayton area home.
An HVAC system recirculates the air in your home. If it’s too hot to crack your windows to let in new air, house plants can assist with the quality of your air.
An air purifier or UV lights are great tools, and houseplants can help offset the task of cleaning your home’s air.
Some of the things that can affect your home’s indoor air quality are:
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- Cleaning products and laundry detergents
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- Chemical flame retardants that are found in mattresses and children’s pajamas
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- Formaldehyde, such as what is found in plastics, carpet backing, tissues, and some fabrics
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- Fragrances from things such as air fresheners
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- Toxins from your clothing or tracked in from your shoes
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- Electromagnetic frequencies from things including your electronics and wi-fi
Please also keep in mind that a lot of plants are not healthy if eaten or touched excessively by children or pets. It’s important to be aware of the location you place these plants if this is considered a risk in your home.
This post will help detail 10 plants that will help improve your home’s air quality.
Number 1: Aloe Vera
Aloe is easy to grow and maintain. As a succulent, it favors dry, sunny conditions.
With a sunny windowsill and good drainage, you’re on your way to a healthy, air cleansing houseplant.
Aloe helps detoxify your air by removing byproducts from aerosol cleaning products and paints such as formaldehyde and benzene.
In addition to it’s air cleaning qualities, it also is great to have around for minor burns and cuts. The gel inside is soothing to small wounds.
Aloe vera is considered mildly toxic to young children and pets because ingestion can lead to intestinal issues such as diarrhea. Keep out of reach of children and animals.
Number 2: Spider Plant
A spider plant is not only helpful in removing toxins from your air, it is also extremely resilient.
This hardy plant cleans formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, xylene, and benzene from your air.
It’s relatively easy to care for, thriving in a bright spot with indirect sunlight and cool, average indoor temperatures.
A spider plant is also harmless to pets and children. However, pets do enjoy the taste of the plant and may experience an upset stomach from eating too much of it.
Number 3: Snake Plants (also known as Mother-In-Law’s Tongue or a Good Luck Plant)
These plants have a surprising attribute. They take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen at night. This is the opposite of most plants.
Because they do this at night it’s good to keep them in your bedroom because they release oxygen while you’re sleeping. They’re also a great plant to keep in your bathroom because snake plants like steamy conditions with low light. Snake plants are considered mildly toxic. If ingested in small quantities it is known not to produce side effects.
However, a snake plant is known to cause swelling of the tongue and throat. It can also induce vomiting or cause nausea. It’s best kept out of reach of animals and children.
Number 4: Chrysanthemums
Mums are a great addition to your home decor because they come in a large variety of colors.
They also can remove toxins from your home’s air such as benzene. This is a byproduct of glues, varnishes, detergents, and plastics.
Mums like to thrive in bright sunlight. They not only are great for improving air quality, they also add a nice pop of color to your house. Some varieties of chrysanthemums are edible, and some are considered poisonous. It is best to research which varieties would be best for your home.
Number 5: English Ivy
This is a popular indoor potted plant. English Ivy is known to cleanse your air of airborne fecal material and formaldehyde. They need a steady stream of sunlight for at least a few hours per day. English Ivy thrives best in moist soil.
While these are popular indoor plants, the National Park Service requests that these are not planted or discarded outdoors as they are considered an invasive species.
English Ivy is another plant that is best kept away from children and pets. Even in small quantities it can cause mild effects such as intestinal distress.
Number 6: Wax Begonia
The wax begonia is considered a succulent. It produces flowers in a variety of colors in the summer months.
It’s known to efficiently filter out benzene from your air.
While a beautiful plant, research is inconclusive in determining whether or not it is safe for pets and children if accidentally ingested.
A variety of sources stated that it was safe, and others that it wasn’t. To be safe, this plant would be best kept out of reach of children and animals.
Number 7: Boston Fern
A boston fern is one of the more popular house plants.
While popular, they are still known to be fickle plants to care for. They require frequent misting and attention.
Research has shown they are one of the most efficient plants for reducing indoor air pollutants.
They are also known to help keep humidity at an optimum level.
While they may be more difficult to care for, a boston fern is considered safe for children, dogs, and cats!
The University of Nebraska has stated this plant is non-toxic to humans. The ASPCA has also identified a boston fern as a house plant safe for pets.
Number 8: Gerber Daisy
Gerber Daisies are a cheerful addition to a sunny spot in your home.
They come in a variety of colors and are one of the most popular flowers given as gifts.
While relatively easy to care for, they do require a lot of sunshine to stay healthy. Another great attribute of gerber daisies are that they are considered safe for pets and children. They filter out benzene and trichloroethylene from your indoor air.
Number 9: The Lady Palm
Lady Palms are easy to grow and maintain. They are a tree-like plant that makes a nice addition to your home decor.
These palms target ammonia in your home’s air. Ammonia is a common ingredient found in cleaners and fabric dyes.
Furthermore, these are a great plant for homes with cats because they help to eliminate the ammonia smell that comes from a litter box.
As if we didn’t love the lady palm enough, it’s also considered non-toxic to pets and children.
If starting from the beginning, the lady palm may take a while to form it’s adult shape. However, it is a hardy plant that will last for years to come if it is cared for properly.
Number 10: Peace Lily
The peace lily is one of the most popular plants given as gifts around the holidays or after funeral arrangements.
This beautiful plant is great at filtering your air.
It also serves as a nice decorative feature to your home because it is one of the few air purifying plants that also produces flowers. While beautiful, the peace lily is unfortunately poisonous to children and pets. This plant should be kept out of reach.
Fun fact: the peace lily has actually been identified by NASA as one of the most effective air-filtering plants. Some of our other plants listed have made the list as well.
Installing An Air Purification System In Your Dayton Area Home
If you are interested in learning more about how an air purification system or UV lights can help improve the air quality in your Dayton area home, call the experts! At Outstanding Heating & Cooling we take the health and comfort of our customers very seriously.
Our top-rated service technicians and installers are ready to help you experience what your air quality should be like.
Give us a call for a free estimate. Our #1 goal is to provide OUTSTANDING service- one customer at a time. 937-439-4696
We proudly serve the areas of Dayton, Kettering, Fairborn, Beavercreek, Centerville, Miamisburg, Springboro, Lebanon, West Chester, Mason, and more! We serve a large area, and if you’re not sure you’re in our area- get in touch and we can quickly let you know.nnnWhat kinds of plants do you have in your home? Comment below and let us know if you have noticed a difference in your home’s air quality by having house plants!
**Updated Jan 2021
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