Learn what plants do a good job cleaning your indoor air and making your air healthy. Certain houseplants clean your indoor air, scrubbing the air you breathe indoors of harmful indoor pollutants, like benzene, formaldehyde and acetone. This video shows you which houseplants are easy to grow and do a good job of cleaning your indoor air. Those plants include peace lily, pothos, spider plant, dieffenbachia, arrowhead plant, anthurium, rubber tree, Schefflera and dracaena. Discover how these easy to grow plants clean your indoor air and how you can take advantage of their air-cleaning abilities.
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Hello and welcome to HealthyHouseplants.com, where we teach you all about gardening in the great indoors.
Today’s video is sponsored by our Amazon affiliate link, which you’ll find in the comment section below.
In this video, I’ll talk about how houseplants can effectively clean your indoor air. This is actually one of their main benefits—making your house pretty while simultaneously improving air quality.
Back in the late 1990s, I interviewed B.C. Wolverton, the author of the groundbreaking book How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 Houseplants That Purify Your Home or Office. Wolverton worked for NASA for nearly 20 years developing technology to support human life in closed environments like the Moon or Mars.
His research revealed that houseplants act as the lungs and kidneys of buildings. They are incredibly effective at filtering dangerous air pollutants such as ammonia, xylene, benzene, and formaldehyde—chemicals that cause allergies, asthma, and even sick building syndrome.
You might think you don’t bring those pollutants into your home, but they’re commonly found in packaging materials, nail polish remover, cleaning agents, particleboard furniture, and even new carpeting. These materials release toxins into the air over time—a process known as off-gassing.
The good news is houseplants clean indoor air in two powerful ways:
They absorb pollutants through their leaves and send them to the roots, where they are converted into food.
They emit water vapor, which pulls dirty air down around the roots to be cleansed.
If you suffer from allergies or asthma, you might be told to remove all plants due to concerns about soil and mold. However, B.C. Wolverton found the opposite to be true. Plants actually help remove mold and mildew spores from the air. Personally, I notice my asthma worsens in plant-free environments.
To ease concerns, you can use gravel or horticultural sand as mulch over the soil. This reduces mold spores and helps the soil retain moisture longer.
Now let’s talk about some of the top plants for air purification:
Dracaena: These grow large and come in many varieties. Great air purifiers.
Schefflera: Attractive and highly effective at cleaning air.
Peace Lily: Known for beautiful white blooms and excellent air-cleaning abilities.
Anthurium: Colorful and efficient at improving air quality.
English Ivy: A great hanging plant that purifies air near and far.
Spider Plant: Famous for being one of the top air purifiers—this one’s named Lucy.
Dieffenbachia: Known for lush leaves and powerful air-cleaning capabilities.
Palms: Various types, they grow big and clean air effectively.
Arrowhead Plant: Beautiful variegated leaves; another top air cleaner.
Philodendron: Vining or climbing, these are great for vertical spaces.
Pothos: Easy to grow and excellent at filtering toxins.
Croton: Colorful and robust air purifier.
Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica): Strong, large-leaved plant that clears pollutants.
Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis): Not just beautiful—also purifies air.
Spathiphyllum (Peace Lily): Long-lasting blooms and air-purifying strength.
Remember, the more houseplants you have, the healthier your air will be. Place them close to where you spend time: bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and workspaces.
Thanks for watching! Leave your questions or indoor gardening requests in the comments. Like, comment, subscribe, and share!
Frequently Asked Questions about Houseplants and Indoor Air Quality
How do houseplants clean indoor air?
Houseplants absorb pollutants through their leaves and roots, converting them into plant food. They also emit water vapor, pulling dirty air toward their roots for filtration.
What pollutants do houseplants remove from indoor air?
Houseplants remove ammonia, benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, and other volatile organic compounds often found in packaging, cleaning agents, and furniture.
Can people with allergies or asthma keep houseplants?
Yes. Contrary to outdated advice, houseplants can improve air quality for allergy and asthma sufferers by removing mold spores and adding healthy humidity to the air.
Which houseplants are best for purifying air?
Top air-purifying plants include Peace Lily, Spider Plant, English Ivy, Philodendron, Rubber Plant, Dracaena, and Anthurium, among others.
How can I reduce mold risk from houseplants?
Cover the soil with gravel or horticultural sand to prevent mold spores from becoming airborne while helping the soil retain moisture longer.
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