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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Houseplants That Help Clean Indoor Air: Benefits, Best Plants, and How They Work
Houseplants do more than beautify your home—they can also help improve indoor air quality. According to research highlighted by Dr. B.C. Wolverton, a former NASA scientist and author of How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 Houseplants That Purify Your Home or Office, many common houseplants can help filter indoor air pollutants while creating a healthier indoor environment.
How Do Houseplants Clean Indoor Air?
Houseplants naturally improve indoor air in two primary ways:
- Absorb airborne pollutants through their leaves, transporting toxins to the roots where microorganisms help break them down into nutrients.
- Release water vapor through transpiration, creating a natural pumping effect that draws polluted air toward the root zone for additional filtration.
Besides improving air quality, houseplants also increase humidity, which may create a more comfortable indoor environment.
Common Indoor Air Pollutants Found in Homes
Many people assume harmful chemicals aren’t present indoors, but they are commonly released from everyday household products, including:
- New carpeting
- Particleboard furniture
- Packaging materials
- Harsh cleaning products
- Nail polish and nail polish remover
- Fresh paint and other household materials
These products can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as:
- Formaldehyde
- Benzene
- Xylene
- Ammonia
Exposure to these pollutants may contribute to allergy symptoms, asthma irritation, and poor indoor air quality.
Houseplants and Allergies
Some people believe houseplants worsen allergies or asthma, but research discussed by Dr. B.C. Wolverton suggests that healthy houseplants may actually help by reducing airborne particles, including certain mold and mildew spores.
If you’re concerned about mold growing on potting soil, add a layer of:
- Decorative gravel
- Horticultural sand
This mulch layer helps reduce exposed soil while also retaining moisture, allowing the soil to stay damp longer between waterings.
Best Houseplants for Cleaner Indoor Air
Many easy-to-grow houseplants are known for their air-cleaning abilities.
Peace Lily
- Excellent indoor air purifier
- Produces elegant white blooms
- Thrives in bright, indirect light
Spider Plant
- One of the most recognized air-cleaning houseplants
- Easy to grow and propagate
- Great for beginners
Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
- Large glossy leaves help maximize air filtration
- Easy-care indoor tree
Dieffenbachia
- Attractive foliage
- Effective air-cleaning plant
- Best kept away from pets and children due to toxicity if ingested
Dracaena
- Available in many varieties
- Excellent choice for indoor air purification
- Makes an attractive floor plant
Schefflera (Umbrella Plant)
- Fast-growing indoor plant
- Dense foliage helps improve air quality
Anthurium
- Decorative glossy leaves and colorful blooms
- Adds beauty while helping improve indoor air
English Ivy
- Excellent hanging or trailing plant
- Great for shelves and elevated displays
Arrowhead Plant (Syngonium)
- Attractive arrow-shaped foliage
- Easy to grow indoors
Philodendron
- Popular climbing or trailing houseplant
- Low maintenance and effective indoors
Pothos
- Extremely easy to grow
- Excellent for beginners
- Works well in hanging baskets or climbing supports
Indoor Palms
Several palm varieties make outstanding natural air filters while serving as attractive statement plants.
Croton
- Colorful variegated foliage
- Adds vibrant color while contributing to cleaner indoor air
Moth Orchid (Phalaenopsis)
- Beautiful flowering orchid
- Also contributes to indoor air improvement
Bigger Plants Can Filter More Air
Larger plants with more leaves provide greater surface area for capturing airborne pollutants. Consider placing plants throughout your home, especially in:
- Bedrooms
- Home offices
- Living rooms
- Dining rooms
- Kitchens
Hanging plants and floor plants together maximize air-cleaning coverage.
Final Thoughts
Houseplants offer much more than decoration. They naturally help improve indoor air quality, increase humidity, and create healthier, more enjoyable indoor spaces. Whether you choose a spider plant, peace lily, pothos, or rubber plant, adding more greenery throughout your home is an easy way to enhance both your décor and your indoor environment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Houseplants and Indoor Air Quality
Do houseplants really clean indoor air?
Yes. Houseplants can absorb certain airborne pollutants through their leaves while beneficial microorganisms around their roots help break down these compounds. They also release moisture through transpiration, which contributes to healthier indoor environments.
Which houseplants are best for improving indoor air quality?
Some of the best indoor air-cleaning plants include Spider Plant, Peace Lily, Rubber Plant, Dracaena, Philodendron, Pothos, English Ivy, Arrowhead Plant, Schefflera, Anthurium, Croton, Indoor Palms, Dieffenbachia, and Phalaenopsis Orchid.
What indoor pollutants can houseplants help remove?
Houseplants may help reduce common indoor pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, and ammonia that are often released from furniture, carpets, packaging materials, paints, and household cleaning products.
Can houseplants help people with allergies or asthma?
Healthy houseplants may help improve indoor air quality and increase humidity. To minimize mold concerns, cover exposed potting soil with decorative gravel or horticultural sand.
Where should I place houseplants for the greatest benefit?
Place houseplants where you spend the most time, including bedrooms, home offices, living rooms, kitchens, and dining areas. Using both hanging and floor plants provides better indoor coverage.
Do larger houseplants clean more air?
Generally, yes. Larger plants with more foliage provide greater leaf surface area, allowing them to interact with more indoor air.
How can I prevent mold from developing on potting soil?
Covering the soil with decorative gravel or horticultural sand helps reduce exposed soil, discourages mold spores, and helps retain moisture between waterings.
Are pothos and philodendron the same plant?
No. Although they look similar and are often confused, pothos and philodendron are different plant species with unique growth habits and leaf characteristics.
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