I found this blog post by Stephanie Loesch on pittmoss.com and I wanted to share the great info! Adding plants to your space is an easy and inexpensive way to freshen your space, clear the air, detox any fumes or funk, and add a grounding effect while rejuvenating your home. Some plants even have added health benefits that you will love. Enjoy!

House cleaning, a never-ending chore that few of us look forward to. One unique cleaning product you may not be considering for your house is plants. They have the ability to reduce a number of unhealthy pollutants and bacteria in the air. It is even said that plants remove up to 87% of volatile organic compounds within a day’s cycle.(1)

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air quality is one of the top five risks to the public’s health, so using these plants can give you and your family a leg up.  Another benefit of using plants is that they add humidity to the air to help aid with respiratory conditions as a result of their large releases of moisture vapor. Interestingly, plants release roughly 97% of the water they take in. (1) Plants also increase oxygen levels and refresh the air during the night, making breathing easier. This process is thanks to the reverse relationship plants have with oxygen and carbon dioxide compared to humans. During photosynthesis they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen where as people do the opposite.

The benefits of detoxifying plants do not stop there. They are known for increasing the rate of time in which medical patients heal. The plants are linked with patients having lower blood pressure and heart rates as well as reduced flu-like symptoms like headaches and sore throats. Detoxifying plants have been found to enhance attentiveness and attendance by students in classes as well.

There are specific plants that a person should really consider to use for detoxifying his or her surrounding air. The list of recommended plants to use include:

Aloe Vera: This plant absorbs chemicals in the air and develops brown spots,signaling the chemical levels are high.

Purple waffle plant: It is known for being one of the top detoxifiers in which removes the top five pollutants found in houses.

Areca Palm: This plant releases a lot of oxygen into the air, restores moisture in the winter, and is great at removing formaldehyde.

Peace lily: This plant is known for removing formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and xylene in the air.

Rubber plant: This plant removes formaldehyde, benzene, and ammonia in the air.

Snake plant: This plant filters benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene out of the air.

Tips for getting started with house plants:

• Place a large plant (which reaches a pot size diameter of at least 8 inches) every 129 feet apart within your house to improve the health of your surrounding environment.

• Place about 16 plants reaching a pot size between 6-8 inch diameters every 100 square feet within your house to cleanse the air.