When you choose the right air purifying plants for your home, not only do your plants look great, but they also work hard to clean the air you breathe in. There are a number of air purifying plants that can detoxify your home from airborne toxins, dust and germs. To give your home the freshest air possible, here’s a list of the best air purifying plants and where to keep them in your home.
Aloe Vera
An aloe plant is a great addition to your kitchen windowsill or any other sunny spot. Aloe is handy for soothing any kitchen burns, and this succulent purifies the air of formaldehyde and benzene, which is found in most varnishes, floor finishes, and detergents.
Care Advice: Aloe vera will thrive in a sunny location like a windowsill.
Barberton Daisy
This strain of daisy will work to clean the air around you while also injecting a cheerful burst of yellow, orange, pink or red into your home. The Barberton daisy is an effective cleanser of the toxins formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and benzene, which are found in a range of household materials like paint and synthetic fibers.
Care Advice: Place the Barberton daisy in a room with plenty of natural light, and be sure to keep the soil moist but well-drained.
Broadleaf Lady Palm
The broadleaf lady palm is one of the few plants that can help reduce the level of ammonia in an area. Ammonia can be found in a range of household cleaning products. These plants are an investment and, therefore, can be expensive to buy fully grown. To cut down on costs, you might want to shop around for a smaller one or even start your own from a seedling.
Care Advice: The broadleaf lady palm loves humidity, so this plant will be happiest in your bathroom.
Chinese Evergreen
The Chinese evergreen is a tropical plant that has proven itself to be an effective cleanser of formaldehyde and benzene, which are found in detergents and cosmetics.
Care Advice: The Chinese evergreen enjoys a low-lit humid condition, so it will thrive in your bathroom like the broadleaf lady palm. If you choose to keep the plant somewhere else, remember to mist the leaves occasionally to prevent browning.
Chrysanthemum
Brighten up your living room or kitchen with a chrysanthemum. These pretty blooms help to filter out a host of toxins including ammonia and benzene, which is often found in plastics, detergents and glue.
Care Advice: The chrysanthemum loves sunlight, so place it in a spot that is near a sunbathed window.
English Ivy
English ivy is a perennial vine that is particularly effective at reducing airborne fecal particles which makes it the perfect air purifier for your bathroom. Additionally, ivy can also help combat mold levels in your home.
Care Advice: Give your English ivy generous amounts of water and at least four hours of direct sunlight a day.
Peace Lily
The peace lily is one of the top indoor plants for cleaning air. This tropical plant breaks down toxic gases like benzene, formaldehyde and carbon monoxide. The peace lily’s white blooms make it a popular house plant.
Care Advice: Keep your peace lily in medium indirect sunlight. Yellowing leaves indicate that the plant is getting too much light. A great advantage of the peace lily is that the leaves droop when water is needed.
Red-Edged Dracaena
The red-edged dracaena, or dragon tree, is a spiky slow growing plant that is an expert at fighting pollutants like trichloroethylene and xylene. With this plant, you have the bonus of adding a splash of color to your home with the leaves’ bright red trim.
Care Advice: A quick warning—this plant has the potential to grow up to 8 feet tall, so keep it in a room with high ceilings and a reasonable amount of sunlight.
Snake Plant
The snake plant, otherwise known as the mother-in-law’s tongue, releases oxygen at night. This yellow tipped succulent is perfect to keep by your bedside, as it will help you breathe better while sleeping. The snake plant is one of the best plants for filtering out formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, toluene and trichloroethylene from the air.
Care Advice: Be mindful not to overwater the plant, as the roots are prone to rot if the soil is too moist.
Spider Plant
The resilient spider plant is the perfect choice for those of you who are not very experienced in plant care. This plant will battle toxins including carbon monoxide and xylene, which are solvents used in the printing and rubber industries. If you have pets, an added bonus is this is one of the few houseplants that is non-toxic to animals.
Care Advice: Keep your plant in a humid spot that gets indirect sunlight like a bathroom with a window. Keep the soil moist, but be careful that it doesn’t get soggy.
Keep these great purifying plants in mind when choosing greenery for your home. Use this list to make your decisions on which plants will both look amazing and also quietly clean the air in your home. 
Samantha Cavasin
Home & Yard Magazine
