Houseplants: The Best Natural Air Purifiers

Air purifiers have become prevalent after environment studies revealed that indoor air is more polluted as compared to the air outdoors. Since a considerable amount of time is spent indoors, many opt to make use of air purifiers. These devices are mainly advantageous for people afflicted with asthma and allergies. Therefore, freeing the surrounding air from invisible impurities and keeping it clean is a must to keep attacks at bay.

Air purifiers currently employ different procedures of purifying indoor air. These methods require the use of mechanical filters, absorbents, such as charcoal, and electrostatic charges or ionizers. A number of factors are put into consideration when choosing air purifiers. Common concerns include appearance, degree of noise, and the number of times that filters are replaced. Filters come in different varieties. Several may require cleaning by water, by hand or through vacuuming. There are some that require replacement after a certain period of time.

A natural alternative to these air-purifying mechanisms comes in the form of houseplants. Not everybody may know it, but the purifying of the air indoors can be done by down-to-earth houseplants. Aside from adorning the home, houseplants offer other excellent benefits.

All plants are primarily potent air purifiers. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and releases oxygen through the process of photosynthesis. They imitate the properties of air filters by eliminating contaminants and substituting them with oxygen. A single potted houseplant for every 100 square feet is said to purify the air in a regular home or office.

No matter how clean a home looks, when the air inside it becomes stagnant, it may well be polluted. At first glance, those simple houseplants look like they are purely for decorative purposes, except that, while they keep the house beautiful, they also enhance the air indoors by absorbing chemicals considered harmful to health. Modern homes chiefly contain toxins such as formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, and carbon monoxide.

Formaldehyde is approximately found in all indoor surroundings. Paper products, permanently pressed clothes, particleboard, carpets, insulation, fire retardants, water repellents and numerous cleaning mixtures all contain formaldehyde. This chemical irritates the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract and increases the chances of experiencing asthma attacks. Formaldehyde likewise triggers headaches and causes allergic dermatitis. The houseplants that are effective in eliminating the awful effects of formaldehyde are bamboo palm, snake plant, dracaena marginata, heartleaf philodendron, dracaena janet craig, golden pathos, spider plant and peace lily.

Benzene is a frequently used solvent found in inks, paints, oils, rubber, plastic and tobacco smoke. Detergents and dyes are manufactured using benzene. Contact with Benzene sets off anxiety, headaches and dizziness. The plant varieties that can help get rid of this pollutant are English ivy, peace lily, gerbera daisy, snake plant, bamboo palm, chrysanthemum and dracaena.

Trichloroethylene is a carcinogen found in adhesives, paints, inks and varnishes. This cancer-causing agent targets the liver. Plants effective in eradicating this harmful substance are chrysanthemum, dracaena janet craig, gerbera daisy, dracaena marginata, bamboo palm and peace lily.

Carbon monoxide is present in cigarette smoke. Contact with it in low levels can trigger headaches and lethargy. Given that all plants utilize carbon monoxide for growth, all varieties of plants previously cited are useful in eliminating the chemical.

Cultivating and preserving these types of plants is like hitting two birds with one stone. Not only do these plants doll up the home, it also makes the house a safer place to live in.