Many of us would agree that houseplants beautify a home. But science has proven that houseplants also can protect human health because of their unique organic ability to continually clean the air we breathe. The United Nations has calculated that two million people in developed countries die each year because they spend up to 90 percent of their time indoors, breathing toxic air.
Chemicals known as VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are toxic and yet are commonly found in the average American home. This is because of the building materials with which the home is constructed. Furthermore, VOCs are contained in, and off-gassed from, furniture and fixtures, household toiletries, cosmetics and cleaners. You can take the time, money and effort to properly clean your indoor air, but there is also a simple, effective and inexpensive solution: houseplants. Below we outline a few of the VOCs that are probably in your home and the plants you can use to eliminate or neutralize them.
Formaldehyde. Found in paints, glues, drywall board, ceiling tiles, it can irritate the sinuses and cause headaches, among others. Some air-cleansing houseplants you might consider are:
- Mother-in-law's tongue
- English ivy
- Golden pothos
- Heart leaf philodendron
- Golden pothos
- Chrysanthemum
Benzene. Found in cigarettes, gasoline, synthetic fibers, glues, plastics and inks. It also may be in your couch, curtains and flooring. In other words, it's everywhere in the average home. Depending on available sunshine and other factors, there are several plants that would be excellent air cleaners, including:
- Red-edged dracaena
- Weeping fig
- Bamboo palm
- Aloe
- Gerber daisy
Toluene and Xylene. These solvents are used in paints, glues, rubber and household disinfectants. In lower doses, they can cause temporary memory, vision and hearing loss. Some excellent air cleaning and beautiful houseplants you could use to banish VOC off-gassing might be:
- Peace lily
- Warneck dracaena
- Spider plant
- Chinese evergreen
If you'd like to determine the state of your home's air quality, please feel free to use our simple diagnostic tool or make arrangements to schedule an appointment with an expert technician.
Serving the Fort Wayne area, Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning can help your family breathe easier with our expert knowledge of home comfort solutions. Please contact us today.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in New Haven, Indiana and surrounding Fort Wayne area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about houseplants and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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