Houseplants can act as a great natural alternative to an air purifier for homes. While they may not replace your vacuum cleaner, certain plants are excellent at filtering the air by trapping dust particles and absorbing airborne pollutants – a process called phytoremediation. However, one plant, which can be bought for as little as £6.99, can clean over 95% of toxins from the air.
Gardening and plants expert Calum Maddock at HomeHow.co.uk says that the spider plant is one of the most low-maintenance and effective air-purifying plants available. “These plants are excellent at removing pollution from the air,” he says. “According to research, spider plants can clean over 95% of toxins from the air. They are most effective at removing formaldehyde, toluene, carbon monoxide, and Xylene from the air.”
Spider plants are also effective in absorbing nitrogen dioxide, making them an ideal plant for kitchens, living rooms, and offices where these pollutants may be present. They are also incredibly easy to propagate, allowing you to quickly fill your home with these natural air filters.
Mr Maddock says that peace lilies also act as an effective air purifier. They have the ability to absorb mould spores as well as other pollutants in the air such as acetone vapours, which can be found in household cleaners, paint, and nail varnish removers.
“Acetone vapours can be quite dangerous and may lead to slurred speech, lethargy, a lack of coordination, low blood pressure, and headaches,” the expert explains.
“It’s best to keep peace lilies in large pots around the home to get the most benefit from them. Also, place them in areas with higher foot traffic or where chemical use is common.”
Mr Maddock also recommends having ivy and rubber plants in your homes, which are great at removing dust. Their dense, waxy leaves have a large surface area that traps airborne particles.
For bedrooms specifically, the gardening expert says to buy a snake plant which is one of the few plants that can convert carbon dioxide into oxygen at night.
It also effectively removes a range of toxins, including formaldehyde, benzene, Xylene, and trichloroethylene. It’s upright, architectural leaves not only look modern but also have a large surface area to capture dust particles.