Since the 1980’s it’s been scientifically proven that house plants are natural air purifiers. Housing plant life not only brightens décor and mood, but effectively cleans and purifies the air we breathe from harmful toxins and pollutants. No matter how clean and tidy you are, the home may still be full of contaminants. In fact many of the products we use to KEEP our homes clean are the very causes of contamination. There are several household cleaning products that leave chemical residues behind. Anything with the label “keep out of the reach of children” is an automatic red flag. However, your kids ingesting these products is not the only danger. Inhaling and/or touching these detergents can still transfer dangerous chemicals into the body as well. Children are at further risk as they are still growing and have an immune system that is more susceptible to infection. Yet adults and pets can be at risk as well. Even if you are using all homemade organic products, your home itself may be releasing harmful toxins into the air you breathe!
Where do these toxic fumes come from?
Formaldehyde is one of the main culprits,it is an organic compound found in a multitude of household building materials and furniture. It is a common component added to glues that hold pressed-wood, cabinets and carpets together, is emitted by natural gas stoves and is an active ingredient of flooring caulks and sealants, paint, furniture finish and upholstery stain repellants.
Formaldehyde is only emitted in low levels but the accumulation of materials utilizing this compound can be quite dangerous. In fact some governments have begun to regulate the amount of formaldehyde that can be legally used in insulation and particleboard furniture. It is theorized that formaldehyde may cause cancer in humans and has been known to trigger asthma attacks and allergic reactions when present in high levels.
8 Plants that can detox your home
Luckily, we can reduce our ingestion of theses harmful particles by investing in a few house plants. Seems simple enough yet, which are the most effective?
We have compiled a list of 8 effective air purifying plants that you can keep indoors.
- Areca Palm (Butterfly Palm)
- English Ivy
- Gerbera Daisy
- Snake Plant
- Spider Plant
- Aloe Vera
- Peace Lily
- Goosefoot plant