During the 1980s, NASA, alongside the Associated Landscape Contractors of America, studied the cleaning effects houseplants have on indoor air quality. The results showed that several houseplants are capable of filtering out everyday volatile organic compounds, or VOCs for short. Considering studies have found that indoor air can be as much as 100 times more polluted than outdoor air, adding a houseplant or two isn’t such a bad idea. Here are three houseplants that can purify the air inside of your home.
Common Indoor Air Pollutants
The air inside of the average home is far more polluted than the air outdoors. This is thanks in part to insulation, which helps keep your home energy efficient, but can keep pollutants in too. The result can lead to something known as sick building syndrome, which can cause a variety of unpleasant symptoms such as skin and eye irritation, respiratory issues, and the like. These are just a few of the common indoor air pollutants that may be lurking inside of your home.
– Radon
– Secondhand Smoke
– Pollen
– Dander
– Mold
– Formaldehyde
– Benzene
Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is a very useful plant to have around your home. Not only can the gel inside of the leaves help heal burns and cuts, but Aloe Vera can improve the quality of the air inside of your home by removing benzene. Even better, it’s easy to grow and even harder to kill, so no green thumb is required.
Snake Plant
Snake plants (also known as mother-in-law’s tongue) are one of the best houseplants for filtering out formaldehyde. Often found in cleaning products, toilet paper, tissues and other personal care products, formaldehyde can cause eye, nose and throat irritation in some individuals, so you don’t want this nasty toxin in your home.
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum’s colorful flowers can brighten any room in your home while cleaning the air too. The blooms can help filter out benzene, which is a common pollutant that is found in everyday things you may have laying around your home like glue and plastic.
Improve Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality with Sea Coast Air Conditioning
While houseplants can partially improve your home’s indoor air quality, one of the most effective ways to do so is with a quality home comfort system. An efficient HVAC system will not only keep your home cool and comfortable, but it can greatly improve the quality of the air inside of your home.
At Sea Coast Air Conditioning, we understand how important the quality of your home’s air is, which is why we offer comprehensive HVAC services that give your indoor air quality a boost! Call us today to learn more about the quality services and the products we offer.
