Air-purifying plants

Key Steps:

To purify the air in your house using plants, follow these key steps:

1. Decide which rooms and where needs purifying.

2. Assess the amount of natural light these spaces have and how much time you’ll be able to give to maintenance.

3. Choose one of the plants below depending on which fit these criteria.

Plants are great to have around the house and while they do take a bit of maintenance (unless you get these amazing resilient plants) the benefits are definitely worth it. Not only do plants make a home look pleasant and lived in, but there are also lots of air-purifying plants that can actually improve the air quality in your home. If you’ve ever fancied getting plants that clean the air or wondered which are the best indoor plants that clean the air and remove toxins, read on for our handy guide.

Most plants will purify the atmosphere, but if you want one to release a sweet odour as well, consider adding some highly scented plants into the mix like orchids or jasmine.

Why it’s worth getting some air-purifying indoor plants

Most of us vaguely know that plants are good for the air, but we might not know why. It’s all down to a process called photosynthesis, which you might have studied at school. It’s the way plants make food for themselves and involves taking carbon dioxide out of the air and putting oxygen back in. Some people also suggest plants remove other toxins from the air, so they're worth having around!

What are the benefits of purified air?

So we know plants can do this, but why should we be so interested in purifying our air? Here are a few of the advantages:

• Improved health – fewer toxins polluting our lungs.

• Plant-purified air may be particularly helpful if you or your family are prone to allergic reactions (although of course stay away from pollen-producing plants and flowers!)

• A clearer atmosphere – with air-purifying plants you may simply just feel like the air quality is better, which makes your room a more pleasant, calming space.

The best indoor plants for clean air

Most house plants are air-purifying house plants, but some are much more effective than others. If you’re looking for those indoor plants that clean the air the best, these are some good choices:

• Spider plant: resilient little plants, these both look great and are thought to remove toxins linked to solvents and rubber.

• English ivy: best for removing faecal particles from the air, so worth keeping in the bathroom.

• Snake plant: ideal for those with little time for maintenance, this is a great air purifier.

• Barberton daisy: thought to remove toxins like formaldehyde from the home.

Those are our top tips for house plants that can improve air quality. Decide which one is right for you based on its benefits, but also choosing one you think you can best maintain. Once you’ve tried out one air-purifying plant at home, there’ll be no stopping you!