Get Rid of Indoor Pollutants the Natural Way
Since most individuals spend 90 percent of the time indoors, the quality
of air inside our homes and workplaces can have significant effects on
our health and productivity. Regardless of whether or not your place is
squeaky clean, furnishings, cleaning products, and other synthetic materials
emit a variety of toxins including formaldehyde that can cause serious
respiratory illnesses. You may also experience some of the symptoms of
what NASA calls “sick building syndrome” which may include
headaches, nausea, coughing as well as irritation in the eyes, throat or nose.
There are several ways to improve the quality of your indoor air, such
as increasing your ventilation or reducing the humidity in your air. But
if you want a more affordable and natural way to get rid of your indoor
pollutants, you may want to consider adding some potted plants to your
home or office space. This may be an intimidating proposition—especially
for those who do not have a green thumb—but there are plenty of
low maintenance plants to get you started.
Spider Plant
Spider plants are also called air plants because of their ability to remove
formaldehyde and xylene from the air. These plants are perfect for beginners
because of how easy they are to take care of. You only need to water these
plants two to three times a week to maintain the greenness of their leaves.
As an added bonus, spider plants are non-toxic to pets and humans, so
placing them around your house is perfectly safe.
Dracaenas
There are over 40 kinds of dracaenas that come in different shapes and
sizes, giving you plenty of accessible variety. You can choose the one
that best suits your space! Dracaenas are known to remove a number of
air pollutants including formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. These plants
are easy to care for, needing only little amounts of water every day.
However, if you have pets, you may want to rethink getting these plants
as they can be toxic to animals.
Chrysanthemums
When you want something more aesthetically pleasing, you may want to get
some chrysanthemums for your home. These flowers come in a variety of
colors and can easily brighten a room. They are also one of the highest
ranked air purifiers that can eliminate benzene as well as ammonia. You
may want to place this plant on a window sill or in some corner where
it can receive direct sunlight.
Snake Plant or Mother-in-Law’s Tongue
This may be one of the most low maintenance plants often seen around offices
and restaurants. Snake plants thrive in drier conditions and you need
to only water them occasionally. These plants are known to remove formaldehyde,
trichloroethylene, and xylene in the air. Some studies also suggest that
placing these plants in your bedroom can give you a bit of an oxygen boost
while you sleep.
Aloe Vera Plant
Although they are most commonly used to help heal sunburns and other skin
conditions, Aloe Vera plants can also remove formaldehyde and benzene
from indoor air. These succulents are easy to grow, but may not thrive
in a room with low light. You may want to put these plants near a window
where it can receive direct sunlight.
Adding a potted plant in your home or office space does not only improve
the quality of your indoor air, it can also be therapeutic for you as
plants are known to help increase positivity and reduce stress levels.
Just make sure to get the right plant that suits you, especially if you
have pets or small children.
This article contains general information about medical conditions and
treatments. The information is not advice and should not be treated as
such. The information is not intended to replace the advice or diagnosis
of a physician.
If you have any specific questions about any medical matter you should
consult your doctor or other professional healthcare providers.