We're all for helpful household hacks that either make our life easier or better (preferably both). So when this idea about fresh air plants came onto our radar, we were instantly obsessed. Here's the skinny: These 3 household plants will actuallyimprove air quality and help rid our environment of toxins. RELATED:The 15 easiest indoor house plants that won't die on you "It is often said that spaces with plants make you feel better when in fact there is actual scientific proof that this is so," says home-building expert Sabine H. Schoenberg, founder of Sabine’s New House. "At a time when indoor air quality should be a concern to all of us, it is good to know that help can come from easily obtainable houseplants. Good air leads to better health and well-being and greater productivity." One scientific case study of a building in the quite polluted city New Delhi demonstrated that an abundance of these plants resulted in measurably cleaner indoor air. See Kamal Meattle's very informative and impactful TED talk about this study here.

RELATED: The 16 prettiest and most colorful indoor flowering plants It's not just that these plants are healthy. Visually, these plants are architecturally interesting and would fit right in to any modern decor. We say get one or get all three... in spades! You're only growing fresh air, right? The mother-in-law tongue plant, also known as “the bedroom plant,” filters air and converts CO2 to oxygen at night instead of taking away oxygen like other plants. A popular indoor plant, the Areca Palm removes all indoor air toxins and it’s graceful, arching leaves are safe for pets. Areca Palm is the palm we find commonly in stores, even the big box stores … in other words, it's very easy to get. The Money Tree, scientifically named “Scindapsus aureus,” purifies air polluted with synthetic chemicals from cleaning products. It has been said by Feng Shui experts that this plant reduces stress and anxiety, and even helps prevent arguments and sleeping disorders.

"Believe it or not, plants converting toxins in your home was first studied by NASA," says Schoenberg. "Important toxins, such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene were found to be neutralized and the study provided a detailed list, as to which plants worked on what specific toxin."what is the quietest hepa air purifier Schoenberg continues: "In my house I have multiple giant Peace Lily’s which the NASA study points out neutralize all — benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene and ammonia."air purifier college Before you buy: While most plants are safe to be around, experts recommend doing some research on new plants before bringing them into your home, especially if you have children or pets.personalized travel air purifier necklace

Reduce your impact on the environment Using indoor plants to clear the air First published June 2007, updated March 2012 There’s nothing quite like the scent of forest air – the real thing, not an air freshener :). While some of that lovely earthy scent is due to decomposition, the trees and plants of a forest are constantly circulating oxygen and carbon dioxide, unlike in the midst of a concrete jungle when the air we breathe can get somewhat stale or downright poisonous. Our homes aren’t an oasis from our toxic modern environment either. The inside of our houses can have very poor air quality due to fumes from cigarette smoke, furnishings, paint and other items. Some items can give off these fumes for many years – that smell of fresh paint and new carpets isn’t just potentially harmful just while you can detect it. The airborne chemical cocktail inside our home often includes: benzene – used in oils, paints, plastic, rubbertrichloroethylene (TCE) – paints, lacquers, varnishes and adhesivesformaldehyde – foam, clothing, particle board, carpets.

All of the above have been shown to be potent environmental pollutants and likely carcinogens in humans. New homes can be particularly bad for formaldehyde – it might be at many times the generally considered safe level for quite some time. Office air can also be saturated by a fog of toxins due to the type of furnishings and floor coverings often used on commercial premises. Keeping indoor plants not only adds a nice green touch to our homes; some indoor plant species have proven to be effective filters for pollutants such as the above and carbon monoxide (an element of car exhaust). A while back, I came across a couple of very interesting studies by NASA carried out in the late 80’s and early 90’s that included information on the plants NASA found useful as indoor air filters to combat these chemicals. Beneficial plants include (scientific name followed by common) : Aloe veraAglaonema Modestum – Chinese EvergreenChamaedorea Seifritzii – Bamboo PalmChlorophytum elatum – Green Spider PlantChrysanthemum morifolium – Pot Mum/Florists’ Chrysanthemum   Dracaena Janet Craig – Janet CraigDracaena Marginata – MarginataDracaena Massangeana – Mass cane/Corn PlantDracaena Warneckii – Warneckii Gerbera Jamesonii – Gerbera Daisy/African daisyHedera Helix –  English Ivy/Common Ivy   Philodendron Domesticum – Elephant Ear PhilodendronPhilodendron Oxycardium – Heart Leaf PhilodendronPhilodendron Selloum – Lacy Tree PhilodendronSansevieria Laurentii  – Mother in law’s tongueScindapsus aureus – Golden PothosSpathiphyllum Mauna Loa –  Peace Lily/Mauna Loa

Some of the above are more effective than others at filtering particular chemicals, so if you’d like to learn more about the NASA research, here’s the study: Interior Landscape Plants For Indoor Air Pollution Abatement (PDF 1.7 megabytes) Indoor plants don’t just look great – they can help make your house or office a more healthy place to live and work in! blog comments powered byThe Plant Air Purifier® has several inherent advantages.  First, there are no toxic air filters to clean or replace, ever; the system is self-cleaning.  This results in reduced waste going to a landfill and less maintenance over time.  Root-associated microbes convert toxins in the air into nutrients the plants eat and thrive on.  Second, the Plant Air Purifier® is a beautiful potted plant, much more attractive and discrete than your average air filter. They enhance the look and feel of your home or office.  Third, the Plant Air Purifier´s® special growing media is inert and clean;

it does not support mold, mildew growth or insect propagation, as you may get with plants potted in soil.Plant Air Purifier® vs. Other Types of Air CleanersPlant Air Purifier® will remove Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), some of the most dangerous pollutants, whereas HEPA filter (alone) won't (1).  If a HEPA filter unit does include activated carbon, the amount is substantially less than the Plant Air Purifier's® five pounds of activated carbon!Plant Air Purifier® adapts to VOCs and other pollutants over time becoming more effective at eliminating them (2) while HEPA filters slowly lose their effectiveness until renewed by replacing the filter(s) (3).HEPA usually requires annual replacement of filters, which can cost as much as the filter unit itself, while the Plant Air Purifier® requires only water, occasional plant food and no filter to replace, ever.  Filters contribute to the solid waste stream and exposes the user to a substantial concentration of toxins during the replacement process.

For similar purchase price and electric cost, both units clean about the same volume of air.Plant Air Purifier® is more naturally attractive than any HEPA filter unit.Electronic Precipitator efficiency decreases as the collecting plates become loaded with particles or as airflow velocity decreases or becomes less uniform (3).  Plant Air Purifier® maintains a constant rate of air cleaning indefinitely because it is "self-cleaning".  The effectiveness increases over time as the microbes adapt to their environment.Electronic Precipitators need to have their collector plates cleaned regularly (3) exposing the user to a significant amount of toxic buildup.  Maintenance of the Plant Air Purifier® will not expose the user to concentrated toxin cleaning.Plant Air Purifier® is more naturally attractive than any Electronic Precipitator filter unit.Ion Generator units emit some ozone which may cause respiratory irritation and tends to soil interior surfaces with pollutant particles that are difficult to remove (3).

Plant Air Purifier® is more naturally attractive than any Ion Generator unit.Available scientific evidence shows that at ozone concentrations below public health standards ozone has little potential to remove indoor air contaminants (4).Ozone is an irritant gas that reacts with lung tissue and can cause various respiratory irritations; Plant Air Purifier® gives off only clean air (4).Ozone Generators tend to soil interior surfaces with pollutant particles that are difficult to remove (4).While indoor plants rooted in soil do provide some air cleaning capabilities, the Plant Air Purifier’s® greater air movement and root microbe access result in the Plant Air Purifier® being able to clean as much air as 60 or more standard indoor plants.Mold, fungus, insects, etc., that can be a problem by infesting the soil of potted plants are less of a concern when growing plants in hydroculture.  When watering plants in hydroculture, the surface pebbles dry quickly and so do not support the growth of molds and fungus.