It turns out that houseplants aren’t just a great way to spruce up a room, they can freshen the air in a room as well. NASA researchers, while trying to determine a veritable method for cleaning the atmosphere, discovered that many common indoor plants can double as air purifiers for the home. (To learn more about actual air purifiers for the home, see Finding The Best Air Purifiers For Allergies.) Through photosynthesis, houseplants can pull volatile organic compounds such as benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene out of the air and absorb them through the soil. In some cases, this can render the chemicals harmless, making the air clean and healthy to breathe. If you're looking to improve the air quality in your home, put down the chemical-based air freshener and try one of these air purifying plants instead. While most air purifying plants are not flowering plants, chrysanthemums are one of the few exceptions. Chrysanthemums work best at ridding the air of benzene, a chemical that is used in many laundry detergents, glues and plastics.

These flowers will need sunlight to bloom, so place them in a sunny spot near a window. Since this plant is a flowering plant, it probably won’t last year-round as other types of house plants do. Gerbera daisies, which are most commonly known as Gerber daisies, are bright and cheery, and a symbol of springtime. air purifier cleaning instructionsThey’re also good at clearing the air of benzene, which is also found in many types of paint. best air cleaner for cigarette smokeSo if you have a room that’s freshly painted, you may want to add a vase of Gerber daisies to it to get rid of the benzene particles that may be floating in the air.air cleaner rentals toronto While daisies may be the choice plant for spring, azaleas may be your best choice in the fall since they thrive in cooler temperatures.

They mostly absorb formaldehyde, which can be found in insulation and wall finishes. For that reason, azaleas are a good option for a basement or for the kitchen. Aloe vera is probably known best for its healing properties. The leaves contain a gel that can soothe and heal burns, cuts, bites and other skin irritations. But aloe vera actually does double-duty as both a healer and an air cleaner. This plant can easily absorb both benzene and formaldehyde. Aloe vera does well in the sun, so it’s best to keep it on a sunny windowsill. The long spider-like leaves of the spider plant are great at absorbing benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and xylene, a chemical that is used in the leather and rubber industries. This plant is very resilient, so it’s great for those who don’t have much of a green thumb. The snake plant, which is also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, is a common house plant that is actually poisonous if ingested. Ironically, it also filters toxins, such as formaldehyde, out of the air.

Like the spider plant, the snake plant is also resilient and great for those who can’t devote a lot of time to taking care of plants. Since formaldehyde is commonly found in personal hygiene products, it would work best if placed in the bathroom. Another good formaldehyde-fighter is the Golden pothos plant, which is a vine-like plant. Unlike some of these houseplants, the Golden pothos doesn’t need a lot of sunlight to survive. In fact, its leaves will remain green even if the plant is left in the dark. Because of this, the Golden pothos would be beneficial in a room that doesn’t get a lot of sunlight, such as the garage. Although this plant can also filter formaldehyde, studies show that English ivy filters airborne particles of fecal matter as well. This plant needs bright, sunny weather to survive, so the best place for it is on the bathroom windowsill. (For information on where fecal matter can turn up, see 9 Surprising Places Where You Might Find Fecal Matter.) This plant, which is also known as the reed palm, often produces flowers and berries and is best kept in a shady place.

It filters both benzene and formaldehyde as well as trichloroethylene, which is a chemical used in the dry-cleaning process. This plant would be beneficial in the laundry room or in room with furniture that may be giving off formaldehyde, such as the living room or bedroom. The peace lily is at the top of NASA’s list for filtering chemicals from the air. Not only does it absorb formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene, it also pulls xylene and toluene, a chemical found in gasoline, from the air. The peace lily can survive in the shade and only needs to be watered once a week, so it’s also a good choice for those who don’t have the time to care for a plant. Since it absorbs so many chemicals, it will work well in any part of the house. Since plants absorb chemicals through soil, they work best when the lower leaves are clipped away so that the soil is exposed. According to an article from the University of Minnesota Extension Service, NASA recommends using 15 to 18 plants for a house that’s 1,800 square feet.

The better they thrive, the better they’ll clean the air.Just about everything in your bedroom — furniture, paint, upholstery, cleaning products — can emit toxic chemicals. Add to that the fact that most bedrooms are poorly ventilated, and every sleeping quarters needs some type of air purification system. If you’d rather not hear the groan of an air cleaner as you sleep, simply head to the nusery: Plants (and the dirt in which they sit) absorb many of those harmful particulates and produce oxygen, effectively acting as natural air filters. With an assist from Joel Deuterman, horticulturist and General Manager of New Garden Nursery & Landscaping, here are nine plants that will keep you breathing easy in the bedroom. The innards of this spiny succulent soothes burns and speeds up healing of superficial wounds, but the plant itself is helpful for clean air. “Aloe removes formaldehyde and benzene from the air,” explains Deuterman. And don’t be fooled — just because you don’t house embalmed corpses in your night chamber doesn’t mean there isn't formaldehyde in the air, as the chemical is found in everything from carpets and upholstery to glues and paints.

Deuterman recommends bright light and dryness to keep your aloe plant healthy. Another plant that purges the air of formaldehyde and benzene, the Spider Plant also removes excess CO2. “They’re very easy to care for,” Deuterman says of the multi-limbed perennial. “They thrive in dim light, and like plenty of water.” While its long, licker-like leaves earned it the nickname "mother-in-law’s tongue," this plant won't scold your life choices and tell your girlfriend she should've married that dentist. Rather, it's one of the best ways to rid your room of fomaldehyde. It also combats trichloroethylene (found in cleaning products) and xylene (found in paint). The easy-to-care-for perennial can be kept in low or bright light, and thrives in dry environments. This attractively leafy plant is used as decoration in everywhere from offices to malls. As a houseplant, it can reach heights of 66 ft and, as Deuterman explains, “is great for filtering formaldehyde and CO2."

Also known as “devil’s ivy,” “hunter’s robe,” and “the money plant,” the bright-light vine wins the award for coolest nicknames. Great for removing trichloroethylene and formaldehyde, this shrubby houseplant comes in more than 40 different species, featuring long, wide leaves. Deuterman says the plant will do well in low or bright light and is extremely easy to care for. Be careful, though, pet owners: The plants are toxic to cats and dogs. When cared for correctly, this plant lives for many years. “That care includes consistent light and water schedules,” says Deuterman, who notes that the Weeping Fig is sensitive to environmental changes. The upkeep is worth it, as a healthy one will rid your room of formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene. This one’s kinda gross. “English Ivy removes fecal matter and formaldehyde from the air,” says Deuterman. Why might there be fecal matter in the air, you ask? Well, if you have a bathroom near your bed, a 2015 study from the American Society for Microbiology found that more than 60 percent of toothbrushes tested positive for fecal matter.