Indoor air pollutants can be found in everything from your carpet to your cleaning supplies. But luckily, the common houseplant is here to save the day. According to a 1989 study by NASA, certain indoor houseplants have been known to filter our trace amounts of these harmful chemicals. Whether you want to freshen up your bedroom or workspace, here are the plants we suggest for your space. If you are seriously worried about indoor air pollution, we wouldn’t recommend you rely solely on a few potted plants, but they will have you breathing a little easier, and likely put you in a better mood.

To note: Many of these houseplants are toxic to animals and humans when consumed. Always make sure to research plants before purchasing if you have curious children or pets living in your home.

Aloe Vera

There are more than a few reasons to have this succulent on hand. You may know of aloe for its burn healing qualities, but did you know it will also help keep your air clean? It’s not one of the strongest air purifying plants, but it does have its benefits – helping to reduce formaldehyde and benzene. Aloe is also used for cosmetic purposes and in many health foods for its antioxidants and digestive benefits. It is a desert succulent, so keep this plant in a warm and sunny spot and water minimally for the best results.

Spider Plant

The spider plant is known to be a true beginner’s plant, as it’s one of the easiest plants to care for. It is also one of the few common houseplants that are not toxic to animals, so you won’t have to worry about your pets getting into trouble. It’s small size and spiky leaves are the perfect addition to any room in your house. The spider plant also helps reduce formaldehyde and xylene.

Snake Plant

Unlike many of these other houseplants, the snake plant releases oxygen in the nighttime. We suggest placing this plant in your bedroom to assure you are breathing in the freshest oxygen as you dream peacefully away. Snake plants are also durable, so if you don’t have a green thumb, this is the perfect plant for you. This plant is known to filter out formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, toluene, and trichloroethylene.

English Ivy

English ivy is an aggressive grower, which can make for an easy to care for plant with fast results. However, it is also known to be an invasive species. Make sure to keep this one indoors and away from other pots, otherwise your home will be trailing with ivy and your other precious plants might get destroyed. While that may sound intimidating, English ivy can help reduce benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene. It is also unique in that it will help rid of fecal particles and mold, making it the ideal plant to have hanging in your bathroom.

English ivy is invasive to the Pacific Northwest, so it’s important to keep this plant indoors.

Peace Lily

The peace lily is one of the top air purifying plants. Keep it closer to a bright window to get those big beautiful white blooms. While you may be hesitant to hide this pretty plant in the bathroom, it is a mildew controlling plant and will absorb excess moisture and mold spores. It can also help reduce formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, xylene, and ammonia in the air.

Dracaenas

This easy to care for and tall-growing plant will make for the perfect to accent your living room. It is one of the stronger air purifiers, filtering formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, benzene, and trichloroethylene. You’ll surely lounge easy with this plant in your home.

Golden Pothos

Not to worry if your office desk is far away from any bright windows, a Golden Pothos can tolerate low light. It is also easy to care for, making it the ideal plant to have in your workspace. This plant will trail beautifully and also make for a lovely hanging plant in your home. The golden pothos can reduce formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, benzene, and carbon monoxide.

Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums, aka “mums,” are one of the highest-ranked plants for air filtration. Unfortunately, they only filter when the flowers are in bloom, and the blooms are seasonal. But it’s still worth the buy; its pretty flowers will brighten up your kitchen and reduce formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, and ammonia.

Chinese Evergreen

This tropical plant has beautifully patterned leaves that you can find in shades of green, pink, and silver. Chinese evergreens are small-medium sized and slow-growing, making it ideal for an office desktop. They are known to help decrease benzene, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene – many chemicals that might typically plague a stuffy office space.

Gerbera Daisies

This colorful perennial is another nighttime oxygen-releasing plant. It comes in a variety of bright colors that will add lovely color to your home or make a fun plant to gift. Clipped blooms will last two weeks, so you can enjoy the beautiful colors sat in a vase on the kitchen table while it continues to purify benzene in your bathroom. This plant requires bright light for optimal blooms, so make sure you find it a nice spot on the window sill.

Bamboo Palm

The Bamboo Palm is another easy to care for plant. It is known to grow tall, so a room with tall ceilings and open space is its preferred home. Try keeping it in your living room where it will help reduce formaldehyde, benzene, carbon monoxide, xylene, and chloroform.

Once you pick out your perfect air-purifying plant, remember to add a tablespoon or two of Clean Water Grow® All-Purpose Plant Food to the soil. This will help keep your plant growing strong – that means fresh air, all year long!

11 Air Purifying House Plants to Freshen up Your Space