Dr Maria MD
Indoor Plants that Clean the Air and Remove Toxins: Indoor air can contain more pollution and toxins that outdoor air. We are sure you never thought that it is possible. Many people think that the air that lingers outside is harmful, but the truth is that the concentration of indoor pollutants is quite more than those outdoors.
There are plethoras of reasons for your indoor environment to be polluted which can include building material, electronics, malfunctioning appliances furniture, cleaning materials, smoking, etc. Even the air freshener that you use can release potentially harmful chemicals into your house.
The mattress in your house, accumulating dust in the drawers and the pain on your walls; all have chemicals which can harm you after prolonged exposure. Insecticides, shampoos and glues have toxic gas formaldehyde which is actually carcinogenic.
Chemical exposure in any way is harmful for your health and should be avoided. Exposure to indoor pollutants can result in coughing, dizziness, sneezing, eye irritation and fatigue. And extended exposure can result in worse health concerns such as respiratory illness, digestive issues and heart diseases.
Even though, getting rid of chemicals and toxins from the outside world is almost next to impossible in today’s world but you always use natural ways to remove toxins from your house.
Instead of buying an expensive air-purifier which can dig a hole in your pocket, try these Indoor Plants that Clean the Air and Remove Toxins at home.
1. Beeswax Candles:
The beeswax candles clean the air by releasing ions into it and act as natural air purifiers. Normal candles with paraffin, can release harmful chemicals such as benzene, toluene and soot into the air and ruin the quality of indoor air, on the other side beeswax candles burn without any smoke or scent.
People who have asthma or allergies can benefit a lot from beeswax candles as they are highly effective in removing dust and allergens from the air. Beeswax candles also last longer than petroleum derived paraffin candles.
2. Salt Lamps:
Salt lamps pull toxins from your home and neutralise them. Salt crystal lamp is a great natural air purifier as it reduces airborne irritants, allergens and pathogens by pulling water vapour out of the air.
You can keep a Himalayan Pink salt lamp in your house or even in your office. Not only it looks beautiful and adds to your interior, it also promotes healthy environment.
You can leave the lamp on all night and it will give a natural glow without disturbing your peaceful sleep. It will work even when it is not on, if you don’t own a salt lamp, then get one immediately!
3. House Plants:
The best medium to clean the pollution indoor would definitely be these lovely house plants, especially if you have any sort of respiratory disease. Most of the house plants do not need much of sun light and require little maintenance.
Houseplants can rejuvenate air inside the house and prevent toxins like formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, ammonia and benzene. You can have a plant per 100 square feet of home for a proper air cleansing.
Try growing any of the following plants:
- Butterfly Palm
- Lady Palm or Broad Lead Palm
- Bamboo Palm
- Peace Lily
- Rubber Tree
- Cornstalk Dracaena
- Golden Pothos
- English Ivy or Common Ivy
- Money Plant
- Boston Fern
- Silver Vine
- Centipede Tongavine.
You can find these plants commonly in any nursery and they are pretty easy to take care of.
4. Activated Charcoal:
Another fantastic way to purify indoor air is by using activated charcoal which is odourless and works amazingly in removing the toxins from the air. Also known as activated carbon, it has high absorptive properties which make it an excellent purifier.
The porous structure of the activated charcoal aids in removing bacteria, harmful pathogens and allergens from your home and absorbs moisture which prevents mildew. You can get activated charcoal in supermarkets.
5. Essential Oils:
Essential oils like oregano, rosemary, grapefruit, thyme cinnamon, tea-tree, clove and lemon work against fungi, virus and bacteria and kill them. These essential oils can kill all airborne pathogens and clean the indoor air.
You can get a air diffuser and add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Not only it will clean the toxins but also make your house fresh and fragrant.
If you do not wish to buy a diffuser, then just take warm water in a bowl and add a few drops of essential oil; let this bowl sit in your room for a while. Another option is to add essential oils in your lotions and soaps.
6. Ventilation:
The simplest and cheapest way is to open the house windows and recycle the indoor air. You can also get exhaust fans to help push the toxins and pollutants out of your home.
In kitchens especially, a lot of pollutants are created because of the gas, so it is important to have enough ventilation. Whenever you take bath, you should make sure that you let the steam out of your bathroom as moisture can cause mildew to grow.
Extra Tips:
- Quit smoking as it release a lot of carcinogens in the air.
- For houseplants, make sure you clean the leaves regularly so that dust doesn’t get accumulated on them.
- Clean your carpets and rugs frequently as they absorb most of the dust and pollutants.
- Whenever you enter your house, make sure you take your shoes off and clean your feet
- Clean your air conditioner as they collect the dust from the house.
- Minimise the use of heat producing appliances and eliminate the use of excessive moisture.
- Always look for natural alternatives when buying household item and try to avoid use of plastics as much as you can.
- For those pet lovers, make sure you keep your pets groomed. Keep the dander to the minimum by cleaning them regularly. Also, as pets can shed a lot of hair; try to brush them outside the house.
