Indoor Plants for Cleaning Air

(Question)

I’m looking for an indoor green plant that will be good to clean the air in the home but will not be toxic to children or pets. Please help!

(Answer)

Thank you for contacting Toronto Master Gardeners.

Plant physiologists already knew that plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen as part of the photosynthetic process. Now researchers have found many common houseplants absorb benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene, as well.

The NASA studies generated the recommendation that you use 15 to 18 good-sized houseplants in 6 to 8-inch diameter containers to improve air quality in an average 1,800 square foot house. The more vigorously they grow the better job they’ll do for you.

Here is a list of Non-toxic houseplants to children or pets:

For more choice, you may interested by this article:

According to American Lung Association:  ‘Cleaning up pollution once it is in the air is extremely difficult. The most effective way to ensure clean air is keep pollutants out of the air to begin with. Indoors, that means keeping things that pollute out of your home or limiting their use. The second most effective way to reduce indoor air pollution is to add ventilation, like opening a window or running an exhaust fan.’

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