Cleaning Indoor Air With Plants

Now that fall is upon us, it is already starting to get cooler. Windows will be closed more often, especially when the frost starts to hit. Indoor air quality will be lowered as we get less fresh air from the outside.

There are ways to improve the air you breath inside the house. We use air filters. We have a large one in our master bedroom. Two of the three kids have their own smaller air filters.

As I walk up the stairs at night, I can hear the swooshing of competing airfilters. Each making its own distinct level of "white" noise.

You should also change the filter on your forced air heater as this is probably one of the larger dust polluters in your house.

This is all fine and well, but twice a year I have to change the filters at a cost of about $90. Not to mention the cost of electricity to run them and the environmental impact of the filters.
So what else can you do?

...Plants!

So how does that work?

Plants take in CO2 and release Oxygen into the air. Some do this more efficient than others. There are even some that pull additional toxins from the air, but I won't get into that chemical reaction. I like the release of oxygen.

Here is a list of indoor plants that can significantly improve indoor air quality according to NASA:
Bamboo Palm
Chinese Evergreen
English Ivy
Gerber Daisy
Janet Craig
Marginata
Mass cane/Corn Plant
Mother-in-law's Tongue
Pot Mum
Peace Lily
Warneckii

I guess I'll have to slowly start my indoor plant collection. Especially since they don't make any swishing noises like my air purifyers. They also don't use any electricity. And the biggest plus: You don't have to change filters. That's about as eco friendly as you can get.