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5 Best Indoor Plants For Your Home!

Have you heard of formaldehyde, benzene, and toluene? They are all air pollutants that can be found inside your house. Indoor air pollution can trigger several health problems in people. Some of them include:

Headaches
Sore throats
Skin rashes
Lethargy
Dizziness
Respiratory problems
Frequent colds
Chronic coughs
Eye irritation

How can you purify the air inside your home?

The easiest way to purify the air inside your house is through indoor plants. The ‘Clean Air Study’ carried out by the National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) had found that there are several plants that can purify the air inside our homes. They can remove germs, dust and toxins and help you breathe fresher air indoors.

Florist’s chrysanthemums or “mums” are ranked the highest for air purification. They’re shown to eliminate common toxins as well as ammonia. Treat yourself to a fresh pot, as this flower only blooms for about six weeks.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

5 best indoor plants for purifying the air inside your house –

Do you think that you are not a ‘plant person’? Well, think again. Having plants in your house will not only result in cleaner air but also pretty corners and pictures for Instagram. Moreover, you won’t have to burn a hole in your pocket by investing in expensive air purifiers.

Below are some indoor plants that can get the job done for you:

Aloe Vera

Is there anything this super-plant cannot do? Probably not. Aloe vera is excellent at cleaning benzene and formaldehyde from the air inside your house. These toxins are found in floor finishes, varnishes and detergents. Apart from cleaning the air, you can also use it to treat cuts and burns very effectively.

Taking care: Water once every 2-3 weeks and ensure it gets consistent sunlight.

Peace Lily

This is one of the top indoor plants that help in cleaning the air. Peace lilies help by breaking down and neutralizing toxic gases like carbon monoxide, acetone, trichloroethylene, formaldehyde and benzene. Not only can they improve air quality by 60%, but they can also keep shower curtains and tiles free from mildew.

Taking care: Water once a week and keep in medium, indirect sunlight.

Pothos is another great indoor plant that has been shown to lower indoor ozone levels, which can make it easier to breathe and reduce your risk for respiratory ailments.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.

Chrysanthemum

Think flowering plants are for dÃ©cor only? Chrysanthemums help in filtering many toxins including benzene and ammonia. These toxins are found abundantly inside the house in objects like plastics, glue and detergents. You can keep chrysanthemums in your living room or kitchen to brighten up any corner while enjoying its benefits.

Taking care: Place it near a window that receives plenty of sunlight.

Snake Plant

This is one of the easiest plants to take care of. If you have no prior experience in taking care of plants, opt for a snake plant. Also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, it is known for filtering toxic gases. Not just that, these yellow-tipped succulents release a lot of oxygen at night that can help you breathe better while you are asleep.

The best place for a snake plant is inside the bedroom. While most plants produce carbon dioxide at night, snake plants continue to produce a lot of oxygen.

Taking care: Do not overwater as the roots can rot in moist soil.

Spider Plant

Do you find spiders to be scary? This plant is anything but scary. Another great option for houseplant newbies, spider plants can battle carbon monoxide and xylene very effectively. Xylene is a solvent used in rubber and printing industries and is very harmful to humans. This plant is also very pet-friendly.

Taking care: They pretty much take care of themselves. You can re-pot the tiny plants and have a whole lot of low maintenance natural air purifiers inside your house.

Bonus- Some other plants that work equally well are the English Ivy, Pothos, Chinese evergreen, Weeping fig and the Broad lady palm.

Invest in these plants to purify the air and also make your home look prettier than ever before.

Also Read: Butterfly Pea Flower: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects & More!

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.

Here’s Why Indoor Pollution Is Worse Than Outdoor Pollution

Everyone knows that air pollution in India has reached alarming levels. We read about deteriorating air quality in the newspapers all the time. Whether you live in the cities or in rural regions, you can’t really escape from the toxic emissions of carbon dioxide and other dangerous fumes. Pollution claims many lives every year in India. That is why scientists and environmentalists are racing against time to come up with strategies to curb this menace. And the government too is fully behind them.And even if more pollution regulatory measures are put in place, they won’t entirely solve the problem. Because they will only scale down outdoor air pollution. But another type of pollution that exists which not many people are aware of is indoor air pollution. Yes, there are plenty of pollutants right inside your home. And they are more harmful than their outdoor counterparts.

What Causes Indoor Air Pollution?

The walls and roof of your home protect you from the elements- torrential rain, blistering sun, hailstorms and dust storms. Houses are shelters that human beings began to construct nearly 10,000 years ago. But, our early ancestors built houses keeping in mind the terrain, the wind patterns, the climatic conditions etc. so that the air inside would always be fresh and clean. Over the last century, houses have witnessed a change in basic architecture to promote greater levels of privacy. In a hot and humid country like India, rooms require large windows and doors and greater exposure to the outside to allow effective air circulation. But in most houses today, the size of the windows and doors have shrunk.And due to this, the stale and old air inside your home finds no outlet and fresh air from outside cannot come in either.Another reason why indoor air quality is declining is the absence of ventilators. These are smaller versions of windows bored into the walls near the ceilings. They help in establishing an air cycle inside a room by allowing warm air to escape so that cool air can take its place.But, when there are no ventilators the warm air is trapped inside. And it’s not just the warm air that gets trapped but also the indoor air pollutants such as harmful mould spores, cigarette smoke, residues of cleaning chemicals, beauty products or particles emitted when you cook or use your fridge and air conditioner.

Why Is Indoor Air Pollution More Dangerous?

There are two reasons why pollutants inside the house, though they may be the same as the ones outdoor, pose a bigger threat to your health.

1. Higher Concentration –

The indoor pollutants are more densely concentrated than outside. Simply because there are limited space and air in your home than the outside. And that is why the pollutants are more closely packed. And with each breath, you are inhaling a larger volume of pollutants than you do outside your home. Winds are stronger outside than inside so pollutants outside can be blown away. Similarly, a spell of rain can also bring down the level of pollutants. But this is not the case indoors.

2. Exposure –

Most people spend a significant amount of time indoors than outside. That is why they are exposed to a concentrated volume of toxic matter for a considerable amount of time.

What Are The Health Effects Of Pollution Especially Indoor Pollution?

Indoor air pollution can lead to ailments such as –

It can cause breathing difficulties
Trigger asthma
Skin problems
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Can You Reduce Indoor Air Pollution?

There are a few things you can do to mitigate indoor air pollution-

Never smoke inside the house
Ensure that you have well-ventilated rooms
Keep your doors and windows open for as long as possible
Use herbal surface cleaners
Air out your pillows, mattresses and blankets to reduce spores
Use ACs as infrequently as possible

Indoor air pollution is more lethal than outdoor pollution. Yet it is easier to curb than the outside version. So take heed and adopt the measures we suggest for the sake of your own health.Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.
Links and product recommendations in the information provided here are advertisements of third-party products available on the website. PharmEasy does not make any representation on the accuracy or suitability of such products/services. Advertisements do not influence the editorial decisions or content. The information in this blog is subject to change without notice. The authors and administrators reserve the right to modify, add, or remove content without notification. It is your responsibility to review this disclaimer regularly for any changes.