Best Indoor Air Cleaning Plants

Simply put, every green plant is a photosynthetic organism that contains chlorophylls, and uses CO2 (carbon dioxide) to produce oxygen. Therefore, every green plant cleans the air we breathe.

What started as a small idea, kept growing and growing - into an extensive list with accompanying images - of air cleaning plants that proved to remove the most pollutants out of the air we breathe inside our homes.

The conventional way of building new houses might be fast and convenient, however, it also "implements" our indoor environments with numerous toxins that cause all kinds of health issues to the residents of these homes.

Let's look at some of the most well known indoor air toxins - and where they come from:

• formaldehyde - ubiquitous chemical found in virtually all indoor environments




• foam insulation


• particle board or pressed wood products used in manufacturing of the office furniture


• consumer paper products which have been treated with UF resins, including grocery bags, waxed papers, facial tissues and paper towels


• common household cleaners


• UF resins are known to be used as stiffeners, wrinkle resisters, water repellents, fire retardants and adhesive binders in floor coverings, carpet backings and permanent-press clothes


• other sources: heating and cooking fuels like natural gas, kerosene, and cigarette smoke


• benzene - commonly used solvent, found in




• gasoline


• inks


• oils and paints


• plastics and rubber


• also used in the manufacturing of detergents, explosives, pharmaceuticals, and dyes




• carbon monoxide


• trichloroethylene (TCE) - commercial product found in




• metal degreasing and dry cleaning products


• printing inks


• paints and lacquers


• varnishes and adhesives




This lens is not about what kind of health-related problems each of the chemicals, mentioned above might be causing. Instead, we're focusing on solutions and improvement of the indoor air - with air cleaning plants.

Every green plant helps cleaning the air. The ones, mentioned below just proved to be the most efficient ones in numerous studies, including those done by NASA.

Intro image credit