Indoor air pollution is such a major problem that even NASA’s space station isn’t immune! When the intergalactic masterminds set out on a mission to find the best way to help astronauts breathe clean air during their missions to forge our future, they discovered…these 10 house plants! It’s true, these plants are the easiest, most affordable, and healthiest ways to clean your air fast.

It really should come as no surprise, right?
After all, we are part of an environment that relies on plants for the clean air we breathe outside. The problems only start when we try to escape indoors!
Americans spend up to 90% of their time indoors, and our homes and offices contain more pollutants than ever. Upholstery, pets, building materials, and even our own bodies—they all lead to toxins in the air that make us sick.
Thankfully, we can all benefit from what NASA calls “nature's life support system.” Here are some cheap houseplants you can use to spiff up your house AND your air quality.
First, How Do Plants Clean the Air?
Air purifiers work by running air through an advanced filtration system that removes contaminants and disperses fresh air into your home.
Well, nature was doing that long before we had filters, electricity, plastic, and this awesome website to find the best air purifiers on the market (see what we did there?).
Plants purify the air by absorbing some particulate matter (they can’t match the power of mechanical purifiers), acting as a natural air filtration system. Photosynthesis—the process that converts light into “plant food”—converts carbon dioxide and water into oxygen, giving us the air we breathe.
Without plants, the air would be too toxic to breathe. So, think of the plants inside your home as a mini-filtration system creating a safe, breathable ecosystem for you and your family.
NOTE: Plants are not a substitute for air purifiers in homes with “sick-building syndrome.” When your air is contaminated, you need industrial strength solutions. These plants are only meant as a supplement to your air purifier.
10 Plants That Purify the Air in Your Home
NASA conducted a major study that concluded these 10 plants could lead to breathable environments inside of space stations. They should suffice for your home too!
NASA conducted a major study that concluded these 10 plants could lead to breathable environments inside of space stations. They should suffice for your home too!
Honorable Mention - Ficus
The weeping fig is another air cleaner that can bring some feng shui into your home while helping you breathe healthier air. It can grow up to 10 feet tall, though. It’s extremely hardy and doesn’t require much care. When it gets nice outside, stick it in the front yard, but don’t leave it out in the cold. It’s from Southeast Asia, so it can’t survive the winter.
Plants Don’t Just Purify the Air…
Going green indoors does more than just make your air healthier and help fight off sickness; plants benefit us in so many ways. Remember, they’re part of our natural habitat. It’s time to go back to nature!
Did you know…?
The mere sight of nature helps soothe our minds, and having something to care for decreases loneliness and increases our sense of purpose. They’re the cheapest therapy on the market!
Plants are no Substitute for Air Purifiers
Industrial strength air purifiers might not look as beautiful, but they are far more powerful than your standard house plant. There are things that machinery can do that nature simply can’t. If you have serious indoor air quality issues, start with an air purifier first. House plants make a good supplement and can improve your air quality and quality of life, so feel free to add as many as you’d like!
Plants are an affordable and beautiful solution to indoor air issues. When combined with an air purifier, they result in a happier, healthier, more focused you. Are you ready to start living healthier?
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