Air Purifying Plants for Your Home

They are beautiful, they are special to some, they complete a room! Flowers and House Plants are now part of our decor and life, they add that special finish and give a room an earthy feel. And then to seal the deal,we are taught that plants & flowers use carbon monoxide and give off oxygen but let it not come as a surprise to you that some of these cuties in your homes actually do the reverse. 

Personally am a bit into the whole green thing but have since replaced some of my plants with the more obeying artificial versions! Any how, if you are a plant person, or can at least water it for a month or two, you will be interested to know that there are those plants that go beyond the basic use of carbon monoxide and go on to purify the air around by absorbing or 'destroying' toxins. And that right there is our interest today; Air purifying plants, interesting, right? We give little or no notice to these plants and yet they could as well save us a trip to the pharmacy or GP.

 

Refer to my last article titled How About a Breath of Fresh Air at Home  that outlines ways air in our homes is easily contaminated.

 

Below is a break down of some of the flowers and plants that purify air around them; keep this nearby because it may may come in handy the next time you choose to go house-plant or flower shopping

Areca Palm
 With the highest score for air filtering capability, this is the no.1 air purifying plant! Replace your electric humidifier with this gorgeous palm and you will immediately get moist air and a toxins-free home or office.

 

Peace Lilly

If you don’t have enough light in the room, Peace Lilly is the most suitable plant. All you have to do is water it on a weekly basis and keep it out of the reach of pets as it is poisonous. Peace Lilly is a year round bloomer which makes it even more attractive; i removes carcinogen found in paints, furniture wax, and polishes.








Red-edged Dracaena
For a sunny spot that you want to fill up choose this vibrant Dracaena. It has the ability to remove xylene, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde from the air. It is a low maintenance plant so it makes the perfect choice for your all the single people out there or the workaholic and will start purifying the air the moment you bring it into your space!








Snake Plant




Commonly known as snake plant, this sharp leafed plant is one of the best choices for lowering carbon dioxide at night. Simply put it in your bedroom say near you bedside and get your oxygen boost while you sleep. It doesn’t need light and it is very easy to keep. Just a pre-caution – it is toxic to dogs and cats.









Golden Pothos

This is one of the easiest plants to grow and as it’s leaves grow in cascading wines it is perfect for your kitchen or living room as hanging plants. They are placed high on the NASA list of air purifying plants as they have the ability to remove formaldehyde from the air.









Aloe Vera 




We all know the medicinal use of this amazing succulent, but it also clears the air of  formaldehyde and benzene commonly found in chemical-based cleaners, paints etc. When there are too many chemicals in the air. it’s leaves will start showing brown spots. It is easy to grow, just place it in a sunny spot like your kitchen window for example and enjoy the fresh clean air.










 Pot Mum 
 
Chrysanthemum , popularly known as Mum, is one of the few flowering plants that have purifying quality and this one has a really strong one! It filters out benzene, which is commonly found in glue, paint, plastics and detergent. 'Mums' love the sun so you must place them near a window or sure source of sunlight. Direct sunlight encourages the blooming of this bright, colorful plant. The only disadvantage again, it too is  poisonous to pets.

Rubber Plant

Rubber Plant
Powerful air purifier and toxin eliminator, the rubber tree is the easiest indoor plant to grow. It can grow perfectly without any light and in cooler climates. We can easily say this is the plant that asks the least and gives the most. It is the fourth plant on the NASA list of air filtering plants.









Weeping Fig

Ficus Benjamina is another fig that has strong air filtering ability. It removes pollutants like formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene. Opposite to the rubber tree, the weeping fig is a little trickier to maintain. Don’t worry though –  once you find the right (sunny) place and the perfect watering regime you will have a healthy and beautiful indoor plant.

Azalea

Azalea
The beautiful Rhododendron is not famous just of it’s blooms but also of it’s ability to fight formaldehyde. Azaleas prefer cooler spaces so if your interior is too hot, try placing them in the brightest spot of the coolest place say your basement. Remember to keep the soil moist and remove dried flowers for a healthy and flowering azalea.

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How About a Breath of Fresh Air at Home?

A Well lit and aerated loft

Isn’t it true that most of the time when decorating,we are more concerned with the colour of the walls and the general décor but forget about the quality of the air? Which, in my view should be paramount, because it affects our health everyday, all the time!




Unhealthy air can be as a result of different reasons from the activities going on in your neighborhood or the materials used to build the house, to the type of furniture, paint or drapery used when decorating your interior, or . So, it will take thorough and careful steps to eliminate that bad air from your home and general surroundings.
So, this week, how about dedicating some time to ways and techniques to follow so you can always happily breathe-in not choke (ok, I agree that may be exaggerated, but who knows? ) every time you walk through the front door?

French windows bring in more light&Air

Ventilation
This is key and the most important way of making sure there is a continuous fresh air flow to exhaust stale air

and bring in fresh one, enough light is also a plus if you want to keep out musty air. The ventilation system should be based on the home’s size, structural tightness, climate, and number of occupants.
So, to make sure you are not stuck with the same air, make sure all the rooms in your home have proper and enough ventilation from windows to doors, ventilators etc etc. French windows are elegant and can always be opened during the day to let in both sunlight and fresh air. Moving on, 'high ceiling/wall' ventilators should be in a position where they can bring in fresh air and this has a lot to do with the direction of wind and positioning of the house.

French windows bring in more light&Air

However, if you are 'renting'  and have no choice in the matter, improvise with fans to freshen the air. Use exhaust fans in your kitchen and bathroom when cooking and bathing.
For the Kitchen, an extractor helps keep air clean & crisp devoid of fumes and mixed up spices/aromas by sucking and expelling them out alongside any pollutants such as carbon dioxide, water vapour, carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide (yes, all that is generated by a gas stove). If your kitchen or stove/cooker doesn’t come with prefixed extractor then you can always buy and fix one yourself, just above the stove.

Bathroom ceiling ventilation

For the bathroom, install good ventilation or simple fans will do, just to reduce condensation that can lead to mold growth.





Go Natural 

Azalea, air purifying flower

Wait, before you go all native and green around your house, be sure to find out what gas the plant uses to 'breathe'..yeah, most of them are cuties but trust me when I say they are slowly but surely robbing you of your oxygen and life! So, instead enlist the help of a professional who will educate you on what plants and flowers to grow, the ones that are co-existent. These types of plants actually help simply because they take in what you breathe out, hence purifying the air around you as opposed to those that use oxygen to thrive. Ref to my article about Ref to my article: Air Purifying Plants for Your Home


For those of you who enjoy gardening, be vigilant so as not to transfer toxins from the garden to your house. You can also opt for natural/organic fertilizers and pesticides. If however have to use these products in say your flower or vegetable garden, be sure to remove your shoes/gloves before entering the house.  



To be extra safe, shower immediately and follow that by separately washing the clothes you were wearing while gardening.


                                                                        

Control dust
This may sound like a real task given the kind of environment and weather in this country and African Continent as a whole, but a little effort here and there will go a long way in ensuring the air in your homes is kept fresh. One might say to keep out dust in most parts of Uganda would mean closing all doors and windows at all times, but don’t despair, it can be done otherwise.

Start by avoiding heavily textured draperies and blinds, which tend to attract and collect dust. So,  instead choose easy-to-clean and light drapery, like flat-weave cotton and linen fabrics. It’s best to keep collectables and hard to clean accessories behind closed doors and if you have to, display them behind see through glass. Regular dusting is a must, at least in Uganda!. Make sure to use a dry cotton cloth for better results.
 

Mind your building materials
                                                                            
For instance when choosing your floor materials, consider replacing carpet with easy-to-keep-clean flooring, such as hardwood, tile, linoleum, bamboo, or cork. When installing a new carpet, air the room out by opening up the windows and using fans. Do this thoroughly for 48 to 72 hours following installation to allow any emissions to dissipate.
Some types of wood furniture frames, plywood flooring and medium-density fibre board cabinetry contain urea-formaldehyde (UF), which releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands.
Examples include: paints and lacquers, paint strippers, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings. Release of VOCs decreases over time, but provide plenty of ventilation for 48-72 hours if you have new products containing UF in your home.
More so, always try to use low-VOC paint.

If sealing wood or painting, choose products that emit low or no VOCs. Low-toxic, low-odour, water-base adhesives are the best choices because they emit fewer fumes and quickly stop releasing chemicals. Check labels to learn whether the paint is low-VOC.
And there you have it! The air is definitely going to be ‘fresher’ than before and maybe that will mean less visits to your GP!

XOXO  Pamela.

 CLICK HERE For the published version of this article in The Daily Monitor Newspaper