Inhale. Exhale. Slowly. Calms the mind, body and spirit. But, what exactly are you breathing? If you are in your home, office or school, you may be surprised to know that the air quality could be 100 times more polluted than the air outside. Even if you live in a rural area.
You breathe in roughly 3000 gallons of air each day. Not only are you breathing in the nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%) and trace gases (argon, carbon dioxide, methane, helium, hydrogen and ozone) you are also breathing in microbes, dust, pet dander, spores from plants and other not so fantastic particles. These undesirables could lead to respiratory issues in humans and pets.
There are many ways to rid your indoor air of some of these nasty air-borne particles. You could invest in a HEPA filtration system. This could be an incredibly costly solution that you need to maintain and keep running smoothly. Or, you could invest in a few houseplants. Many which do not need a lot of maintaining and don't add to the noise pollution of a home.
NASA has used houseplants as a way to purify the air in space facilities. There have been numerous studies on the effects of houseplants and the air we breathe. Here are few varieties you can pick up at your local greenhouse.
Aloe Vera - Super easy to grow, Aloe Vera helps to clear formaldehyde and benzene from the air in your home. These pollutants are by-products of chemical-based cleaners and paints. Many of you may also know, Aloe Vera is also very beneficial as a first aid treatment for cuts and burns. Plunk one in front of a sunny window and enjoy the many benefits!
Spider Plant - Another very easy to grow (and difficult to kill, for those of you who don't have a green thumb) plant is also known as the 'airplane' plant. This plant absorbs benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and xylene. Spider plants are also considered safe houseplants for pets.
Gerbera Daisy - Get your color therapy and remove trichloroethylene at the same time!
Snake Plant - This is the best plant for filtering formaldehyde, found in common cleaning products, toilet paper, tissues and personal care products. Best room to place one of these interesting plants? The bathroom. They love the humidity and thrive in low light.
English Ivy - Looking to make your bathroom a green room? Add English Ivy to help reduce airborne fecal matter particles. Ewww, yes, it can get airborne.
Golden Pothos - Another formaldehyde conqueror. This leafy green plant loves bright, indirect sunlight and light watering. PS. This plant is poisonous, so keep away from little ones, both human babies and fur babies.
If you like the idea of filling your home with the lush greenery of these plants, check out this list to the many other fantastic, hard-working flora you may want to consider growing in your home.
And, if you are concerned about the quality of the air in your home, call us today, 888-400-2740, to schedule and Indoor Air Quality test today.