NASA’s “Clean Air Study” may have been published in 1989, but it still holds true today. The study found that several houseplants can improve air quality by removing trace organic pollutants—such as cigarette smoke and potentially dangerous chemicals—from the air. Three specific chemicals were measured in the study: benzene (one of the top 20 most-used chemicals in the U.S. that’s known to cause cancer, according to the American Cancer Society); trichloroethylene (a lesser-used chemical that in small amounts, could make you sleepy or give you headaches, but is deadly in high amounts, according to the CDC); and formaldehyde ( It’s used in some building materials and household products. The American Cancer Society says most homes have low levels of formaldehyde and it’s a potential carcinogen). While NASA’s experiments were performed in a chamber rather than in spread-out rooms of a house, plants may still be able to reduce small amounts of these airborne chemicals and improve your home’s air quality. Here are some plants to stock up on for fresher air (and cute decor): Dragon Tree Costa Farms House Plants Dracaena Marginata in 6 in. Grower Pot $19.19 shop it Home Depot Janet Craig ‘Janet Craig Compacta’ Dracaena $29.99 shop it Target Peace Lily Spathiphyllum in 6 in. Grower Pot $15.97 shop it Home Depot Golden Pothos golden pothos plant Golden Pothos in 6 in. Grower Pot $14.38 shop it Home Depot Spider Plant Spider Live Indoor Plant in Grower’s Pot (2-Pack) $35.99 shop it Home Depot Heart Leaf Philodendron Philodendron Philodendron Cordatum in 6 in. Grower Pot $18.98 shop it Home Depot Gerbera Daisies 1 Qt. Pink Gerbera Flowers in Grower’s Pot (4-Pack) $30.23($41.98) shop it Home Depot English Ivy english ivy in terracotta pot 5 in. Ivy in Terra Cotta Pot $29.99 shop it Home Depot Snake Plant/Mother-in-Law’s Tongue Sansevieria Laurentii Snake Plant in 9.25 in. Designer Pot $39.99 shop it Home Depot Aloe Vera Succulent Aloe Vera Plant (3-Plants) $16.95 shop it Home Depot
NASA’s “Clean Air Study” may have been published in 1989, but it still holds true today. The study found that several houseplants can improve air quality by removing trace organic pollutants—such as cigarette smoke and potentially dangerous chemicals—from the air.
Three specific chemicals were measured in the study: benzene (one of the top 20 most-used chemicals in the U.S. that’s known to cause cancer, according to the American Cancer Society); trichloroethylene (a lesser-used chemical that in small amounts, could make you sleepy or give you headaches, but is deadly in high amounts, according to the CDC); and formaldehyde ( It’s used in some building materials and household products. The American Cancer Society says most homes have low levels of formaldehyde and it’s a potential carcinogen).
While NASA’s experiments were performed in a chamber rather than in spread-out rooms of a house, plants may still be able to reduce small amounts of these airborne chemicals and improve your home’s air quality. Here are some plants to stock up on for fresher air (and cute decor):
Dragon Tree
Costa Farms House Plants Dracaena Marginata in 6 in. Grower Pot $19.19 shop it Home Depot
Janet Craig
'Janet Craig Compacta' Dracaena $29.99 shop it Target
Peace Lily
Spathiphyllum in 6 in. Grower Pot $15.97 shop it Home Depot
Golden Pothos
golden pothos plant Golden Pothos in 6 in. Grower Pot $14.38 shop it Home Depot
Spider Plant
Spider Live Indoor Plant in Grower's Pot (2-Pack) $35.99 shop it Home Depot
Heart Leaf Philodendron
Philodendron Philodendron Cordatum in 6 in. Grower Pot $18.98 shop it Home Depot
Gerbera Daisies
1 Qt. Pink Gerbera Flowers in Grower's Pot (4-Pack) $30.23($41.98) shop it Home Depot
English Ivy
english ivy in terracotta pot 5 in. Ivy in Terra Cotta Pot $29.99 shop it Home Depot
Snake Plant/Mother-in-Law’s Tongue
Sansevieria Laurentii Snake Plant in 9.25 in. Designer Pot $39.99 shop it Home Depot
Aloe Vera
Succulent Aloe Vera Plant (3-Plants) $16.95 shop it Home Depot
Costa Farms House Plants
Dracaena Marginata in 6 in. Grower Pot $19.19 shop it Home Depot
Costa Farms House Plants
$19.19
shop it Home Depot
Home Depot
‘Janet Craig Compacta’ Dracaena $29.99 shop it Target
$29.99
shop it Target
Target
Spathiphyllum in 6 in. Grower Pot $15.97 shop it Home Depot
$15.97
golden pothos plant
Golden Pothos in 6 in. Grower Pot $14.38 shop it Home Depot
golden pothos plant
$14.38
Spider Live Indoor Plant in Grower’s Pot (2-Pack) $35.99 shop it Home Depot
$35.99
Philodendron
Philodendron Cordatum in 6 in. Grower Pot $18.98 shop it Home Depot
Philodendron
$18.98
1 Qt. Pink Gerbera Flowers in Grower’s Pot (4-Pack) $30.23($41.98) shop it Home Depot
$30.23($41.98)
english ivy in terracotta pot
5 in. Ivy in Terra Cotta Pot $29.99 shop it Home Depot
english ivy in terracotta pot
Sansevieria Laurentii Snake Plant in 9.25 in. Designer Pot $39.99 shop it Home Depot
$39.99
Succulent Aloe Vera Plant (3-Plants) $16.95 shop it Home Depot
$16.95
