The other day I was writing about how to minimize formaldehyde exposure and one the the tips I mentioned was to use houseplants.
After doing some digging it turns out that there are some common houseplants that are wonderful at removing formaldehyde from the air.
NASA’s study on plants removing Formaldehyde
In one experiment to test common houseplants’ ability to remove formaldehyde from the air, “Each plant type was placed in sealed, Plexiglas chambers in which chemicals were injected. Philodendron, spider plant and the golden pothos were labeled the most effective in removing formaldehyde molecules.” (Source: Zone 10 Houseplants that clean the air)
“We feel that future results will provide an even stronger argument that common indoor landscaping plants can be a very effective part of a system used to provide pollution free homes and work places, ” he concludes.
These are their top 10 plants most effective in removing Formaldehyde, Benzene, and Carbon Monoxide from the air
- Bamboo Palm
- Chinese Evergreen
- English Ivy
- Gerbera Daisy
- Janet Craig
- Dracaena Massangeana
- Mother-in-Law’s Tongue
- Pot Mum
- Peace Lily
How many plants do I need?
According to one site, they recommend using one 6 inch plant per 100 square feet of interior. For most people I would recommend going a bit above this for areas of the house that you spent extended periods of time (i.e. the bedroom). Plants really do function just like a natural air freshener, so you might as well have good air where you are breathing it the most!