When you consider how much time you spend indoors, you gain a new appreciation for the importance of indoor air quality. However, the air in your home can contain a variety of toxic chemicals like volatile organic compounds. Mold, mildew or pet dander can also contribute to the problem of indoor air pollution.

There’s an easy and all-natural way to clean the air in your home: houseplants. Plants absorb some of the particulates in the air while taking in carbon dioxide, which they process into oxygen during photosynthesis. They are also naturally beautiful! Here are five plants that will help improve the quality of the air you and your family breathe.
 

1. Ferns

Ferns are relatively easy to grow and prefer a cool location with high humidity and indirect light.
 

2. Aloe Vera

In addition to being easy to care for, aloe plants’ leaves contain a liquid that soothes burns and cuts, making them ideal plants to keep in your kitchen.
 

3. Ficus

This low-maintenance houseplant needs plenty of bright, indirect light and relatively infrequent watering to thrive.
 

4. Peace Lily

Peace lilies are one of the best air-filtering plants for their size. However, because they are a flowering plant, you may not want one if your allergies are sensitive to pollen. Peace lilies do best in a shady spot with moist (but not overwatered) soil.
 

5. Spider Plant

If you have a “black thumb” and are reluctant to commit to a houseplant, a spider plant could be a great choice for you because they’re so easy to grow, even for beginners.
 

6. Pothos

Pothos is arguably the easiest of all houseplants to grow. The clippings from the plant can even thrive in a glass of water, if you don't happen to have potting soil. This trailing vine has shiny, heart-shaped leaves. While pothos likes bright, indirect light, it does well in environments that don’t get a lot of sunlight or have only fluorescent lighting, such as offices and dorm rooms. Another advantage of growing pothos is that they are high on the list of plants that can help purify indoor air of chemicals such as formaldehyde and benzene.
 

7. Snake Plant

Snake plants can last for weeks without care, so even if you're on a long vacation away from home, this houseplant will still be alive to welcome you when you return. These plants can also survive low light levels, making them ideal if you live in a basement apartment. They're resistant to pests, too.

Indoor plants improve your indoor air quality, while beautifying your decor. Stop by your local gardening center today to purchase one or more of these beginner plants to grow indoors. And, for more advice on keeping the air inside your home easy to breathe, contact us at Nu-Temp for locally owned HVAC expertise.