10 Houseplants Which Will Clean Indoor Toxins-Organically
By Khrystyana Kirton
Edited By Stephanie Dawson
Reviewed By Nima Shei MD
Turns out that indoor air can often contain more toxins and chemicals than outdoor air. Everything from mattresses to pots/pans to kids’ pajamas can put harmful chemicals into indoor air. It’s best to clean indoor toxins in any way possible, but in today’s world, it is practically impossible to completely avoid harmful chemicals. For the remaining chemicals in indoor air, there are some natural ways to help reduce your family’s exposure.
Houseplants are excellent for air purification. The top five plants to clean air according to the study include:
• Areca palm
• Lady palm
• Bamboo palm
• Rubber plant
• Janet Craig dracaena
For those who don’t want the upkeep of indoor plants or can’t have them due to pets/kids/etc, there are some other natural options.
Regular paraffin candles are petroleum derived and can release chemicals like benzene, toluene, soot, and other chemicals into the air. This type of candle does more harm than good for indoor air quality and should be avoided.
Pure beeswax candles on the other hand burn with almost no smoke or scent and clean the air by releasing negative ions into the air. These negative ions can bind with toxins and help remove them from the air.
This is my favorite beeswax candle that is on sale in Amazon.com; The perfect gift for yourself or your loved one:
Beeswax candles are often helpful for those with asthma or allergies and are effective at removing common allergens like dust and dander from the air. Beeswax candles also burn more slowly than paraffin candles, so they last much longer.
Salt lamps are another natural way to clean indoor air. They are made from Himalayan salt crystals and like beeswax candles, they release negative ions into the air to help clean it. They are also a beautiful light source. The only downside? Pets and kids like to lick them!
The Himalayan Natural Crystal Salt Lamp works as an air purifier. When lit, the lamp emits negative ions that fight positively charged particles that cause one to feel stuffy and sluggish. The lit salt crystal clears the air naturally of allergens like smoke, pet dander, pollens, and other air pollutants. It dilutes odors so that one can breathe easier. People with asthma often find it helpful in reducing their symptoms. Plus, the lamp can be lit for as long as you like to maintain this purifying effect.
If you’re looking for a neat night light, or if there’s a need for an unobtrusive light source for reading, salt lamps are a good idea. The natural orange glow doesn’t disrupt sleep hormones like fluorescent or blue lights do and it’s very relaxing. Here is the one I ordered one from Amazon for around $20 here.
Another unique air purifier is bamboo charcoal. Charcoal can have the same toxin-removing effect on the air. Using bamboo charcoal in burlap bags in your house can work wonders for odor removal and removing toxins from the air.
Bamboo charcoal will absorb unpleasant odors and dehumidify the air. The porous structure of the high density bamboo charcoal helps remove bacteria, harmful pollutants and allergens from the air and absorbs moisture, preventing mold and mildew by trapping the impurities inside each pore. These are also great for removing odors from cars or from the bathroom. You can buy it on Amazon for less than $10.
