The Top 3 Non-Toxic, Air-Purifying Plants

Did you know people spend about 90% of their day indoors? But, studies by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other researchers have found that potentially toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are common in indoor air and that levels are typically two to five times higher than outdoors. After painting with conventional paints, cleaning, or buying new furnishings, levels can be up to a thousand times higher indoors than out. That’s some serious indoor air pollution!

The best way to protect your indoor air quality and your baby’s health is by using safer products (find tips here), but for regular “indoor pollution control,” you can also grow houseplants.

Studies conducted by NASA and other researchers have identified many plants to clean indoor air. Harmful, common pollutants including trichloroethylene, benzene, and formaldehyde (chemicals linked to cancer and neurodevelopmental toxicity - among other things) are absorbed through the plant’s leaves and neutralized in the soil.

Today, we’re sharing the very best of the best plants from the list that have superhero pollution control capabilities and are also safe and non-toxic for your little ones.

Check out these 3 super powerful, pollution-fighting, non-toxic plants to clean indoor air:

#1 - Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)

#2 - Corn Plant (Dracaena spp.)

#3 - Ficus (Ficus benjamina)

Want more variety? Click through for 5 more non-toxic, nursery-safe plants that help clean indoor air.

Optimize the air cleaning potential! Be sure to keep the leaves and soil clean, so the plant is in optimal, healthy condition to help clean your indoor air.

(Note: Even those these plants are considered non-poisonous for children, they could still pose a choking hazard or cause an upset stomach if ingested. It’s best to keep them out of reach of young children and watch for any fallen leaves.)

Finally, if you're seriously concerned about indoor air pollutants, you should definitely check out our post examining whether or not you really need an air purifier. It's a must-read!

Photos have been adapted and are courtesy Mitch Ames, Lazaregagnidze  Peter A. Mansfeld, Raffi Kojian via CC-By SA/4.0