9 Houseplants That Improve Indoor Air — A Cleaner Home, Naturally

By Radiant Places | Practical tips to boost indoor air quality with low-maintenance plants

Indoor air quality matters. Dust, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from finishes and cleaners, and stale air can all reduce comfort and negatively impact health. Pairing regular professional cleaning with a few well-chosen houseplants is a simple, attractive way to support a healthier indoor environment. Below are nine proven, low-maintenance plants that help remove common indoor pollutants, along with placement and care tips to keep them thriving.

Best plants for cleaner indoor air (what they help with + care in brief)

1. Snake Plant (Sansevieria / Dracaena trifasciata)

Why: Excellent at tolerating low light and believed to reduce formaldehyde and benzene.

Care: Bright, indirect light is preferred, but it also tolerates shade—water sparingly (allow soil to dry between waterings).

2. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Why: Fast grower; effective at removing formaldehyde and xylene. Great for hanging baskets.

Care: Bright, indirect light; keep evenly moist, but avoid waterlogging. Produces “babies” you can propagate.

3. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum)

Why: Very effective at VOC reduction and extremely forgiving for beginners.

Care: Low to bright indirect light; allow topsoil to dry slightly between waterings. Trailing habit is ideal for shelves.

4. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

Why: Removes VOCs and increases humidity; also produces attractive white blooms.

Care: Moderate, indirect light; keep soil consistently moist. Sensitive to over-fertilizing.

5. Boston Fern  (Nephrolepis exaltata)

Why: Good humidity booster and helpful for removing formaldehyde; visually lush.

Care: Bright, indirect light and consistently moist soil. Prefers higher humidity (bathrooms or kitchens are ideal).

6. Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)

Why: Strong foliage that can absorb airborne toxins and trap dust on large leaves.

Care: Bright, indirect light; moderate watering (allow 1–2" of topsoil to dry).

7. Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)

Why: Excellent natural humidifier and air purifier for larger rooms.

Care: Bright, indirect light is recommended. Regular watering is necessary, but avoid overwatering to prevent the soil from becoming soggy.

8. Aloe Vera

Why: Known for medicinal gel, aloe also supports air quality and is excellent near sunny windows.

Care: Full sun to bright light; infrequent watering (drought-tolerant).

9. English Ivy (Hedera helix)

Why: Effective against airborne mould and formaldehyde when grown indoors.

Care: Bright, indirect light; keep soil evenly moist. Use caution around pets.

Practical guidelines — placement, quantity, and maintenance

• Quantity matters: Aim for one medium-sized plant per 100–200 sq ft for measurable benefit; clustering several plants in common areas amplifies the effect.

• Placement: Place ferns and palms in bathrooms or kitchens (higher humidity). Use hanging or high-shelf options for pothos and spider plants to maximize air circulation and prevent them from overheating. Keep plants away from direct drafts and heating vents.

• Maintenance checklist (monthly): wipe large leaves to remove dust, trim dead foliage, check soil moisture and roots, repot as needed (every 12–24 months).

• Safety: If you have pets or young children, verify the toxicity of your purifier—some popular plants (e.g., peace lily, English ivy) are toxic if ingested; position them out of reach.

How to pair plants with eco-friendly cleaning for best results

Planting improves ongoing air quality, but plants don’t replace cleaning. Radiant Places recommends combining indoor plants with green cleaning practices:

• Use eco-friendly, low-VOC cleaning products.

• Schedule regular dusting and HVAC filter replacement to minimize particulate buildup on plant leaves.

• Professionally deep-clean carpets and upholstery periodically to reduce trapped pollutants that plants can’t address alone.

Radiant Places uses environmentally considerate products and methods to maintain a healthy interior environment while protecting plant life and finishes. If you’d like, we can recommend plant placement strategies tailored to your home and cleaning schedule.

Conclusion & quick call-to-action

Introducing a few of these plants into your home is a thoughtful and elegant step toward improving indoor air quality and overall well-being.

For an integrated approach—professional, eco-friendly cleaning paired with an indoor plant plan—Radiant Places can help you design the right combination for your space.

Please book a consultation or a home cleaning at radiantplaces.com or call 780-919-8349 to discuss our green cleaning options and recommendations for plant placement.