Natural Air Cleaners for Your Home!

How would you like a "Green" air purifier for your home?

...and I do mean that literally!

This post is all about indoor air pollution! After all, this is the time of year most of us spend most of our time indoors. Closed up in our energy efficient, airtight homes breathing all the molds, pet dander, viruses, and other pollutants found in today’s indoor air.

• According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) indoor air is 2 to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air. And nowadays we spend about 90% of our time in our tightly sealed homes! (Maybe a little less here in Durango!)
• Pollutants indoors are 1000 times more likely to reach your lungs than pollutants outdoors.
• Many homes have 25 to 100 times more pollutants in them than polluted outdoor air.
• Both biological pollutants (molds, bacteria, viruses, pet dander etc.) and chemical pollutants like VOC's are fouling our indoor air.
• The bad effects on our health can range from mild irritations to our eyes and throat…to lifelong allergies, asthma, even cancers.

Just reading that makes me want to run out and buy an expensive air filtration system for my home! But did you know there is a natural, inexpensive way for you to have clean indoor air?

This information was found on Wikipedia under the subject of “air-filtering plants”. It’s a list compiled by NASA as part of a study they did to research ways to clean the air in space stations. (No opening a window for some fresh air up there!) In fact...you probably can’t find air any more stagnant than that!

These plants not only absorb carbon dioxide and release clean oxygen, but they can eliminate harmful carcinogens found in polluted indoor air like benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene. Here are some of the plants listed in the study...

1. English Ivy (Hedera helix)

2. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comsosum)

3. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum “Mauna Loa”)

4. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)

5. Bamboo Palm or Reed Palm (Chamaedorea sefritzii)

6. Snake Plant or “Mother-In-Law’s Tongue” (Sansevieria trifasciata “Laurentii”)

7. Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron oxycardium)

8. Elephant Ear Philodendron (Philodendton domesticum)

9. Gerbera Daisy or Barberton Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)

10. Pot Mum or Florist’s Chrysanthemum (Chrysantheium morifolium)

Most of these plants can thrive on low sunlight and NASA’s recommendation for clean air was 15-18 good-sized houseplants in 6-8 inch diameter containers for an 1800 square foot home.

Be sure to water and feed your plants regularly...and the money you spend will still be less than for mechanical air filters, and the plants will beautify your home, too!

Remember too that simply cleaning your carpet and upholstery will drastically reduce the allergen and pollutant load in your home, so vacuum frequently and clean every 6-12 months. (Most carpet cleaners will offer a discount or maintenance program for clients who want to keep their house cleaned regularly, so ask your local cleaner about that option.) And if you need carpet cleaning in Durango, just call 385-8444 for the Most Thorough Cleaning Ever! Or check out our website at ultrasteamcleaning.com for special offers and previews of our work.