Even in huge, busy cities, outdoor air is cleaner and preferable to indoor air. One reason is that trees and plants are constantly cleaning the air outside. This suggests that the eco-minded homeowner or office dweller should go out and buy some plants – but which ones? With all the hype of “going green”, every plant on the market is being promoted as an air purifier! But not to worry – NASA has conducted an official study on the top 10 air purifying plants, assigning each one a score based on how well they remove chemical vapors, resist insects, and how easy they are to maintain for your home or green office space.The top air purifying plant as ranked by NASA’s study is the Areca palm tree. Dubbed “the most efficient air humidifier” by MetaEfficient, the Areca can be counted on to keep your home or office moist during dry times and continuously remove chemical toxins from the air. During winter time, it can literally replace the use of electric humidifiers altogether!Neck and neck with the Areca palm tree for NASA’s top-ranked air purifying plant is the Lady palm (or Rhapis excelsa.)

A versatile plant, the lady can be kept in dry or humid climates (anywhere from 20-100 degrees Fahrenheit) and is fiercely resistant to most types of plant insects.Just a notch below the top 2 air purifying palms is the Bamboo palm (or Chamaedorea seifrizii.) ’s “Plants That Purify” series, the Bamboo palm thrives when kept moist (but not wet) in indirect sunlight. Provided these conditions are kept stable, the Bamboo palm can be counted on to purify the indoor air of anywhere you happen to be.Fourth on NASA’s scoring is the rubber plant (or Ficus robusta.) According to AvianWeb, rubber plants excel at removing chemical toxins (especially formaldehyde) from indoor air, requiring less light than many other plants and outperforming all other ficuses. A word of caution, though: rubber plant leaves can be toxic, so be mindful of that if you have pets roaming around!The Dracaena (or Dracaena deremensis) places fifth on NASA’s ranking with a 7.8 score. Bright and radiant, the Dracaena (nicknamed “Janet Craig”) will go to work purifying the air in your home or office as soon as it is brought into the room!

If the air where you live has gotten stale and dry, English ivy (or Hedera helix) might be just the ticket! WebMD describes the effervescent plant as “a fix for allergies“, noting that 60% of airborne mold in the room vanished just 6 hours after English ivy was brought in. Ditto for 58% if airborne feces! Those with asthma, allergies, or the desire to breath cleaner, fresher air would do well to give English ivy a shot!While it doesn’t rank as high on the purifying scale as its 3 palm cousins, make no mistake: the Date palm tree (or Phoenix roebelinii)is still a very effective and elegant-looking way to  both liven up the look of a room and lower the concentration of chemical toxins floating around in the air.The ficus alii (or Ficus macleilandii) is not as potent in its toxin-removing prowess as, say, the rubber plant, but it is still a fine addition to any home or office where clean air is lacking. While they are not terrible difficult to care for, Plant Care Guru warns that gloves should be worn while handling the plant if you have latex allergies.

Ninth on NASA’s ranking of top air purifying plants is the ever-popular Boston Fern (or Nephrolepis exalta.) for its time-tested ability to expel mold and toxins from indoor air. Plus, it’s sure to make any home or office more forest-like!Rounding out NASA’s list is the peace lilly (or Spathiphyllum sp.) All that’s needed to keep and maintain this beautiful indoor air toxin killer is plenty of water and a modest amount of sunlight. Preserve these conditions at all time and you’ve got yourself an all-natural air purifier that will remain hard at work 24/7!air purifier cvs There are a wide variety of toxic chemicals lurking in your home, and while you can take steps to minimize them, one the most prevalent chemicals in your home isn't easy to get rid of. air conditioner cleaning rockhamptonFormaldehyde, a volatile organic compound that's emitted in low levels by a variety of household building products and furniture, may cause cancer in humans and has been known to trigger asthma attacks and allergic reactions when present in high levels. proclean air duct cleaning maryland

A common component of glues that hold pressed-wood or particleboard furniture and cabinets together, it's also emitted by natural gas stoves, carpet glues, flooring glues, caulks, sealants, paints, furniture finishes, and the water- and stain-repellent finishes applied to upholstery and clothing. Although government regulations have reduced the amount of formaldehyde used in insulation and particleboard furniture, the sheer number of potential formaldehyde emitters found in the average home makes the chemical difficult to avoid. The good news: you have a cheap, easy, green tool at your disposal to help get rid of it. Add these seven household plants that NASA scientists have discovered help remove formaldehyde and purify air to your home for a safer, cleaner atmosphere. Boston Ferns remove more formaldehyde than any other plant. They're also highly efficient at removing other indoor air pollutants, such as benzene and xylene—components of gasoline exhaust that can migrate indoors if you have an attached garage.

The downside to these plants is that they can be finicky. You need to feed them weekly in seasons when they're growing, monthly during the winter, and they like to be watered regularly. Depending on the humidity and moisture levels in your home, you may need to water them or mist their leaves daily. Related: 10 Ways To Protect Your Pets From Household Toxins Palm trees seem particularly good at removing indoor air pollutants, specifically formaldehyde, and they're relatively easy to care for. The best at formaldehyde removal is the Dwarf Date Palm, which is closest in appearance to the palm trees that remind you of warmer climates, but you'll also get clean air with a Bamboo Palm, Areca Palm, Lady Palm, or Parlor Palm. Palm trees like cooler temperatures, preferably in the 60 to 75°F range. 3. Rubber Plants and Janet Craigs If you've got a dim office that's just screaming for cleaner air and a little touch of nature, try a rubber plant or Janet Craig. Both will tolerate very little sun—although they may grow more slowly—and are at the top of the list for formaldehyde removers, which is particularly important in offices where most furniture is made from particleboard held together by formaldehyde-based glues.

Janet Craigs will tolerate more abuse and neglect than rubber trees, but rubber trees are a little more aesthetically pleasing. Related: The Cleaning Ingredient That's Polluting Your Air Grown outdoors, English Ivy is an invasive species that can damage your home's exterior and tear off your gutters, but bring it inside, and it becomes an effective formaldehyde remover. Thanks to its ability to climb structures, it's easy to grow as topiary and use as a decorative element in your living spaces. English Ivy likes part sun and part shade, so it's a good plant to try indoors and isn't as temperamental as Boston Ferns. Occasional watering and misting during the winter will keep it healthy. Related: This Woman Has More Than 300 Houseplants One of the few houseplants that will bloom indoors, the Peace Lily with its seashell-shaped spathes really will bring a touch of summer into a dreary winter. One of the best plants for removing formaldehyde, it also removes benzene and certain VOCs that are emitted by harsh cleaning products—making it another good office plant if your maintenance staff doesn't use green cleaners.

It also prefers low-light conditions and has a high transpiration rate that will humidify your air. Just be aware that the leaves can be poisonous to pets and children. Related: 10 Houseplants You Hardly Ever Have To Water Though not high on the list of formaldehyde removers, this plant is a tough one to kill. It tolerates a lot of neglect, is forgiving when over-watered, is relatively effective at removing many air pollutants, and it a great starter houseplant for people without much indoor-gardening experience. Golden Pothos are often mistakenly sold as philodendrons, which are related plants that are equally good at removing formaldehyde and are almost as forgiving to newbiw houseplant tenders. 7. Flowering Air Purifiers Florists' Mum and Gerbera Daisies are the best at removing formaldehyde, with tulips not far behind. However, nothing worth having comes easy as these flowering plants require more careful watering and feeing and prefer cool temperatures below 65°.