Tag: chemicals

Beyond the Pleasant Smell: The Hidden Dangers of Air Fresheners in Your Home

Sotirios Papathanasiou1 Comment

We all like our homes to smell fresh (not possible) and inviting. But that seemingly harmless air freshener, scented candle, or electric perfume dispenser might be doing more harm than good. In fact they do and you will understand in detail below. These common household items can release a surprising number of chemicals that negatively impact indoor air quality and potentially our health.

The Culprit: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

All air fresheners, regardless of form (spray, plug-in, candle), rely on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to create their signature scents. VOCs are chemicals that easily become gases at room temperature. While some VOCs occur naturally, those found in air fresheners are often synthetic and can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat.

Read More »

Air-filtering houseplants

Sotirios Papathanasiou4 Comments

houseplants-lead

In 1989, NASA conducted a Clean Air Study to find out which house plants most effectively ward off the toxins found in a range of household goods. The research was carried out by placing plant species inside a plexiglas chamber and adding the following chemicals inside before collecting air samples to see how the soil and plants fared in removing the air pollutants. ( here is the complete infographic via Love the Garden).

My personal experience with plants has showed me that they actually work. A key parameter here is also a good quality of  soil without pesticide and fertilizer. No need to go wild and convert your house into a jungle one-two plants in each room are enough.

Each week I will dedicate a post for a house plant and its benefits.

Also this fall I will conduct an experiment with some plants and VOCs, so stay tune.

Here are 27 House Plants That Detox The Air In Your Home Naturally
  1. Dwarf Date Palm (Phoenix roebelenii)
  2. Areca Palm (Dypsis lutescens)
  3. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Bostoniensis’)
  4. Kimberly Queen Fern (Nephrolepis obliterata)
  5. English Ivy (Hedera helix)*
  6. Lilyturf (Liriope spicata)
  7. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
  8. Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum aureum)*
  9. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum ‘Mauna Loa’)*
  10. Flamingo Lily (Anthurium andraeanum)*
  11. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema modestum)*
  12. Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)
  13. Broadleaf Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa)
  14. Variegated Snake Plant, mother-in-law’s tongue (Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’)*
  15. Heartleaf Philodendron (Philodendron cordatum)*
  16. Selloum Philodendron (Philodendron bipinnatifidum)*
  17. Elephant Ear Philodendron (Philodendron domesticum)*
  18. Red-Edged Dracaena (Dracaena reflexa)*
  19. Cornstalk Dracaena (Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’)*
  20. Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)*
  21. Barberton Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii)
  22. Florist’s Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium)*
  23. Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)*
  24. Dendrobium Orchids (Dendrobium spp.)
  25. Dumb Canes (Dieffenbachia spp.)
  26. Moth Orchids (Phalaenopsis spp.)
  27. Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis Mill.)