NASA’s recommended house plants for cleaner air

As someone who has always lived in bigger cities such as New York & Shanghai. I’m always on the lookout for the best houseplants to help add a calming aesthetic in my space and improve air quality. Recently, I learned about a fascinating study conducted by none other than NASA that identified some of the top performers when it comes to purifying indoor air. 

Back in the 1980s, as part of their research into creating a breathable atmosphere for future space missions, the brilliant scientists at NASA conducted an extensive study on which common houseplants were most effective at removing toxic compounds from the air. 

At the top of the list was the ever-popular snake plant, also known as mother-in-law's tongue. This resilient succulent is not only beautiful, but it's a champion at removing formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, and xylene from indoor air. Another stellar performer was the Chinese evergreen, which excels at filtering out formaldehyde.

If you're looking to improve the air quality in your home or office, consider adding one of these NASA-approved plants:

- Snake plant (mother-in-law's tongue)

- Chinese evergreen 

- Peace lily

- English ivy

- Philodendron

- Pothos

- Spider plant

These unassuming greens pack a powerful punch when it comes to cleansing indoor air of common toxins like formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene, and xylene. And they look beautiful while doing it!

I've added several of these air-purifying plants to my own home, and the difference in air quality, and how I feel when I enter the space is very palpable. Especially according to Chinese Fengshui it’s always better to include real plants rather than fake plants inside your space.