20 Best Plants for Cleaning Indoor Air

We spend a lot of time indoors, making healthy indoor air quality a top priority. An oft-cited NASA Clean Air Study from 1989 found that some indoor plants can reduce indoor air pollutants, including formladehyde. Great news for lovers of houseplants like pothos, pictured above! Well, a more recent study by the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology concluded that, while indoor plants do purify the air, they do so at a rate too slow to make much of a difference.

Still, every bit helps, right? And do we really need another reason to fill our homes with natural beauty? Read on to find out the top air-purifying plants that aid in the removal of pollutants such as formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene and carbon monoxide.

Remember: Some plants and plant parts can be toxic. Keep them out of the reach of children and pets.