Consider this: according to the Environmental Protection Agency, the “air quality within homes can be more polluted than the outdoor air” (Environmental Protection Agency, 2016). This is a scary thought—isn’t it?
Now consider this: You are scrolling through Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or a Snapchat story and see the typical artsy pictures of apartment window-sills full of decorative succulents, dorm rooms with leafy green plants, and that one hipster girl from high school’s air plants. You think to yourself: Why are houseplants so cool now? Should I go to Trader Joe’s and pick up a succulent? Will this make me hipster and ‘cool’?
An example of “Instagram-worthy” houseplants. Source: @martinathornhill
First, I would like to tell you that you are hipster and cool just the way you are, and you do not need to look like an Instagram model to be loved and valued😊
Second, I would tell you that the two things I asked you to consider (air quality and plants) are, in fact, related.
Crazy, right? Indoor pollutants exist, and they come from many sources. Combustion pollutants, such as particles from water heaters, dryers, space heaters, etc., include carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide (which are both colorless and odorless) (Environmental Protection Agency, 2016). Volatile Organic Compounds are released from solids and liquids, such as certain paints and varnishes, glues, air fresheners, cleaning supplies, and cosmetics. These include formaldehyde, acetone, benzene, and more (Environmental Protection Agency, 2016).
These pollutants, which are likely floating around your home/apartment, probably sound alarming and, honestly, they should. These pollutants are associated with negative health outcomes, such as respiratory infection, damaged lung tissue, lung diseases (such as emphysema) and cancer. However, there are many things that can be done to reduce your exposure.
You can:
-open your windows as much as possible
-change filters in your home, air conditioner, and vacuum regularly
-avoid synthetic air-fresheners and petroleum-based wax candles
-use a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) air-purifier
-choose your paint wisely (use low or no VOC paint)
-use non-toxic cleaners
-get lots of green plants!!!
(Apartment Therapy, 2010).
Plants? Yes! We are coming full circle! This brings me to the third thing I would tell you– yes, you should probably go to Trader Joe’s and buy a plant! But you will be doing so not to conform to society’s standards of what is cool, you will be doing it to clean your air and to improve your health.
According to NASA, these are some of the best plants you can buy to reduce VOCs and improve the air quality of your abode:
- Bamboo Palm
- Chinese Evergreen
- English Ivy
- Mother-in-Law’s Tongue
- Florist’s Chrysanthemum
- Red-Edged Dracaena
- Weeping Fig
- Peace Lily (caution, this is poisonous for your furry friends!)
NASA recommends that you have one plant per 100 square feet. (NASA, 1989).
Thus, while indoor pollutants are a scary reality that all of us face, there are easy (and often fun) ways that we can reduce the hazard, including owning plants. You can now take artsy pictures to put on Instagram, all the while cleaning your air and improving your living space! A win-win situation! Additionally, I have included some recipes for green cleaning products that are easy to make, cheap, good for the environment, and good for your health because they do not emit VOCs! There is no reason not to make these!
All-Purpose Cleaner:
Equal parts vinegar and water
*essential oils can be added to change the scent*
Glass Cleaner:
¼ Cup of white vinegar
1 Tablespoon of cornstarch
2 Cups of Warm water
Homemade Wood Polishing Spray
¾ Cup of olive oil
¼ Cup of white vinegar
30 drops essential oil (such as lemon, orange, or lavender)
(Keeper of the Home, 2017).
Good luck, friends, and happy planting, mixing, and being green! Your body will thank you for the improved indoor air quality!
-Catherine Lippert