10 Best Indoor Plants for Air Quality in 2022 (Master Gardener-Reviewed)

Some plants are really good at cleaning just one toxin whereas others are good at absorbing several. If your primary concern when choosing a plant is how well it can clean the air, be sure to check which and how many toxins it’s most effective against.

Some of the most common (and most dangerous) indoor air pollutants include formaldehyde, which can be found in most pressed wood furniture pieces; carbon monoxide, which can come from gas-powered heat sources or from outdoors; and ammonia, which can come from commonly used cleaning products.

Some plants are hardier than others. For example, snake plants only need to be watered every two to six weeks, which is great for travelers. They tolerate most temperatures and like medium light, which means they can be placed almost anywhere in your home. Plus, they don’t need much air circulation.

On the other hand, English ivies can be quite finicky. They like humidity, but not overwatering. They're prone to spider mite infestations. And since they originated in northern Europe, they prefer cooler conditions. If you don’t give them just the right amount of water, light, and fertilizer, they could turn brown and drop leaves.

Long story short: if you’re out on business trips a lot, or if you know that you aren’t going to remember to water your plants, get something hardy.

As a point of reference for how many plants you want to aim to have, the NASA study recommends having one six to eight-inch plant per 100 square feet of space.

Even though a plant may clean the air, that doesn’t necessarily make it totally benign, and in fact, many air-cleaning plants are toxic to pets and humans when ingested.

So if you have pets or young children, it’s vital that you check whether a plant is poisonous before you buy it. Even if you plan on keeping it in a hard-to-reach location, it’s better to be safe than sorry.