Take a deep breath. Inhale, exhale. How does the air in your house smell? Fresh? Clean? Stale? Musty? Regardless of the answer, your house probably needs an infusion of fresh outdoor air. Make a change by periodically opening the windows for some natural ventilation and by pushing back the curtains to let in the sunshine. If you want a little pick-me-up scent in the air, instead of purchasing chemical based room fresheners, whip up a quick and easy spray to spritz about the house. To keep the air fresh, add a few house plants to scrub away indoor air pollutants.
House Plants
NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) recently released the results of a NASA Indoor Plant Study that shows that common indoor plants can remove certain pollutants from the air. The ten most effective plants the study identified are shown in the chart below.
If you only have room for one plant, I would pick a Philodendron. Why? Formaldyde is found in many things within our homes and a Philodendron may be the easiest plant to grow! If you have room for more, the study suggests a plant every 50 feet.
Air Fresheners
Making you own air freshener is easy and may help you avoid introducing new pollutants into your house. The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) released a NRDC Full Air Freshener Study that found that many common household air fresheners contain harmful chemicals including phtalates.
Phthalates are hormone-disrupting chemicals that can be particularly dangerous for young children and unborn babies. Exposure to phthalates can affect testosterone levels and lead to reproductive abnormalities, including abnormal genitalia and reduced sperm production. The State of California notes that five types of phthalates—including one that we found in air freshener products—are “known to cause birth defects or reproductive harm.” Young children and pregnant women should be especially careful to avoid contact with these chemicals.” NRDC, Press Release Accessed 1/24/2013
Some of the air fresheners cited in the study have been pulled from the market but many remain, unlabelled and potentially containing harmful chemicals.
Better Yet, Open the Window
Be aware if you purchase any air freshener – NRDC Consumer Fact Sheet. Better yet, don’t buy them at all. Instead, open the window, grow a plant and scent the air with essential oil based room fresheners that you concoct for a fresh and healthy home.
