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Filed Under allergies, cleaning products, Healthy Home
I had never thought much about cleaning the air in my home. A long time ago I just masked any funkiness with air freshening sprays, carpet powders and candles. Little did I know I was polluting the air in my house more by doing those things. Since I’ve tried to eliminate toxic chemicals from my house, the air included I’ve adopted more effective practices. And while I have no way to measure whether the air in my house is actually cleaner, I can rest a little easier knowing my attempts are safer. Between two kids, dogs and a husband who trains for marathons (read: smelly workout gear), odors do turn up. Here is my attack methods and a review of one air purifier I’ve been trying out.
House Plants
This seems like a silly and obvious tip, but apparently plants do a better job of cleaning and filtering the air than anything else. Some of the best plants for removing toxins (like formaldehyde, benzene and carbon monoxide) are Bamboo Palms, Chinese Evergreens, English Ivy and Gerber Daisies. NASA ran some research tests and came up with a Top 10 list of house plants that clean the air. Here is their comprehensive list:
- Bamboo Palm – Chamaedorea Seifritzii
- Chinese Evergreen - Aglaonema Modestum
- English Ivy Hedera Helix
- Gerbera Daisy Gerbera Jamesonii
- Janet Craig - Dracaena “Janet Craig”
- Marginata - Dracaena Marginata
- Mass cane/Corn Plant - Dracaena Massangeana
- Mother-in-Law’s Tongue Sansevieria Laurentii
- Pot Mum – Chrysantheium morifolium
- Peace Lily - Spathiphyllum
- Warneckii - Dracaena “Warneckii”
Fresh Air!
Ever hear the term “stale air”? There is some truth to it! The more air tight your home is (which is typical of newer construction) the more opportunity dust, dust mites and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) have to accumulate. Drafty homes aren’t great for your heating bill but they are a little healthier in terms of air quality. Not everyone can do this all the time (especially in the winter) but as soon as the opportunity arrives, open as many windows as possible to get some quality air flow through your house. I try to do this when I am doing a big clean (which doesn’t happen often enough around here) so help move the air through the house.
Air Purifiers with HEPA Filters
At first, I started using these in my sons room to create some white noise while he slept… our house was quite small at the time and it seemed to drown out any noise going on in other areas. But it also served as a way to clean the air he was sleeping in. Since I had to clean the filters and screens monthly I can only assume that gunk was pulled out of the air. Ew. What I didn’t realize was that it was important to use an air purifier with a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter to aid in removing allergens and blocking tiny particles which can irritate airways or cause an allergic reactions.
I had the opportunity to try out an air purifier from Germ Guardian, UV-C and True HEPA Air Cleansing System. In addition to the HEPA filter it also has a UV-C light to kill common germs and bacteria, kills airborne mold spores and fights odors (like the diaper pail perhaps?). It has a quiet and powerful fan system, which makes good white noise… no rattling or knocking noises. It’s really made well and comes apart easily for cleaning. This is an especially perfect unit for those of us who haven’t invested in a HEPA house filter yet.
Permanent Solutions / Tips
- Choose Low or No-VOC paints
- Choose carpets made of natural fibers like wool
- Choose natural and/or untreated materials when selecting furniture
- Dust often and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter
- Use HEPA filters on your HVAC
- Have forced air systems cleaned and sealed
- Use soy candles – they create less soot
- Skip the toxic cleaners!
Have another tip? Let us know!
NASA Study House Plants Clean Air
Common indoor plants may provide a valuable weapon in the fight against rising levels of indoor air pollution. Those plants in your office or home are not only decorative, but NASA scientists are finding them to be surprisingly useful in absorbing potentially harmful gases and cleaning the air inside modern buildings.
NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA) have announced the findings of a 2-year study that suggest a sophisticated pollution-absorbing device: the common indoor plant may provide a natural way of helping combat “SICK BUILDING SYNDROME”.
Research into the use of biological processes as a means of solving environmental problems, both on Earth and in space habitats, has been carried out for many years by Dr. Bill Wolverton, formerly a senior research scientist at NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center, Bay St. Louis, Miss.
Based on preliminary evaluations of the use of common indoor plants for indoor air purification and revitalization, ALCA joined NASA to fund a study using about a dozen popular varieties of ornamental plants to determine their effectiveness in removing several key pollutants associated with indoor air pollution. NASA research on indoor plants has found that living plants are so efficient at absorbing contaminants in the air that some will be launched into space as part of the biological life support system aboard future orbiting space stations.
While more research is needed, Wolverton says the study has shown that common indoor landscaping plants can remove certain pollutants from the indoor environment. “We feel that future results will provide an even stronger argument that common indoor landscaping plants can be a very effective part of a system used to provide pollution free homes and work places, ” he concludes.
Each plant type was placed in sealed, Plexiglas chambers in which chemicals were injected. Philodendron, spider plant and the golden pothos were labeled the most effective in removing formaldehyde molecules. Flowering plants such as gerbera daisy and chrysanthemums were rated superior in removing benzene from the chamber atmosphere. Other good performers are Dracaena Massangeana, Spathiphyllum, and Golden Pothos. “Plants take substances out of the air through the tiny openings in their leaves,” Wolverton said. “But research in our laboratories has determined that plant leaves, roots and soil bacteria are all important in removing trace levels of toxic vapors”.
“Combining nature with technology can increase the effectiveness of plants in removing air pollutants,” he said. “A living air cleaner is created by combining activated carbon and a fan with a potted plant. The roots of the plant grow right in the carbon and slowly degrade the chemicals absorbed there,” Wolverton explains.
NASA Study shows common plants help reduce indoor air pollution….
NASA research has consistently shown that living, green and flowering plants can remove several toxic chemicals from the air in building interiors. You can use plants in your home or office to improve the quality of the air to make it a more pleasant place to live and work – where people feel better, perform better, any enjoy life more.
TOP 10 plants most effective in removing:
Formaldehyde, Benzene, and Carbon Monoxide from the air
- Bamboo Palm – Chamaedorea Seifritzii
- Chinese Evergreen - Aglaonema Modestum
- English Ivy Hedera Helix
- Gerbera Daisy Gerbera Jamesonii
- Janet Craig - Dracaena “Janet Craig”
- Marginata - Dracaena Marginata
- Mass cane/Corn Plant - Dracaena Massangeana
- Mother-in-Law’s Tongue Sansevieria Laurentii
- Pot Mum – Chrysantheium morifolium
- Peace Lily - Spathiphyllum
- Warneckii - Dracaena “Warneckii”
Comments
5 Responses to “Clearing the Air: Germ Guardian Review and Safer Air Cleaning Remedies”
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Thanks for the great tips and reminder to buy some plants and open our windows.
I always recommend HEPA air purifiers. I think they work the best. I also like the tips about using plants to help keep the air fresh.
How often do you clean the air purifier? I found the one you have been using online for a great price…just wondered how much time I am going to have to invest in cleaning it!LOL..thanks!
Confession time: I haven’t cleaned it. The documentation recommends replacing the combination filter every 6 months. I’m guessing you can stretch that by cleaning the filter periodically.
LOL-thanks-every 6 months sounds great to me!!