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10 Easy Care Houseplants that Clean the Air

If you want to green up your indoor living spaces, try growing some easy-care houseplants that clean the air and look amazing in your home. Be a plant parent boss with these low-maintenance, hard-to-kill air purifying indoor plants.


Houseplants are wonderful additions to the home that add life, color, and make us feel happier.

Green up a space and it instantly feels more alive.

But did you know that some indoor plants purify the air we breathe too?

Yup!

And many of them are super easy to care for too.

Here are 10 easy-care indoor plants you should grow that help clean the air.

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How Do Houseplants Purify the Air?

Houseplants clean the air through a process called photosynthesis.

They remove toxins from the air by converting exhaled carbon dioxide into fresh oxygen.

Years ago, NASA researched how houseplants purify the air by diffusing toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene and filtering the air we breathe. It’s a pretty cool landmark study – you can read it here.

When I first started gardening, I was more of an outdoor gardener than an indoor gardener. Over the years, I’ve been increasingly adding more plants to my home and the result is pretty amazing: we are sick less often.

Now I’m not suggesting or guaranteeing that you’ll never get sick but we have experienced far fewer colds and viruses through the years since adding more houseplants to our home.

view of the sunroom from the library with vintage wood chess table

The Benefits of Adding Houseplants that Clean the Air

By adding a few plants, we have the ability to improve indoor air quality.

Do you get sick a lot or have bad indoor allergies?

Indoor air pollution directly impacts our health and comes from a variety of sources that include benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, and toluene.

In addition to purifying the air, houseplants add life and character to both indoor and outdoor spaces. They boost our mood and breathe life into otherwise empty spaces.

So it’s a really good idea to grow some indoor plants.

monstera plant in farmhouse family room with sectional sofa and white throw pillows with round mango wood coffee table

Easy Care, Low Maintenance Houseplants that Clean the Air

For best practices, you’ll need about two plants per 100 square feet. But since I’m giving you an easy-care, hard-to-kill list of plants, having more plants around will be pretty simple.

Oh, and if you want to know how to care for these air-purifying houseplants, follow these tips for success.

And here are some tips to help you learn how to care for plants in winter.

close up of cozy reading nook in sunroom with white accent swivel chair, poof ottoman, snake plant, boston fern, christmas cactus and antique farmhouse tiered side table with jute are rug from rugs usa

Snake Plant

Snake plants are one of my favorite houseplants that clean the air. Sansevierias are super low-maintenance, hardy succulents that thrive on neglect.

Sounds pretty easy right?

They can handle almost any light conditions. Put them in a room with at least one window and don’t over-water them.

To give you a frame of reference, when mine is indoors, I water them maybe once a month.

The sansevieria plant is so cool because it can live on very little water and light as well as add lots of drama and life to living spaces.

My husband thought I was nuts for keeping this one at the Vermont cabin because there are times when we aren’t there for several weeks to possibly months, but it can go a long time without care.

If you are new to gardening or think you kill everything, try caring for a snake plant. You’ll find the most success with this one.

front entry hall with snake plants with wood floor and painted inlays plus arched doorway. Sanseveiria plants are so fun to grow!

Aloe Vera

Aloe plants are another succulent plant that is super easy to care for and are another great houseplant that cleans the air. They love a bright sunny spot with indirect light.

And do not overwater them because they prefer dry conditions. Much like the snake plant, I probably water these once a month or a little less.

In my old house, I kept mine in the bay window on the north side. But here, my aloe vera plants reside in the sunroom (also on the north side) and are living their best life!

And I’ve got more than one now because I have to keep dividing them. The mother plant keeps producing babies, so I pot them up and either keep them or give them away.

If you’ve got aloe vera plants and aren’t sure how to divide them, follow these tips.

close up of container garden houseplants in my sunroom renovation my houseplants are super happy now. Shown here are snake plant, aloe vera, and christmas cactus with bee skep
How to Grow and Care for Houseplants
close up of aloe vera plant in the sunroom

Chinese Evergreen

The Chinese Evergreen is a great starter plant for beginning gardeners because it tolerates low light and drought but also loves humidity.

Bathrooms are a great spot for them. If kept in a less humid room, mist the leaves occasionally to keep them from browning. Add a humidifier or group them together with other plants to create a more humid microclimate.

Also, if it gets enough sunlight, it may produce a bloom. I haven’t seen one yet on mine, but I’ll let you know when it happens!

When I first bought this plant, I kept it on the north side of my former home in the bay window. But here at the new house, it resides in the sunroom, which is also located on the north side too.

close up of chinese evergreen in the sunroom
The sunroom is filled with houseplants like spider plants, sansevieria, chinese evergreen, pileo and boston fern. Shown are white swivel chairs, jute area rug, boho poof ottoman and fresh herbs sign as part of my cottagecore decorating style

Flamingo Lily

Flamingo lilies are gorgeous flowering houseplants that can bloom year-round but need indirect sunlight, humid temperatures, and water to thrive.

Anthuriums do not like wet feet though, so check the soil before watering to be sure it is dry.

My daughter is a new plant mom and chose this one to start with a few year ago.

Don’t you love those pretty flowers?

It’s a really great starter plant for beginners as it is pretty resilient. We’ve had this plant for two years now. And it took a little abuse this summer on the front porch because I had it in these tall boho planters that kept falling over.

Everytime it would fall, the pot broke. And it sometimes took me a little bit of time to repot it up.

It wasn’t happy with me for a little while but it lives to tell about it! And is doing quite well in the sunroom today.

close up of anthurium with red flower

Peace Lily

Peace Lily symbolizes sympathy. They work grow well in partial sunlight, humid climates, and produce blooms.

If you have a pet, peace lily’s can be toxic to them. So be sure to keep out of their reach.

Be conscious of not overwatering these. They don’t respond well to wet feet so lean more towards underwatering. Check the soil before you water these.

I used to bring mine outdoors and if I sited it well, it would thrive. Since moving, I haven’t found the right spot outdoors because it does not like direct light at all and I don’t want to risk it.

It’s currently hanging out in my foyer and seems to love the location so I just leave it there.

The tips of the foliage are getting a little crisp as it’s lived in this plastic nursery pot for a few years. So she’ll be getting repotted this spring to give it fresh soil and larger accommodations.

close up of my peace lily in the foyer

Spider Plant

Spider plants are resilient houseplants that grow well in bright, indirect sunlight with lots of water.

They are very easy to propagate when mature because they produce these little spiderettes that can be removed and rooted in water or soil.

I’ve got two huge plants in my sunroom right now. The smaller one was a baby of the larger one. And both are producing more babies.

These are super easy to grow. I’ve kept mine in several different locations in my homes. But they seem to do best near a sunny window.

close up of the sunroom reading nook with spider plants, chinese evergreen, boho leather poof ottoman, jute area rug and white accent chairs that swivel

Pothos or Devil’s Ivy

Pothos is one of my favorite houseplants because it looks great on a shelf and vines down.

This plant loves indirect sunlight and only needs to be watered when dry.

If you are a self-proclaimed plant killer, try pothos because it’s nearly impossible to kill.

And it is so easy to propagate pothos too.

Houseplants and Amaryllis on white tiered Plant Shelf

Philodendron

There are so many varieties of philodendrons. I have a philodendrons that I picked up from Lowe’s several years ago.

When I purchased my lacy tree philodendron, it was in a small pot and only had five leaves. After one summer on my deck, it grew exponentially and gives off a tropical vibe.

Philodendrons thrive on very little care but they do need a good amount of light, so when indoors keep them near a bright sunny window.

It requires such little care throughout the year and it so easy to grow. During the winter months, I might water these like once a month, maybe a little less. But when they are outside in the heat of summer, they get watered almost daily depending on the weather.

While these plants are known for their ability to remove toxins such as formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene from the air, they also increase humidity levels and can help to reduce the dryness caused by heating systems in the winter.

Keep in mind that all plants have different light and water requirements, so it’s important to research the specific needs of the plants you choose to ensure they thrive in your home environment.

If you are new to gardening or feel like you kill everything, start with one plant from this list and follow my tips on houseplant care.

You’ll be amazed at how good of a plant parent you actually are!

cozy reading nook in the living room of a vintage farmhouse - farmhouse decor ideas for fall with throw pillows, blankets, plants and flowers

Monstera Plants

When learning how to be a plant parent, it’s best to start with plants that are easy to grow and easy to care for while cozying up our living spaces.

Monstera plants are high on this list of plants to grow for newbie gardeners and home decor enthusiasts.

With lots of different varieties available, you can grow so many beautiful options that make an incredible statement in your home. The foliage is incredibly beautiful and they boost our moods to boot.

I grow both Monstera deliciosa and adansonii and have had my plants for more than a few years now.

Monstera plant in family room with round coffee table, area rug and sofa with neutral throw pillows

Pilea Peperomioides

If you are interested in growing an easy-care plant that looks unique, cleans the air, and propagates with ease, look no further than the money plant.

I was inspired to purchase my first pilea plant from Martha Stewart. She did a show on houseplants and spoke highly of them so of course, I had to try growing one.

And let me tell you how much I LOVE growing pilea peperomioides. I started with one plant that I probably paid a few dollars for and now have 4 separate plants from that first plant.

The mother plant continues to produce baby plants too. So once a year, I divide them off and repot them in new terracotta pots.

But because I have so many now, I can’t keep them all. I’ve kept a few to decorate my home and purify the air. And the rest I gift away to family and friends.

close up of Peperomioides in front of sunroom windows
shop for easy care houseplants here
Click here to shop my vintage farmhouse with close up of the front porch with flowers

More About Easy Care Indoor Plants

Are you new to growing indoor plants or have you been growing them for a while? If so, what do you like to grow? I would love to know more in the comments below.

And don’t miss joining my Gardening DIY and Decorating Community on Facebook for more chatter. And follow along there and on Instagram as well. There are behind the scenes daily things that I share on Instagram that don’t make it on the blog. Would love to see you there too!

If you prefer to binge watch Bricks ’n Blooms on TV, we go more in-depth with tours and posts on my YouTube channel. Would love to hang out with you there!

close up of the reading nook in the sunroom with white swivel chairs, pileo and kalanchoe

More Houseplant Care Tips and Tricks

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Easy Care Plants that Purify the Air

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Easy Care Houseplants that Purity the Air
Easy Care Plants that Purify the Air
Flamingo Lily is an Easy Care Plant that Purifies the Air
Easy Care Houseplants that Purify the Air
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Chinese Evergreen is an Easy Care Plant that Purifies the Air
Aloe is an Easy Care Houseplant that Purifies the Air
Houseplants and Amaryllis on Plant Shelf
Houseplants that purify the air - How to Care for Plants in Winter
Houseplants in the Shower
Easy Care Plants that Purify the Air
Sansevieria – Snake Plant Photo Credit to the Sill.

Easy Care Houseplants that Purify the AIr

Easy Care Plants that Purify the Air
I’ve had my snake plant for several years. It’s one of my favorite houseplants. I split this one last summer and got about 7 new plants from it!

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63 Comments

  1. These are great tips. One of these days I’m gonna give house plants a try! I always love how they look!

  2. Great post! Love all the information about house plants. They’re so beautiful and help out our home environment as well!!

  3. I have some of these in my home already. One of my latest purchases is a pale snake plant. It’s so pretty and I know I won’t kill it lol! Good to hear that it’s also helping to purify the air in our home!

    1. Those are my faves! They add a lot personality and are SO easy to care for! I bought one plant a few years so, and from that I now have like 6 (from propagation). Enjoy it Jayne!!!

  4. So much great information! I’m so glad that houseplants are back in style. It takes me back to the 70s when all of the moms had a house full of plants.

    1. Yes remember that? Now you can get cool plant hanging accessories like back then too! They are so cool aren’t they?

  5. Lately, I have killed everything — except believe it or not — -two fiddle figs. They both have dropped a large amount of leaves all at once but then started sprouting new ones up at the top. Kind of transforming from tall skinny shrubs to trees. Fingers crossed.

    1. That’s great to hear! I have not ventured into fiddle leaf figs yet but they are such beautiful plants! Maybe I’ll get one this year…

  6. Stacy, I’m a new plant mom with a black thumb (in the past). I’m doing pretty well so far. A few succulents died. I’m sure I overwatered them. BUT a few of the others are doing well. Funny though, I didn’t know what they were until this article! I just thought they looked good so I bought them. Now I know how to care for them!! I’m subscribing … keep posting about inside houseplants as a long winter is ahead!!

    1. Allison you made my day!!! Thank you! and I’m gong to be talking a lot about them over the next several months! xoxo

  7. Great tips and you have some beautiful plants. I have recently started having more real plants and trying to keep them alive

  8. I always love learning about house plants! I have so many, it’s nice to know they are helping to purify my air!

    1. You definately should! Try one from this list but if I were to recommend some – I’d start with snake plant. They thrive on neglect – you can’t kill it if you tried! xoxo

  9. Great post Stacy! I have most of these in my home. I don’t know what I would do without my houseplants 🙂

  10. Thanks for this post! glad to know we have some of these plants already. During these times, it may just be important for our home when we are climate controlled or in polluted areas.

    1. Absolutely Linda! I couldn’t agree more! Houseplants look pretty and clean the air – it’s a win-win! xoxo

    1. I’m so happy to hear that! I just picked up the chinese evergreen and love the foliage!!! Thank you for pinning!!! xoxo

  11. I love your site. I am so happy I found it. We recently moved to a new home with a lot of natural light and I’m excited to add some plants. I never thought about them improving the quality of the air. I am part of KariAnne’s Mastermind group and that is how I found you.

  12. Outside plants I can do and they thrive. Inside not so much. lol I love the Chinese evergreen! What a pretty plant! I typically don’t have any live plants in my home. You have given such great information. It makes me want to give this black thumb another go.

    1. You totally got this!!! Indoors I stick with easy care plants that are resilient. Try starting with snake plant – they are super easy and you can’t kill them if you tried!

  13. Stacy, I’ve never had a green thumb but this post has inspired me to get at least one plant in the house! Thank you

  14. What a great post Stacy. Sadly I seem to stink at house plants, but you have given me an extra good reason to give it another go! Thanks so much for sharing this great information.

    1. Thank you Chas! I used to stink with houseplants too. If you try any from this list – try snakeplant – you literally can’t kill it. xoxo

  15. Thank you for your time and effort in putting together these great pictures and tips. Around here (my home) I’ve been called the plant whisperer for my love of making things grow. Unknown to the others I used to be better at it. My old house I had the flower beds others envied. I could bring a rose stick back to life. Now our house has so much rock outside I can’t get anything really to grow, I’ve lost a few plants trying so now I am turning to house plants for now love my aloe. With your tips I now have a list to go plant shopping 😃 again thank you

    1. I am so glad you are finding it helpful! It’s amazing how different climates produce different results. We have a cabin in VT and the gardening there is very different from here in NJ. I’m so happy to meet you Lisa. Happy Sunday!

  16. Hi Stacy,
    I really like your website. I have to admit that I have killed many plants by over-watering them, but I bought a watering meter and it works great. My apartment is full of plants — I wish I had a bigger apartment!
    During the summer months, I have window boxes on the railing right outside my apartment door so when I open the door, I am greeted with beautiful colored leaves and flowers and they put a smile on my face.
    My landlord also gave me and another tenant permission to plant a garden on a small piece of ground that was basically dirt. We started this project at the end of last summer with 4 different flowering plants and every one bloomed this summer. We were so happy. Next spring, we plan to plant at least 2 more plants.
    I will continue to follow your website for helpful hints.

    1. Hi Elena! It is so nice to meet you! That is great that you can plant a garden outside!!! I got the gardening but while my husband and I lived in a small condo with no outdoor living space area. I started with a few houseplants but was able to tuck some annuals in two of the front beds that was shared with our downstairs neighbor. I was so happy to be able to plant something outside! xoxo

  17. Thank you for linking up at Embracing Home and Family! I am featuring this post on Friday! My mom is a house plant lady, so this post makes me smile! My daughters have caught on to her love for succulents, so my kitchen windows have been taken over!

    1. Thank you so much Jennifer! I am so grateful for the feature! That is so cool – isn’t it so neat to see the kids get into it? Houseplants are a lot of fun – took me a while to get the hang of them and I love how the green up my house when we are in the throws of winter. xoxo

  18. Pingback: Embracing Home and Family #8 | The Inspired Prairie
  19. I just added a bunch of plants to the kitchen after remodeling but we added a large fan in there and it seemed like it was drying all the plants out so of course I overwatered everything and now they are mostly dead so then I got some succulents oops they thrive outside but inside all dead … I’m about to repurchase plants for my containers but want mostly small plants I had a calle Lilly that did great at first and I do have a couple little vines still hanging in there 🙀 I did try the glass bulb watering things where u fill it with water and it waters as need when placed in the plants with stem in the ground and I would like your opinion on these ?
    Before these I killed about 30 orchids by leaving them in the ceramic containers I bought them in even . I’m about to try some new ones so I’ll try spider plants and vines and a new peace Lilly as it also is dead lol wish me luck and any updates would be great

    1. Hi Sandi! I’ve never tried those globes before. I check the soil before watering with all of my plants and that has dramatically helped them thrive and survive. They also really appreciate a summer vacation so I set mine out on my deck after all danger of frost has passed and bring them in before the first frost here. Keep them out of direct sunlight when they are outside though. I hope this helps!!! xoxo

  20. MISinformation on the NASA plant/clean air study. Often quoted, but incorrectly. Sure, plants clean the air. But to get that benefit, u would have to literally live in a greenhouse situation! That’s right. 5 or 6 isn’t gonna do much of anything. Hardly anyone gets this right. The clarification came out last year.

    1. If you read what I wrote, I didn’t misquote anything. I mentioned the study and provided my personal experience with adding houseplants to my home – which I stand by. My house is not a greenhouse, but I do care for several plants. Since I started accumulating them, we have been sick less often. I attribute this to my plants. It’s my opinion. After reading your comment, I researched for an actual study by NASA clarifying it’s position and found nothing. It is correct that a certain amount of plants per square foot are needed to benefit. I have not measured that out in my home. I just enjoy caring for my houseplants and hope others find that same joy. The point of the blog is, there are easy care plants that purify the air and that anyone can grow these plants because they are very low-maintenance. Enjoy your day.

  21. My spider plants have sooo many babies, should I leave them or cut them off they are on upside down tomato cages for plant stands and the babies are dragging the floor! Thanks for your help!! Love your new house

    1. Oftentimes, I cut them off and replant them in some potting soil or give them away! I know they get out of control right? I was just looking at mine yesterday!