English Ivy is one of the most effective houseplants at filtering airborne mold particles, with studies suggesting it filters up to 78% of airborne mold in 12 hours.
Spider plants, orchids and leafy palms can all help to remove mould spores in the home. From the bathroom to the kitchen, any room that suffers with humidity, damp, mildew or mould could benefit from one of these clever houseplants.
Spider Plant
Spider plants are easy to grow and hard to kill, so you don't need a green thumb to see these plants thrive. Spider plants absorb mold in their leaves and they also take care of dust allergens as well as toxins such as carbon monoxide.
Cover the soil around your plant's stem with a dusting of baking soda to stop mold from growing. Spray a solution of 2 tbsp (30 g) of apple cider vinegar with 1/4 gal (946 mL) of water to kill traces of mold on and around the plant, as the antimicrobial properties of apple cider vinegar are antifungal.
English ivy, peace lilies, palms and snake plants are all mould-busters. Mould is a common problem in properties around the UK, particularly as the damp winter weather begins to set in. But there are some houseplants that can help reduce the risk.
Many species of indoor plants can actually help absorb mold and spores. Studies have shown that rooms with air-filtering houseplants can improve this air quality by 60%. It is highly recommended to keep one good sized house plant per 100 square feet to help clean polluted or dirt-filled air.
White vinegar is a mildly acidic product that cleans, deodorizes, and disinfects. It can also kill 82% of mold species, including black mold, on porous and non-porous surfaces. You can use it safely on most surfaces, and its offensive odor goes away quickly. Pour undiluted white vinegar into a spray bottle.
Baking soda and vinegar are typically used together when dealing with a mold problem since they kill different species of mold. Add one quarter of a tablespoon of baking soda into a spray bottle of water. Shake the bottle to dissolve the baking soda into the water. Spray the moldy area.
Baking Soda. Used with vinegar and water or alone with water, baking soda is effective at removing mold naturally. Dissolve baking soda into water or water-and-vinegar solution, and spray onto surface. Let it sit, then scrub and wipe with a damp cloth.
According to NASA, chrysanthemums are among the best air-purifying houseplants as they remove most indoor pollutants like formaldehyde, benzene and xylene. The flowering plant requires very little care, but it'll only stay alive for a few weeks indoors.
Spider plant
Spider plants thrive in humid environments, and do a great job at absorbing both moisture and pollutants from the air.
According to research, white vinegar gets rid of 82 percent of mold spores, viruses, and bacteria. Vinegar can also prevent mold growth if sprayed on surfaces and allowed to dry.
A bleach solution also works to kill mold. Mix one cup of bleach in a gallon of water, apply to the surface and don't rinse. Mix a 50/50 solution of ammonia and water. Spray on the surface, wait two to three hours, then rinse.
So, how many plants do you need to purify a room? You'd need 10 plants per square foot in your home to enjoy any impact on indoor air quality. Let's break that down: For a 320 square-foot room, you'd need 3,200 plants for that room alone.
Mold hates light. Other than moisture there's nothing mold loves more than dark places.
To Prevent Mold Growth in Your Home
Keep humidity levels in your home as low as you can—no higher than 50%–all day long. An air conditioner or dehumidifier will help you keep the level low. You can buy a meter to check your home's humidity at a home improvement store.
Use a non-ammonia soap or detergent in warm water and scrub the entire area affected by the mold. Use a stiff brush or cleaning pad on block walls or uneven surfaces. Rinse clean with water. Dry completely.
Vinegar penetrates porous materials and kills mold at the roots. Vinegar is a strong substitute for bleach and other harsh chemicals when it comes to killing mold. The acidity of the vinegar can penetrate porous materials and eliminate the membrane of mold below most surfaces.
Pine trees are known to purify the air around us. Even their scent is helpful in reducing inflammation for people with asthma or allergies. Famous as the Christmas tree, Douglas fir pine trees are a great addition to any yard.
The National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA), which tested the abilities of three common houseplants to remove formaldehyde from the air, found in preliminary tests that spider plants were the champs, removing 95 percent of the toxic substance from a sealed Plexiglas chamber in 24 hours.
Some of the toxins researchers found tht plants remove from the air are: formaldehyde, benzene, acetone, ammonia, trichloroethylene, and carbon monoxide. Of all these formaldehyde is the most prevalent, found in virtually all indoor environments.
Mold will grow in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been flooding. Mold grows well on paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood products. Mold can also grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.
Some plants may release VOCs into the air. The soil may have bacteria, pesticides or other contaminants. While plants can be beneficial, the evidence does not show that they are an effective tool to reduce air pollution.