Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Add Good to your Google News feed.
Google News Button

NASA found the 18 best plants  for naturally filtering the air in your home

Maybe you can skip the expensive air-filter and bring a little green into your home.

NASA, plants, clean air, home care, research
Plants great for filtering the air in your home.
via Nasa
By Tod Perry,
Tod Perry
Tod Perry is a freelance writer from Long Beach, California.
See Full Bio
GOOD Staff
GOOD Staff
See Full Bio
Apr 22, 2025

In the late 1980s, NASA was looking for ways to purify the air in its space stations. They conducted a study to find the best plants for filtering toxins and converting carbon dioxide into oxygen.

In 1989, their results were published in a clean air study that provided a definitive list of plants that are the most effective at cleaning indoor air.

Which plants made the list?

NASA's study recommended placing at least one plant for every 100 square feet of indoor space, whether at home or in the office. These are the plants that proved most effective.

1. Dwarf Date Palm

From the Arecaceae family.assets.rebelmouse.io | From the Arecaceae family.

2. Boston Fern

From the Nephrolepidaceae family.assets.rebelmouse.io | From the Nephrolepidaceae family.

3. Kimberly Queen Fern

From the Nephrolepidaceae family.assets.rebelmouse.io | From the Nephrolepidaceae family.

4. Spider Plant

From the Asparagaceae family.assets.rebelmouse.io | From the Asparagaceae family.

5. Chinese Evergreen

From the Araceae family.assets.rebelmouse.io | From the Araceae family.

6. Bamboo Palm

From the Arecaceae family.assets.rebelmouse.io | From the Arecaceae family.

7. Weeping Fig

From the Moraceae family.assets.rebelmouse.io | From the Moraceae family.

8. Devil's Ivy

From the Arum family.assets.rebelmouse.io | From the Arum family.

9. Flamingo Lily

From the Arum family.assets.rebelmouse.io | From the Arum family.

10. Lilyturf

From the Asparagaceae family.assets.rebelmouse.io | From the Asparagaceae family.

11. Broadleaf Lady Palm

From the Arecaceae family.assets.rebelmouse.io | From the Arecaceae family.

12. Barberton Daisy

From the Aster family.assets.rebelmouse.io | From the Aster family.

13. Cornstalk Dracena

From the Asparagaceae family.assets.rebelmouse.io | From the Asparagaceae family.

14. English Ivy

From the Araliaceae family.assets.rebelmouse.io | From the Araliaceae family.

15. Varigated Snake Plant

From the Asparagaceae family.assets.rebelmouse.io | From the Asparagaceae family.

16. Red-Edged Dracaena

From the Century Plant family.assets.rebelmouse.io | From the Century Plant family.

17. Peace Lily

From the Araceae family.assets.rebelmouse.io | From the Araceae family.

18. Florist's Chrysanthemum

From the Aster family.assets.rebelmouse.io | From the Aster family.

What’s in our air?

NASA’s interest in air-purifying plants wasn’t just a matter of aesthetics. The air inside space stations—and even many homes—is often laced with invisible chemicals that can pose serious health risks when inhaled in high concentrations.

Trichloroethylene – Found in printing inks, paints, lacquers, varnishes, adhesives, and paint removers. Symptoms associated with short-term exposure include: excitement, dizziness, headache, nausea, and vomiting, followed by drowsiness and coma.

Formaldehyde – Found in paper bags, waxed papers, facial tissues, paper towels, plywood paneling, and synthetic fabrics. Symptoms associated with short-term exposure include: irritation to the nose, mouth, and throat, and in severe cases, swelling of the larynx and lungs.

Benzene – Used to make plastics, resins, lubricants, detergents, and drugs. Also found in tobacco smoke, glue, and furniture wax. Symptoms associated with short-term exposure include: irritation to eyes, drowsiness, dizziness, headache, increased heart rate, confusion, and in some cases can result in unconsciousness.

Xylene – Found in rubber, leather, tobacco smoke, and vehicle exhaust. Symptoms associated with short-term exposure include: irritation to the mouth and throat, dizziness, headache, confusion, heart problems, liver and kidney damage, and coma.

Ammonia – Found in window cleaners, floor waxes, smelling salts, and fertilizers. Symptoms associated with short-term exposure include eye irritation, coughing, and a sore throat.

So whether you're looking to freshen up your home, boost your indoor air quality, or simply add a little life to your space, NASA’s list offers a natural, low-maintenance solution. Just remember to choose pet-safe options if you share your space with furry companions. A few well-placed plants won’t just liven up a room—they might also help you breathe a little easier.

This article originally appeared last year.

air purification plantsindoor air filtersindoor air qualitynasa study plantshouse plantstoxinsnatural livinggreen thumbscience

The Latest

fart walk trend, Mairlyn Smith, walking after eating benefits, digestion tips, lower blood sugar naturally, Dr. Tim Tiutan, post-meal walk
Past Events

Doctors say the ‘fart walk’ trend might actually help you live longer

BJ Miller hospice, moments after death, palliative care explained, Zen Hospice Project, death and dying, Oprah Winfrey BJ Miller interview, sensation of dying
Past Events

Hospice doctor shares what happens in the moments immediately after death

Motherhood, Safety net, Income inequality, Denmark, Gender inequality, Scandinavia, Government benefits, Mothers Day, Mother's Day, motherhood penalty
Family

Denmark’s generous parental leave policies erase eighty percent of the ‘motherhood penalty’

relationship green flags, dating advice for men, Reddit relationship advice, positive personality traits, green flags in women, healthy relationship signs, emotional maturity
Past Events

Men share the 10 biggest green flags they have seen in women and the list is eye-opening

More For You

sleep inertia, snooze button bad for you, NREM sleep cycle, waking up tired, Dr. Keith Roach sleep, Dr. Tracey Marks sleep tips, morning grogginess, sleep hygiene tips

Woman sleeps in her bed with an eye mask on

Canva

Staying in bed longer is actually bad for you: Here is how to wake up comfortably

We all know the struggle. The alarm goes off and you start bargaining with the universe. You tell yourself that just five more minutes will make all the difference.

You hit the snooze button. Your eyes drift closed. Then, ten minutes later, you are jolted awake again.

Keep ReadingShow less
frost, frost quake, winter weather, weather phenomena, cold weather

In harsh winter weather, you may have experienced a surprising "frost quake."

Photo credit: Canva, Ivan S from Pexels (cropped, left) / Visualine Studio from Visualine Studio (cropped, right)

Americans hit by massive snow storms are feeling 'frost quake' booms, a startling and mysterious phenomenon

An intense and devastating winter storm swept across the eastern U.S. in late January 2026, bringing massive amounts of snow, ice, and wind. It also appears to have brought the more rare—and possibly confusing—phenomenon of cryoseisms, more commonly known as "frost quakes." According to The Tennessean, lots of people in the Nashville area reported hearing thunderous "booms," and naturally assumed these were earthquakes. But many reports suggest they were actually encountering this strange weather event.

I live a few hours away in Knoxville, and I experienced something similar. While eating dinner, my wife and I were startled by a super loud crash—we assumed someone was pounding on our door, but no one was there. When I looked around on social media, I noticed a few other people in my area posting their own stories. So what exactly is happening here?

Keep ReadingShow less
stroke, speech therapy, medical breakthrough, wearable device, accessibility

A new neck wearable can help stroke victims speak better with less fatigue.

Photo credit: Canva/Cambridge University via X

'Intelligent' neck device detects words and emotions, giving stroke survivors a literal new voice

The effects of a stroke can vary widely from person to person, causing lifelong challenges with vision, mobility, and other functions depending on the severity and location of the stroke in the brain. For those who lose the ability to speak clearly, however, there is new hope in the form of an AI-assisted neck device.

Researchers from Beihang University in China and the University of Cambridge in the UK have developed a neck-worn device designed to help stroke survivors with dysarthria. Dysarthria is a speech disorder caused by weakened strength and control of the muscles used for speaking, often resulting in speech that sounds slow, slurred, or quiet. This can be deeply frustrating for stroke survivors, who know exactly what they want to say and how they want to say it, but find their bodies unable to cooperate.

Keep ReadingShow less
Children's health, Public health, Vaccines, Malaria, Africa, Global health, Drug resistance, Asia, Artemisinin, Plasmodium, New research, Disease spread

Malaria is transmitted to people by mosquitoes infected with a parasite from the Plasmodium family.

Jim Gathany via CDC/Dr. William Collins

Malaria researchers are getting closer to outsmarting the world’s deadliest parasite

Every year, malaria kills more than 600,000 people worldwide. Most of them are children under 5 in sub-Saharan Africa. But the disease isn’t confined to poor, rural areas – it’s a global threat that travels with people across borders.

For decades, the fight against malaria has felt like running in place. Bed nets and drugs save lives, but the family of parasites that cause malaria, called Plasmodium, keeps evolving new ways to survive. These parasites transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sleep, Muscles, Neuroplasticity, Brain training, REM sleep, Rest, Healthy aging, Muscle gain, Cognitive health, Sleep health

Research shows that the brain can be exercised, much like our muscles.

RapidEye/E+ via Getty Images

Neurologist explains why 'novelty' is a brilliant workout for your brain's health

If you have ever lifted a weight, you know the routine: challenge the muscle, give it rest, feed it and repeat. Over time, it grows stronger.

Of course, muscles only grow when the challenge increases over time. Continually lifting the same weight the same way stops working.

Keep ReadingShow less
Liver, Podcasts, Detox, Detoxification

Do you need to detox if you’re healthy?

Westock Productions/Shutterstock

Juice cleanses, charcoal supplements and foot patches – is detoxing worth the hype?

January arrives with a familiar hangover. Too much food. Too much drink. Too much screen time. And suddenly social media is full of green juices, charcoal supplements, foot patches and seven-day “liver resets”, all promising to purge the body of mysterious toxins and return it to a purer state.

In the first episode of Strange Health, a new visualised podcast from The Conversation, hosts Katie Edwards and Dan Baumgardt put detox culture under the microscope and ask a simple question: do we actually need to detox at all?

Keep ReadingShow less
Bacteria, Antibiotics, Antimicrobial resistance, Microbes, Antibiotic resistance, One Health, Antibiotic overuse, Antibiotic misuse

Scientists are fighting back against antibiotic resistance with new strategies and tools.

wildpixel/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Antibiotic resistance could undo a century of medical progress – but four advances are changing the story

Imagine going to the hospital for a bacterial ear infection and hearing your doctor say, “We’re out of options.” It may sound dramatic, but antibiotic resistance is pushing that scenario closer to becoming reality for an increasing number of people. In 2016, a woman from Nevada died from a bacterial infection that was resistant to all 26 antibiotics that were available in the United States at that time.

The U.S. alone sees more than 2.8 million antibiotic-resistant illnesses each year. Globally, antimicrobial resistance is linked to nearly 5 million deaths annually.

Keep ReadingShow less
Social media, Literacy, Reading, Attention, Attention span, Doomscrolling

Just slowing down gives you time to question and reflect.

Morsa Images/DigitalVision via Getty Images

Deep reading can boost your critical thinking and help you resist misinformation – here’s how to build the skill

The average American checks their phone over 140 times a day, clocking an average of 4.5 hours of daily use, with 57% of people admitting they’re “addicted” to their phone. Tech companies, influencers and other content creators compete for all that attention, which has incentivized the rise of misinformation.

Considering this challenging information landscape, strong critical reading skills are as relevant and necessary as they’ve ever been.

Keep ReadingShow less
© Copyright 2026