Condensation and mould can leave your home feeling and looking dirty, but it turns out a bit of greenery might just be the solution to your woes.
Picking the right houseplant can actually combat these issues, all while sprucing up your space.
Not every plant is a mould-buster though, so choosing the right one is crucial. The key is to look for plants that have a great reputation for soaking up humid air through their leaves, sending them down to their roots.
Julie Decosta, a guru with plants over at BackyardBoss, has shared a few options that will help kick mould to the curb.
She said: “Choose from one of the wonderful plants to purify your air and get rid of nasty mould and other toxins. Why not grow more than one and group them together to increase your chances of having a mould-free home?”
1. Peace lilies
A favourite among many home gardeners, the peace lily flourishes in high-humidity spots with temperatures between 18 to 29 degrees, the same conditions that tend to attract condensation and mould.
Julie explained: “The peace lily loves humidity and can easily absorb mould spores by using them at the root level as a food source. It also improves your air quality by 60 percent.
“The plant is exceptional at deteriorating and neutralising toxins like carbon monoxide and formaldehyde.”
The peace lily sports attractive white blooms but shares a toxicity risk for pets, so it should be placed out of their reach.
2. English ivy
This houseplant is quite the warrior when it comes to fighting off mould. Julie explained: “It is a great filter of air toxins and gets rid of 78 percent of airborne mould in 12 hours.
“This plant helps fight common mould that presents as green and black spots found in moist corners of homes.”
And if you’re sniffly because of allergies, ivy could be your new best friend, stripping the air of nasties.
The ivy plant’s leaves, however, are toxic to animals, so pet owners need to ensure the plant is kept well out of reach.
3. Spider plants
When it comes to the spider plant, the expert believes you can’t go wrong, dubbing it “easy to grow and hard to kill”. This makes it perfect for those lacking a green thumb yet eager to see a bit of greenery succeed at home.
Further commenting on the spider plant’s capabilities, Julie said: “Spider plants absorb mould in their leaves and they also take care of dust allergens as well as toxins such as carbon monoxide.”
Defying expectations, these domestic wonders are purported to eradicate 90 percent of toxins from the air within a mere two days.
