There are an enormous number of articles and videos on the internet about which house plants are good at cleaning and purifying indoor air. However, some may wonder, can air purifying plants keep mold away too? The mold and air quality experts here at Cleaner Guys can answer that question for you! And it’s more complex than you think.
Table of Contents
- Can “Air-Purifying” Plants Keep Mold Away?
- House Plants May Actually Increase the Risk of Mold
- What Helps Prevent Mold?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Can “Air-Purifying” Plants Keep Mold Away?
No, “air-purifying” plants will not keep mold away. Firstly, we need to start with some myth-busting about house plants being air purifiers. We used quotation marks around the term “air-purifying plants” because plants don’t actually significantly clean regular indoor air. This is a myth based on a misunderstanding of a famous 1989 NASA study.
The study was performed by scientist Bill Wolverton to see if plants could help clean the breathable air of manned spaceships, to help the astronauts. It showed that in a sealed laboratory environment that mimicked an airtight aircraft, plants could help significantly with purifying the air!
However, the fact is, this study does not generally apply to house plants in our everyday homes and businesses. Those aren’t airtight sealed environments; windows and doors are being opened and shut all the time, inviting in new air with new particulates and potential pollution. Although plants do help very slightly to clean the air, that slightly cleaner air will get pushed right out the window next time it’s opened.
House Plants May Actually Increase the Risk of Mold
House plants have a respiratory process — they “breathe” — that takes in moisture in the air and in their soil, and then re-releases about 97% of the water they take in. That means that if you’re regularly watering your house plants (which you should be), then they will release a lot of that water into the air once they’ve processed it. Over time, that extra moisture your plants release into the air can increase the humidity of your home!
Now, a slight increase in humidity is good for humans! Studies have shown that increased humidity from plants in closed indoor spaces like offices and hospitals correlates to a decrease in respiratory issues and sickness. However, humidity is also good for mold.
Mold spores are floating around in the air all the time, like dust particles. However, they will only land and start to grow on surfaces like walls when there is an increase in moisture for them to feed on. Humidity can provide that extra moisture mold needs to grow! This is why bathrooms are one of the most common areas for mold growth, because our hot showers greatly increase the humidity in there regularly.
So, since you definitely want to keep your house plants… how can you have house plants, and also prevent mold?
What Helps Prevent Mold?
So, since house plants are not affective at preventing mold, and may actually slightly increase the risk of mold, what can you do to prevent mold? Cleaner Guys is a certified professional mold removal company, and below are our top 10 tips for effectively preventing mold in your home or business.
Top 10 Tips
- Checking for leaks and water damage regularly. Pay attention to the sight or sound of leaks, any heavy condensation around windows, and all the other signs of water damage and mold inside the drywall.
- Regular cleaning behind large appliances. Some of the most common places mold thrives are behind and under large appliances, including refrigerators, washing machines, and dishwashers. Pull these items out from the wall as far as you can at least once every 2 months (preferably more often). Check for moisture, standing water, leaks, or mold on wall behind or the floor beneath these appliances.
- Ventilation. Try to have one or more windows open for at least a couple of hours a day, as often as you can. Fresh circulated air helps prevent humid, stagnant air. Stagnant air promotes mold spores settling and growing.
- Humidity control. We agree with the CDC’s recommendation to keep your indoor humidity level lower than 50%, which you can achieve with a dehumidifier.
- Know how to winterize your home! Knowing how to prevent your pipes from freezing is crucial if you want to avoid dealing with a burst one during winter. Trust us, it’s not pretty. Learn how to prevent frozen and burst pipes here.
- Light. If your home has windows, don’t block out the light from them with curtains or blinds! Many molds don’t like light, and letting natural light in can help prevent its growth. If you’re concerned about privacy, try a translucent privacy film instead.
- Take care of leaks immediately. They won’t go away on their own. If you’re a tenant, call your landlord about every leak right away. If you’re a landlord or a homeowner, stay on top of leaks! Treat every one like it could cost you thousands of dollars of damage if you don’t fix it right away. Because it could.
- Check inside your HVAC shafts regularly. Carefully unscrew the ventilation covers (while the heating or AC is off) and shine a flashlight down there every couple of months. It only takes 5 minutes to check for mold this way!
- Check your gutters. Make sure your gutter spouts point away from your house and extend at least a foot, preferably more. Stagnant standing water sitting against your basement walls and windows can cause water intrusion, which will lead to mold. Clean your gutters at least once a quarter; stagnant water can freeze in the gutters, causing ice dams and seeping into your attic!
- Check your attic, crawlspace, and foundation walls at least once each quarter. Small animals or moisture can move in overnight, and you want to be on top of that. If you don’t want to check yourself, hire someone to. Don’t let it go undone.
Conclusion
Have more questions about mold? Click here to open a new tab to go through all our articles on mold. But first, read through some of the most commonly asked questions about mold below!
Frequently Asked Questions
Fungicide can kill mold 100% in very small areas, but for large mold growth, the best solution is removing the mold-infested materials. We strongly advise against using bleach, vinegar, rubbing alcohol, or other poplar DIY solutions to try to kill mold. Read why in our full article on What Kills Mold 100%.
Mold on house plants is usually caused by overwatering or lack of fresh air. Several different DIY home remedies can work to get rid of it, including cinnamon, neem oil, milk, or a baking soda solution! Learn more in our full article on mold on plants here.
Touching mold with bare skin can cause skin irritation, which can usually be easily soothed with aloe vera or an oatmeal soak. But touching mold will also release mold spores into the air, which can cause mold sickness. Read our full article on mold sickness here to learn more.
If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of needing a mold removal or mold inspection company in Western Washington State, consider Cleaner Guys as a high-quality, well-trusted option. We’re proud to boast award-winning customer service, lower prices than others, and top-notch workmanship! Contact us today through the menu at the top of your screen.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. No part of this article is medical or legal advice, and may not be used as such. For all serious medical matters, consult your doctor. For all serious legal matters, consult your legal advisor. This article contains Cleaner Guys’ experience and opinions only.
Sources:
- “Getting Into the Weeds: Do Houseplants Really Improve Air Quality?” American Lung Association, 2017, lung.org/blog/do-houseplants-really-improve-air-quality. Accessed 8 August 2024.
- “You’re Being LIED To. Plants DON’T Purify The Air.” YouTube, uploaded by Sheffield Made Plants, 19 July 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZTkqaTCVHs. Accessed 8 August 2024.
- “5 Benefits of Houseplants.” BioAdvanced, bioadvanced.com/5-benefits-houseplants. Accessed 8 August 2024.
