10 Best Air Purifying House Plants UK 2024 | Interior Designer Reviewed

Known as both Devil's Ivy and Golden Pothos this sizeable waxy-leafed plant is a great one for beginners. It thrives under even the most unsuitable conditions, such as extremely low light and over-watered or underwatered soil. They do like moisture, so they do especially well in a bathroom.

Pothos reduces most common household toxins such as xylene, benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. This is also a great choice if you want a bright climbing plant that will weave its way across beams or along high shelves. Apparently, it's harder to actually kill this plant than it is to keep it alive. Bonus: this one comes in a hanging pot!

Aloe Vera is one of those wonder-plants that we think should have a place in every home. As well as protecting the air quality by reducing toxins, Aloe Vera is also medicinal. Cut open the leaves, and you'll find a cooling gel with anti-inflammatory properties that can be applied topically to cool sunburn and heal wounds.

These plants work to purify the air of formaldehyde and benzene, which is commonly found in detergents and varnishes. They prefer a warm, well-lit spot too, making them an overall top choice for brightening up your kitchen windowsill. 

Dracaenas are another one that can grow to incredible heights. Repotted and provided with its optimum growing conditions, a Dracaena can reach up to 15 feet tall! This makes them a must-have if you're decorating a big, open space. 

Preferring indirect sunlight, this plant is suitable for most homes, and it has a nice red finish to its leaves which adds an unusual flash of colour. It works well at filtering the three main household toxins, xylene, trichloroethylene and formaldehyde, and it doesn't require much water at all – just a little misting.

English Ivy has long been touted as one of the best houseplants for air purifying. It's often found crawling outside walls, but they also grow exceptionally well indoors. They prefer a more cramped existence, so you don't need to re-pot them at all and they can be left growing in a small container for years.

As well as combatting toxins, English Ivy has been shown to help reduce mould levels and airborne faecal particles in the air, making them a great addition to the bathroom. English Ivy is a thirsty plant, though, and requires a good amount of watering and sunlight.

There's a reason why Mother-in-Laws Tongues (also known as Snake Plants) can be seen in almost every Instagrammer's posts – they're one of the hardiest houseplants around. They can thrive in virtually any lighting conditions and they even release oxygen at night, making this a great plant to place in the bedroom for a good night's sleep.

This is an excellent choice for forgetful plant parents, as they do well in dry conditions – just make sure not to overwater them. They are brilliant at reducing toxins like formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, benzene, and xylene. 

If you're looking for something a bit more substantial, bushy and dramatic, try an Areca Palm. These are excellent for big, open, white spaces and they're also fairly easy to look after, requiring just a couple of watering sessions each week during summer and a bit less during winter.

One of the Areca Plants' best qualities is that they are completely safe for cats, dogs, and babies, so you don't need to worry about protecting them against prying fingers or paws. They are also one of the best plants for removing toxins in the air.

Peace Lilies are also an excellent choice if you haven't yet grown your green thumbs! They are really easy to look after, just needing the occasional water and a bit of fertiliser to bring in those lovely white flowers. 

Peace Lilies are very popular for their beautiful appearance, as well as the fact they help to remove the usual household toxins, including carbon monoxide, which can contaminate the air when using wood burners, gas stoves and dryers. They are, however, harmful to animals, so make sure to keep them well out of reach.

Chinese Evergreens are one of the easiest house plants to keep alive, making them great for newbie plant parents! They can live in most conditions, whether dry, moist, sunny or shaded, but they really thrive in humid conditions. They do, however, require decent well-draining soil. 

This makes them an ideal option for placing in hanging baskets in the kitchen or bathroom. When it comes to toxins, Chinese Evergreens do well to eliminate formaldehyde, xylene and benzene in the air, which is commonly found in cosmetics and detergents.

Originating from India, Rubber Plants thrive in bright light, so they're best kept in areas that receive a decent amount of sunlight. Apart from the regular watering, they don't require much maintenance, so they are easy to keep alive. 

This plant has a striking look and keeps its healthy appearance with minimal effort; it's also meant to be one of the best for cleansing the air of toxins. It is, however, poisonous to animals, so we wouldn't suggest this one if you have pets at home. 

The Weeping Fig plant is beautiful, but it does require a bit of extra maintenance, including the need for the soil to be thoroughly dried out in between its weekly waterings. It can reach highs of 10 feet tall, so make sure you have enough room for it to grow. They also don't like change, so try not to move it about too much.

This plant thrives best when in direct sunlight, so you will need to ensure that you can provide these consistent conditions if you want the plant to reach its full potential. Like many other air-purifying plants, this one reduces formaldehyde, trichloroethylene and benzene toxins in the air.