There’s nothing quite like the refreshed feeling you get after taking a hot, steamy shower. However, all that moisture in the air can lead to mold, mildew, and bad odors if you don’t take steps to control bathroom humidity.
The good news is that certain air-purifying plants actually thrive in humid environments like bathrooms. Adding a few of these bathroom-friendly plants helps absorb moisture while filtering out chemicals from cleaning products, providing cleaner air and a more pleasant space.
This article highlights ten excellent air-purifying plants for improved bathroom air quality.
Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema)
The Chinese Evergreen is a popular houseplant known for its air-purifying abilities and tolerance of low-light conditions. Its lush variegated leaves add visual interest while it filters out toxins like benzene, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide. Its high humidity preference makes it perfectly suited for steamy bathrooms.
- Sun Exposure: Low to medium light
- Soil Type: Well-draining potting mix
- Soil pH: 6.1-7.5
Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
With sword-shaped upright leaves, the Snake Plant has a striking architectural shape. It’s also a champion air purifier, filtering out nasty VOCs like formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene. Snake Plants need little care and can tolerate low humidity, though they don’t mind steamy bathrooms either.
- Sun Exposure: Low light
- Soil Type: Cactus mix
- Soil pH: 6.1-7.5
English Ivy (Hedera helix)
English Ivy makes the perfect climbing companion plant for bathrooms with its ability to cling to trellises or walls with small rootlets. With evergreen leaves ranging from dark green to variegated forms, it brightens up any bathroom while removing airborne fecal matter and other particles.
- Sun Exposure: Medium to bright indirect light
- Soil Type: Well-draining potting mix
- Soil pH: 6.0-8.0
Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)
Spider Plants are easy to grow air-purifying plants with interesting curly leaves that form plantlets. They thrive in high humidity and filter out pollutants like carbon monoxide and xylene. Let their trailing leaves fill a hanging basket or set them on bathroom shelves.
- Sun Exposure: Medium to bright indirect light
- Soil Type: Well-draining potting mix
- Soil pH: 6.0-8.0
Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)
Peace Lilies are a bathroom staple thanks to their air-purifying abilities and tolerance of low light and high humidity. Their dark green leaves contrast beautifully with slender white flowers. They filter out nasty VOCs like trichloroethylene and absorb moisture.
- Sun Exposure: Low to medium light
- Soil Type: Well-draining potting mix
- Soil pH: 5.0-6.5
Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata)
The lush green fronds of Boston ferns make a graceful addition to bathrooms. They thrive in steamy, humid conditions and bright indirect light. As they grow, they help filter mold, benzene, formaldehyde, and other toxins from indoor air.
- Sun Exposure: Medium to bright indirect light
- Soil Type: Peat moss potting mix
- Soil pH: 5.0-6.5
Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)
The Bamboo Palm adds tropical flair with long arching green fronds. It does well in low-light, humid bathrooms, filtering out formaldehyde and carbon monoxide. Its compact size makes it perfect for bathrooms with limited space.
- Sun Exposure: Low to medium light
- Soil Type: Well-draining potting mix
- Soil pH: 6.0-7.5
Cast Iron Plant (Aspidistra elatior)
Nearly indestructible, the Cast Iron Plant survives low light and inconsistent watering. Its dark green leaves tolerate steamy, humid bathrooms. Removing toxins such as benzene and trichloroethylene from the air, it practically thrives on bathroom neglect.
- Sun Exposure: Low light
- Soil Type: Well-draining potting mix
- Soil pH: 6.0-7.5
Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans)
A favorite since Victorian times, the Parlor Palm has feathery fronds and single stems topped with foliage. It tolerates low light and humidity fluctuations, removing formaldehyde and xylene from indoor air. Group a few in a corner for impact.
- Sun Exposure: Low to medium light
- Soil Type: Well-draining potting mix
- Soil pH: 6.0-7.5
Conclusion
Adding plants is an easy way to improve bathroom air quality and décor. The plants highlighted here were specially chosen for their ability to purify steamy, humid air in enclosed low-light bathrooms. Their natural air-filtering abilities combat mold, chemicals, and odors. Bring the outdoors in with these bathroom-friendly air-purifying plants to freshen your space.
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