We hear a lot about air pollution outdoors in Kern County. But, what about inside your home? Dust and particles sitting on your floor and furniture can affect your quality of life too.
Some house plants can actually help remove harmful dirt and chemicals from indoor air.
Air pollution in Kern County is something those who call this place home, know all too well.
"Sometimes my allergies keep me inside the house. I can't really go outside and play with friends and simple stuff," said 16-year-old Alan Barragan.
Barragan's family has lined their home with plants, on the floors, on the shelves, and in corners. Plants like spider plants help to filter the air by sucking in dust and dirt.
Melissa Iger of the Tree Foundation of Kern said, "Indoor plants clean the air all the time, as well as outdoor plants." She adds, many plants take in carbons from cooking in your home, plus other chemicals. "Formaldehyde and Benzine and other chemicals in your paints and varnishes and oils that you use around the house," added Iger.
She advises lining your home with spider plants, pothos and ficus to help remove dust. "They get stored in the woody part of the plant, in the stem part of the plant, and the leaves put out fresh oxygen."
San Joaquin Hospital Respiratory Therapist Jakob Atkinson says even your floors can make a difference. "Things you might want to look for are hardwood and ceramic tile floors. Dust mites and mold love to live in carpet."
Alan Barragan always looks forward to returning to his family's house full of plants. "If we leave the house or something and we come back, and it's like fresh."
A few other plants that act like filters are bamboo, and snake plants.
Iger recommends placing 15 plants in six-inch pots for a 2,000 square foot house. You can adjust that number if your home is bigger or smaller.
