Myths and evidence
Plants, ionisers, salt lamps, home remedies: what the evidence says.
Do indoor plants clean the air?Not in any way you would notice. You would need a room packed with plants to match even a modest purifier. Grow them for wellbeing, not for filtration.Ionisers, ozone generators and "plasma" purifiersDevices that charge particles or make ozone can irritate the lungs and do less than a plain HEPA filter. What to avoid and what to switch off.Salt lamps, diffusers and "detox" productsNone of these remove PM2.5. Some, like scented diffusers and burning anything, add to indoor pollution.Cloth masks, surgical masks and scarvesLoose masks and scarves stop dust you can see, not the fine particles that harm health. A respirator that seals is what works.Jaggery, steam, tulsi and other home remediesSome are comforting and harmless. None of them protect you from PM2.5 or undo its effects. What actually reduces harm is reducing what you breathe.