How it Helps: Its dense foliage excels at absorbing formaldehyde—the most prevalent indoor pollutant, says Wolverton—which shows up in wood floorboard resins and synthetic carpet dyes.

Place some plants in the office to purify the air. Spider plants and Barberton Daisies can absorb formaldehyde, dissolve benzene emitted by copy and printing machines, and even can digest nicotine.