Detoxing Your Home Using Houseplants

To say that I do not have a green thumb would be putting it mildly.  I have always loved the concept of having plants in the home.  But somehow I actually keeping them alive is a skill that eludes me.  About a year ago I stopped using the numerous glade plug ins that I had for the purpose of making my house smell fragrant.  Learning that the air fresheners pose a potential health risk because of the chemicals it contains, prompted me to make a change. 
Since then I have been researching ways to naturally make my home smell fresh.  I have tried those cinnamon broom stick looking things.  Now don't get me wrong, they smell great but once they dry out, what exactly am I supposed to do with those things? Start a bonfire?  So after a few bunches lay dried up in the corner, I quickly aborted that idea.
Recently I came across a few articles on detoxing the house using houseplants and I have decided to give it a try.   I am going to start off small at 1st and learn how to nurture a plant so that it actually thrives.
There are many benefits to keeping plants inside the home, a few of which being:

• The control of humidity within the home
• Indoor detoxification and purification of the air.
• A resultant cooling effect condition
• The reduction of sound levels
• The reduction of stress levels
• A reduced reliance of chemical products
  

 Research shows that most homes have as much as ten times the pollutants inside than outside. Toxic
chemicals are released throughout the day from your furniture, rugs, and plastics, which increase reactions to allergies.

Here is a list of the top 10 Houseplants to Detox your household:

1. Areca Palm
2. The Lady Palm
3. Bamboo Palm
4. Rubber Plant
5. Dracaena Janet Craig
6. English Ivy
7. Dwarf Date Palm
8. Ficus Alii
9. Boston Fern
10. Peace Lily

So join me on my quest to make my home a cleaner safer place for my family.  And any suggestions and advice on plant care will be greatly appreciated.

Read more: How to Detox Your House | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_4770101_detox-your-house.html#ixzz0r56wyXnP
http://ecohomeresource.com/2009/06/10-housplants-which-will-detox.html
http://www.rainforestorganics.ca/natural-air-freshener.htm