Sparkle & Smile

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Healthy Home

Keeping Indoor Air Healthy With Plants

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air can contain up to ten times more pollution that the air outside due to toxic emissions from airborne mold, viruses, and other pollutants. Since Americans spend most of their time indoors, especially during the winter months, this can be an unhealthy situation for most of us.

Improved air quality contributes to overall health and can improve productivity. A very simple way to improve indoor health is by placing plants around your home. Plants naturally clean the air of toxins and chemicals.

To reduce toxins, try placing these plants around your home:

Kentia Palm plants reduce Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) levels in the air. Volatile Organic Compounds are toxins that are released from household items such as toxic household cleaners and paints.

Janet Craig plants take in oxygen, carbon dioxide, and also VOCs.

A small table-size plant called Peace Lily (Sweet Chico) also reduces VOCs. Peace lilies grow well in moist, humid environments. Keeping a peace lily growing in the bathroom can help reduce the amount of mold in the bathroom.

Plants usually take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. The cycle slows down during the night. Gerbera daisies release their oxygen at night. For those with sleep apnea or breathing disorders, increasing the amount of oxygen in the room can help them achieve deeper and more restful sleep.

Spider plants remove toxins from the air and keep it cleaner and more breathable. A study done by NASA showed that spider plants are very effective at removing pollutants from the air within a matter of days.

Believe it or not, English ivy plants reduce the amount of benzene from books and papers. Benzene can interfere with focus, study, and work. Reducing benzene is a great way to help students keep on top of their schoolwork.

When exposed to dry air, Boston ferns release moisture and act as natural humidifiers. Placing a few Boston ferns in a dry area of the house can help keep it moist. These plants are especially beneficial in winter, when the dry air can cause skin and lips to crack.

Maid Brigade House Cleaning Services cares about the health of you and your family. For more information on healthy green living and green cleaning, please log on to http://greencleancertified.com and http://maidbrigade.com. To learn more about the asthma and allergy triggers in your home, or to learn more about household products and breast cancer, please log on to http://www.greencleancertified.com/greentv.

Source:

www.NASA.gov

www.epa.gov

www.wolvertonenvironmental.com/air.htm

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