plants that purify

Did you know that some ordinary (and easy to maintain) houseplants are excellent fighters of pollution and toxins in your house or office? The top 10 plants that detoxify the house or office are: areca, lady & bamboo palms, rubber plant, dracaena "Janet Craig," English ivy, dwarf date palm, ficus alii, Boston fern, and the peace lily.

The Boston fern, (followed by the florist's mum and gerbera daisy), is the best at removing formaldehyde, the most common indoor toxin found in everything from facial tissues to carpets to gas stoves to plywood. The lady palm is the best at removing ammonia, and the moth orchid and dwarf date palm remove xylene and toluene, chemicals emitted by ceiling tiles, paint, floor coverings, caulk and computer screens. (The areca is the best with these two toxins).

I strongly recommend using house plants to detoxify your home and/or office environment. Our immune systems are exposed to so many toxins when we are out and about, and these plants will help give it a much-needed break when resting at home.