Every home has its fair share of sick occupants, especially over the winter! Even our homes are not immune. Has any one considered the possibility that the furnishings and belongings may also be a root cause of our illnesses? Have bugs and germs moved into our homes over the summer. The presence of smoke that has permeated the bedding, curtains and clothing. Non-smokers can certainly smell the staleness of a room. The supermarket supplies every conceivable cleaner for houses including many that in my opinion are a complete waste of money. Do you really want to spend all day cleaning? What about the amount of money laid out in order to purchase the products? How safe are those products. There are some nasties hidden in our everyday products. From asbestos, dioxins, to stale smoke fumes, labeled as carcinogens by researchers. It is an accepted fact that homes with plants provide a healthier habitat for humans. It may be that mentally we like to have something to care for in our homes. The plants themselves can provide a better atmosphere both physically and mentally. Some of the plants that can clean the air in our homes are ferns such as the Boston fern, well known for its leaves straddling the hanging basket. They also look good in pots. The spider plant ,its variegated leaves attractive on their own but further enhanced by the shoots it sends out with new ,small plants at the tips . Where the name spider comes from as the plant sends out many of these shoots. Palm trees are very popular, a number of them quite stunning in a home situation. A common one that springs to mind is the Parlor palm. You do not have to spend megabucks on palms, as the small ones can be purchased and grown on to the size you require. Peace Lily is a personal favourite both for its leaves and for intriguing flowers. Philodendron and the ficus family are very popular. Research suggests that plants absorb some of the pollutants that we find in our homes but are unaware of their presence. The formula from researchers as to how many plants would clean a home and provide a healthy atmosphere are that 10-15 plants would freshen a 180 square meter home. The size of the plants will vary, but all plants whether they absorb the invisible enemy or are just for show are an enjoyable pleasure in our homes.