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People who live in temperate climates spend much time inside during winter months. Airtight homes stay cozy and warm during freezing weather, but they also accumulate odors from cooking, oil heaters, pets and aerosol sprays such as hairspray. While fragrant candles may be one solution to combat odors, some have lead wicks that cause headaches. Air sprays replace bad odors with chemicals, and many of them state that they are only for use in ventilated rooms. Odor neutralizing plants, however, remove toxins and add oxygen to the air.
Plants release oxygen as a result of photosynthesis, which is how a plant makes its food. Animals breathe out carbon dioxide and plants take it in and give off oxygen.
Mothballs contain either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene. They are a pesticide and must be registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Anecdotal evidence exists of people using them near plants with no ill effects, but that is not advisable.
