How to Make a Healthy Home

Everyone can benefit from a healthy mindset and body, but don't forget to keep you home in shape. Here are five things you can do to make a healthy home.

1. Open the windows. A cool breeze entering a home through open windows can reduce the temperature inside of a home without having to turn on fans or air conditioners. This not only helps individuals save money, but also it reduces reliance on electricity and fossil fuels.

2. Clean your rugs. Keeping your rugs cleaned and vacuumed regularly can reduce allergens such as pollen, pet dander, dust mites and more. It's best to run your vacuum over your carpet at least twice while vacuuming and have area rugs cleaned each year.

3. Stop smoking. An estimated 40% of America's children are exposed to secondhand smoke at home -- and it's the biggest trigger of asthma in those children, says Philip Landrigan, MD, director of the Children's Environmental Health Center at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. Plus it saves money that can be spent on home improvements or healthy foods for your family.

4. Use more glass than plastic. The safety of bisphenol A, a chemical found in polycarbonate plastics, is still being debated. These plastics are used in some water bottles