We often associate home with safety. It is where we retreat from danger and seek shelter from harm. However, in reality, our own household can be a very dangerous place.
Every year, countless people are injured and several die from products that most people use on a daily basis. Despite the probable extensive babyproofing and regular maintenance you’ve done, the places we all call home contain numerous mysterious accidents waiting to happen.
While most of us only glance at warning labels and disregard safety tips on products that we think we know, spending an extra minute to analyze and combat the risks could save your life. Chances are, you probably own the majority of these fatal items and you’ve probably even used them today.
But did you know they could kill you? We all blow out candles before we leave the house, and we never leave the oven on. But these things are seemingly far less dangerous. The following list provides a guide to common household items that can surprisingly kill you.
10 Bleach
Bleach, which is intended to clean even the most severe messes, can be very dangerous. Consuming bleach or even inhaling it can be fatal. However, when mixed with other cleaners like ammonia and acids, deadly effects can also result.
The primary ingredient in bleach is sodium hypochlorite. When mixed with ammonia, this substance releases toxic gases called chloramines. When mixed with acids, bleach gives off chlorine gas, which can harm the mucous membranes even after minimal exposure. It can even be absorbed through the skin![1]
While the dangerous possibilities of mixing bleach may come as a surprise, people are no stranger to the power of bleach alone. In fact, one Chicago woman was charged with first-degree murder in early 2017 after she forced her boyfriend to ingest bleach. An autopsy confirmed the death was a direct result of “complications from forcible administration of a caustic substance” and was therefore ruled a homicide.
9 Toothpaste
You may have never noticed the poison warning that the FDA requires on every tube of toothpaste. This is largely because a staggering 95 percent of toothpaste in the United States contains fluoride.
While the severity of effects ranges in tandem with the amount consumed, the FDA urges you to contact a poison control center if you consume even just a bit more than used for brushing. The Fluoride Action Network explains that the dental community has “failed to educate the public about the dangers of swallowing too much fluoride toothpaste.”[2]
Shockingly, most toothpastes suggest using only a pea-size amount. However, advertisements depict much larger portions, which can be dangerous. This can be especially harmful to children, who may not accurately gauge the amount of toothpaste needed or even overindulge because of artificial flavoring.
The FDA originally required the aforementioned poison warning because overconsumption of fluoride toothpaste in children can result in acute fluoride poisoning and even death. Another major risk factor of toothpaste is dental fluorosis, which is a side effect that attacks tooth enamel and can result in severe reactions.
Toothpaste, ironically intended to keep us hygienic and healthy, can ultimately be deadly.
8 Fireplace
Fireplaces, the same cozy features adorning the walls of homes across the world, not only provide heat and comfort but can also produce toxic gases. Carbon monoxide is the problem here. You are at particular risk if your fireplace is not well-ventilated or you are sleeping while the fireplace burns. Of course, carbon monoxide poisoning can result from a furnace that isn’t functioning properly as well.
This gas cannot be seen, smelled, or felt, so carbon monoxide poisoning plagues many homes each year and often results in fatalities. Exposure to carbon monoxide can result in headaches, dizziness, and loss of consciousness. Prolonged exposure can result in brain damage and death by slowly depriving the body of necessary oxygen.[3]
To maintain safety and continue using the fireplace that makes your house feel like home, it is highly recommended that you install a carbon monoxide detector[3] in every major area of your home with special focus on sleeping areas. For multilevel homes, at least one detector should be placed on each floor to ensure maximum safety.
7 Mothballs
Composed of either naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene (chemicals as harmful as their words are long), mothballs pose a serious threat to household safety. Used for years to prevent the presence of moths, they are a serious risk at home, primarily toward young children.[4]
The Department of Public Health explains that both chemicals become gases when exposed to oxygen. This also causes a distinct aroma. This gas is not only an irritant to eyes and lungs alike but is even suspected of potentially causing cancer.
Babies have a lesser ability to clear these by-products from their bloodstreams. As a result, of the approximately 4,000 children exposed to mothballs each year, 600 require immediate medical attention. Jaundice, the yellowing of skin, is a key symptom that can lead to organ failure and even death.
Since mothball toxins can harm through ingestion, inhalation, and even skin intake, it is suggested that other means of preventing moths should be used. Notably, mothballs should stop being used to prevent the presence of other animals in places like attics and gardens.
6 Dryer Lint
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that more than 15,000 fires start each year from clothes dryers. Debris collected, such as lint, can accumulate in the vent and reduce airflow. This prevents the dryer exhaust gases from expelling and initiates a fire.
Angie’s List founder, Angie Hicks, says, “Clothes dryers are an appliance . . . we often take for granted. [ . . . ] We need to maintain them and, most importantly, have their vents cleaned.”[5]
Have your clothes ever still been damp after one complete cycle in the dryer? Glen Mayfield, dryer technician, says this is the first sign that your dryer vent could be hazardous and lead to a fire.
Interestingly, newer homes tend to place the washing and drying machines toward the center of the house, which obviously means a much longer vent. This results in increased difficulty in lint removal and makes these homes most susceptible to fire.
5 Lead Paint
In 1978, the US government banned the use of all paints containing lead. Homes and buildings built earlier pose the risk that their occupants may suffer from lead poisoning.
Lead-based paints are still present in millions of homes across the US, and their risks aren’t well-known. The Environmental Protection Agency reports that the most critical risk occurs when the lead paint deteriorates.
It can also be a hazard when present on surfaces that children use or chew on, such as windows, doors, and stairs.[6] While lead is naturally occurring, extensive exposure can result in death. It is explicitly advised that any lead-based paint be removed as soon as possible.
4 Extension Cords
While very useful, extension cords are far more dangerous than most people realize (aside from the obvious tripping hazard). Used at home and in the workplace to transfer power wherever needed, extension cords are also extremely flammable.
Believe it or not, approximately 3,300 home fires occur each year because of extension cords, killing about 50 people and injuring around 270 more. Additionally, 4,000 injuries associated with extension cords are treated in the emergency room.
Even more interesting, half of these injuries are fractures, sprains, or lacerations.[7] The Electrical Safety Foundation suggests that extension cords be used only for temporary needs and should not overheat in any way.
3 Furniture Polish
Furniture polish can make your furniture look brand-new and give your home a subtle new light. But it can also cause a trip to the emergency room. Although it’s a common item found under the kitchen sink in homes across the world, furniture polish possesses an extremely toxic composition.
MedlinePlus, a service of the US National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, reports that the hydrocarbons within liquid furniture polish are likely to poison the body when swallowed or even inhaled.[8]
The compound presents numerous risks to several body parts. If it reaches your eyes, it can cause vision loss. If inhaled, it can cause serious lung damage. If you have further skin contact, it can cause severe irritation. Furniture polish is simply not worth having around the house to give your wood a little extra shine, particularly if children are present.
2 Nonstick Cookware
Nonstick pans are a vital component of any cook’s kitchen—from restaurant chefs to home culinary experimenters. In 2006, 90 percent of all aluminum cookware sold was “nonstick,” often coated with a substance called Teflon.
This percentage has continued to rise, but so has skepticism from experts who report dangerous chemical emissions. Robert L. Wolke, PhD, of the University of Pittsburgh indicates that nonstick pans are safe as long as they are not overheated.[9]
When the cookware reaches an unsuitable temperature, the coating begins to deteriorate at an invisible molecular level and toxic gases can be released. This is particularly alarming considering how common it is to forget something on the stove . . . we have all done it!
As more research continues to affirm this concern, it is increasingly important that the kitchen is always monitored. Otherwise, nonstick cookware can pose fatal risks to its users.
1 Pressure Washers
Valued for their efficiency and effectiveness, power washers are overtaking traditional garden hoses in an epic way. These machines use either a gas engine or electric motor and consequently boost the intensity of the average hose by 30 to 80 times.
According to Consumer Reports, a basic garden hose delivers water pressure at approximately 50 pounds per square inch, whereas pressures washers can produce 80 times that power at 1,500 to 4,000 pounds per square inch.
When the powerful stream is aimed incorrectly, the water has enough force to damage skin in an instant. Physician Howard Mell, MD, says, “The extreme danger with pressure washers is that even with what seems a very minimal skin break, the fluid can get into the tissue and spread out and cause bacterial infection.”
This can be deadly. Also, prolonged concentration of the pressurized stream to the human body can cause organ damage and potentially death. It is estimated that over 6,000 people went to the emergency room in 2014 with pressure washer–related injuries.[10]
It is suggested that your outdoor cleaning be performed with wider-angle instruments. They take more time but have the same effect with far less risk. Next time you fire up the power washer to clean up the yard, consider that it could result in your doctor cleaning you in the operating room.
Art Andersen is a freelance writer currently saving his pennies to purchase a new computer to take his research and writing to the next level.