Everyday Items That Pose Unexpected Dangers

Home is the one place in the world that we should feel safe. We want to feel like our loved ones, our children, and our animals can enter our private space without fear. Fair enough! But what about regular household items that look innocent, that we ourselves buy at the store, that no one tells us has potential for danger? 

Air fresheners are pretty common around the home but most of us are blissfully unaware about the potential dangers that come with deodorizing our home. Apparently, overuse can lead to the chemicals in the fresherher to enter into your bloodstream.

There is no doubt about it, non-stick definitely makes life a bit easier when it comes to cooking and cleaning. For one, you can use less oil in your food and there is the added benefit of a more neat clean-up devoid of excess build-up.

Mothballs have been on the decline recently, however some people still use them to keep their closets smelling fresh and the moths away. All of this sounds great, but for those of you with children please heed this warning. 

Studies have shown that giving cats and dogs topical flea and tick medicine can be toxic for more than just your beloved pets. Sadly, there have been links to cancer in dogs, and in cats Pyrethrin and Pyrethroid Toxicity. 

Buying a snowblower seems like one of those moments in domestic life that one might finally reach, a medal of adulthood. Who wouldn’t want to calendar their walkways with ease? Well, the Amputee Coalition argues a very compelling case. 

Candles are a great way to liven up a home. They smell good, they bring a nice warmth to any room, and they add a little extra warmth. But, like most good things, they come with a price tag if you’re not careful. 

If you haven’t heard this advice before, you’re hearing it now. When polishing or staining your furniture, be sure to do so outside. These materials let off toxic fumes that are incredibly bad for your health. 

If you have young children who enjoy their stuffed animals, take this as a sign to start washing them on a regular basis. Stuffed animals tend to get dirty while being carried around by young kiddos and eventually become little bacteria farms. 

If you live in a building that was built before 1978, there is a higher chance that you are living in a place that was painted with lead paint. If you begin to see the paint starting to peel and flake off, you may have a problem in your hands. 

Most people have an extension cord in their home, what can we say? They are handy as heck! But you know what I’m going to say: we’ve got warnings from professionals that deserve to be heeded. 

There is something indescribably cozy about a wood stove, so the urge to install one is completely understandable. But, as we’ve learned with candles, the ambiance can come with a price. 

Who doesn’t love a good houseplant? Or to line your backyard, patio, or front door with some oxygen giving plants? Unless you’re like the old me (meaning a serial plant killer–I’ve reformed, I swear!) and you have a love of greens, you’d be wise to listen up.

We tend to keep pillows as long as they’re hanging on. After all, why not? It seems natural to hold onto an object that seems to still function! Sure, it looks stained and gross with no pillowcase, but that’s an easy fix…right? Wrong.

Yet another fire hazard from one of our favorite home comforts. The thrill of a well-decorated christmas tree, finely wrapped presents beneath–it’s hard to resist!

Hot blankets offer the warm and cozy feeling we all crave on a cold winter day. But of course, this item would not be on the list if it didn’t care about some sort of dire risk that we all need to avoid. 

Trampolines are in the collective consciousness of many childhoods. They’re fun and active ways for kiddos to get some cardio. However, they are so dangerous, that if an insurance company catches wind of one in your backyard, they will deny you coverage!

We are seeing a theme here, now aren’t we! This one may come as no surprise to many of us space heater enthusiasts–space heaters can heat the space maybe a little too much.

This one definitely comes as a surprise (at least to me!) but yes, flour is in fact flammable! Considered by experts to be “combustible dust” you are advised to be careful in your kitchen. 

A loofah never completely dries out. They are always a little damp and with consistent dampness comes mold and gross bacteria. Then you grab this moldy sponge and rub it against your body!

We like to keep old batteries around on the off chance that one day all of our savings will be met with an “a-ha” moment. The remote doesn’t work! But wait! 

Having lived through one of the wildest times of the century, I’m sure we are all more acclimated to hand sanitizer than we’d like to be. But such is the times. With that being said, the global pandemic gave way to a lot of hand sanitizer start-ups who jumped at a new opportunity.

Prescriptions get a bad rap and not without reason. They are expensive! The tendency to keep them around is a frugal choice, as well as being ready for whatever ailment might crop up. But there are consequences.

Toothpaste is essential to keeping healthy gums and teeth, but a child getting ahold of a tube of toothpaste is a whole other problem and should be avoided at all costs.

Over time, banisters become loose and we don’t really take into account what this have dangerous outcomes for adults and children alike. 

If there is one take away from this article, it is that if there is potential for danger, children will discover it. Trashbags run the risk of suffocating a child, and this is not a small occurrence.

Poisoning is the second cause of accidental household deaths. That is a scary statistic! Especially because it is such a common household item for those who like to swim, have a pool, or take our kids to one.

Pressure washers are great because they make it so easy to get the grime off of cars, sidewalks, house sidings, you name it! But they can also be super dangerous. 

This may seem obvious but the statistics are quite unsettling. The number one cause of kid-related house fires are caused by children left alone with lighters and matches.

Make sure you know all the safety precautions before you fire up that grill! Having a fire hydrant nearby is absolutely crucial and putting the coals out once done is another precaution that cannot be stressed enough.