Your home is something that shelters you from the hazards of the outer world, so you’d be surprised to learn there are many things inside that can harm you. While some can be dangerous straight away, others take some time to build up.
To make it safer for you and your family, below are 6 dangerous chemicals that may be lurking in your home.
1. Bleach
You may think it’s necessary to use bleach to clean and disinfect the surfaces in your home, but that’s not true!
Something as simple as water and vinegar or warm soapy water is enough to get rid of most bacteria and dirt.
Not only is bleach harmful to inhale, but it’s also dangerous if you accidentally mix it with ammonia.
2. Bisphenol A (BPA)
A few years ago, there was a huge fiasco about BPA being in plastics, especially in water bottles. BPA has several adverse health effects, such as infertility and heart disease.
You may have switched out your reusable water bottles, but what about your plastic wrap and reusable containers? Take a good look in your cabinets and replace all plastic items with glass or metal if possible.
3. Triclosan
This is an ingredient that you may find in your dishwashing or hand soap. They’re usually labeled as “anti-bacterial.”
It’s speculated that triclosan may be a carcinogen and can affect hormone function. In addition, since it has strong anti-bacterial properties, it may backfire and cause the growth of super bacteria.
4. Houseplants
In an effort to brighten up your house, you may have some houseplants here and there. But the fact is, many of these houseplants are toxic to not only your pets but also your children.
The best course of action is to check thoroughly and make sure none of your plants are toxic. Otherwise, if you don’t want to throw out a perfectly good plant, put it in a place where you’re 100% sure your pets and kids can’t reach it.
5. Radon
Radon is a type of gas that naturally rises from the ground, and there’s no way to detect it by yourself. This is because it’s tasteless, odorless, and colorless. It’s the second leading cause of lung cancer in the country, so it’s quite serious.
Make sure you get radon testing done at least once every two years, as this is a requirement from the EPA Guidelines.
6. Essential Oils
You may use these since they smell good and have some benefits to your health. But if you have pets, you’ll need to either keep these out of reach or stop using them. This includes using diffusing oils.
Many of the essential oil ingredients are poisonous for animals, especially tea tree, citrus oil, pine, and eucalyptus.
Get Rid of These Dangerous Chemicals in Your House
Now that you have a good idea of what some dangerous chemicals are in your home, you can take the proper steps to get rid of them. Make sure your house is a safe place for you, your family, and your pets to be in.
For more informative articles, please check out the lifestyle section of our blog!
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