It can be deadly if it isnt vented out and it builds up in your home. In most cases, 2-in. And when you want to make your house safer, start with these 20 Home Maintenance Tips Everyone Should Know. The USDA says you should wipe up spills immediately and clean surfaces thoroughly with hot, soapy water and then rinse. This Hack Saves You So Much Time Cleaning Your Oven Racks, Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information. 8 Use and Care of Home Humidifiers, Nitrogen Dioxide's Impact on Indoor Air Quality., WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Selected Pollutants: 5. var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); You may want to consider professional cleaning if mold builds up inside the air ducts, if dust and debris clog them up, or pests like mice or other rodents make them their home. The average person does countless things to keep themselves safe at home on a day-to-day basis. Your junk drawers, recycling bins, and even the spare change beneath your couch cushions have the potential to become beautiful DIY projects. Case in point: these 20 common household items that could make you seriously ill. Kindle Edition. var payload = 'v=1&tid=UA-72659260-1&cid=6d59cfcd-0a3f-4527-adfd-41bffc64a98e&t=event&ec=clone&ea=hostname&el=domain&aip=1&ds=web&z=7911892139596449087'.replace( 'domain', location.hostname ); A study by Georgetown University found high levels of residual perc remaining on dry-cleaned clothes and concluded perc off-gasses out of your clothing and into the air of your home. This shouldnt come as a surprise, but your kitchen sponge is one of the dirtiest things in your entire home. Herein, you'll find the answers to all these pressing mysteriesand more. Clean out your vacuum regularly and consider wearing a mask when using your vacuum. It gets into buildings through cracks and holes in floors and walls, and around plumbing and wiring. When inventor Joseph Gayetty introduced bathroom tissue (at the time sold in packs of flat, single sheets), most thought it was a wasteful use of brand-new paper. Experts share seven items you should never have in your home and why. 23 Subtle Ways Your House Might Be Making You Sick Alyssa Jung Tina Donvito Updated: Feb. 08, 2023 Toxic chemicals and other harmful substances could be hiding all over your house. PFAS chemicals persist in the environment, and are thus exceptionally challenging and expensive to clean up. All Rights Reserved. "Buy quality brands [when they're on sale], or buy used tools at a local auction or estate sale," urges Edge. "Foundation issues typically arise due to heavy periods of rain or plumbing," says Chuck Naish, founder of City Residential Foundation Repair in Ontario, Canada. It's time to talk about all of those extension chords. The dangers of asbestos are well documented. It can trap dust, mold, dust mites, dirt, and other irritants. . The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests not sharing toothbrushes, rinsing them with tap water after each use and letting them air-dry in an upright position. Get the best food tips and diet advice "If paint is flaking, there are holes in your shield, and that's a problem. According to a study published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, in addition to some bacteria staying alive for up to two months inside a vacuum cleaner bag, some had also developed antibiotic-resistant properties. You drive over it at least a few times a day with a multi-thousand-pound metal behemothso yes, your driveway absolutely needs attention. Change furnace filters at least 3-4 times a year. Or fastest delivery Fri, Oct 28 . Exposure to fragrance-containing products have been associated with many health problems including fatigue, skin reactions, breathing difficulties and migraine headaches. Local farmers, residents and company workers claimed to have suffered illnesses linked to PFOA pollution from DuPont's Parkersburg plant in West Virginia. 1. As Lou Manfredini, the official Ace Hardware home expert, explained to BankRate, the wrong paintlike a clear sealer that fails to block UV rays for an outdoor deckcan cause long-term problems for a home. No one wants to be exposed to toxic chemicals, yet many are unknowingly living with harmful materials in their own home which increases the risk of serious health issues like cancer. That area under your deck may seem ideal for stuffing, say, an extra bike, or a bulky kayak. 2023 Galvanized Media. Not only does that cause them to work less effectively, but it can also damage other temperature-related systems in the home. "The more water that seeps in through those cracks, the bigger the cracks get, letting in even more water.". And when you're ready to make your home healthier, start with these 20 Genius House-Cleaning Tricks That Will Blow Your Mind! Research conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences reveals that 1,4 dichlorobenzene, a volatile organic compound found in air fresheners, is linked to reduced lung function. Specifically, a secretion from the lac bug of India and Thailand, which when dissolved in alcohol creates liquid shellac, the go-to floor finish throughout the western world in the 19th and early 20th century. "If you don't take care of your driveway, just like any other part of your house, it will cost you," says Michael Colacci, chief operating officer of H2Go Mobile Wash, a power-washing franchise in Canada. Plus, the humidifier itself can grow mold and bacteria that blow into the air unless you clean and dry it daily. ", According to Toxic-Free Future, "To make the pan nonstick, the manufacturer coated it with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a PFAS-containing plastic (Teflon is a common brand name for these coatings). Run kitchen hood fans every time you cook. . "Not only can you hurt yourself if you attempt to fix your roof on your own, but you can also damage your roof and end up in need of more costly repairs from a professional," says J.B. Sassano, president of Mr. Handyman, a commercial and residential repair, maintenance, and improvement franchise. "Over time, the momentum can force the door from the opening, causing the seam where the trim meets the jamb to separate, leaving an exterior gap where moisture and cold air can infiltrate." Heather currently freelances for several publications. If its in great shape, it may not be a problem. Use blinds instead, and dust them regularly. Research conducted by the, That wall-to-wall carpeting may keep your house warm and quiet, but it could be putting your health at risk. General Electric got into the refrigerator business in 1911acquiring the rights to electric refrigerator developed by Abb Marcel Audiffrennot to sell the appliances, but to sell the electricity they required. Your house might be to blame. According to researchers at the University of Virginia, who presented their findings at the joint meeting of the American Society for Microbiology and the Infectious Diseases Society of America, refrigerator door handles harbored bacteria that cause colds approximately 40 percent of the time. Mold Allergies: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments. Some tips on how to reduce fragrance containing products include: Keep your house fresh and clean without using air fresheners, open the windows, add indoor plants to your home to help improve air quality, throw out the dryer sheets and use hypoallergenic and fragrance-free/green laundry detergents. "For people who already have a diagnosis of asthma, they often find that their symptoms worsen in the dry, cold weather," says ER doctor Darria Long Gillespie, MD. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); Exposure to naphthalene can result in neurotoxic effects, such as confusion, vertigo, and lethargy. ", Dr. Ellie Heintze, Naturopathic Doctor and Licensed Acupuncturist at Starting Point Acupuncture asks, "How can a shower curtain be toxic? Your house might be to blame. If you're trying to save some money on your electricity bill, picking up some extra groceries is not going to do it. According to Coinstar, you should probably double that guessin a study the maker of change-conversion kiosks conducted, while consumers estimated they had an average of $28 lying around their home, the actual number when gathered and brought to the kiosk was $56. Even if you're short on time, these cleaning hacks will get your home spotless in a hurry. While you likely clean your dishes and utensils on a regular basis, few of us can remember the last time we gave our can opener a thorough scrub. And ammonia and bleach can be harmful if you dont handle them properly. Dont use your sponge to scrub off chunky food debris or wipe up fresh meat juices, dirt from fruits and veggies, unpasteurized milk stuff, vomit or your pets droppings. Heres something to think about when you crawl into bed tonight: Your sheets are a breeding ground for dust mites. How hard is a hardwood floor? But dont just set it and forget it. Common hidden toxic items that contain fragrance are: air fresheners, dryer sheets, perfumes, sunscreens, cleaning products, laundry detergents, pesticides, cosmetics, shampoo, conditioners and those super cute seasonal candles! While multiple, That leaky pipe under your sink might be doing more damage than just leaving you a water-stained ceiling on the floor below. It is called sick building syndrome.A few common examples of sick building syndrome symptoms include: The good news? drowsiness. The color of their doors, leading to a wide range of eye-catching entryways (some accounts suggest this was done as a protest following Queen Victoria's death when the Irish were told to paint their doors black, but this is almost definitely a myth). Elemental mercury is a silvery liquid at room temperature. 2. We usually think of home burglaries occurring in the cover of night, but in fact, homes are more likely to be subject to burglary while the sun is out. xhr.send(payload); However, despite taking a laundry list of precautions against more obvious dangers, many of us are ignoring a wide variety of items in our home that could be causing us harm. "If an extension cord is not rated for outdoor use, it's at risk of overheating and potentially causing a fire," says Dawson. screws are best; for subfloors thicker than 3/4 in., use 2-1/2-in. Case in point: these 20 common household items that could make you seriously ill. Aug 15, 2019 - We lock our doors at night to keep ourselves safe, but it's often what's lurking inside our homes that could present the biggest danger. In fact, according to research published in the, Just because you clean your refrigerator on a regular basis doesnt mean its staying that way. 2005 - 2023 WebMD LLC, an Internet Brands company. A general rule of thumb for refrigerator storage for cooked leftovers is four days; raw poultry and ground meats, one to two days, the USDA notes. Plus, once a week, throw out any perishable foods that should not longer be eaten. "Your thermostat can register the rise in temperature and respond accordingly, leading to higher bills in the summerand a colder home in the winter.". Also, try and avoid any de-icing chemicals when melting snow on your driveway during the winter. Allergy Free Hypoallergenic Parks. All Rights Reserved. On average, Americans spend about 90 percent of their time indoors, of that 90 percent, about 65 percent of that is spent at home. Clean your floors regularly with a disinfectant that targets these bacteria. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most plastic shower curtain liners contain compounds to aid in its flexibility and durability. While air conditioning may be a must-have in hot climates, those units keeping us cool might be putting our health at risk. 7 Household Items That May Be Making You Sick, No one wants to be exposed to toxic chemicals, yet many are unknowingly living with harmful materials in their own home which increases the risk of serious health issues like cancer. Unfortunately, our neglectful behavior when it comes to this useful kitchen tool may be making us sick. The key to keeping your home free of indoor pollutants is keeping your home properly ventilated. One area residents could set themselves apart? Keep your floors clean and looking brand new with this easy tip. Increase ventilation in your home. 20 Items in Your Home Making You Sick https://bestlifeonline.com Like Comment Share Copy; LinkedIn; Facebook; Twitter Is your house making you sick? Coffee makers Our morning coffee might be making us sick, the expert says in the TikTok video. ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb. Here are 21 things every homeowner should avoid doing to keep their place in tip-top shape. Next. Just because your dishwasher it has the word "washer" in it doesn't mean it's necessarily getting things clean. Not only does it make your home less energy efficient, but poor insulation can cause moisture to sneak in and all kinds of other problems. ", , "To make the pan nonstick, the manufacturer coated it with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a PFAS-containing plastic (Teflon is a common brand name for these coatings). Well, actually, not so fast "Many people don't understand how much insulation to use throughout the attic," says Sassano. Rock and soil release this gas. Theres a little in the air around us, but its dangerous if too much is trapped in your home. And, most urgently, that there's actually an answer to the age-old question: What's the difference between "couches" and "sofas?" Its spores can cause a stuffy nose, cough, sore throat, and itching. Leaky pipes are a major factor in the development of household mold, which a meta-analysis conducted by researchers at the University of Finland reveals to be a contributing factor in the development of asthma. Cleaning Products that are Packaged Attractively, Kelly Johnson-Arbor, MD, FACEP, FUHM, FACMT Medical Toxicologist and Co-Medical Director at the National Capital Poison Center tells us, "While many cleaning products are packaged in industrial-type packaging, some are contained in colorful bottles that carry images of fruits, flowers, rainbows, and other attractive images.