Our house is a safe shelter for us, a place that reflects our likes, hobbies, and personalities. We share our houses with people, animals, and objects that provide us comfort and delight.
However, our residences may occasionally be hazardous to our health.
In the absence of sufficient ventilation, gas heaters and stoves, for example, can emit enough carbon monoxide to poison humans. However, you may be unaware that other favored products—those that make our life simpler or help us live more healthfully—can also harm our health.
Other domestic risks, on the other hand, are not as visible. This post will look at several health risks lurking in your house, which should be addressed as soon as feasible.
Carpet
Though they bring warmth to our homes, did you realize carpets may also present safety risks? Do you remember how fresh carpet smells? Standard carpeting is constructed of synthetic fibers and contains dyes, flame retardants, and stain protectors, which might result in a chemical cocktail.
Make sure your home has ample fresh air circulation before you purchase a new carpet. Then, bear in mind that unclean carpets can harbor a variety of undesirables, including moth infestations, dust mites, and mold.
Dead batteries
Small children and dogs run the risk of choking on the flat, spherical batteries that are frequently used in anything from watches and hearing aids to the TV remote controls and video games. This is because the batteries are broken down, and harmful compounds are released after they are eaten and exposed to stomach acid. Serious burns and other complications to the digestive tract may result from this.
The best strategy is to keep them totally out of anyone’s reach that could be at risk of eating them.
Poor quality mattress
Your mattress is crucial in assisting you to fall and remain asleep. However, a mattress that is too hard, unhygienic, too soft, not supportive enough, or just uncomfortable may frequently keep you from obtaining the quality sleep you require, and poor sleep exposes your body to a variety of health problems. In addition, the short-term consequences of a night of poor sleep, ranging from tiredness to headaches, are generally obvious as soon as you wake up.
Long-term impacts, on the other hand, may take a little longer to manifest. Low-quality sleep can have a wide range of severe health implications, from a less efficient immune system to weight and respiratory disorders. Thus, consider often cleaning your linens and mattress. You might also get a mattress in a box Australia to replace your existing mattress if it’s older than eight to ten years.
Cosmetic products
Nowadays, both men and women utilize a wide variety of personal care items, including cosmetics like makeup, lotions, cleansers, and conditioners.
While many of these substances are entirely risk-free, others, such as parabens and phthalates, have been connected to adverse effects on reproduction, breast cancer, immune system deficits, and other conditions. In addition, even heavy metals like lead and mercury, as well as PFAs found in plastics, are present in some items.
Air fresheners
Although air fresheners can assist in removing offensive odors from your house, they also create volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which contain gasses that might cause allergies.
Phthalates, a chemical that can lead to hormonal imbalance, birth abnormalities, and other health issues, are also present in certain air fresheners. So it’s always a good idea to open your home’s windows to enhance ventilation to get rid of bad scents.
Dust
Even if we make every effort to keep our houses clean and dust-free, it’s probable. It gathers in awkward locations, including behind couches and mattresses, beneath refrigerators, and on the tallest shelves. Some people might even ignore it because cleaning is a real hassle, and a little dust doesn’t harm much.
However, as the dust and airborne chemicals combine repeatedly, surfaces like floors become coated. Young children and babies are especially vulnerable because they like to explore or play on the ground.
Hand Sanitizers
Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, hand sanitizers are now a frequently used item. Sanitizers are part of the Covid-19 preventive strategies; however, because of the product’s high demand, some businesses are switching from ethanol or isopropanol to methanol, a new form of alcohol.
Methanol use carries some risks; thus, it’s best to wash your hands frequently. Before buying the sanitizers, you may also test the product for the presence of methanol.
Final words
Were you previously aware of the aforementioned home risks? This article may have inspired you to make any changes to your house that will reduce health hazards and keep it as safe and healthy as it should always be.