Top 10 Surprisingly Dangerous Things You Have in Your Home

Top 10 Dangerous Everyday Things in Your Home

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The kitchen. The living room. The bedroom… Nothing and nowhere is safe! Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10 dangerous everyday things in your home! For this list, we’ve ranked common household appliances, fittings and accessories that can pose an often overlooked, but very real potential safety risk.

#10: Dryer Sheets

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Everyone wants their clothes to smell fresh, but did you know that toxins found in laundry essentials such as dryer sheets and fabric softener could very well be damaging your nervous systems? While dryer sheets are designed for convenience – after all, everybody loves soft socks! – they expose our skin to unhealthy chemicals, additives and even carcinogens, including chloroform (which can damage the brain), Benzyl alcohol (which can trigger respiratory problems) and Benzyl Acetate (which has been linked to the development of pancreatic cancer). Apparently… soft, good-smelling clothing comes at a cost.

#9: The Dryer

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It turns out that the dryer itself poses its own risks - and these are much more immediate. According to the US Fire Administration, dryers cause a reported 2,900 house fires every year in America, resulting in an estimated 5 deaths, 100s of injuries and up to $35 million inproperty damage and loss. Dryer fires are most commonly caused by a buildup of combustible lint, while machine malfunctions are also to blame in some cases. If you own a dryer, there are simple steps you can take to lessen the risk – be sure to regularly clean out the lint trap, and try not to use it when you’re asleep or away from home.

#8: Electric Blankets

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Electric blankets are a safety risk from two fronts. Firstly, they’re responsible for thousands of fires every year and, as people are often sleeping on or in them, the likelihood of severe injury is high. If your blanket is showing any danger signs such as fraying fabric, scorch marks, damp patches or loose connections, then have it checked or replaced. Secondly, electric blankets create electromagnetic fields that can theoretically increase the risks of cancer, especially if in close proximity to the human body for extended periods of time. Seeing as, in the winter months, we’re likely to cozy up for hours, those risks shouldn’t be taken lightly.

#7: Non-Stick Pans

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Long thought of as a must-have for anyone trying to cut down on oil and fats, non-stick pans seem healthier. However, concerns have caused the U.S. EPA to restrict the use of long-chain perfluorinated chemicals, or PFCs - which are vital in the manufacture of non-stick substances, like teflon, but have also been shown to cause tumors and fertility issues in animals. Not all non-stick products are a problem, though. Most research says that pans are only dangerous when they’re old, cracked or peeling, and that harmful toxins only contaminate food when a pan is overheated. But still, probably best to play it safe and do your research before buying one.

#6: Plastic Food Containers

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Controversy surrounds the use of bisphenol A, or BPA, to make some plastic products – including food containers. A common chemical compound, BPA has been subject to tentative health warnings for years, and while it’s widely believed that humans don’t consume hazardous amounts of it, the US Food and Drug Administration did deem it necessary to ban the use of BPA in the manufacture of baby bottles in 2012. Plastic containers are also prone to heat-based chemical leaching, where high temperatures cause the plastic to latch potentially harmful chemicals onto the food it contains. So, think twice before you microwave those leftovers!

#5: Kitchen Knives

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Razor-sharp knives can obviously cause problems if used incorrectly, and it takes just one wrong move when preparing food to experience a painful accident that may just require a trip to the ER. Minimise the risk by taking your time (even if you do have dazzling chef skills!), and by making sure knives are always stored correctly – in a purpose-built knife rack or clip-on cases, and point-downwards when on a drying rack. And remember, a dull knife is a dangerous one – regularly sharpen blades to avoid the need for excess force when cutting, which increases the likelihood of slipping.

Wall-to-wall carpets feel great underfoot, but they’re also packed with potential dangers. New carpets often contain hazardous chemicals and volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, while artificial dyes, glues and flame retardant substances can also have detrimental effects on our health. Older carpets pose an even greater problem, as they accumulate dust, dirt and germs throughout the years. Given that a carpet can hold up to 8-times its weight in day-to-day debris, simply walking across one can release a lot of unseen, but very unclean molecules.

Considering the colossal number of germs and chemicals we’ve uncovered so far today, you might already be headed to your supply closet ready to detox your entire house. But not so fast… According to a 2012 study by the Environmental Working Group, only 7% of cleaning products ‘adequately disclosed their contents’ and lots of them harbour extremely hazardous ingredients – even those which don’t carry warning labels. While most adults know that cleaning products shouldn’t be consumed, children aren’t as aware, and the brightly coloured bottles (usually stored within easy reach) are dangerously tempting.

In goes bread; out comes toast. The humble toaster has just one, wonderful function, but be careful because it can turn deadly very quickly. As toasters are often kept on the kitchen counter, the risk of this electrical appliance meeting water is high. Then there’s the old issue of people shoving knives or forks in there. Toaster fires are the most common cause for concern however, with an estimated 700 people killed worldwide every year. And even mildly burnt toast is a health risk according to the UK Food Standards Agency. In 2017, it suggested that eating overly blackened bread could increase the likelihood of cancer. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Air Fresheners Microwaves Bathtubs

At the center of all of our kitchens is a machine designed to bake, boil or cook anything that’s put inside or on top of it. From mild burns to whole house fires, stoves can also be seriously scary. With electric ovens, it’s often dangerously difficult to tell exactly how hot they are until you’ve scalded yourself. And for gas appliances, it takes just one leak to spark a full-on explosion, while carbon monoxide poisoning remains a constant threat. One wrong move or unfortunate malfunction and you could see everything you own go up in flames. So, try not to leave the room whenever you’re cooking, and always remember to switch off when finished.