The home is a sanctuary of good health and peaceful relaxation. You may thus be surprised to learn that there are items that you keep in your home that pose a real risk to you and your family. It’s a good idea to do your best to keep your home safe for your entire family at all times. That said, learn more about four common household items that are making you sick and that you need to get rid of as soon as you can.
1. Mothballs
Commonly used by people to deter moths, which can chew through your clothes and leave them unwearable, mothballs have a strong smell. They’re common enough, with more than 60% of basements in existing homes having a problem with moisture. While this vapor is designed to keep moths away, it’s not good to breathe it in. This is because some mothballs use a repellant that’s been found to cause certain cancers in animals. Other mothballs have an additive that can cause nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting, and also kill red blood cells after long periods of exposure. If you use mothballs, store them in a sealed container. Make sure to also wash any clothing that was stored with mothballs before you wear it because it will have absorbed the vapors from the mothballs. Alternatively, you could use cedar chips to keep your clothes safe from moths.
2. Pesticides
Pesticides are another item in your house that you need to handle with care. This is because they’re essentially toxins, with a majority of them having the potential to cause people harm if they’re used incorrectly. They’re generally tested for safety by the EPA, but they still cause problems and have led to a number of visits to the emergency room, especially by parents whose children have been exposed to the pesticide for a long time and at toxic levels. That said, it’s a good idea to keep them well out of the reach of curious children. You also need to ventilate any area in which you spray a pesticide. Always follow the instructions for use that come with each product. This will help you to keep your family safe.
3. Household Cleaners
These are an item that is found in a lot more homes, given the important role that it plays. Household cleaners can cause breathing problems, eye irritation, and headaches in some circumstances. Prolonged exposure to them can also cause cancer over time. That said, it’s good to take precautions when using these substances. The precautions include wearing gloves and working in a well-ventilated area whenever you have to use them. Their packaging can also lead to issues with the environment, so it’s a good idea to use organic cleaners that have been sustainably sourced, packed, and created. The average person, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, generates more than four pounds of trash on a daily basis. This is an amount that we should all do our best to decrease if we are to help reverse the damage to the environment, and possibly also improve our health at the same time.
4. Flame Retardants
While flame retardants are an important part of keeping the home safe, they may also be a dangerous one. They’re commonly found in upholstery, mattresses, and the casings of televisions and computers, as well as in circuit boards. They’re found in many consumer plastics and lead to a number of problems. These include issues with thyroid function, lowered sperm count, and problems with memory and learning. With the average lifespan of a well water pump, for example, being 10 to 15 years, according to YourH2Home, it’s important to shop for the latest equipment to use in your home that’s likely to avoid getting dangerous chemicals in your home.
Take note of these dangerous items that you may find around your home and get rid of them to improve your health. It may not sound like much, but over time, it makes a difference that you can easily see.