20+ Ways Your Home Can Harm You and What You Can Do to Stay Safe

Problems can happen when least expected, even in the safety of your own home. Things like pipes or window blinds can be dangerous if left unchecked. There are plenty of things around the house that can cause you harm in ways you could have never imagined.

We at Bright Side want our readers to always be safe and smart about danger, so we’re sharing this list of things around your home that cause injury or illness, and how you can protect yourself.

Bathroom

• It’s very common for black mold to accumulate in your shower, thanks to all the water and humidity. Always try to dry out any moisture in order to prevent as much mold growth as you can.

• Mold can also occur from any body oils and soap scum that are left over from a wash. Keep drains open and clean. Pouring vinegar, ammonia, or peroxide down a drain or treating your shower with a mold solution spray can help fight mold after the fact.

• Mineral buildup and soap scum can also collect in your tub, so try to regularly clean with something that is mildew and limescale resistant.

• Mildew can also develop in your shower, so try to take shorter showers — especially ones in which you only turn the water on to lather and rinse, as this can help delay the buildup.

• Since your bathroom is often wet, it can become very easy for accidents to occur there. Make sure rugs are secure to prevent slipping, by non-slip stickers.

• It’s also easy for people to slip and fall while in the tub or shower. Some families might benefit from using a safety rail or assist bar to help elderly and younger relatives.

Kitchen

• Even an adult can accidentally burn themselves when cooking. To prevent this, it’s always better to use the back burners whenever possible.

• People can accidentally turn burners to the “on” position, so add stove knob covers to prevent this.

• Make sure that electrical cords aren’t draped around the counter or stovetop.

• Dry vegetation (like a houseplant) in your kitchen can easily become fire hazards, so relocate them to another room.

• Your sink can slowly become filled with disgusting residue from washing the dishes. After baking soda has finished keeping odors fresh in your kitchen, put it to one final use: pour it down the drain and turn on the tap for a clean sink.

• To fight sticky messes around the kitchen, some salt can help break up the residue.

• When eating, try to avoid eating directly out of the cans, as the outsides are exposed to open air and germs. Whenever possible, cook the contents and eat them served on clean plates or in bowls.

• Toxic metals can get into the water you might drink or use for cooking. A stainless steel faucet is not only resistant to the corrosion that causes this... it’s also easy to clean.

Bedroom

• Make sure your bed isn’t just comfortable, but safe too. For example, invest in a flame-proof mattress.

• You are at your most vulnerable when you are asleep, so make sure that a source of light and some form of contact (like a phone) are within reach, in case of an emergency.

• Trash can accumulate in your room and even make walking around unsafe. Get into the habit of throwing things out, to prevent old trash from collecting in your room. If you don’t already, invest in a mini trash bin for your bedroom.

• When electrical cords, like for your phone charger or personal computer, get tangled up, this can lead to fire, electrical shortages, and power loss. Regularly check these cords and untangle them when needed.

Windows

• Regularly keep blinds or drapes shut, as this can prevent a potential intruder from getting a view of your home’s interior.

• Cords, blinds, or even curtains can become choking hazards, especially for children and infants. Make sure your windows are either trimmed well enough to prevent people from accidentally touching them or shop around for window designs without these attachments. If there are small children in your family, it also might be a good idea to install blind cord wraps.

Yards

• People can break into your home from the outside, so that’s where you should start with security measures. Trim your hedges and install gravel under your ground-level windows. The noise from walking on the gravel can alert you to anyone trying to break into the house.

• A thief or burglar can use whatever they find in your yard against you if they can get a hold of it. Things like gardening tools are especially dangerous. Keep them well-secured in a shed or in your home when not being used, to avoid having them being used dangerously or against you.

Garage

• The garage is often where you keep your most poisonous materials, like paint for the house or oil for the car. Make sure these materials are properly secured or even locked up to avoid spillage or keep children from having access to them.

• Unhealthy residue can accumulate on your walls if you don’t regularly clean them. To ensure your walls are safe, invest in a sponge mop to help you clean without having to directly touch them.

• Mold can also occur in your garage and on its contents. Add diluted bleach or vinegar to water when cleaning your garage to help fight this.

• Spillage can leak outside, where it becomes especially dangerous (i.e. if it seeps into a storm drainage system). Invest in shelves to help keep garage items off of the ground (and also well-organized).

Interior

• If your home was built decades ago, it might not be up to today’s standards. Even something like the pipes can be made of harmful material that can impact your health. Galvanized sewer and water pipe systems were coated with zinc, which can fill your water with impurities like lead or iron. This can cause multiple health problems, like fatigue, headaches, nausea, or even insomnia.

• Any systems that use gas, oil, or coal need to be regularly checked by professionals in order to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, which can cause headaches, vomiting, and even death. It may also be wise to install a carbon monoxide detector in your home.

What are some other things around the house that can cause surprising accidents? Please share with us in the comments!