Have you ever wondered just how many chemicals you have inside your home? Not many people ever consider that only a few chemical compounds present in the common household can have a potentially lethal threat. 

Consider the products you have under your kitchen sink, in the laundry room, or out in the garage. Unless you have a Ph.D. in chemistry, you’re probably unaware of how heat can affect certain chemicals, or when mixed, how certain chemicals behave.

In addition to this, what about the products you have in your medicine cabinet? Have you considered the possible dangers present just by keeping old medication on hand?

Even if you’ve never thought about any of these potential hazards before, here we’ll outline some potential threats, and what you can do to create a safer home environment. 

Medicine Cabinets

We all know the routine. One morning you wake up feeling a little under the weather. You call out from work and take a trip to the local drug store and pick up some cold medicine. You take it for a day, then the next day you feel worse. So what do you do? You call the doctor and he or she writes you a prescription. 

So, now you’re feeling better, but what about that medicine you bought? It’s sitting in your medicine cabinet right next to the remainder of your prescription.

Now, this probably doesn’t feel like a threat, but chances are you won’t ever use that medicine again before it expires. 

If you’re the type that hangs onto medicine, you’re not alone. We all do it from time to time, but this can lead to having a cabinet full of hazards in the home. Whether you have a cabinet full of Tylenol or Tums matters little. The problem is with the accumulation of drugs that someone else might not know to avoid.

Some medicines have even been under the scrutiny of laboratory studies. Consider Zantac, for example. This product is thought to cause cancer with some users of the drug. And, these individuals have considered filing lawsuits to seek compensation.

The bottom line is, keep all medication in a hard-to-reach area, safe from children. Additionally, be on the lookout for recalled medicines, and throw out expired medications or any that look discolored or appear to have separated. These are both clear indications that the medication has gone bad. 

Cleaning Products

If you’re like most Americans, you have a little stockpile of cleaning supplies probably under your sink or in the laundry room. Maybe you prefer to keep these products in the garage or in a shed. Regardless, there are a few factors about storing cleaning supplies that you’ll want to remember.

For a quick example, take a look under your cabinet and see if you have any bleach or ammonia products. If these two different products are near one another, you’ll want to separate the two immediately. Bleach when mixed with ammonia, even in small amounts, will create a toxic gas called Chloramine. This can cause serious nausea and vomiting and can also be fatal. 

All of your cleaning products should be properly sealed, be placed upright, and be away from any direct sources of heat. Ideally, keep chemicals separate from one another instead of clustered together. 

Hidden Dangers

Perhaps the most common threat to the safety of a home is the buildup of mold. For example, while you might use a humidifier at night to aid in breathing, your breathing issues actually might be caused by black mold buildup. 

Black mold is persistent and tough to get rid of. This often results from high levels of moisture in sheetrock or other building materials. If you or anyone in your family have developed breathing problems, consider having your home thoroughly inspected for mold.

Along with mold, other hidden dangers in the home include insect infestations, chemicals in water, asbestos, and faulty wiring.

If you want to ensure your health, as well as the health and well-being of everyone in your home, begin by inspecting your property thoroughly and removing all dangers before an accident happens.

No matter if the danger is from old, mishandled medication, improperly stored chemicals, or hidden dangers that have gone unchecked, your home is your responsibility. And, the safety of others in the home depends on you.