We often think of cancer as something that develops due of genetics, contamination from outside sources, or just bad luck. But a lot of people don’t know that the homes we live in every day might be bad for our health, especially as we become older and spend more time inside.
Life nowadays is comfortable, but it also has phony materials, chemicals, and hidden cancer-causing agents. These things, like scented candles and regular receipts, may seem harmless, but they might have effects on our health that we don’t often notice.
You could be more likely to get cancer or impair your health if you do these six things. This is what you can do to keep yourself and the people you care about safe.
1. Air fresheners and scented candles: a risk that smells nice
Don’t they smell great? A lavender candle in the bedroom or a citrus air freshener in the bathroom can make your home smell nice and clean. But those nice smells might be hiding dangerous things.
When limonene, the chemical that gives scented things their lemony smell, comes into touch with air, it can turn into formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen that has been linked to lung cancer, breast cancer, liver damage, and breathing problems, especially when people are exposed to it often.
Phthalates, which are chemicals that help preserve a perfume longer, are also to fault. They are endocrine disruptors, which means they mess with hormone balance. This can make it harder to get pregnant, raise the risk of cancer, and cause problems during pregnancy.
Choose the safer option: open windows when you can, use natural ventilation, and use unscented or essential oil-based products instead. When you burn candles, use soy or beeswax ones and do it in places where the air flows well.
2. Do air humidifiers help you breathe or spread germs?
A lot of individuals enjoy to use humidifiers in the winter, especially if they have dry sinuses or sensitive skin. But if you don’t clean these equipment well, they can become places where bacteria and other hazardous pathogens can grow.
Researchers say that even when you use distilled or purified water, bacteria can still grow in humidifier tanks overnight. Legionella, Pseudomonas, and Streptococcus pneumoniae are some bad germs that can spread through the air and get you sick with pneumonia, sinus difficulties, and lung infections.
Every other day, clean the tank of your humidifier with warm, soapy water and let it dry fully before filling it up again. This will keep you safe. Change the filters often, and don’t let water sit motionless for more than a day.
3. The Chemicals Used in Dry Cleaning: Clean Clothes, Dirty Truth
We all know how nice a freshly dry-cleaned jacket or silk shirt looks and feels, but many people don’t know that the chemicals used in ordinary dry cleaning are dangerous for you.
Perchloroethylene, or “perc,” is the main ingredient. It is a petroleum-based solvent that is likely to give humans cancer. Long-term exposure to perc can lead to cancer in the bladder, uterus, and esophagus. Being around it for even a short period could make you dizzy, nauseated, give you migraines, and make your skin itch.
Here are some simple safety tips:
As soon as you get home, take the plastic from your clothes.
Let your garments air out for at least 3–4 hours outside or in an area with sufficient air flow before putting them away in your closet.
You might want to think about using “green” or eco-friendly dry cleaning services that don’t use harmful chemicals.
4. Cash register receipts: A Paper Trail of Chemicals
Do you ever see those little pieces of thermal paper at the grocery store or pharmacy? They may look safe, but many of them have bisphenol A (BPA) or BPS on them, which are two chemicals that mess with hormones.
Being around BPA has been connected to:
Issues with hormones
Getting your period at a young age
Breast and uterus cancer, obesity, and diabetes
Not being able to get pregnant and having birth problems
The danger comes from being around it a lot. BPA can get into your skin when you hold, fold, or even put receipts in your wallet.
Take care of your health:
If you often handle receipts, like when you work as a cashier, you should either touch the side that isn’t printed or wear gloves.
Say “no receipt, please” when you can.
Don’t keep receipts near food, and always wash your hands after you handle them.
5. Hairbrushes: A Hidden Home for Bacteria
You use it every day, but how often do you clean it?
Hairbrushes can pick up more than just hair and oil; they can also pick up dirt, dead skin cells, and pathogens. As time goes on, this buildup can make your scalp itchy, produce dandruff, folliculitis (infected hair follicles), and even hair loss.
It’s even worse if people share dirty brushes or use them while they have a cut or scratch on their scalp.
A simple plan for cleaning:
Take the hair out of your brush after each usage.
Let it soak in warm, soapy water for 10 to 15 minutes once a week.
Use an old toothbrush to scrub between the bristles.
Let it dry completely in the sun, which is a natural technique to get rid of bacteria.
6. Remote Controls: Little Things, Big Germs
Even though they are in our living rooms, bedrooms, and hotel rooms, remote controls are some of the dirtiest items we touch.
Researchers who wrote for the Journal of Infection Prevention found that TV remotes can store Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, and pneumococcus, which are all bacteria that can cause skin infections, pneumonia, stomach bugs, and urinary tract infections.
What about the remotes in hotels? They can get very dirty, and people often forget to clean them.
Make sure your home is safe:
Clean your remotes often with alcohol-based cleaning wipes or a soft cloth that has been soaked in rubbing alcohol that has been diluted.
Clean the hotel remote before you leave or put it in a plastic sandwich bag to keep it safe.
Wash your hands after eating or touching things that get a lot of use, including doorknobs or remotes.
The first step to a healthy household is being aware.
Our homes should be safe for us, yet comfort and cleanliness don’t always go along.
A lot of things around the house can mask cancer risks or mess with the endocrine system. We can protect ourselves and make the world a better place, though, by being aware and taking small, proactive efforts. It’s especially vital to be mindful of these things as we get older.
Let some air into your house.
Clean it often.
Look at the labels.
Be careful with everyday things.
Don’t forget that you shouldn’t be scared.
It’s about being aware and living with a goal.
Everything you do today can help you and your family stay healthy for a long time.