These Common Household Items Are Surprisingly Deadly

There's something to say about the luck of the average person. Many basic things we interact with on a daily basis have the potential to injure or harm us beyond repair, things we take for granted. Even in your own home, danger lurks in unexpected places.

More than 26 million injuries at home resulted in trips to U.S. urgent care clinics, hospitals, or doctors' offices in 2022. For every 100,000 people, the National Safety Council reports that 38.6 accidental injuries result in death. Learn about the 13 most dangerous things in your home that put you at risk, every single day.

This post was updated June 6, 2025, to reflect additional information.

Bathtubs or showers are hazardous because of the combination of a hard surface, water, and slick beauty products. Falls on slippery surfaces lead to injuries due to the surrounding features like a tile floor, toilet, or sink edge that you hit your head on during the fall. That's just one of the hazards. Burns from water that's too hot and drowning in deep tub water are other risks for children and adults.

Older adults and children are the two age groups who fall out of bed the most. However, it can happen to anyone at any age. Bunk beds are especially hazardous for children, as some are easy to fall out of while sleeping. Make sure a top bunk has a sturdy rail that extends the full length of the bed. Older adults may want to install a bed rail to avoid rolling over and falling to the floor while sleeping.

Filling your home with the scent of an aromatic candle is popular. It's also risky. Candles release small amounts of benzene and toluene (hydrocarbons) and volatile organic compounds. If you burn a candle without ventilation, it can irritate your eyes, sinuses, and throat. Plus, there's a fire risk if you forget to put it out or burn the candle too close to curtails or furnishings like a sofa or chair.

The clothes dryer is an extremely helpful appliance, but it's also a deadly one if you don't maintain it. According to the National Fire Protection Association, clothes dryers cause an estimated 13,820 fires each year, and 33% of them are the result of people failing to clean their dryer, dryer hose, and lint trap.

Another common cause of a home fire is improper use of extension cords. An estimated 50 people die each year due to these items. Extension cords are temporary means for reaching an outlet that's a distance from an electrical item. They're not meant for around-the-clock use. You should never plug one extension cord into another to extend the length or use an indoor cord outside or in a wet basement. Never use a cord that is frayed or damaged.

Flooring choices also impact your safety at home. Wood, tile, and laminate floors are slippery, especially when they get wet. Walking on them with bare feet or slippers is safer than walking on them in socks. Carpeting is another issue. If you're susceptible to allergies, carpets trap allergens like pet dander, dust mites, pollen, and mold. Loose or torn carpeting increases the risk of falls.

When you're cleaning your home, try to use natural products like vinegar, Borax powder, lemon juice, baking soda, etc. Household cleaners contain poisonous materials that can impact your health. If your pet has an accident, never clean urine with bleach. Bleach and ammonia form a toxic cleaning product. Ammonia in urine and bleach creates chlorine gas that can make you ill. With excessive exposure, the gas can kill you.

Medication reactions are more common than they should be. Do not mix medications without asking your doctor first. This includes over-the-counter medications and herbal or nutritional supplements. It's also important to take medications correctly. Failure to follow proper dosing increases the risk of overdose or negative health effects.

Decorative rugs are hazardous. If they curl up on the edges, they're more likely to trip someone. They're also more likely to slip around, especially if they lack non-slip backing or the backing has worn off. It's best to remove them from your home.

It's hard to imagine that something designed to provide comfort could be dangerous, but sofas are one of the most dangerous things in your home. Falling off a sofa while napping is one way they're dangerous. Children may jump on a sofa for entertainment and fall off and hit a coffee table, floor, window, or end table and become seriously injured. Older adults may have a hard time standing up if the sofa is too soft or low to the ground and end up falling.

Sourdough starter is one that people don't realize is one of the most common household dangers in the kitchen. Not all sourdough starter is bad, but if yours has a pink or orange hue, it's likely growing Serratia marcescens bacteria. This bacterium can cause respiratory, UTI, or other infections. However, it can also cause meningitis and pneumonia in rare cases. It's not worth the risk to your health to keep it.

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine looked at emergency department statistics over 23 years. During that time, falls on stairs impacted more than one million Americans each year. Stairs are a leading cause of home injuries, especially if the handrail is inadequate. Women were more likely to have fallen on stairs, but children and older adults suffered the most injuries after a fall.

Toilet injuries accounted for over 142,000 ER visits in a recent pediatric study. Toilets are dangerous because of their location and slippery bathroom flooring. The smaller size of a bathroom makes it more likely that you'll hit a counter, wall, hard floor, or edge of a tub or shower if you fall from the toilet.

How prepared are you if you do suffer a severe injury or die after a fall, fire, or accidental poisoning at home? Read "Most Americans Aren't Prepared to Die. Are You?" and take steps to protect your family and assets before it's too late.