Like it or not, your home is probably home to some pretty gross stuff. Modern technology hides most of it. But lurking under the surface there are a number of nasties, and some of them could actually damage your health. 

This post is a heads-up. It’s a resource that you can use to alert you to some of the hazards in your home (and shows you what you can do about them). 

Lead Pipes

Lead pipes sound okay until you find out what’s actually going on. When you turn on the faucet in a lead-piped home, the water rushes through the pipe, bringing shards of toxic lead with it. This lead then gets into your body, potentially causing all sorts of health issues, including abdominal pain, cramping, infertility and more. 

Fortunately, builders no longer install lead pipes in homes. However, if your property is more than about seventy years old, there is a good chance that you still have some lead in your plumbing. If you do, then you’ll need to call a plumber to have it removed. Usually, they will swap old lead pipes out for safer plastic ones.

Mouse Droppings

Another gross problem in your home is mouse droppings. They’re a problem because they often contain E-coli, a potentially deadly bacteria that can cause stomach upsets and UTIs. Even droppings under the floorboards are an issue, so if you can hear scratching noises in the night, you’ll want to call the exterminator. 

Extractor Fan Mold

Extractor fans are a wonderful addition to modern homes. They remove excess moisture, preventing mold andmildew from forming inside. Unfortunately, they have a nasty habit of collecting mold and grime themselves, making them both unsightly and sometimes unhealthy. 

The good news is that a dirty extractor fan is a quick fix. Just use a home cleaning solution and cloth to swab down the extractor fan, remove any gunk, and then replace it in its housing. 

Poop Bacteria On Your Toothbrush

Researchers have known for years that poop bacteria accumulate on toothbrushes. But it is only recently that the news got out to the general public. And suffice to say, it grossed them out. Now, though, companies like BRIL are fighting back. They’re developing products which they claim can help keep toothbrushes germ-free, even in busy bathrooms. One idea, for instance, is to use UV light. UItra-violet radiation is sterilizing. So companies are building boxes to house toothbrushes, ridding them of bacteria when not in use. 

Another idea is to build caps on top of toothbrush holders to prevent any bacteria swirling in the atmosphere from getting in. 

Chicken Residue

Chicken is a toxic substance – or at least the health authorities should classify it as one. Research shows that the moment chicken enters a kitchen, it begins impregnating it with bacteria. Problems only get worse when you open the packet and prepare the meat. Studies show that no matter how much care and attention you pay to hygiene, there is no way to prevent bacteria from leaving the meat and colonizing other objects in your home. 

Dried Skin

Our bodies shed all of our skin every three to six months or so. This cycle continues day and night, seven days a week, 365 days a year. The result of this process is a lot of dead skin throughout your home. Typically, it accumulates in carpets, but it will fall anywhere, given enough time. Most dried, dead skin is harmless and won’t hurt you. However, if somebody in your household has asthma or allergies, it can start to cause trouble. The solution is to vacuum your home regularly. If you have a dirty carpet, you can also try deep cleaning it with a wet wash vacuum. 

Dog Bowl

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about the dog bowl? Probably the word “yuck.” 

Dog bowls are magnets for grossness because of how dogs behave. They use their snouts for everything, including sniffing each other’s you know where. So when they put their muzzles back in the dog bowl, all that bacteria gets transferred. 

Hence, dog bowls require daily attention. Wash them every day with soap and water to keep them clean. 

Kitchen Sink

Lastly, the kitchen sink is another gross part of your home. That’s because the beautiful basin that you see is only the tip of the iceberg. The real horrors are lurking in the pipework below.

Think about all the food that you throw down the sink. Odd bits of rice, onion and mince get stuck in the S-bend, eventually breaking down and creating all sorts of foul smells.