Halloween’s upon us, so we’re ready to celebrate everything spooky, scary, and whatever goes bump in the night. We’re putting out the jack-o-lanterns, bingeing our favorite horror flicks, and going to our haunted house of choice.
As we enter spooky season, we’re here to remind you that the frights are more than just ghosts and goblins. There are some truly scary, haunting facts about your home that you should be aware of – especially when it comes to one particular room in your house.
From the oft-quoted statistic about household accidents to germs and mold, there are tons of scary facts about your bathroom that you should be aware of all year round. Here are a few.
How many household accidents happen in the bathroom?
According to the CDC, the bathroom is the most dangerous room in your house, even more than your kitchen. About 234,000 people visit the emergency room every year thanks to bathroom-related injuries. The most common cause? Falls from getting in and out of the tub or shower were cited as a main culprit. This is due to the bathroom’s hard surfaces and slippery floors.
Age is also a factor. The risk of suffering a fall in your bathroom exponentially increases as you age, which is why it’s recommended that you install grab bars and convert your tub or shower to an age-friendly setup if you’re a senior.
Germs, germs, germs
Good news! Your bathroom actually isn’t the germiest part of your house – that would be your kitchen. That said, the germiest parts of your bathroom might surprise you. It’s not the toilet or the tub.
According to a study by StudyFinds.org, the germiest part of your house is your towel rack or if you have one, a bathroom radiator. The porous nature of towels, plus neglected radiators accumulate a lot of germs and grime. The study specified that when they ran bacteria tests, sixty percent of towel racks were categorized as really dirty. The second dirtiest? Sink and shower plugholes.
Mold galore?
Is your bathroom moldy? Thanks to all the water, your bathroom is a likely source for mold to grow. Mold loves dark, damp spaces, so if you see unsightly lack, green, or orange streaks on your tub or shower – that’s mold. Yikes!
If you see this ghastly, unsightly stuff growing, don’t wait! Today.com recommends taking the following steps: Spray it with bleach or white vinegar. Wear gloves and a mask while cleaning to protect yourself from spores. Then, remember to clean your bathroom often – a weekly scrub will do.
While you’re cleaning, check your tub and shower for cracks and your pipes for leaks. Because an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.
If your bathroom is frightfully outdated or if the damage gives you chills, we’re here to help. Call us today about a tub or shower installation, or a tub-to-shower conversion. We’ll even walk you through how your bathroom can become safer. Receive a free estimate before setting up an appointment and ask about the difference when you contact us!