Bathrooms are essential spaces in our homes, but they can also be surprisingly risky. From slippery floors to hidden electrical hazards, these common areas need a little extra attention to keep everyone safe.
In this article, we'll explore the most common bathroom risks and share simple tips to prevent accidents, ensuring your bathroom remains a safe and comfortable place for all.
1. Slippery surfaces
Slippery floors are a recipe for disaster! One wrong step, and you could find yourself tumbling to the ground, potentially ending up with painful bruises, nasty fractures, or even a serious head injury. And let's be honest, it's not just anyone who's at risk - our little ones and elderly loved ones are especially vulnerable to these kinds of accidents.
Prevention
Choose tiles with matte finishes
To make your bathroom a slip-free zone, opt for tiles with a high COF (0.60 or higher) and textured or matte finishes for extra grip. Smaller tiles with more grout lines can also help. For added safety, consider tiles specifically designed to be anti-slip.
Add non-slip mats or stickers in areas that tend to get wet
Another way to boost bathroom safety is to add non-slip mats or stickers in areas that tend to get wet, like the shower or bathtub. You can also look into other anti-skid solutions, such as adhesive strips or textured coatings, to give your feet a better hold on slippery surfaces.
2. Poor ventilation
The bathroom is often the wettest room in your home due to steamy showers, flushing toilets, and running sinks. Poor ventilation can create high humidity, leading to issues like mold, mildew, unpleasant odors, peeling wallpaper, and chipped paint.
These problems not only make your bathroom look unattractive but can also trigger allergies and respiratory issues. Lifting or splitting of laminated plywood vanities can occur, adding to the overall damage.
Prevention
Install or upgrade your bathroom exhaust fan
Source
Upgrade your bathroom with the right exhaust fan to tackle humidity. Pick one with the right capacity, so it efficiently clears the air. This simple change helps prevent mold and keeps your space fresh and comfy.
3. Dimly-lit lighting
Using a dimly lit bathroom can make everyday tasks such as saving, applying makeup, or cleaning a bit tricky. It may even lead to common accidents such as missteps, slips, and falls, which can cause serious injuries.
Prevention
Upgrade vanity lighting
Make sure each dark corner of your bathroom is well-lit with artificial lighting. For instance, add vanity lights such as wall sconces or LED strip lights around the mirror to eliminate shadows and keep your face perfectly lit for grooming and makeup.
Add Shower and tub lighting
For shower and tub, choose lighting with waterproof features so that it can withstand these high-moisture environments. If not, water will come into contact with electrical components, which leads to water exposure, creating a risk of electrical shock or fire.
Add a Skylight
To keep your space safe and bright, let in as much natural light as possible with large windows, skylights, or solar tubes. If you can, go for sheer curtains or frosted glass to minimize window coverings. Also, keep your window sills clutter-free and clear any obstacles outside the windows.
4. Scalding water
If your water heater is set too high or isn't working properly, it can produce water that's hot enough to cause burns. This is especially risky for babies, toddlers, and elderly adults as their skin is more delicate and prone to serious injuries.
Prevention
Use anti-scald devices
For added safety, consider installing anti-scald devices in your showers and faucets. These devices help regulate water temperature and prevent sudden, unexpected changes. They will mix cold and hot water before it leaves the faucet, ensuring the water doesn't get hot enough to cause injury, even if only the hot water setting is used.
5. Cluttered surfaces
A cluttered bathroom can be quite hazardous, increasing the chances of slips and falls. Imagine trying to navigate a floor covered with towels, clothes, and bathmats scattered - it's a recipe for accidents! More seriously, you might get hurt by sharp objects such as razors, scissors left lying around.
Prevention
To keep your bathroom safe and tidy, make sure everything has its own home. For instance, store toiletries, cleaning supplies, and other items in cabinets or storage baskets. If you are short on storage space, get creative! Try installing a shelf above the door to make use of every inch.
Here are some shelf ideas to help you keep your bathroom clutter-free and organized.
6. Lack of accessibility features
Not having accessibility features in the bathroom can lead to safety concerns for people with mobility challenges or disabilities. These issues might include the risk of slips and falls, trouble transferring, limited toilet access, difficulty navigating the space, hard-to-reach controls or fixtures.
Prevention
Install grab bars and handrails
To help them out, you can install grab bars and handrails near the toilet, bathtub, and shower for extra support and stability. For even more safety and independence in the bathroom, think about adding features like roll-in showers, wheelchair-accessible sinks, raised toilet seats, and adjustable shower heads.
7. Electrical hazards
Bathroom has a lot of water elements and electrical outlets, appliances, and wiring, but water and electricity can't mix. This combination can pose a risk of electric shock or fire.
Prevention
Unplug when not in use
To avoid these accidents, always unplug all of your electrical devices like hair dryers and other hot hair tools when not in use. If you tend to forget, consider using curling or flat irons that have automatic shut-off timers.
Keep electrical appliances away from water sources
Keep electrical appliances away from the sink, tub, toilet, and shower since these areas have water. If an appliance accidently falls into the water, it can cause an electrical shock, leading to serious injury or even death.
A GFCI outlet is designed to protect against electrical shock
Invest in a GFCI outlet - a circuit breaker that can save your lives by stopping the flow of electricity when you accidentally drop your electrical appliance in the water. Or at the very least, make sure to dry your hands with a towel before using any electrical appliance.
8. Water contamination
Old and poorly maintained plumbing can cause water contamination as materials break down and harmful substances build up over time. For example, when materials degrade, they can release metal particles like iron, rust, and lead into the water, which affect both the water quality and your health.
If your plumbing system includes lead pipes or lead-based solder, corrosion can cause lead to leach into the water supply. Lead is highly toxic, causing serious health issues.
Prevention
Install shower filters
If you have concerns about water quality, consider installing a water filtration system or use a shower filter. It can improve your water quality by removing contaminants, reducing sediments, and eliminating unpleasant odors and taste. Plus, to prevent bacterial buildup, make sure to clean all your faucets and showerheads regularly.
