11 Common Household Products From Victorian England That Could Kill You

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In Victorian England, danger could be found in most unlikely places, including your home. Many household items and materials were used between 1837 and 1901 without a thorough understanding of their detrimental effects on health. Significant advances in industry and technology occurred during this time and paved the way for the widespread manufacture and distribution of dangerous consumer goods.

Many products were sold without proper labeling or warnings due to a lack of regulatory oversight, which led to the widespread use of substances that are now known to be dangerous. Here are 11 household products from Victorian England that could have killed you.

Arsenic Complexion Wafers

Common Household Products From Victorian England That Could Kill You — Image Credits: The Helena Independent (newspaper) via Wikimedia

Victorian women who wanted perfect skin turned to complexion wafers containing arsenic. Although these wafers claimed to remove imperfections, they had a fatal side effect: arsenic poisoning.

Prolonged exposure causes serious health problems, such as organ failure and cancer. Imagine using poison to achieve beauty; Victorians did!

Belladonna-based Eye Drops

Belladonna-based eye drops were a popular beauty aid used to dilate pupils and give an attractive, wide-eyed appearance. But belladonna—also referred to as deadly nightshade—is extremely poisonous.

When used for Long-term use, it may cause death, hallucinations, and blindness. Talk about beauty being in the eye of the beholder!

Laudanum (Opium Tincture)

Opium-based tincture called laudanum was advertised as a remedy for everything from coughs to insomnia. Although it offered short-term relief, its potential for addiction and over-dosage rendered it a silent killer in numerous Victorian homes.

Using laudanum might have soothed your ailments, but it could also bring you to the brink of death.

Radium-based Cosmetics

Radium was used in makeup before the radiation risks were understood to give skin a radiant glow. Prolonged exposure to radium resulted in cancer, anemia, and bone fractures, among other serious health problems.

Ladies, imagine your beauty routine making you glow—with radiation poisoning!

Strychnine Rat Poisons

Rats were frequently poisoned with strychnine, but it was so strong that humans could die from convulsions from even a tiny dose. Accidental ingestion made homes potentially deadly traps, whether from inquisitive kids or negligent handling.

Lead-based Paints

Lead-based paints were well-liked for their long-lasting color and brightness. On the other hand, lead exposure causes cognitive decline, delayed development, and even death, particularly in young children.

Victorian house owners unintentionally used a substance that was harmful to their family’s health when decorating.

Mercury Skin Creams

Mercury was a common ingredient in skin-lightening and blemish-removal creams. Extended usage resulted in mercury poisoning, which damaged the nervous system and caused renal failure.

Although having a clear complexion was desired, using mercury creams came with a fatal risk.

Sewing Machines (Due to Accidents)

Sewing machines revolutionized the textile industry, allowing for faster garment production. However, the lack of safety features meant that users often suffered serious injuries, from needle pricks to crushed fingers.

The convenience of sewing at home came with the hidden cost of potential accidents.

Carbon Monoxide from Gas Light Usage

Gas lighting, which provided much-needed illumination, was a major innovation in Victorian homes. However, inadequate ventilation frequently results in a buildup of carbon monoxide, which can be fatal.

This silent murderer was hiding in the living rooms of many families, causing them to suffer from mysterious illnesses or even pass away.

Green Dye (Copper Arsenite) in Fabrics

The vivid green color used in textiles and wallpaper was made of the hazardous substance copper arsenite. Arsenic poisoning from prolonged exposure led to skin lesions, respiratory problems, and even death.

There were deadly repercussions when these stylish items were worn or used for decoration.

Asbestos in Household Materials

Asbestos was widely used for its fire-resistant properties in construction materials, including insulation and roofing. However, asbestos fibers, when inhaled, cause serious respiratory diseases, including asbestosis and lung cancer.

The protection offered by asbestos came at the cost of severe health risks.

Disclaimer- This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.