Many Americans, like all of us, have everyday products that they love, like an air freshener that practically lives in their car, or the “magic” face cream with SPF. However, there are some things that we put way too much trust in and probably shouldn’t. So here are the 11 everyday products that Americans trust too much.
Why do we trust this stuff so much?
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Breakfast Cereals
While the front of the cereal box says “whole grains,” the back says sugar is ingredient #2. Yet many people treat cereal almost like it’s a health food, especially when they see there’s a heart printed on the label. Some of these cereals have more sugar than cookies, but hey, at least they have fiber. You’ll struggle to convince anyone to give up their cinnamon swirl crunchies.
Home Smoke Detectors
It’s relatively easy to test an at-home smoke detector because if it chirps when you press the button, it’s probably working. Yet some older detectors are slow to catch certain types of fires, and many homes still have the cheap, outdated models. All the smoke detector is doing is collecting dust and trust that it doesn’t deserve.
Air Fresheners
With one quick spray, your bathroom’s supposed to smell like lavender. But most air fresheners just pump a lot of perfume into the air, and then call it a day, without actually cleaning anything. If anything, you’re marinating your lungs in unknown chemicals while pretending that there was never a strong taco smell. But there was.
Disinfectant Wipes
Speaking of keeping things clean, you’d think that disinfectant wipes would make things germ-free. Except, not always. Most wipes only kill stuff if the surface stays wet for a few minutes, and most people aren’t going to bother doing it. Wiping and moving on doesn’t sterilize anything, but really, it makes those germs move around a bit.
OTC Cold And Flu Meds
Lots of us have tissues stuffed in our hoodies and a box of cold meds on the counter, which makes us feel like we’re doing something. However, a lot of over-the-counter meds simply mask the symptoms for a few hours, and some ingredients (like phenylephrine) don’t do much at all. Yet people still swear by them every winter and refuse to leave the house without them.
Bottled Water
You’d be surprised at how many act like bottled water is some rare glacial miracle, when really, most of it comes from the tap. Seriously. The majority of bottled water is just filtered city water with a fancy label, yet people will drop three bucks on a bottle. They trust it more than their own kitchen sink. But should they?
Dryer Sheets
It’s easy to think that something smelling nice means it’s clean, which is why dryer sheets seem essential. However, they don’t clean a thing. They coat your clothes in a soft film that smells nice, yes, and that can be a real problem for people with sensitive skin. But you’d never guess, based on how many people simply throw them into every load.
SPF Moisturizers
Putting on a dab of face cream with SPF and calling it a day is something so many Americans do before going to the beach. However, unless you’re putting on a full teaspoon’s worth, you’re not going to get full sun protection. It’s really just a waste of lotion. But that doesn’t stop so many people from trusting the stuff like it’s a personal shield from the sun.
Antibacterial Soaps
The “antibacterial” label on most soap sounds like it should kill off most germs, but the truth is that plain soap works just as well. In fact, the FDA has banned some of the old ingredients used in those soaps, yet lots of people still try to buy them in bulk. They’re convinced they’re improving their hygiene, one pump at a time.
Tooth-Whitening Toothpaste
Whitening toothpaste is something we take off the shelf without thinking twice, as the box says, “whiter teeth in a week.” That’s all most people need to hear. However, brushing alone isn’t going to make a big difference if your teeth are already discolored, and these kinds of toothpastes usually just scrub off coffee or tea stains. They don’t bleach anything.
Non-Stick Cookware
A pan that never sticks is great until it’s not, which usually happens when it gets scratched or too hot. When that happens, it’ll release toxins that could hurt you. Unfortunately, a lot of kitchens have the same Teflon-coated skillet from 2008, and it’s causing them problems that they don’t even realize.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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