The 1950s brought a lot of new household products that seemed helpful at the time but are now seen as unsafe or harmful. Many everyday items from that era contained materials or chemicals that we’ve since learned can pose serious risks to health and the environment.
You might be surprised to learn that several common products from the ’50s would be banned if sold today because of modern safety standards and regulations. Understanding these changes can give you a better sense of how far product safety has come and why certain things that were once normal are no longer allowed.
Radium-laced glow-in-the-dark watches
Back in the ’50s, glow-in-the-dark watches were pretty cool and high-tech. They used radium paint on the dials to make the numbers and hands light up at night.
You might not realize it, but radium is radioactive. People didn’t fully understand the risks back then, so the paint was everywhere—even on watches worn daily.
Today, those radium watches would be illegal. The dangers to workers and wearers became too clear, so safer materials like Super-LumiNova replaced radium in modern watches.
Lead-based paint
Back in the ’50s, lead-based paint was everywhere. You’d find it on walls, furniture, and even toys because it was durable and had bright, lasting colors.
The problem is, lead is toxic. Even tiny dust particles can harm your health, especially for kids, causing developmental issues and learning problems.
Because of these risks, lead paint was banned for use in homes in 1978. But if your house was built before then, you might still have some hidden lead paint lurking around.
Dieldrin insecticide sprays
Back in the ’50s, you might have used dieldrin sprays to protect your crops or even your clothes from bugs. It was a popular pesticide for corn, cotton, and citrus fruits. They even used it to mothproof carpets and clothes.
But dieldrin isn’t around anymore because it sticks around in the environment for a long time and can be harmful to your health. The EPA banned most uses of it in the ’70s and completely by 1987. If you find old sprays with dieldrin today, steer clear—it’s definitely not safe by modern standards.
Radioactive uranium toy kits
Imagine playing with a toy that actually had real uranium in it. Back in the 1950s, the Gilbert U-238 Atomic Energy Lab let kids do exactly that. You’d get small samples of uranium ore, a Geiger counter, and other tools to explore radiation at home.
The idea was to teach kids about atomic energy by letting them see it firsthand. Today, though, you’d never find a toy like this on store shelves. The safety rules now are way stricter, and for good reason—radioactive materials aren’t exactly kid-friendly.
Asbestos insulation materials
Back in the ’50s, asbestos was everywhere in homes, especially in insulation. You might not realize it, but it was popular because it resisted fire and was super durable.
Today, if your house still has asbestos insulation, disturbing it can be risky. The fibers can become airborne and cause serious health issues, like lung diseases.
If you ever need to remove or repair anything with asbestos, professionals have to handle it with special gear. It’s not something you want to mess with on your own.
Chlordane pesticide
You might not realize it, but chlordane was once super popular for pest control. People used it on crops, lawns, and even inside about 30 million homes to fight termites.
The EPA banned most uses of chlordane in the early 80s due to health risks, including cancer concerns. By 1988, all its uses were banned because it sticks around in the environment for a long time.
If your house was treated years ago, some of that chlordane could still be in the soil or walls. It’s a reminder of how safer pest control has gotten since then.
