How to Tell When to Replace Common Household Items

It's not always easy to tell when things need to be replaced. There are a few items in your home that you didn't even know needed to be replaced. This is just a small list of items that should be checked to see if they are in need of a replacement.

Pillows

Why would you replace a pillow after just 3 years? If it looks dirty, smells musty or is so flat you can't tell it from a pancake, it's time to replace it.

Cosmetics

Most cosmetics should be replaced every 2 years or earlier if they start to smell like dirty socks. If liquid make up like foundation starts getting spoiled milk like clumps in it, it's time to replace it.

Perfume

Most perfumes will lose their scents after time. If your perfume has been exposed to direct sunlight, heat or starts looking cloudy, it's time to throw it away.

Spices

All those big bulk spices you bought at the store a few years ago and have had the jars or containers up in your pantry just waiting for the right recipe to try them on, might be losing their flavor over time. Most dried spices will lose their flavor and smell over time and even faster if they are exposed to the air. A good way to test if your dried spices are still good, is to open up the bag, jar or container and smell it. If the smell isn't there or is very weak, you likely need to replace them. Dried spices will last up to 3 years and sometimes more if kept in an airtight container.

Dish Sponges

You know the kind of sponges that you get in the grocery store and has a scrubbing side and a spongy side. These sponges are great for making cleaning things up but they also have a huge down side. They trap bacteria in them so when you go to use them again you end up spreading around a lot of bacteria in all those places you were just cleaning. You should throw away the used sponge every week and open a new one to be safe.

Toothbrushes

If you are like most people you leave your toothbrush out on the sink in one of those really cute toothbrush holders that matches the décor of the rest of the bathroom. But did you know that if you flush the toilet and leave the seat up, small bits of water and whatever else happened to be in the toilet at the time will float through the air and can land on toothbrushes, hair brushes, towels or whatever else is in the bathroom. So not only should you keep your toothbrush in the medicine cabinet, but you should replace it every 3-4 months because they will fray and be less likely to work properly.

Air Conditioner Filter

You may not know this but there's an air filter inside your air conditioner, whether you have central air, a window air conditioner or some other kind you should check the air filter in it. Some can be changed every few months, some can be cleaned by running under water and some need to be replaced monthly. Replacing or cleaning the air filter will help the air conditioner run better, keep your home cooler and cost less money.

Medicine

Prescription medicine can sometimes be hard to just toss in the trash bin especially if you paid a pretty penny for them. But even medicine has a time limit on how long they stay good. I once opened a pill bottle I found in the back of my cabinet and was almost knocked over from the smell. Obviously they were no longer good, but how can you tell when to toss a prescription? Most prescriptions have an expiration date on them and while you might want to keep them for those 'just in case' moments life loves to throw at us, it's not really helpful if the medicine you take to feel better actually makes you sicker.

So take a look around your home the next time you do one of those spring cleaning sessions and make sure you clean out more than just the closets.