Maintaining a household is tough work. In order to promote a safe and healthy home environment, you have to understand when to throw away certain household products. Doing so can save you a lot of money down the line. More importantly, it can also protect you and your loved ones from harm.

Why Staying on Top of Household Products Is Important

Maintaining your household plays an important role in being a responsible homeowner. And part of that includes replacing old, expired household products. There are many benefits to doing so.

For example, household products take up space, and hoarding too many of them can lead to quite a bit of clutter, making your home less attractive. Instead of holding on to them, tossing your used belongings can help create a more open, inviting space.

It can also be a great way to prevent hazards from occurring. A lot of household products, such as batteries or electronics, start to degrade when not disposed of in a timely manner. When this happens, they can sometimes leak harmful chemicals, which can be unsafe for your family. Because of this, replacing your household products can be useful for maintaining a clean and healthy environment for you and your loved ones.

5 Household Products You Should Throw Away

But it can be easy to forget to throw away old or expired products around your household. To help you stay on track, here are five household products you should throw away:

Toothbrushes

If you brush your teeth the recommended twice per day, the bristles on your toothbrush are bound to experience wear and tear. This causes them to lose their effectiveness, which can have a negative effect on your dental health. To avoid this, replace your toothbrush every three months.

You should also throw away your toothbrush immediately after getting over a cold, flu, or Covid to avoid reintroducing germs and bacteria into your system.

Bleach

Bleach is an extremely versatile household product, but it also has a shelf life. This is because bleach contains chlorine, which starts to dissolve over time. As a result, your bottle of bleach can quickly lose its magic. Toss your bleach after three to five months, making sure to store your new bottle of bleach in a cool, dry area to maximize its effectiveness.

Dish Sponges

Dish sponges do a lot of heavy lifting in the kitchen. And because of this, they tend to harbor a lot of germs and bacteria left over from food. To prevent germs and bacteria from accumulating, try to replace your dish sponges every month. To clean your sponges, wash them with a natural cleaner such as bleach or vinegar.

Used Paint

Planning to reuse that opened can of paint? Think again. Opened paint loses its effectiveness after its ingredients start to separate. This causes the formula to weaken, making it difficult to properly use later on. Instead of trying to work with old paint, replace it every two to five years. This way, you can ensure your next painting project turns out exactly how you envisioned.

Pillows

An attractive pillow can truly beautify a couch or bed, but it can also harbor a lot of germs and bacteria, too. Not regularly replacing your pillows means that dirt, oil, and sweat from your face can accumulate on its surface. This can lead to a buildup of germs and bacteria.

And despite how often you clean them, even the nicest pillow can appear faded and worn over time. To ensure your pillows remain clean and safe to use, replace them every three months.