Just How Often Should You Replace These Household Items? [Infographic]
We’re all aware that food has expiration dates. When we see or smell food that’s gone off at the back of the fridge, it’s pretty easy to part with the culprit to avoid us from getting sick.
But what about day to day items around the house? While these items might not necessarily be perishable, they have expiration dates too. Though they might not be directly listed, some of them need changing as often as the items in your fridge.
Interior and Exterior door specialists Doors & More have put together a list of commonly missed expiration dates to give you a rundown on the shelf life of your products.
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In Your Kitchen
Tupperware: 3 months
All those empty Tupperware boxes you’ve had accumulated from your takeaways can be host to a lot of nasty bacteria. Recycling those containers every three months can help reduce your exposure of BPA and BPS chemicals.
Chopping Board: 1 year
Swapping out your chopping board regularly makes sense- you’re spend your time cutting various meat, veg, bread and other foods, so you should be monitoring the surface you’re spending your time using.
But many of us still have our reliable boards that might not have been changed as frequently as we’d like to admit. Chopping boards, including wooden boards are much more susceptible to cross contamination, especially if you use the same board to cut low risk (fruits and veg) and high risk food (meats, fish). Make sure that you have separate boards for different food groups, and you’re replacing them at the one year mark.
Bleach: 6-7 months
The cleaning product a lot us depend on to make our homes germ-free can’t be used forever. A lot of us don’t consider that our cleaning products need changing, but keeping bleach six months of use will cause it to lose strength and effectiveness. The chlorine in bleach starts to dissipate after three months, making your attempts to disinfect your wasted if you don’t replace with a fresh bottle.
Fridge/Freezer: 15 years
The average lifespan of a fridge/freezer is 10-20 years. While they might not necessarily “expire”, there could be potential repair costs for faulty parts that have been incurred over the years that could cost more than the fridge is worth.
Holding onto an old fridge can also be costing you more in energy and electric bills. Newer fridges tend to be more energy efficient- benefitting your wallet and the environment.
In Your Bathroom
Disposable Razor: 1-2 weeks
If you’re a fan of the disposable razor that’s been sat near your shower for a week, it’s time to swap it over with another one in the pack. To prevent any bacteria build up, rashes and razor burn, toss your razors weekly or every three to four shaves (whichever is first).
In the meantime, make sure you’re not keeping your razors in a damp space and let it dry in between uses.
Toothbrush: 3 months
Your dentist has probably already told you this, but replacing your toothbrush every three months is ideal. You won’t just minimise the amount of germs you could be exposed to, but can actually maximise the effectiveness of your daily routine!
Towels: 3 years
Despite your best washing efforts of your towels, bacteria can still spread. Because they collect moisture, bacteria can’t just be killed by throwing your towels in your spin cycle. They need to be replaced every few years to keep germs from building up.
In Your Bedroom
Slippers: 6 months
For a lot of us, slippers are a routine part of getting comfortable. We hold onto our favourite pairs for years, but rarely think to wash them.
That means that our favourite slippers can make us more prone to germs and fungal infections.
As well as washing them regularly, you should aim to replace your slippers every six months or so.
Running shoes: 1 year
Your running shoes have about 300-500 miles worth of wear in them before they need to be replaced.
Most shoes need replacing after 12 months regardless of how often you’ve warn them, due to the material. The cushion and support needed for running and walking starts to naturally deteriorate. The most common material is Ethyl Vinyl Acetate (EVA), which is designed to absorb shock from the impact of your running.
Pillows: 2-3 years
Pillows go through a lot more wear and tear than we think. Consider the amount of times we toss and turn throughout the night, moulding our pillow into all sorts of positions to make us comfortable. Overtime, your beloved pillow naturally loses its shape. This can lead to neck problems due to lack of support.
It isn’t great for germs either. Pillows are a breeding ground for pests and disease
So before you lay your head this evening, make sure you check the state of your pillow, and see if it’s time for a change!
