Home Items That Are Getting Old

We usually make sure that the food we eat is not out of date or choose foods that still have time to expire. The same goes for makeup, creams, talcum powder and other groceries. But did you know that in addition to food, some household items also have their due dates? In this article, we have listed the daily used home items that are getting old.

This should not be overlooked often when buying, so be careful and see which all products can adversely affect your health as they age. You may be surprised at how many items you use every day become obsolete.

Home items that are getting old

Go through the list below and make a note of which items you may already need to replace.

1. Pillows

Even if the pillows don’t necessarily believe this, they can get sick too. Over the years, they become nests for bacteria, dust mites, dead skin cells and saliva. A clean pillowcase between your head and pillow doesn’t mean you’re protected from the bacteria that live in the pillows.

Try to replace the pillows with new ones every year. This will protect yourself from potentially ill bacteria.

2. Toothbrushes

Fungi, bacteria and other microorganisms can grow on toothbrushes. Try to clean the brush by rinsing it with water and shaking it to speed up drying after use. Also, the more worn the toothbrush is, the less effective it is. The toothbrush should be replaced with a new one every three months.

If someone in the family has the flu, runny nose, or inflammation of the mouth or throat, separate the toothbrushes because viruses can pass from one brush to another. After an illness, it is best to replace the toothbrush with a new one, as microbes can hide between the bristles and get sick.

3. Sponges

One of the most important functions of sponges is to remove dead skin cells, but they also absorb fungi, bacteria and other microbes. By cleansing your body of bacteria-contaminated sponges, you expose yourself to infections.

Try to keep the sponge very clean and replace it with a new one every four months.

4. Baby bottles and parts thereof

Regularly replace your baby’s baby bottle to prevent your baby from getting sick.  Even the bottle should be replaced more often.

If the bottle is made of plastic, it is more likely to be inhabited by bacteria. This also means that bacteria must not be removed no matter how you wash the bottle. If the pacifier part has turned yellow or has black dots (fungus) in the corners, it should have been replaced already!

5. Objects that age: mattresses

If you still use your childhood mattress, or have been married for 20 years and still sleep on your first shared mattress, you should definitely consider buying a new one.

A good night’s sleep requires a good mattress, but the mattresses lose their shape over the years and are no longer very hygienic. The mattress should be replaced with a new one every 8-10 years. As with pillows, mattresses are inhabited by all sorts of harmful dust mites and bacteria.

6. Disinfectants and other cleaning agents

Commercial cleaning products also have their own due dates. You probably won’t even take a look at their expiration date and use them even after they mature. Although doing this does not adversely affect health, these products are no longer effective as they age. After the due date, they have a weaker effect and are eventually unusable.

7. Items that are aging: towels

Because bath towels are repeatedly exposed to moisture, they are nesting sites for bacteria. Avoid keeping towels in the myth and try to wash them at least once a week. Towels can be stored for up to two years, after which they should be replaced.

Other items that become obsolete

The list of obsolete items is so long that we will only briefly mention a few others that should be replaced even when they are missing the due date, either because their properties have been lost and are useless, or because they are contaminated with bacteria.

• Mosquito repellent

• Alcohol
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Sun fat
• Spices
• Combs
• Slippers
• Sports shoes