When Should I Throw Away Items For My Health

It is obviously a well known fact that most of us are struggling with money these days. I would bet this means we are, in general, holding onto our personal and household items longer than we should be. It can be hard on the budget to replace items, but for healt reasons, some things need to be trashed and replaced regullary.

Here is a list of some items in your house and when they should be trashed and replaced.

Personal Grooming Items

Tooth Brushes

To get the best results you can from brushing your teeth, tooth brushes need to be replaced about once every 3 months, regardless of their condition. They should be replaced earlier than this if the bristles are showing wear and after an illness.

Tooth brushes usually wear out even before we are aware of it. The bristles break down and loose their effectiveness, resulting in causing a huge area for bacteria and germs to grow. Using old bushes as been shown to lead to damaging gum tissue. Also, a new tooth brush is 30% more effective at removing plaque buildup than an older one is.

I recommend you keep your tooth brush in a covered case, or the medicine cabinet in your bathroom. When you flush an uncovered toilet, the water droplets from the bowl can spread at least 10 feet. This is really gross if your uncovered tooth brush is nearby, because tons of germs and e-coli bacteria can build up on it.

Make UP

It is essential to replace cosmetics once every 6 months to avoid contamination from skin bacteria. Never use an old makeup applicator in a new product because it will transfer the bacteria. Eye products should be replaced after any sort of eye infection, and should not be shared with others.

Loofahs

After 6 months of use it is recommended a loofah be replaced. They are especially vulnerable to bacterial growth due to the fact that they are left in a wet environment. Also, loofahs have many nooks and crannies that tend to invite bacterial growth after being used, day after day, to exfoliate dead skin cells off of our bodies. If given enough time, mold can start to grow on them.

Bedroom Items

Mattresses

Bed mattresses need to be replaced once every 8-10 years. Mattresses are breeding grounds for dust mites and bed bugs that pile up and grow from our bodies when we sweat, drool, and shed skin. Also, over a period of time and the many hours you spend in bed, the mattress springs and comfort can decrease significantly. This can lead to a host of problems for your body such as, back and neck pain, and a disruption of normal sleep patterns.

Pillows

Bedroom pillows should be replaced every 2 years. They gather up the same bacteria as mattresses do. Replace pillows that cause neck pain or no longer hold their original forms, as well.

Kitchen Items

Sponges

Kitchen sponges need to be replaced about once a month. They gather up the liquids from raw foods and grow bacteria easily. As with loofahs, they are a great place for germs to hang out in because of the wet environment they maintain.

Plastic Containers

Plastic containers that are used to store food in should be trashed when you spot wear and tear, such as brittleness or discoloration, on them. By avoiding placing them in the dishwasher and microwave, you can stop them from leaching out potentially hazardous chemicals.

I know most of our pockets are tight for cash right now, but for our health, and our families' health, it is important to take a look at these items and try to replace them. If you can't remember when you bought a certain item, it's probably time to get a new one.