Telltale Signs These Household Staples Need To Be Thrown Out

Sweeping the floors, dusting, and tossing outdated items to make room for new ones are all part of a good cleaning routine. But how do you know something has gone bad? This is tricky because some household staples might not show obvious signs, like you'd see with sour milk or moldy bread. If you don't see anything jump out at you that something is off, you fall into the trap of assuming your household staples last forever. However, this isn't the case; you should be checking and replacing things all around your home. When was the last time you swapped out your toothbrush or refreshed your spices? Are they all still good?

It's easy to prioritize the visible clutter when cleaning up, but what about those ones neatly tucked away? You want to take a hard look at the signs that it's time to refresh or replace your staples. Understanding the indicators, from your cleaning supplies not working as well to your towels smelling like mildew, is critical for helping you keep your house safe and healthy. To prevent this, we'll clue you in on the telltale signs that it's time to replace your household staples, and you can look around your house to see if any have slipped through the cracks.

Did your doctor prescribe you medicine, or do you take a daily over-the-counter medication like Tylenol? If so, note their expiration date and swap them for new ones when you reach it because they lose their potency. The manufacturer sets this expiration date, which is when they guarantee you'll get the full effects. Once the expiration date comes, any active ingredients can stop working, making the medications less effective in treating whatever you're taking them for. Having less potent medicine can be dangerous if you take it to help with chronic conditions where you need it to be as effective as possible. 

Set aside a few hours to sort through your pills at least once a year and put the expired meds in a pile to replace and get rid of. The medications that aren't expired can go back into a cool-dry spot, like your medicine cabinet. Keep them out of the direct light and away from moisture or heat because this can break them down quicker. Learn how to properly dispose of your old medication so you don't flush them down the toilet and let them into the local ecosystem. 

We tend to put batteries into whatever we need to run and forget about them until the thing stops running. But forgetting them is a problem because they can develop dangerous issues, like swelling or leaking. Leaking happens when the chemicals inside the batteries break down and come through the shell, leaving a white, crusty residue on both rechargeable and alkaline batteries. Corrosion occurs when oxygen and the battery's metal parts react, and you'll see a blue-green substance or rust that stops the battery from making a good connection to whatever you want it to power. If you spot a bulged spot, it's getting too hot in this area.

Remembering when to check and swap out your batteries is challenging because it varies based on the type you're using and what they're powering. Ideally, you'll check the batteries once a month, especially if they're inside something that runs around the clock. Along with checking for damage, batteries lose their charge over time, making them less effective. Swapping them out semi-regularly helps prevent this.

It's common to have more canned goods on hand than you can realistically eat in a week or two, but you want to inspect them before you use them to see if you spot rust or swelling. The swelling is usually from gasses trapped inside the can that bacteria release as they feed on the spoiled food. If you spot rust, this is another issue. A small amount of rust might not do anything, but a lot of rust compromises the can itself. Eating food out of a rusted or swollen can is dangerous and opens the door for foodborne illnesses because they hint that the food isn't vacuum sealed anymore, which keeps it safe to eat. 

How often you toss and replace your canned goods depends on what they are, but you can safely keep most of them from one to five years if you put them in a dry, cool spot. Tomatoes, fruits, and other high-acid fruits are ones you want to use within 18 months because the acid will react to the can. Vegetables, meats, and other low-acid foods are good for two to five years. However, note that even cans that look fine can have subtle changes that affect how safe the food is to eat. Moisture, extreme temperatures, and chemical exposure all compromise the seal. Rotate and organize your canned goods and pay attention to their condition to ensure they're safe to eat. 

Using your towels eventually causes them to fray at the edges, and they may have a slight smell that seems impossible to remove. Fraying happens due to normal wear and tear, and it tells you that the fabric is slowly breaking down and is less durable. This makes your towels look worn and grungy but also impacts how well they dry. The mildew smell is a bigger concern, and this suggests that you let your towels stay damp for too long, letting mildew or mold grow deep in the fibers. Repeatedly using linens with these warning signs could result in skin irritation or allergies, making your bathroom unsanitary. 

Replace your bath towels every two to three years as a general guideline. However, there is no hard and fast rule because this can fluctuate based on how much you use them. Doing so can ward off typical wear and tear and guarantee your towels won't break down to the point that they lose most of their absorbency. Regularly changing your towels encourages cleanliness by keeping bacteria and mold from developing and guaranteeing you utilize a dry, clean towel after a shower or bath. You may also use this idea to evaluate and improve your laundry routine, including ensuring that your towels are completely dry before folding and storing them to help them last longer. Purchasing high-quality linens can make them last longer and minimize holes and fraying.  

Have you ever noticed how your toothbrush looks worn out, with those frayed bristles that just don't seem to do the job anymore? This is especially common if you press hard when you brush, but even gentle daily use will make the bristles wear out. Swapping out your old toothbrush for a fresh one can make a big difference. You get those straight, firm bristles back, ready to tackle food particles and plaque much more effectively. Ignoring this simple switch can turn your brush into a cozy hangout for bacteria. 

Dental pros suggest a new brush every three to four months. Plus, a fresh brush means you're not giving a free ride to fungi, bacteria, or viruses, which is especially necessary during cold and flu season. As a bonus, you can repurpose the old toothbrush around the garden. Maybe you need a way to dust your plants without damaging them, or you want to gently separate your plant roots as you repot to look for root rot. Having a toothbrush handy lets you do this, along with scrubbing your garden tools or pots so they're ready to go in the spring.