One of my friends recently shared with me that you should be replacing your underwear every year. Let me just stop right there because I definitely was not doing that. If you really think about it though, it makes sense. This got me thinking, what other personal and household items should we be throwing out?

If you know me, you know that whenever I learn anything new I immediately have to research and deep dive to make sure I have all the facts. This completely opened Pandora’s Box for me. I took it to another level to find out what other household items we should be replacing and when. If I didn’t know about the underwear, chances are I have been missing a lot.

Household Items to Toss & When:

Make-up:

All Make-up should have expiration dates now included on the packaging, those are a rule of thumb, and if you have any that are over that date TOSS THEM. Those timelines also aren’t taking into consideration the bacteria build-up. GROSS.

• Liquid: Any of your liquid make-ups can get a build up of bacteria especially Mascara, Eyeliner, and Concealer. Anything that touches your face & then goes back into the bottle has a 3 month rule.
• Powder: Two years is the general rule of thumb here. Your make-up brush touches your face and then goes onto your powder. If you aren’t regularly cleaning your make-up brushes I would recommend getting rid of your powder a lot sooner.
• Make-up Brushes: These can generally last as long as you are regularly cleaning them. If you start to see they are fraying get rid of them, especially if they aren’t made of natural fibers.

Favorite Make-up Brush Cleaners:

Toothbrush:

Toss this one every three months, if you are a tough brusher, watch for the ends to be frayed, this means you are probably taking in toxic particles and bacteria each time you brush. Kind of defeats the purpose of even brushing your teeth.

Sheets:

Every two-three years you should be replacing these, but make sure you are sanitizing these when you wash them. They can definitely house a lot of bacteria given how much time we spend on them and especially if you have dogs.

Pillows:

Every two years, and PLEASE for the love of it all wash these things on the regular. If you don’t know how trust Martha and check out her DIY on pillow cleaning.

If you don’t have one, the My Pillow is AMAZE:

Bath Mats:

You need to be washing these once a week, and the general rule of thumb would be around 2 years, but if you aren’t washing it, TOSS IT. Think about all the bacteria you are carrying with you when you step on the mat before getting in shower. Then you step on it wet to get out and the bacteria just builds from there. They really need to be hung up after use to dry and they should last longer.

Towels:

Two years for sure, maybe even sooner. Make sure you are hanging these up after each use so they don’t bread mold, but definitely wash these every few days.

Underwear:

Replace every 6-12 months, if there are stains toss them. These guys are literally the worst to keep around, especially if you are susceptible to bacterial infections. That’s all I am going to say on the subject.

Spices:

This is a BIG one. It is a huge misnomer that spices don’t expire. You really should be getting rid of them every year or two. In fact, spices can produce salmonella at twice the normal rate, and can be a breeding ground for bacteria. Especially the common spices such as basil, oregano, dill, etc. If you don’t believe me, google FDA AND Spice AND Salmonella.

Kitchen Sponge/Brush:

Replace these every two-four weeks. If you want it to last longer toss it in the dish washer, but once it starts getting frayed get rid of it.

Air Filters:

This effects the quality of your air, so please replace these at least every 3 months. If you have pets, sanding, painting, or anything that can cause a temporary poor air quality go ahead and change the filters. You don’t want to breathe in those toxins regularly.

I hope this is helpful!

XOXO, Katie