Large household items such as refrigerators and mattresses will inevitably reach a point in time when they’re no longer functioning as they should, and need to be replaced. While some repairs may be possible for electrical items, once a mattress isn’t fit for purpose, even deep cleaning won’t make any difference, and there’s not a lot else you can do but replace it.
There are other items in the home, however, that may no longer be working as they should, but that aren’t quite so easy to determine whether they should be cleaned up or replaced.
Check your home for the following 6 items and give them a quick appraisal to see whether they’re still fit for purpose, or need to be cleaned or replaced:
- Shower liner
Shower curtains and liners can get really grubby, moldy and slimy, and unless you check them regularly, they can be easy to forget about, especially when they’re used every day. Shower curtain liners should, however, be cleaned thoroughly at least every few months, and once you start to notice spots and stains that won’t go away, even after cleaning, it’s time to replace it.
- Linen
Items such as towels, pillows, sheets, and bath mats, can get to a point where even regular cleaning no longer keeps them smelling fresh, and feeling soft, and of course, they are not items that can be repaired to restore them to their former glory. For these items that are used regularly, consider replacing them every two years or so, and don’t forget that you can also donate old towels and sheets to a local animal shelter or homeless refuge.
- Pots and pans
As amazing as nonstick pots and pans are, the coating on them doesn’t last forever, and when you start to notice them looking scratched or when your food starts sticking to the pan, it will be time to replace them. But it’s important to remember that when that nonstick coating starts to deteriorate, you could be exposing yourself (and anyone you cook for) to harmful chemicals. Replace nonstick cookware every five years, and swap to steel, ceramic or cast iron if you’re looking for longer lasting pots and pans.
- Throw pillows
Even pillows that are used for decoration purposes have a shelf-life, and nothing looks worse than lumpy, deflated or faded pillows on a bed. Wash them to keep them hygienically clean, and replace them when they start to look threadbare, faded or lumpy, flat or lifeless, or when there is a lingering musty odor.
- Food storage containers
These items need to be cleaned thoroughly in order to keep them in a hygienic condition, but once they start to warp or become overly stained, their hygiene qualities may be compromised and they should be replaced.
- Cutting boards
These are notoriously difficult to keep hygienically clean unless you follow strict cleaning protocols and maintain them in a sanitary condition at all times. Used often and for cutting all manner of foods, both raw and cooked, you should replace your plastic cutting boards every couple of years, while properly cleaned wooden boards may last as long as 7 years.
Hiring a regular cleaning service to help you maintain cleanliness throughout your home will almost certainly mean that many household items live longer, but at some point in time, most will need to be replaced lest they put your health at risk, or simply aren’t effective anymore.
