11 things in the house that have an expiration date (maybe it's time to throw them away?)

It turns out that some things we use in everyday life have their own expiration date, and many did not even realize it. Blankets, cutting boards, antiseptic - we tell you which household items should be changed regularly so as not to harm your health.

Pillow

Shelf life is approximately 2–3 years. Then the product begins to lose its shape, which negatively affects the spine: it is no longer able to support the neck and head, as it did immediately after purchase. In addition, do not forget that dust mites appear in absolutely any pillow over time, even if you systematically clean the product. Here we will add bacteria and microbes, which are also capable of living inside the pillow in entire colonies.

In order not to harm your health and posture, change your sleep accessory on time, especially since now you can find a pretty good pillow at a very reasonable price.

Blanket

Shelf life - up to 10 years, subject to regular washing and cleaning. If you are not used to caring for a blanket and using it correctly, then the thing will not serve you for decades. In five years, you will have to look for another option, since your product will become deformed, the filling inside will roll up, and the blanket itself will have an unattractive appearance.

Comb

As a rule, we are accustomed to using a comb for years, but the shelf life of this accessory is no more than 10-12 months. The reason is that bacteria multiply over time on its surface (as, indeed, on any others). Even if you clean your comb regularly, due to the frequent teeth it is still impossible to remove all the dirt, and therefore the accessory can even cause dandruff and itching over time.

Do not forget that during use the bristles become deformed, and this often leads to the fact that the comb will tear out hair.

Dish sponge

Of course, it’s no secret that a dishwashing sponge needs to be changed frequently. But many people mistakenly believe that it needs to be changed twice a month, or even less often.

In fact, the shelf life of a dish sponge is no more than 14 days if used daily. This item is constantly in contact with organic waste, remains wet for a long time, and therefore, like nothing else, it simply contains millions of bacteria and microbes.

Washcloth

Any accessories for showering and bathing, like a sponge, are an excellent breeding ground for pathogenic bacteria. They are also an ideal place for mold to “live.” If you do not want to get a skin rash, allergies, or itching, it is better to change your washcloth in a timely manner. Shelf life - no more than six months.

Antiseptics

Any alcohol-based formulations lose their effectiveness 3 months after opening the bottle. Thus, they are unlikely to disinfect surfaces and kill all germs.

But do not rush to throw away the expired antiseptic, because it can also be used in other ways, which are described in our article.

Cutting boards

Over time, scratches appear on them, the surface becomes contaminated with food particles, fibers from cleaning wipes and boards become hazardous to health. The service life of wooden products is no more than a year (and this is provided that you periodically treat them with an antiseptic), plastic ones - a little more - 1.5-2 years.

Microfiber cloth

Microfiber cloths will serve you for a long time: they can withstand up to 500 washes in an automatic machine, even in intensive mode, so their service life is 4 years.

Mattress

Another sleep accessory, which, surprisingly, also has a shelf life of up to 10 years. But even during this period, the mattress needs cleaning and proper use. In order for it to maintain its rigidity for as long as possible, it is recommended to turn it over periodically (1-2 times a year), then it does not deform and the load is distributed correctly.

Kitchen textiles

Towels in the kitchen are an essential attribute of any cooking. You can either wipe your hands, or blot up spilled liquid, or use a pot holder instead of an oven mitt, and many other tasks. And how different pests love to live on damp fabric.

So, you need to wash kitchen textiles more often - once every three days. And change to a new one - once a year. Moreover, after frequent washing, it no longer looks so attractive and can “kill” the comfort of any kitchen.

Spices

Spices do not retain their aroma as long as we would like. Often the shelf life is no more than 3 years, but subject to proper storage - in a tightly closed jar.