15 Household Items You Probably Need To Replace ASAP

Your home may be overdue for a refresh.

If replacing your Tupperware is the last thing on your mind, you’re not alone. In the hustle and bustle of life, some things simply slip through the cracks.

However, many common household items need to be regularly replaced—and not for style or superficial reasons, but for the health and safety of everyone living under your roof. Often ignored, those expiration dates can sneak up on you.

While some swaps are likely as simple as grabbing a replacement from the open pack under the kitchen sink, others are more tedious and expensive, though still necessary. We’re sorry to be the bearer of bad news. To make it up to you, we’ve gathered all the timelines you need to know to keep your household up to date.

Here’s your reminder to stop putting off these necessary replacements.

Food Storage Containers

Replace every year.

In case you missed it, you need to replace your plastic food storage containers every so often. A tomato sauce stain isn’t a Tupperware deal breaker that calls for a refresh, but other signs of wear and tear can be. Scratches in plastic tupperware can become a trap for bacteria, potentially poisoning stored food.

To avoid sabotaging your leftovers, replace scratched plastic storage containers ASAP. For the ideal upkeep, replace your plastic Tupperware collection yearly or consider switching to glass containers with more longevity.

Medications

Replace as directed on the bottle.

If you’ve got one of those handy pill cases labeled with the days of the week, we don’t doubt that you’re staying firmly on top of your daily meds. It’s the pills, tablets, vitamins, and tonics that aren’t for regular use that may have escaped you.

Find a spare moment to check your medicine cabinet and take note of what has expired. Common cabinet medicines and vitamins often don’t expire too quickly. Still, staying on top of expiration dates ensures that when you need an antihistamine or antacid in a couple of months, you won’t find only outdated, unusable medicine.

Sponges

Replace every two months.

Sponges simply aren’t built for long-term use. Swap out your kitchen sponge at least every two months, or sooner if it sees a lot of use. Regular replacements keep your sponge functional and clean without bacteria build-ups. Between replacements, you can put your sponge on the top rack of your dishwasher to keep it clean.

Spices

Replace every three years.

Heavy-handed mamas whose recipes are bursting with flavor may not need to worry about their herbs and spices expiring before they use up the whole container, but the rest of us do. Keep an eye on those expiration dates because, unfortunately, even dried and ground powders don’t last forever. Spices often need to be replaced every two or three years while dried herbs usually go even quicker.

Air Filters

Replace every one to three months.

A new air filter can make a world of difference even if you didn’t realize that your old filter was faltering. Regularly replacing air filters throughout the home will improve household air quality and keep your HVAC system running smoothly. Plus, family members with allergies will thank you for this swap.

Water Filters

Replace as directed by the product.

To keep your pitcher or faucet-mount filter pristine, replace the filter as needed. Over time, you may not even realize that your water is getting increasingly funkier, but a new filter can stop water contaminants in their tracks. Some pitchers may even indicate that the filter needs to be changed with a red blinking light. If not, follow the instructions on the product label or packaging.

Cutting Boards

Replace plastic cutting boards every two years.

We put cutting boards through wringer, so hopefully it doesn’t come as a surprise that they’ll need to be replaced. Over time, bacteria can build up on cutting boards, especially in cracks and chips, but just how fast will depend on the material and quality of the board. In general, plastic cutting boards need to be replaced every couple of years while hardy wooden boards have a longer lifespan of about five years.

Loofahs

Replace every one to two months.

We won’t ruin your day by telling you how gross your old loofah is. Unfortunately, loofahs can be breeding grounds for bacteria, especially because they tend to stay in the damp bathroom even once you’re done washing. Replace natural loofahs about once a month, and replace plastic loofahs about every two months. While this may seem very frequent, using a dirty loofah can lead to unwanted skin infections.

Shower Curtain Liners

Replace every six months.

Both the shower curtain and liner must be regularly cleaned and eventually replaced, but the liner requires much more TLC. A new shower liner twice a year is a solid game plan to keep the bacteria at bay. However, if you spot mold on the liner before the six-month mark, you’re going to have to move your timeline up.

Related: How Often Should You Clean Your Shower Curtain?

Toilet Brushes

Replace every six months.

Do we really need to explain why your toilet brush is probably disgusting? Just trust us and replace it either a couple of times a year or once the brush starts to bristle—whichever happens first.

Pillows

Replace every one to two years.

Your pillow gets up close and personal with your head and face every single night, so its cleanliness is a top priority. Dead skin, bacteria, and dust can build up in pillows over time. Plus, lumps, bumps, and more frequent stiff necks are a wake-up call signaling that it’s time for a replacement. Wash your pillow frequently to keep it fresh for longer.

Related: How Often Should You Replace Pillows?

Mattresses

Replace every five to seven years.

Buying a mattress is an annoying and expensive but necessary evil. An old mattress is like a petri dish for bacteria, so take the excuse to get yourself a new, comfortable one. To protect a super comfy mattress, vacuum it regularly and wrap it up nicely with a protective cover.

Fire Extinguisher

Replace every ten years.

If you don’t have a fire extinguisher in your home at all, that’s your first mistake. Still, an expired fire extinguisher is no good either. While they don’t have to be replaced frequently, we wouldn’t recommend taking their validity for granted.

Nonstick Cookware

Replace every five years.

If there’s one thing we know to be true, it’s that eggs and butter sliding easily off the bottom of the pan is magic. Unfortunately, this magic is made possible by chemicals. Replacing nonstick cookware is necessary to avoid ingesting those harmful chemicals. Remember: Once that nonstick coating starts peeling or chipping, it’s time for a replacement.

Surge Protectors

Replace every two to five years.

Surge protectors with an auto-shutoff feature will let you know whether they’re working or not, so you know exactly when they’re due for a swap. Ones without this helpful feature though, will simply become nullified without anyone being the wiser. Homes with frequent power outages will need to replace their surge protectors more often, but as a rule, replace them all regularly. For safe and effective outlets, also opt for new surge protectors following incidents like a nearby lightning strike or string of blackouts.

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