You are probably not aware of it, but some of the things you should have chucked away ages ago are now cluttering your house and can be harmful to you, your family, and even your pets' health.
Those dried flowers you pressed years ago? Pets love to chew on them, but they can be toxic to animals, according to Reader's Digest.
That unassuming kitchen sponge lying on your sink? It is teeming with bacteria.
Here we look at eight things you should throw away immediately because they can harm your health.
- Expired makeup. You may think it is still okay to use that eyeliner or lipstick that has reached its expiration date, but what you might not know is, by doing so, you are putting yourself at risk of skin breakouts, infections, and even loss of vision, Reader's Digest noted.
- Worn out shoes. You paid a lot of money for those sneakers or running shoes and want to get the most out of them, but if the soles are worn down it is time to get rid of them. Why? According to The Seattle Times, you are putting your body at risk of knee pain, shin splints, plantar fasciitis, and Achilles' tendinitis if you continue to wear shoes that have lost support and cushioning.
- Your old cutting board. If your cutting board has lots of cracks and scratches it is time to throw it out before you end up sick. According to Health, bacteria can sit deep in these grooves, making it impossible to clean your cutting board properly.
- Old spices. No, not the cologne – we are talking about kitchen spices. Old spices that are imported can be contaminated with salmonella at twice the rate of all other imported foods, Reader's Digest noted. You might think spices last forever, but they go stale and can give you food poisoning, so toss the old ones.
- Old nonstick pans. For some reason we tend to cling to our nonstick pans even when they have deep scratches and are no longer nonstick. But teflon-coated pans can give off fumes that cause flu-like symptoms when heated, Health noted, so if you have these in your house, replace them with iron pots and pans or ones made from stainless steel.
- Cheap jewelry. You might think you scored big when you bought that necklace, bracelet, or earrings for half the price – but according to Reader's Digest, cheap jewelry actually contains high levels of toxic chemicals. You do not have to wait for cheap jewelry to get old before chucking it: throw it away now to be safe.
- Tupperware. It is tough to chuck out plastic containers. They always seem to have some potential use, but as Reader's Digest noted, many plastic containers have high levels of bisphenol-A (BPA), a toxin that can cause hormonal imbalances and impact your health. Many of us did not have that knowledge when we first bought Tupperware, but the smart thing is to throw away the old containers and replace them with glass ones.
- Leftovers. You are rummaging around in your fridge and come across that tasty lasagna you cooked a few days ago. Was it Monday? Tuesday? If you are not sure then toss it. According to Health, leftovers should be consumed within three to four days. So, if you cannot remember exactly when it was cooked, do not eat it.