Take a good look around your home and start clearing out these items that have overstayed their welcome.
Sponges
Don’t keep kitchen sponges around for more than a month—less, if they’re particularly dirty or odorous.
Plastic Containers
Plastic breaks down over time and can leach into your food. Discard the containers if they become discolored, warped or cracked.
Pillows
The material that’s used to stuff pillows breaks down over time, making them prone to dust mites. Change out your pillows every few years.
Household Cleaners
After two years, the ingredients that make cleaners effective usually start to break down, so toss them and replace with new solutions.
Oils and Spices
Light and heat can break down these ingredients over time and make them less flavorful. Store them in a cool, dry space to help preserve them.
Sunscreen
The sun-blocking components in sunscreen break down after a year. Throw them out by the expiration date or after every season.
