Admit it. We are all so used to holding onto certain things for too long; yep, even past their expiration dates, especially food! But, how do we even know when to toss things in the bin especially if they don't have expiration dates plastered on them?
Here are some of the most bizarre things you may not know actually need to retire after a certain period of time according to dailymail.co.uk:
Breakup with your pillow after 6 months
'The longevity of your pillows will vary widely, depending on quality and filling material,' says Neville Moore, Managing Director of online bedding retailer Slumber Slumber.
'Cheap polyester-filled pillows can lose their supportive fluffiness and need replacing after as little as six months. Down-filled pillows tend to stay supportive for up to five years, with feather and wool pillows for up to eight years.'
So what happens if you don't take this advice? Thin, lumpy, and sub-standard pillows can contribute to development of neck and back pain. After all, the main purpose of a pillow is to facilitate a proper sleeping posture. You also need to consider that dust mites, dead skin, oil, and dirt could accumulate in your pillow if you don't wash them properly and regularly.
One way to know if your pillow stays or leave is by doing a bounce test. To do that, simply fold it in half lengthways and place a trainer on top. When released, watch out if it stays folded or if it springs back. The latter should suggest that the pillow is still fine to use, otherwise, let it go.
Turn your back on your toothbrush after 1 month
'Most people hang on to their toothbrushes for far longer than they should,' says Dr Amer Saeed, clinical director of Garden Square Dental in West London.
'They usually wait until the bristles start to splay - which means the brush is less capable of removing plaque and may damage the gums.'
Guilty? Your manual or electric toothbrush needs to say goodbye after a month if you suffer from bleeding gums and three months if otherwise. Don't think that just because the bristles are still looking sturdy, you can keep using them until they begin falling off. In fact, the daily wear and tear plus poor brush maintenance could lead to gum irritation and infection.
To avoid bacterial accumulation in your toothbrush, properly rinse the bristles with warm water every after use to dislodge food particles and give it a splash of mouthwash to serve as cleanser and disinfectant.
Bye bye bra
'Your favourite bras should never see a birthday!' says Elise Recour, General Manager for bra manufacturer Gossard. 'This may sound extravagant, but if you are wearing a bra regularly, even if it's high quality and you take good care of it, you will start to lose support and comfort, and the boost and uplift you bought it for will be substantially reduced after eight months or so.'
More than taking care of the nip mark, a health reason for wearing bra is to support the breasts to prevent back pain (especially for the well endowed) and as protection from accidental impacts (that could really happen at times!). Tip: dark-colored bras feel tighter and stay in shape longer than white bras because of the dyeing process. Also, you can preserve their wiring, padding, and support by handwashing and using a gentle detergent.
Chuck that scourer in the bin after a week
'No matter how thoroughly you clean your kitchen, if you use an old sponge, there's a good chance you will be spreading bacteria over your surfaces, rather than removing it,' says Simon Blackhurst, technical manager at Minky, a company that holds two Royal warrants for its cleaning products
Research shows that there could be 10 million bacteria present per square inch of a scourer due to its moist nature. One identified is the campylobacter bacteria which comes from poultry and can cause paralysis.
To keep your kitchen sponge as clean as possible, squeeze it out of water and allow it to air dry every after use. Place it on a clean and dry surface where it can't get wet constantly.
Don't recycle your cycle helmet
Cycle helmets are very important since they protect one of the most vital parts of the body which is the head. The constant use and damage that your helmet endures from being dropped time and time again weakens its outer shell and affects its quality. If it is not as solid and sturdy, it may not help protect your head as much in an impact. There is no strict rule, but it is recommended to change helmets every three years.
Bleach goes bleak in seven months
Unlike other cleaning products that have a shelf life of a year or two, house hold bleach only has 7 months, says Yvonne Manomano, operations manager for Handy. "Because of its volatile chemical make-up, bleach starts to degrade and lose its efficacy much more quickly than other cleaners."
What you need to remember is that an unopened bottle of bleach should last 7 months while an opened one should be consumed three months. It would help to label the container with the purchase date and when you first used it.
Trainers should run after six months
'Although trainers don't come with an expiry date stamped on them, we usually suggest they need replacing after they've been walked or run in for 500 miles,' says Mark Miles, head of product merchandising for Puma.
Of course, it would depend on the terrain your cover, your weight, and your gait. But the basic rule of thumb is that, if the shoes no longer feel comfortable, they need to go. Trainers need to be in good condition since they could also affect the quality of your training. Your feet absorbs great amounts of impact from your activities and having well-cushioned and flexible trainers will prevent small and big injuries.
