17 Household Items Illinois Residents Need to Toss Today

You may be shocked to find out how many of your commonly used household items have well outlived their expiration date and need to be tossed immediately.

Overlooked Household Chores

If I was graded for my housekeeping skills, I'd probably receive a B-.

I like to think I keep a cleaner house than a lot of people, but I'll be the first to admit that I have some major room for improvement. I don't clean my tile floors or showers as often as I should.  I have a tendency to shove papers and other clutter I don't know what to do with in drawers and other places visitors can't see, and I definitely keep way too many things that I should probably just throw away.

Speaking of items that need to be thrown away, I saw something on social media today that definitely made me feel like an utter failure when it comes to housekeeping...

Do you replace all of those items in a timely fashion? I'm ashamed to admit that I didn't even know that a microwave had a carbon filter, and more importantly, that it needs to be replaced every six months!

The Most Important Things to Replace Regularly in Your Home

I may not have known that a microwave had a carbon filter, but I do know that furnace  and air filter should be replaced regularly and that a kitchen sponge is not a good thing to keep around for months on end, but what about the rest of the things on that list? Why isn't washing them good enough?

Let's cover a few of the most important things to replace that many people don't do often enough...

1.  Nonstick cookware

When your nonstick pan is more "stick" than "non," it's time to let it go. When non-stick coatings break down they may release harmful chemicals into your food.

2. Bed pillows and throw pillows

Pillows get up close and personal with your face, and can be a harbor for bacteria. Regular washings will help, but when they start to get bumpy, flat, and stained it's definitely time to toss them.

3. Bath Towels

When towels start to fade and lose absorbency, they also become easy breeding grounds for bacteria, despite how often you wash them.

4. Mattresses

Mattresses can't be washed and like to hold onto a lot of bacteria and dust. Regularly vacuuming your mattress and putting on a protective cover will help extend its life, but it's best to replace it every 7-8 years.

5. Shower Curtain Liners

Apparently, waiting until your shower curtain liner is dirty or stained to replace it is a bad plan. Dirty liners can grow mold quicker and should be replaced every 6 months.