You Can Throw Away These 7 Items In Your Kitchen Right Now!
If you, like me and so many others, are going to be doing a little New Year cleaning and de-junking around the house, I’ve got a few easy items in the kitchen that can go right now! These items can either use a refresh and get some new ones (I’m looking at you, decade-old worn wooden spoon!), or you can donate them and say goodbye forever--even better!
1. Kitchen Sponges. If your kitchen sponges are starting to fall apart, have bits of food stuck in them that won’t come out, or are even starting to smell funny, it’s time to throw them away and get new ones. A smelly sponge likely means a sponge that is growing harmful bacteria.
2. Plastic Containers. There is no need to hang on to any plastic containers for leftovers that do not have a matching lid or real purpose. Pull out all your plastic containers and toss out any containers (recycle, if possible) that do not have a matching lid.
Try to stick with plastics labeled with types 1, 2, 4, or 5, as these are safer for humans and the environment. Avoid and even consider throwing out the plastics labeled 3, 6, or 7, which are made of hazardous plastics.
3. Chipped Mugs or Bowls. Sometimes it is hard to let go of your favorite mugs or bowls, but if they are chipped, it’s time to get rid of them. Old, vintage ones might have paint that contains lead, and you wouldn’t want to accidentally eat any flakes of lead in your food.
4. Old Wooden Utensils. Wooden kitchen utensils can get warped or damaged from exposure to high heat, like from the dishwasher, or from soaking in the water too long. So if you notice your wooden utensils looking cracked or damaged, go ahead and swap it out for a new one.
5. Cooking Oils. It is likely you might have a bottle or two of cooking oil that is either past its expiration date or possibly even gone rancid. Open the lids, give them a smell or even a taste and make sure your bottles of oil are all still good. Give the bottles a good soapy rag wipe down and wipe down the shelf below them before putting them back.
6. Canning Jar Lids. You cannot reuse jar lids for canning--the seal is only good for one use. You can use them to store food in the fridge, but if they get rusty at all, it is time to throw them out.
7. Mystery Bags of Frozen Food. If you have any random freezer bags full of meat or leftovers you have no idea what it is or how long it has been in there--it is time for it to go! It’s not worth the risk.
Happy purging and Happy New Year to you all!
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1. Kitchen Sponges. If your kitchen sponges are starting to fall apart, have bits of food stuck in them that won’t come out, or are even starting to smell funny, it’s time to throw them away and get new ones. A smelly sponge likely means a sponge that is growing harmful bacteria.
2. Plastic Containers. There is no need to hang on to any plastic containers for leftovers that do not have a matching lid or real purpose. Pull out all your plastic containers and toss out any containers (recycle, if possible) that do not have a matching lid.
Try to stick with plastics labeled with types 1, 2, 4, or 5, as these are safer for humans and the environment. Avoid and even consider throwing out the plastics labeled 3, 6, or 7, which are made of hazardous plastics.
3. Chipped Mugs or Bowls. Sometimes it is hard to let go of your favorite mugs or bowls, but if they are chipped, it’s time to get rid of them. Old, vintage ones might have paint that contains lead, and you wouldn’t want to accidentally eat any flakes of lead in your food.
4. Old Wooden Utensils. Wooden kitchen utensils can get warped or damaged from exposure to high heat, like from the dishwasher, or from soaking in the water too long. So if you notice your wooden utensils looking cracked or damaged, go ahead and swap it out for a new one.
5. Cooking Oils. It is likely you might have a bottle or two of cooking oil that is either past its expiration date or possibly even gone rancid. Open the lids, give them a smell or even a taste and make sure your bottles of oil are all still good. Give the bottles a good soapy rag wipe down and wipe down the shelf below them before putting them back.
6. Canning Jar Lids. You cannot reuse jar lids for canning--the seal is only good for one use. You can use them to store food in the fridge, but if they get rusty at all, it is time to throw them out.
7. Mystery Bags of Frozen Food. If you have any random freezer bags full of meat or leftovers you have no idea what it is or how long it has been in there--it is time for it to go! It’s not worth the risk.
Happy purging and Happy New Year to you all!
Sources:
- www.commons.wikimedia.org
- www.flickr.com
- www.pxhere.com
- www.bhg.com
- www.foodnetwork.com
- www.cnet.com
Mary Richardson
Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2014
Email the author! mary@dvo.com
