Everyday Items
If you can buy items in the supermarket or other stores, you assume that they’re safe. As long as these items haven’t expired, most people believe that they are completely harmless. If you have these everyday items at home, throw them in the trash right now.
Pancake Mix
Pancake mix is great because it makes it possible to make in minutes, but it can be dangerous. This can attract a mold that is deadly to anyone with an allergy to the spores. The mix doesn’t even need to be expired to be toxic. If your pancake mix is packaged in a foil or wax paper bag, it is safe. If the mix is in the box only, it can be hazardous.
Old Potatoes
If you buy a bag of potatoes and forget about them for months, they can become toxic. In 2013, an 8-year-old Russian girl was left orphaned after her whole family died when they went into the cellar. The family stored their potatoes in the cellar for the winter, and they started to rot. They emitted a deadly gas that killed the girl’s parents, brother, and grandmother.
A Knock-Off Cellphone Charger
If you lose or break your cellphone charger, you might be tempted to buy a knock-off because it is cheaper. This is a mistake. In 2019, a woman purchased a knock-off iPhone charger and suffered second-degree burns. Knock-off chargers can also cause fires and electric shocks. A study was performed to test knock-off iPhone chargers, and over 50 percent didn’t pass the insulation test, which causes electric shocks.
Expired Medication
When some medications reach their expiration date, they are harmless. Some could lose their potency, but they aren’t dangerous. The expiration date is the manufacturer’s guarantee of how long the drug will stay effective. However, there are some medications that are dangerous past the expiration date. These include insulin, liquid antibiotics, nitroglycerin, and drugs, including tetracycline.
Expired Makeup
Many people don’t know this, but makeup has an expiration date. If you wear expired makeup, you could be putting bacteria on your face, in your eyes, and on your lips. Makeup has a Period After Opening symbol with a number followed by an M. This is the number of months that the makeup is safe for after opening it.
Old Toothbrushes
The American Dental Association recommends that you replace your toothbrush every three months. If you wait longer than three months, the bristles can become frayed, which makes them less effective. As soon as your toothbrush starts to look worn, you need to get a new one.
Old Technology
If you are holding onto an old phone, and old laptop, or an old tablet just in case you might need them one day, you could be putting yourself and your home at risk. The Lithium-ion batteries in these old devices have been known to explode. This can cause a severe burn or a fire.
Old Running Shoes
If you are an athlete and you have worn down your running shoes, you should get rid of them. The first part of the sneaker to wear down is the mid-soles. When this happens, they cannot absorb shock, which can cause injuries. It can also alter the alignment of your feet. As soon as your sneakers wear down, you should replace them.
Old Non-Stick Pans
If you have any old non-stick pans that are scratched or burned, you should throw them away. These pans contain PFASes, which are toxic. If your pans are older, they were likely made with more toxic versions of the chemicals. To be safe, any old non-stick pans should go in the trash.
Space Heaters
Space heaters may be great when it is really cold in your home, but they can drastically increase your electric bill. Also, space heaters are a fire hazard. According to the National Fire Protection Association, 83 percent of the deaths from fires were caused by space heaters. Rather than using a space heater, you should put on a sweater.
Wire Hangers
Wire hangers can cause damage to your clothes over time. Unlike modern hangers, wire hangers aren’t shaped like your shoulders, which holds your clothes in an awkward shape. The best way to keep your clothes nice is to go with wooden or plastic hangers.
Plastic Grocery Bags
The next time the bagger at the supermarket asks if you want paper bags or plastic, you should ask for paper. Plastic bags are horrible for the environment because they take up to 1,000 years to decompose. In the U.S. alone, 1.8 billion plastic bags are used every week. If the bags end up in the water, they are deadly to marine life. It is best to stick to paper or canvas reusable bags.
Loofahs
If you use a loofah, get rid of it now. They are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria because they are wet and kept in a warm, damp environment. They also collect and hold onto your dead skin flakes. When you wash up with a loofah, it is like washing up in yesterday’s filth.
Old Cribs
If your baby’s crib was made before 2011, you need to get rid of it immediately. The drop-side rails can be dangerous, and the weak slats aren’t close enough together in older cribs. To be sure that your baby is safe, make sure that the crib was made after 2011.
