Items That Need Thrown Out of Your Kitchen
By Sara Butler
People tend to waffle when it comes to getting rid of things -- especially in the kitchen. It’s understandable -- a lot of kitchen items are expensive to replace, or you may not even realize they need replacing. Here are a few items the USDA suggests you get rid of as soon as possible!
The Kitchen Sink Sponge
You’ve probably heard that you can boil or microwave your sponge to get rid of germs and make it last longer, but the truth is that sponges are difficult to get clean and even boiling it may not get all the icky stuff from the thousands of tiny holes in it.
The USDA recommends you replace your sponge frequently, but you may be better off using a washcloth because you’re more likely to wash it more frequently and it doesn’t have all the tiny places for gross stuff that can make you sick to hide. Just make sure to change out your washcloth every couple of days.
Leftovers You Forgot About
Leftovers you find in the back of the refrigerator that you can’t identify or that you don’t remember cooking in the first place? Those have got to go! This is a pretty simple rule -- just regularly go through your refrigerator and make sure to get rid of stuff after three or four days.
Items in the Frozen Tundra
If you take something out of your freezer and it’s got a layer of frost or snow on it, then it’s time to let it go. Anything so crystallized that it could inspire a Disney film needs to get evicted. In this case, bacteria isn’t the issue, but the taste is. Anything freezer burnt just won’t be good.
Old Spices
Old Spice the deodorant is awesome, but old spices in your pantry are not. Spices tend to lose their flavor and potency after a year or so. Make it a yearly tradition to clean out your spice cabinet and replace your spices each year.
Scratched Up Cutting Boards
Plastic and wooden cutting boards that are scratched are a hazard to your health. Cracks of any kind mean it needs to go as well. Bacteria love to make a home in these little scratches and dents, making it difficult to get these boards cleaned properly. Same goes for rolling pins and wooden spoons!
Parting is such sweet sorrow, but do it for your health!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Sandy, Utah.
