20 Things You Should Throw Out Now for Better Health in 2020

Most antibacterial soaps and detergents contain a preservative and antibacterial agent called triclosan. This small word has a big impact on our health, and has been linked with negative health implications such as thyroid dysfunction, asthma, eczema, and altered fetal development in pregnant women. Triclosan is so nasty that the FDA and European Union have both banned it in soaps and hand washes, and the Canadian Medical Association has requested a ban on antibacterial consumer products. So, stick with warm soapy water - it’s all you need to get squeaky-clean hands.

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Just because a bottle claims to be BPA-free, doesn’t mean it’s free of all toxic materials. Avoid plastic bottles and instead, opt for a healthy and durable reusable water bottle made out of stainless steel.

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What’s the big deal with air fresheners? Surely something that makes the room smell pretty can’t be bad for you, right? Wrong! Unless they’re all-natural essential oils, air fresheners contain numerous cancer-causing and endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including phthalates and fragrance. These smelly concoctions can have serious health implications, such as early puberty, allergies, and breathing difficulties. Skip the toxic chemicals and open the windows for a few minutes a day and spritz an essential oil mixed with water instead.

You’d never think that old, stretched out bras could be bad for you, but they are. When bras lose their elasticity, they can impact your posture, making larger chested women experience back and shoulder pain. The lack of support can also accelerate sagging of the breast tissue.

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Expired sunscreen doesn’t work, so ditch it! End of story.

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Our toothbrush is our friend, but only for three months. After that, it can harbour bacteria and become counter-productive. Replace your toothbrush every three months and especially after any bouts of illness.

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Not only do your old clothes take up physical space, but they take up emotional space in your life too. People often lose or gain weight, but hold on to their larger or smaller sizes ‘just in case’. Keeping these clothes around can put an enormous amount of pressure on you, so do yourself a favour and get rid of clothes that don’t fit or that you haven’t worn for a couple of years.

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Kitchen sponges and cloths can contain more harmful bacteria than toilet handles - ew! E. Coli is just one of many bacteria that can lead to illness if it finds its way into your system, and sponges can carry and spread this all over your kitchen if you’re not careful. Be sure to rinse your sponges and cloths really well after each use and air-dry thoroughly. Disinfect them every day, or every other day, by placing the wet sponge in the microwave for one to two minutes - keeping your eye on it to ensure it doesn’t catch on fire - and only microwave sponges with no metal scrubby bits, of course. Throw out and replace once a month.

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Negative thoughts and emotions can really impact your health and well-being. If you feel hostile, angry or overly cynical, it may be time to replace these feelings with more positive, constructive ones. Pessimism, or negative feelings and thoughts, can increase stress levels, making your body produce more cortisol. Increased cortisol has a negative affect on your immune system and can make you more susceptible to disease. Try mindfulness meditation, yoga or simply change the tone of your thoughts — instead of “I won’t be able to do that.” think, “It might be challenging, but I can figure it out.”

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You should wash your makeup sponge with warm soapy water after each use and allow it to dry completely before using again. You’ll cut the chances of breaking out and reduce the risk of skin infections too. Ideally, you should throw out makeup sponges every month, but if you’re using expensive ones, like a Beauty Blender, you may try to extend its lifespan to three months. If your sponge is starting to deteriorate or is badly discoloured, you may have to part with it sooner than you want to.

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Cosmetics have a shelf life that you can usually determine from the packaging. Look for a little image of a tub with a number in it. You’ll often see the number six or 12 or 24 — this refers to the number of months the product is good for after being opened. Once past its best by time, not only will the product not work as well as it should, but it may become rancid and smelly, increasing your chances of skin irritation, rashes and infection. Get rid of old, smelly, goopy, or broken makeup.

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Eat leftovers within three to four days. After this period, listeria can grow and cause food poisoning. If you’re lucky enough never to have had food poisoning, keep it that way by chucking out or freezing leftovers before they go bad.

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OK, we’re not advocating for you to throw out your devices (how would you read this, afterall?), but it is vital to unplug and take time away as often as you can. Device-usage has been shown to increase depression and anxiety, and can disrupt sleep (partiularly if used in and before bed). Try to implement a device remission when you’re not working and choose a time each night, say nine p.m., to turn it off.

If your plastic chopping board has lots of deep grooves in it, and particularly if it has become discoloured, it’s time to replace it. These deep cuts can trap and harbour bacteria and become almost impossible to sanitize.

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Believe it or not BPA, that pesky toxic chemical found in tons of plastic products, also lines our receipts, and when we handle them our skin absorbs it. Unless you absolutely need them, say no to receipts, and make sure to wash your hands after touching them.

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Loofahs and shower gloves don’t get much of a break — they get used to lather up your favourite body wash and scrub off dead skin cells, and often don’t even get a chance to dry out before they’re being used again. This moist and creviced environment is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, fungus and germs, which can enter your system through small nicks and scratches in the skin. To avoid skin infections, like the yeast-related rash found at the corners of the mouth called perleche, ensure you dry out your loofahs and gloves in a cool, dry place (not in the shower) and replace every three to four weeks. And, don’t share!

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Filters exist to sift out dust, mites, bacteria and mold making air quality fresher and healthier. After some time though, the filter can only hold so much and starts allowing the nasties back into the air. Replace furnace filters every 90 days, not just for better air, but for energy efficiency too. If you smoke or have pets you’ll want to replace filters every one to two months.

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Everyone has it and everyone hates it. Surrounding yourself with clutter - the pesky things that you keep ‘just in case you might need them’ — can hold you back and waste your time and energy. Throw out or donate the objects that irritate you every time you see them, you’ll feel better about yourself and your life, and you’ll make room for the things that make you happy. A good place to start is the kitchen junk drawer (don’t we all have one?).

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Ditch the chemical cleaners you use on surfaces around your home and opt for a gentler and less harmful cleaner instead. Vinegar and three per cent hydrogen peroxide sprayed one after the other has recently been deemed as effective, if not more, than using chemical bleach on surfaces. Do your health a favour and replace harsh store-bought cleaning products with natural ones for better air quality, non-toxic surfaces, and a cleaner environment.

Look at the old plastic take out containers you’ve been using to store leftovers. Any clear, firm plastic containers stamped the number seven should be thrown out. These containers are made from miscellaneous plastic products and most likely contain BPA (bisphenol A), a toxic chemical that can leach into your food. Any chipped or cracked plastic containers also need to be thrown out. Replace as many plastic containers as possible with glass ones – they’ll last longer and are way healthier for you too.

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