5 items that must be replaced periodically

Water heater over 10 years

For water heaters over 10 years old, they should be replaced as soon as possible, even if there are no signs of damage.

Water heaters used for more than 10 years have exceeded the recommended lifespan. At this time, the internal components begin to "age", which can cause some dangers such as electrical leakage and even fire and explosion. The heating efficiency of the device has decreased significantly, so it consumes a lot of electricity.

Advice

Replace old with new:The price of a new water heater is quite reasonable, so instead of using an old machine, you should buy a new one to ensure safety for yourself and your family.

Regular maintenance: If you do not want to replace or cannot afford to buy a new one, you should find an expert to clean, check and repair it every year to avoid potential risks.

Doormat over three years

As for doormats, many people never think about replacing them. However, this item should only be used for a maximum of three years.

Doormats are places that contain a lot of dirt and bacteria. With the naked eye, you can see that every time the mat is hit hard against the wall or the ground, a lot of dirt falls out. If not replaced, it will be a place that hides health hazards.

Carpets used for more than three years accumulate a lot of dirt and become too old, making the house unsightly.

Advice

Periodic replacement:For entrance doors, carpets should be replaced every one or two years. For room or bathroom doors, replace them every two or three years.

Clean regularly: Because it is a place that collects a lot of dirt, you should clean the carpet regularly, at least once a month. There are many ways to clean it, such as putting it in the washing machine or placing the carpet in the bathroom and using a strong spray nozzle.

Plastic tableware over one year old

Many people prefer to use plastic bowls, plates, and even chopsticks and spoons because they are cheaper than other materials. However, with these utensils, after a year, you should replace them with a new set.

Plastic is very brittle and breaks easily. If you have small children who like to chew on them, this can be very harmful. Because they break and crack easily, bacteria can easily breed inside these cracks and are very difficult to clean.

Advice

- Periodic replacement:Because the cost of plastic is quite cheap, it should not be used for more than a year and should be disposed of promptly.

- Regular disinfection: The method used by many people is to "blanch" in boiling water. In fact, this method also works. However, plastic is very easy to harden and accelerates the aging process. Therefore, this is only a way to ensure hygiene but not a way to prolong the life of plastic products.

Wooden chopsticks over 6 months

Wooden chopsticks cannot be used for many years. According to research, it is best to replace them every 6 months.

After a long time of use, small grooves often appear on the surface of wooden chopsticks due to thermal expansion and contraction. Bacteria can easily grow in these grooves, affecting the health of the user.

Advice

- For bamboo and wooden chopsticks, they should be replaced after 6 months of use to avoid mold and bacteria growth. They can be sterilized regularly with hot water by boiling water (if desired, you can add lemon juice or vinegar) and then soak the wooden chopsticks for 10 minutes, then take them out to dry in the sun before using.

Cutting board used for over two years

According to many experts, you should change your cutting board after two years of use because after a long time, there will often be dense crisscross cuts, which are a place where bacteria accumulate, causing food poisoning, gastrointestinal infections and many other dangerous diseases. In addition, cutting boards that have been used for a long time are very difficult to clean. In fact, after the cutting board has knife marks, water will seep in, making it unable to dry completely, causing mold.

Advice

Cutting boards should be cleaned and disinfected regularly:You can use hot water to rinse, then use baking soda to wipe the surface to keep the cutting board clean.

Cutting boards must be ventilated and dried:After washing the cutting board, scrub it with a brush and place it in a well-ventilated place to dry promptly to avoid mold.