10 things to throw away when cleaning the kitchen: you definitely won’t regret it

According to space planners and professional cleaners, there are some things you shouldn’t hesitate to throw out during your next cleaning. Here’s what they think you should get rid of.

We are used to thinking that the main dangers in the kitchen are expired medicines and spoiled food in the refrigerator. But other elements pose a threat. In particular, the safety of chemicals used to create non-stick coatings has long been debated.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should immediately throw away your favorite frying pan. However, says housekeeper Katie Berry, if its coating is covered in scratches and has not been working as it should for a long time, it is worth doing it – substances that get into your food can harm your health.

Damaged dishes often remain in use: why throw away a cup or glass if no water comes out? However, according to Katie, it’s always best to get rid of these items. “A cracked mug is an accident waiting to happen. The temperature can destroy it the moment you put it in your mouth, which can cause serious burns,” she says.

Do you have a shelf with only containers? According to housekeeper and writer Mary Gagliardi, these places are often chaotic. “Be sure to inspect your plastic utensils,” she advises. — Throw away any bowls or containers that are cracked, uncovered, or heavily scratched. “These containers are either impractical or dangerous: the grooves in the plastic don’t allow dirt to be completely removed, so they provide an excellent haven for bacteria.”

Unfortunately, pots and pans don’t last forever: over time, they become deformed. (This will happen more quickly if you wash or soak them before they cool.) “Throw these items away: they no longer sit level with the stovetop and this prevents even heat distribution during cooking. They can also tip over, posing a risk of serious injury,” says Berry. The same rule applies to other defective kitchen utensils, for example cutting boards that are no longer straight.

If you keep cloth napkins or tablecloths in the kitchen that you only take out on special occasions, remember to check their condition regularly.

“If they are discolored or stains have appeared on them in some unknown way, see if you can restore the textiles. Otherwise, get rid of them: accessories for special occasions must be impeccable. Also, without a doubt, replace old and worn kitchen towels with new ones, as well as burnt or greasy potholders: just one of these things is enough to spoil the whole impression of the space. Don’t hesitate to throw away your old sponges and rags, they cost pennies, so there’s no point trying to save money on them,” says Gagliardi.

Organizing your refrigerator can take a lot of time, but it’s a very important step in maintaining a clean kitchen. “Take out the contents, check the expiration dates, assess the condition of the products. Throw away the expired ones, think about what you will do with the ones that are still good, but obviously you won’t eat them anytime soon and they will go to waste. For example, they can be frozen. Or maybe you have a conversation at home where people are ready to collect the excess? – said Mary.

If you like legumes and pasta, then the idea of ​​buying spaghetti with lentils sounds great – after all, it is a combination of two favorite products at once. But it often turns out that certain ingredients can only have a solo career in your kitchen and, as a result, leftover spaghetti takes up space in the cupboard for another six months.

“Give them to someone or just throw them away,” says Katie. “You will definitely not regret it, but if you constantly come across half-empty packages of food in the cupboard, then everyone will be followed by a flash of guilt because of the money spent in vain.”

“Expired” spices are useless for cooking – they will not add any aroma and taste to the dish. “You opened the package but didn’t notice a strong herbal smell?” Throw away the leftovers, there is no point putting them in your food. It’s time to buy some new spices,” says Berry.

A faulty or unusable dishwasher is unlikely to stay in the kitchen, but we often keep duplicates of small household appliances: for example, we don’t throw away an old hand blender after purchasing a more advanced model. The logic is simple: if the new device is damaged, you can temporarily replace it with a replacement device.

According to Gagliardi, it is worth changing tactics. “Buying a new gadget takes a day, and sometimes even an hour. Why keep an old piece of furniture at home for years, sacrificing closet space and cluttering your space with unnecessary items? » – said Marie. She advises selling or donating devices you don’t need.

Also read: 13 things not to do when cleaning the kitchen: the advice of professional cleaners

Let’s admit that we ourselves are often very sorry to throw them away – you look at an empty one and think that, on the one hand, it is very cute, and on the other hand, it could be useful. However, Katie advises resisting the temptation to leave behind extra clutter.

“First, if you don’t need to move something right now, why hold on to an extra item for months just in case you do? Second, when it comes to organizing your kitchen cabinets, there’s nothing worse than an army of mismatched jars and containers. Instead, it’s best to use stackable ones that fit your height so you don’t waste shelf space,” she says.

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