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Your old sponge -

Sponges are a playground for bacteria. You shouldn't really be using old sponges at all.

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Cracked dishes -

These will break eventually, so it's time to get these out of your kitchen.

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Paper menus -

In this day and age, you no longer need to keep paper menus of your favorite takeout.

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Plastic containers -

While plastic containers are very handy to store food, how many do you actually need and use?

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Reusable bags -

These are great, but we tend to accumulate them as well.

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Old ceramics -

Some old ceramics may be glazed with lead, so it's important to throw them away if they start deteriorating.

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Old utensils -

Any sign of rust is a big no no. And the same goes for any other utensils that are falling apart.

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Chipped mugs -

If you have to check every time you sip on your coffee so that you won't cut your lip, then it's time to go.

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Rusty pans -

These can he a health hazard. The exception being cast iron pans, in which case you can clean them.

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Hand towels -

Throw them away if they're old. Wash the ones you keep frequently, as they're a breeding ground for bacteria.

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Ripped potholders -

These need to be in good condition when you use them, otherwise you'll get burned.

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Sieves -

Get rid of your sieves if they are rusty. The same applies if they have holes (it kind of defeats the purpose of it, right?).

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​Unused appliances -

Someone, somewhere, would love that juicer you never used. So why not donate unused appliances?

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That mug you never use -

You know, that souvenir mug, and the one your mother-in-law brought you back from her vacation abroad 10 years ago.

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​Canning jar lids -

Jars are great, and we can reuse them in a variety of ways, but how many spare lids do you have lying around?

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Water bottles -

One per person, that's how many you need. No need to stockpile them.

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Plastic bags -

How many of these have you got at home? Be honest. Surely you can recycle a few.

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Disposable chopsticks -

How many have you got laying around? We tend to keep them, but then we get a brand new set of chopsticks every time we order Chinese, Japanese, etc.

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Old, unused cookbooks -

They might look nice in your kitchen, but when was the last time you used them?

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Fridge clutters -

We get it–it's useful. But it doesn't have to be a mess. Limit the amount of magnets and paper you use.

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Old spices -

You know when these stick to the jars? Well, it's time to get rid of them.

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Unidentifiable bags of frozen food -

If you have frozen food that you have no idea what it is or when it was frozen, get rid of it.

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Condiment packets -

Yes, those you keep from your takeout orders just in case. How often do you actually use these, and do you need so many?

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Canned food and other pantry items -

Some of us stock these in the kitchen, and some of us do it for way longer past their 'best before' date.

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Pickles -

Pickles don't go bad, correct? That's what the whole pickling process is about, right? Wrong. It's time to say bye bye to that jar that's been sitting in your fridge for the past year.

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Coffee -

Coffee also expires. If you don't drink it that often, check if the one you have at home is still okay. It should smell and taste good when you brew it.

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Old herbs -

Dried herbs also have a shelf life. Just because they're dried, it doesn't mean you can eat them in 20 years time.

See also: Is your home making you sick?

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