When it comes to major household items, most homeowners want to hold onto them for as long as possible. After having an item in the house for so long, you tend to become attached to it and have a reluctance to let it go if it has surpassed its usefulness. Some of these items do not have a clear expiration date making it difficult for you to know exactly when to replace them. This article will guide you on the appropriate time to change the following household items to maintain the cleanliness in your home.

Mattresses

Your mattress is an important part of your life and should be comfortable when you retire to bed after a hard day’s work. The most prominent indication that you need to replace your mattress is sagging. This is a sign that is visible in all types of mattresses. Springs break down after prolonged use, and the memory foam softens with fibers in other materials compressing. When this happens, replace the mattress before the sagging starts to affect your body.

If you constantly sneeze when you get to bed or wake up feeling stuffed, replace the mattress. Over time, mattresses accumulate allergens like dust mites, mildew, and mold, triggering an allergic reaction. When buying a new mattress, you can weigh your option on a king vs Cal king mattress considering latex or hypoallergenic wool materials.

Another indication that your mattress should go is when you wake up with body aches and pains. Gradual softening and degradation of a mattress’s materials make it lose its ability to provide essential support for your lower hips, low back, and neck. Also, worn-out cushioning can cause painful pressure points.

Carpets

A carpet is one house item that can negatively affect your health. One way that this can happen is when the carpet has water damage or mold. Stains are difficult to remove, in addition to being unsightly. When a carpet has water damage, it is a perfect breeding place for mold if left unattended. Mold is dangerous, especially for people with mold allergies and asthma. Family members with mold allergies will experience red eyes, coughing, and sneezing.

Bad smell is another indication that you need to replace your carpet. If the carpet is still smelly after cleaning, it means that pet accidents and spills over the years have deeply penetrated the fibers. The smell can also come from mildew or mold. If you keep rearranging your furniture to hide stains on the carpet, it’s probably time to replace the carpet.

Appliances

You might think that you are saving money by repairing an appliance while you may spend more in the long run. Besides appliance-specific considerations, you should replace an appliance if the repair cost is more than half the cost of a replacement. Also, most appliances affect the cost of other things like your electric or gas bills; therefore, a new appliance could save you more money in the end.

Furnace Filter

Regularly changing your furnace filter will clear the air in your home of dust and other contaminants. When you leave your filter on for too long, it will fill up and fail to trap new dust particles. A clogged or full filter will be unable to prevent extra debris and dirt from circulating in your home which means that your family will breathe more allergens and dust daily. Furthermore, a full furnace filter makes the motor on your HVAC system work extra hard, making it less efficient.

If you have one to two-inch filters, change them every three months, six months for four-inch filters, and every 12 months for five-inch filters. Other signs that indicate you need to replace the furnace filter include:

• A visibly dirty filter
• The cooling or heating system is running more often than usual
• You have more dust than normal in the house
• The area around your HVAC unit has a burning smell, or you notice unfamiliar smells

Knowing the right time to replace a household item will keep your family safe as items such as carpets can be a health risk. Faulty appliances can also cost you energy bills as they consume more energy when operating below their capacity. Therefore, know the right time to let go of that thing that is worn out and underperforming.

Author bio: I’m Jaylin: Guest post service planner of Leelija and full time blogger. Favourite things include my camera, traveling,caring my fitness, food and my fashion. Email id: editor@leelija.com

James Montano