Essential household items you should replace more often – pro cleaners urge you to keep track of these 7 items to maintain a healthy home

Some common household staples are so integral to daily life that we forget they need replacing.

From cleaning supplies to water filters, and even home fragrances, there are several key household items that get overlooked by us all, decreasing in efficiency or even becoming toxic with time.

With the help of experts, we look at the top seven home items we need to replace more often and what to do with the items you are decluttering for a cleaner, healthier household.

Household items you should replace more often

Knowing how often you should replace commonly- used items helps to keep your home hygienic, often getting rid of souces of bacteria and dust. It helps that they can make your home more efficient, too.

1. Kitchen sponges

You might think this one is obvious, but you'd be surprised at how common it is not to replace this item that's used at least a couple of times a day.

Alex Varela, general manager of Dallas Maids says, 'The smell is the best sign that they need replacement, but aside from that after a few weeks they also lose absorbing power, so you have to spend more on dishwashing soap and more time scrubbing your dishes and utensils. I wouldn’t leave them for more than two weeks before throwing them in the trash. That is if you’re using regular sponges.'

If you don't want to be buying new sponges every few weeks then what's the option? Alex suggests, 'You can switch to silicone sponges instead like Amazon's Lubrima silicone sponges, they easily last a few months. Silicone is non-porous which means that you won’t have bacteria growing inside the sponge.'

This approach is a great way to clean your home without harming the planet. To keep silicone 'sponges' hygienic, consider cleaning with vinegar every week to kill bacteria and mold spores while removing odors.

2. Mop heads

Learning how to clean floors is essential and using a good mop after vacuuming is key. Whether you use a traditional style mop head or a microfiber design, can you remember when you last replaced the head?

We're all guilty of leaving these things – we clean, we put them away, and move on to the next thing.

Shari Soloman Cedar, CEO & co-owner of AK Building Services says to look out for signs of wear, 'A worn-out mop head will show frayed or broken fibers. It will also stop effectively cleaning floors, often leaving streaks or dirt behind.'

Shari adds another key sign you need a replacement is a mop head becoming less absorbent, or you need to apply excessive force to clean. She adds, 'Mop heads should typically be replaced every three to six months, or sooner if used frequently in high-traffic areas.'

There are three main types of mop, flat, spray, and string, we've picked our favorites below.

3. Toilet bowl brushes

Perhaps the most neglected of household items, a toilet bowl brush needs replacing a lot more than you might think.

Shari explains, 'If the bristles are bent, misshapen, or overly worn, it’s time to replace your toilet brush. The brush should also be replaced if it starts to retain an unpleasant odor that cannot be removed.'

Once it becomes ineffective at cleaning too it's time to buy a new one, so how often should we be replacing it? Shari advises, 'Ideally, a toilet bowl brush should be replaced every six months to a year, depending on usage.'

4. Scent sachets and closet deodorizers

We all love things that make homes smell good all the time, especially when they also tackle musty problem areas such as bedroom drawers and closets. Scent sachets are a go-to, but the scent does diminish over time – so subtly that we don't always notice them.

Cara Palmer, founder of OrganizeEveryRoom says they need replacing every three to four months, 'When they no longer emit fragrance or show discoloration it's time to replace them. A sustainable alternative is switching to activated charcoal deodorizers, which last up to a year and are more environmentally friendly.'

Another great way to be more sustainable at home is to make lavender sachets with dry rice and dried flowers using reusable drawstring tea bags, available at Amazon.

We're big fans of activated charcoal and its benefits so we searched for the ultimate deodorizer as recommended by Cara.

5. Water filters

According to Cara, water filters should be replaced every two to six months, 'This does depend on usage and water quality. Warning signs include reduced water pressure [in the case of built-in fridge systems], a strange taste, or if your filter indicator light comes on. An expired filter can leach captured contaminants back into your water supply. Track replacement dates on your phone calendar to stay consistent.'

For the best results, invest in a water filter that alerts you when it needs the filter replaced, Amazon's Brita large water filter pitcher for tap and drinking water has a SmartLight filter change indicator and is a highly rated buy. It is also possible to learn how to clean a water filter so you double its use.

6. Microfiber cloths

One of the most used cleaning items is the microfiber cloth. Perfect for so many things – dusting, cleaning windows, floors, surfaces, and appliances, it's a multifunctional cloth that is used daily in most households.

They are also washable so they can be kept clean and hygienic, but this is when we tend to keep using them longer than we should, Shari explains, 'After multiple washes, microfiber cloths lose their fibers’ ability to trap dirt. If the cloth no longer feels soft or doesn’t clean effectively, it’s time to retire it.'

Next time you use yours have a good look at it, is there visible wear? Fraying? Shari says, 'Generally, microfiber cloths should be replaced every six to 12 months, depending on use and washing frequency.'

Adding vinegar to laundry when washing microfiber cloths can help to strip away cleaning product build-up and remove odors to increase the time between replacements. Consider using old household cloths to clean outdoors, such as cleaning outdoor furniture or cleaning cars, to avoid them going to waste.

We did a search and found some highly rated microfiber cloths below that are washable and long-lasting.

7. HVAC air filters

Every HVAC unit has air filters that need to be replaced, Cara explains.

She says these should be replaced 'every 60-90 days, or monthly for homes with pets or allergies. Signs that it's time include visible dust accumulation, increased energy bills, or reduced airflow.'

According to Cara a clogged filter can make your heating system harder, increase energy consumption by up to 15%, and reduce your system's lifespan by years, so it's worth keeping a record of when they were fitted and due for replacement. Remember it's important to learn how to clean your HVAC system too so it stays efficient.

It's always worth having a spare set of air filters in a drawer, we like Walmart's Filterbuy 16x25x1 MERV 8 pleated HVAC AC furnace air filters. Check your HVAC system's make and model or the manufacturer manual for details on which filters you can use in your appliance.

Meet the experts

Alex Varela

Alex Varela is the general manager of Dallas Maids, a house cleaning service in Dallas, Texas. He believes that creating a clean and healthy home environment makes families happier.

Shari Solomon Cedar

Shari is the CEO and co-owner of AK Building Services, an industry-leading family owned and operated commercial janitorial services provider in Florida.

Cara Palmer

Cara Palmer is a home organization expert and founder of Organize Every Room, where she combines form, function, and fun to help people turn cluttered chaos into spaces they love.

These are luckily all items to declutter in under an hour for a tidier and more hygienic home. The key is to have a regular replacement schedule in place – use the Notes app in your phone or write down dates in a notebook, it will help to keep your home in great condition.