Staying Fit
Why wait until spring to clean and organize your life? The start of a new year is the perfect time to refresh and reset. Here are 10 simple things you can do to start fresh in 2020.
Toss your old toothbrush
How long has your toothbrush been hanging around? The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends replacing toothbrushes every three to four months, or more often if the bristles on your brush are visibly matted and frayed. Start the new year with a new toothbrush and buy a multipack so you have replacements on hand throughout the year.
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Replace your kitchen sponge
Your kitchen sponge is meant to wipe down surfaces and scrub pots and pans. But how much cleaning is it actually doing? Researchers have found that kitchen sponges are “the biggest reservoirs of active bacteria in the whole house,” and some of the bacteria they harbor can cause illness, according to a study in Scientific Reports. Zapping unwanted germs by boiling or microwaving sponges doesn't do much good. The same study found that sponges regularly sanitized by these common cleaning methods did not contain less bacteria than uncleaned ones, and even had an increased abundance of some bacteria. The study's authors recommend replacing kitchen sponges weekly.
Clean out the condiments
The new year is a great time to sort through all the half-empty jars of pickles and bottles of barbecue sauce that litter the side door of the fridge. Some condiments will need to be tossed (anything fuzzy is a no-go); others can be incorporated into new dishes. (Check out Bon Appetit's list of 10 ways to use up your nearly empty sauces and dressings.) For those that get to stay: Group condiments together so you know what you have and where it is.