7 Items Home Editors Replace Every Year
Keep tabs on when it’s time to swap out these items in your own home.
Every home is full of stuff. Some items might make your day-to-day easier—and others can be tossed completely—but there are a few items that fall into a sort of purgatory: You need them, but they also need to be replaced every so often. Confusing? Don’t worry, we’re here to help.
The team at Good Housekeeping is full of experts who have smart solutions for just about every home dilemma you can imagine. Seriously, we know everything from painting a wall like a professional to removing that mysterious odor from fresh laundry, so we’re good at restocking a space.
Here, GH editors share the items you should remove every year, so your home can be full of the good stuff.
Smoke Detector Batteries
You probably change the batteries in your TV remote or flashlights as soon as they run out of juice, but your smoke detector is one of those items that can easily be forgotten. “I always make sure to replace the batteries on smoke detectors at least once a year—or sooner if I hear the chirp signaling it's time for a new battery,” says Dan DiClerico, home improvement and outdoor director at the Good Housekeeping Institute.
If you still hear that relentless chirping, coming from another device, it’s time to check your carbon monoxide detector. The sound could be a sign that the odorless, colorless, and potentially fatal gas has infiltrated your space.
Toilet Brush
Your home can only be as pristine as the tools you use to clean it, so you’ll want to swap out things like that grimy toilet brush on a regular basis.
While some experts suggests replacing your brush more frequently, Noah Pinsonnault, a product reviews analyst in Good Housekeeping’s Home Care & Cleaning Lab, says letting it drip dry completely between uses and occasionally disinfect it with a diluted bleach solution can safely extend its lifespan.
That said, prioritize condition over calendar. “Proper care helps it last longer,” says Pinsonnault. “Once the bristles become bent, worn, or no longer scrub effectively, it's time for a new one,” he says.
Welcome Mat
Your entryway is your home’s first impression, so why mar its curb appeal with a dirty or torn-up welcome mat? Monique Valeris, Good Housekeeping’s home design director, swaps her’s out annually. “I like to shop for a new design or two once a year,” says Valeris. “It's a small accent that guests always notice and it makes me happy whenever I enter or leave my home.”
Style aside, welcome mats also need to withstand the elements. These pro-approved welcome mats mix form and function.
Shower Liner
While you’re cleansing your bathroom of its current toilet brush, mosey on over to your shower, too. You carefully selected a cute shower curtain, but there’s a good chance your liner is covered in soap scum and, even worse, mildew. “I wash them throughout the year, but I usually need a new one yearly,” says Emma Seymour, associate director of the Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute.
For regular upkeep, simply throw your liner in washing machine. Yes, even the plastic and vinyl ones.
Pillows
Behind every good night’s sleep is an army of cozy bedding. While bedding can be replaced every few years, Valeris likes to swap out pillows sooner. (Especially in her son’s bedroom—he has allergies.)
“You'd be surprised by how much dust and body oils can build up on your pillows throughout the year,” she says. “Who wants to sleep on that?”
When you’re ready to shop, check out our favorite pillows to buy.
Water Filter
Our experts also encourage you to replace your water filter annually, but it’s cool to let modern technology give you a friendly reminder. For example, Nicole Papantoniou, Kitchen Appliances Lab director at the Good Housekeeping Institute, uses the Aquatru Reverse Osmosis water filter pitcher in her home. “It has three filters, two of which the brand says to replace annually,” she explains. “It connects to an app that keeps track of how much I use them and alerts me when to replace.”
If apps and Bluetooth connectivity aren’t your thing, opt for a low-maintenance filter. “I went with the Multipure Aquaversa, in part because it has an impressive 750-gallon capacity,” says DiClerico. “For my family, it means the filter only needs to be replaced once a year.”
Excess Chargers
Who doesn’t have a big box of jumbled cords and cables? Here’s your sign to do an annual purge. “I usually toss a bunch of old chargers each year that I no longer need,” says Seymour. The rules for decluttering are simple: If you haven’t used it in a year—or have no idea what it charges—toss it.
Kelsey Mulvey is a freelance journalist who has over a decade of experience in print and digital media. She covers interior design and lifestyle content for a breadth of publications, including Good Housekeeping, Country Living, House Beautiful, Veranda, and more. Her hobbies include themed spinning classes, Netflix, and nachos.
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