11 Things to Toss From Your Kitchen ASAP

Damaged Nonstick Cookware

The safety (or lack thereof) of nonstick chemicals (like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS) used in cookware has been making headlines for decades. The risk of synthetic chemicals leaching into food during cooking is thought to expose users to various health issues. PFAS-free, like stainless steel and cast iron, is a great alternative, but using damaged nonstick cookware made with PFAS of any kind is not advised. "Damaged nonstick cookware can release 'forever chemicals' which have been linked to serious health risks,” says Katie Berry, residential cleaning expert. Nonstick cookware where the coating is dinged, scratched, chipped, etc, should be tossed.

Cracked Mugs and Chipped Glassware

Even if you like the distressed look of old drinkwear, damaged mugs and glasses could pose a hazard. "A cracked mug is an accident waiting to happen since heat can finish breaking it apart while you’re mid-sip," says Berry. "And chipped glasses can injure your mouth." Marred mugs and glassware can be recycled or used for storage receptacles elsewhere and replaced.

Mismatched, Warped, or Too Many Food Containers

The bane of kitchens everywhere, the food storage container area is often rife with an annoying jumble of mismatched bottoms without tops, tops without bottoms, and cracked or warped pieces that don't keep food airtight. "Assess plastic ware, especially containers (like takeout containers) you have been reusing," says Mary Gagliardi, aka "Dr. Laundry," Clorox's in-house scientist and cleaning expert. "Discard any that are cracked or are missing pieces. If you simply have too many, donate what you don’t need to a local classroom for their storage needs, like art supplies."

Stained Linens

Tablecloths are gorgeous, and cloth napkins and dish towels are the sustainable way to go, but all these items can take a beating given their regular proximity to food. Gagliardi says to evaluate your dish towels, cloth napkins, and tablecloths for stains, and see if you can restore them. "After getting them clean, decide whether you want to keep them, especially if you have multiple sets, reuse them around the house for cleaning tasks, or donate them." It may be time to let them go if they are particularly threadbare and worn out.

Spoiled Food

Cleaning out the refrigerator may not be the most beloved of chores, but it’s a necessary evil—a cluttered fridge leads to stress and food waste, a sustainability and economic no-no. "Empty the contents of the refrigerator, checking expiration dates and assessing food items for spoilage, especially little-used items that you’ve had longer than you realize," says Gagliardi. "Compost spoiled or expired food, and wash out plastic or glass containers before recycling." Once you have your refrigerator in order, it will be immensely easier to see what you have and use up what you can before it goes bad.

Unwanted Pantry Foods

We have all done it, over-purchased canned items at a sale or picked up that novelty pantry staple in a moment of ambitious shopping. And all too often, these items end up living a life of ignominy on the back of a shelf. "Expired foods are obvious ones to get rid of, but what about that can of lima beans you keep pushing to the side because no one in your family will eat them? Donate them to a food pantry or add them to your compost pile," says Berry.

Stale Dried Herbs and Spices

One of life's great mysteries is this: How are you supposed to use a whole jar of random herb or spice that you only needed a half a teaspoon for just one recipe? A sad fate compounded by dried herbs and spices losing their potency more quickly than you might think. "If you open the container and don’t get a strong whiff of their scent, your food won’t pick up their taste, either," says Berry. Go through your spices and assess for flavor, and find new life for those that are stale.

Scratched or Warped Plastic Cutting Boards

Cutting boards may seem straightforward, but they come with important safety considerations. "Warped cutting boards are likely to wobble when you’re cutting things, leading to injury," says Berry. Sharp knives already pose a risk of injury; a wobbly cutting board only exacerbates that risk. Meanwhile, scratched boards come with their own risks. "Scratches in plastic cutting boards trap bacteria that washing doesn’t always remove," she says. Consider moving a scratched cutting board to your craft supplies to use as a paper cutting mat.

Damaged Wooden Utensils

Wooden spoons and other cooking utensils are great for use across all different types of cookware, but once they start to split and fray, it’s time to replace them. "Those cracks and fuzzy fibers are bacterial landmines," says Berry.

Empty Jars

If you're resourceful and/or waste-aware, you likely have a drawer or cupboard rife with old jam and sauce jars. But are you using them? More likely, they are seemingly multiplying on their own and are rarely used. Try repurposing what you can—they make great votive holders or storage receptacles for nuts and bolts, craft supplies, toiletries, garden supplies, and more. But otherwise, it's time to donate or recycle the excess.

Unused Kitchen Items

While many tossable things should get the heave-ho because of their condition, even items in good condition don't make sense to keep if you aren't using them. Gagliardi advises opening your cabinets and drawers, emptying the contents, and donating items you aren’t using or have duplicates of—"like cheese knives," she says. "Tools that don’t work well anymore, like a worn-out can opener or a vegetable peeler, can be discarded."

Berry recommends donating anything you don’t use at least once a year. "The things in your kitchen should earn their keep. If they aren’t useful, you don’t need them," she says.