Your home is yours’ and your family’s retreat from the world. It’s your safe haven, the place where you feel the most calm and comfortable. We put a lot of time, effort and money into making our homes nice places, which is why it’s so important that we do everything that we can to look after them.

A lot of us don’t realise that household items have a lifespan. This might sound strange, but many items within the home are only built to last for a certain number of years. From kitchen appliances to bedroom furniture, everything has a lifespan, even if we’re not aware of it.

While we could ignore the lifespan of our household items, it’s best not to, as it can end up leading to all sorts of problems. Take your mattress, for instance. If you don’t replace this when it needs replacing, it will start to sag, will harbour bacteria, and will leave you prone to back problems. So, it pays to be aware of what household items need replacing when.

With that in mind, below is a list of the household items that will need replacing at some point in the future.

Mattresses and bedding



Good quality mattresses can last between five and 15 years, depending on the mattress type. An indicator that a mattress is in need of replacement is that it has started to sag or that the springs can be felt through it. Once you notice these types of problems, it’s best to get a replacement mattress as soon as possible. Otherwise, you could end up injuring your back.

As for your bedding itself, this differs between the different items. Mattress toppers should be replaced every three to five years. While duvets should be replaced between every five and 40 years. This, of course, depends on the quality of them and what they’re stuffed with. Synthetic duvets tend to last between five and seven years, while down duvets can last up to 40 years, if well looked after. As for your pillows, these should be replaced every three to five years. Even if they look like they’re in good shape, pillows can accumulate a lot of dust and dirt. So it’s best to swap your old pillows for new box pillows - or whatever pillows you prefer, at least every five years.

Sofas

Sofas can last between seven and 15 years. Depending, of course, on the quality of them and how well they’re looked after. The sofas that tend to last the longest are leather ones because they’re easy to wipe clean. Material ones that are washable can also last well. However, they never seem to stay looking nice for as long as leather sofas do. Once your sofa has rips in it, is stained, or the cushions have started to lose their shape; this is a sign it needs replacing.

Electronic appliances



The lifespan of electronic appliances varies from appliance to appliance. Take dishwashers, for instance; the best ones tend to last for around nine years. However, cheap ones only last between three and five years. Whereas, freezers and fridges have a lifespan of between ten and 20 years. While washing machines can last for between five and 15 years, depending on the make, model and quality of the design.

Each and every item in your home has a lifespan; some are just longer than others. Take carpet, for instance; that can last between three and 20 years. Whereas, hardwood flooring can last for up to 50 years. The important thing is to ensure that you’re aware of how long each item in your home should last, so that you know when to replace them.