Spring Cleaning? Throw It Out!

March 8, 2006 — -- If you tend to hold onto things, thinking that you may need them one day, think again. You could be risking your health.

"Good Morning America's" consumer correspondent Elisabeth Leamy teamed up with the Good Housekeeping Institute to find out how long it's safe to keep common household products and when to throw them out.

"Many people are surprised to learn that common household items need to be thrown out after a certain time, whether they're used or not," said John Kupsch, the institute's technical director.

If it's hard for you to throw things out, think of it this way: It gives you an excuse to go shopping.

It's important to dispose of items properly. Paint, rechargeable batteries, fire extinguishers and smoke alarms should all be brought to a hazardous waste collection site.