Every May when school gets out I try to do a big clean out of my pantry and cupboards. I love clean and organized spaced, although, if you came in my home right now you might not thing I am very good at it. Let’s just say, schools almost over and my house will be nicely organized over the summer! Sometimes there are things in my home I keep but should probably toss. I’m not a hoarder, but I don’t like to throw things away that are still good, or I think are still good. I love this guest post written by Maurine Anderson about things in your home you probably didn’t realized are expired! Some of the things I haven’t ever thought about, like spices, and medicine. Now when I do my big cleaning next month I know what I will be throwing out!
Things in Your Home You Probably Didn’t Realize Are Expired
Most of us make it a point to throw out food items as they expire (right?), but what about those other things in the home that have expiration dates as well? Chances are there are more than a few items in your home that could stand to be replaced. Here is a brief look at other household items that you’ll want to toss once they’ve passed the expiration date or “period after opening.”
Makeup
Many of us have a nasty habit of holding onto makeup long past the expiration dates, which in turn leaves us using dried out or bacteria-filled products. As this article explains, purging makeup at the right time is crucial for maintaining healthy and blemish-free skin. You can typically determine when a makeup product thrown out by looking for a symbol on the package that signifies its “period after opening” (PAO), usually given in months. The symbol resembles an open cosmetics pot and features a number followed by “M” for “months” or “Y” for “years.” Some products, such as lotion containing SPF, will indicate an actual expiration date on the package, so it’s important to look for an expiration date if you can’t find a PAO symbol. Here’s an idea of when you should be throwing your makeup out: mascara after 3 months; liquid foundation after 6 months to a year; lipstick after 1 to 2 years; and blush and eyeshadow after 2 years.
Medicine
So you may be used to seeing the expiration dates printed on your prescription medication bottles, but what about those other over-the-counter medications, like Advil, Benadryl, and NyQuil? Many people make it a point to keep these types of medicines on hand, only to forget to replace them once their potency has decreased. Over-the-counter medications all have their own expiration dates as well, and you’ll find them conveniently printed right on the package. Most medicines can be tossed or flushed, but some will require special handling for disposal; so be sure to do a quick Google search online before disposing of medicine.
Cleaning products
Cleaning products can lose their potency over time, as well. In fact, sometimes the plastic containers that cleaning products are stored in can affect their formulas over time. Here’s a quick run-down of how long you can expect your cleaning products to last before they might begin to degrade: laundry detergent for 6 months to a year; fabric softener for about a year; multi-surface cleaners for about 2 years; and automatic dishwashing detergent for only about 3 months. Take note that cleaning products will last longer when stored in a cool, dry place. Also, some cleaning products will have a production date stamped on the package, making it easier to keep track of how old your products are.
Paint
It’s great to keep extra paint from a painting job on hand for future touch-ups, but it’s not so great when you open the paint can years later only to find that the paint has gone bad. Unopened latex or oil-based paints can last several years if they are stored in a cool, dry place, but once they have been opened, they are typically only good for about 2 years if closed tightly. An easy way to tell if your paint has expired is to see if the solids will mix back in with the liquid; if the solids won’t mix with the liquid, it’s time to invest in some new paint.
Batteries
Batteries can become deleted or corroded over time, so it’s important to look for clearly printed expiration dates on their packages, as well. Energizer, for example, states that lithium cylindrical types of batteries can be stored for 10 to 15 years at room temperature, while cylindrical alkaline batteries have a shelf like of 5 to 10 years. Cylindrical carbon zinc batteries, meanwhile, have a shelf life of only 3 to 5 years.
Spices
Spices may be a food item, but we don’t treat them as such when it comes to monitoring their expiration and “best by” dates. Ground spices tend to have a lifespan of 3 to 4 years, while dried leafy herbs tend to last about 2 to 3 years. Seasoning blends, meanwhile, are good for about 2 years. Take note that not all spice containers come with an expiration or “best by” date on them, so it’s a good idea to label your spice jars with the date you bought them.
So are there things in your home you probably didn’t realize are expired?
