We always remember to check the expiration date on our milk, and we know how long we can use our beauty products.
But when it comes to the items we use every day at home, we rarely think about whether they have an “expiration date.”
That’s why it’s time to realize that it’s not enough to just check what’s in the fridge.
It’s just as important to pay attention to the things around us that seem safe, but over time can become impractical or even harmful.
Below, you’ll discover which items in your home have an expiration date and why it’s important to replace them regularly, even if they seem perfectly fine at first glance.
Bedroom
1. Pillows (2 – 3 years)
Think about this carefully. You sleep on your pillow every night. To make it comfortable, we often fold, fluff, or squeeze the pillow, which, in this way, loses its former shape and can lead to neck pain. Also, it becomes a home for numerous dust mites.
2. Slippers (6 months)
We usually wear slippers after a tiring work day, on high heels or other uncomfortable shoes. However, they create the perfect environment for fungal growth. So, it is best to wash the slippers as often as possible.
Most of them can be washed by hand or in the machine.
Bathroom
3. Sponge (2 weeks)
4. Shower Pouf (2 – 3 months)
Mold and fungus can be caused by shower utensils. Avoid using old poufs or sponges. It is recommended to boil the natural and synthetic poufs in hot water in order to destroy the bacteria.
5. Towel (2 – 5 years)
Do you wash your towels after each bath? Or do you hang them to air dry? The wet towels are an ideal place for the development of bacteria. Usually, washing the towel after it has stayed damp for too long may not remove all the bacteria.
6. Toothbrush (3 months)
All of us know that we should replace our toothbrushes when its bristles start to wear down. Moreover, we should also replace it after a common cold or flu in order to prevent getting sick again from the bacteria.
Dresser
7. Hairbrush (1 year)
We should clean the brushes every week, and we should replace them every year. However, if you have a hairbrush with boar bristle, you should replace it from 7 – 10 months.
8. Perfume or Eau de toilette (3 – 5 years)
Perfumes that contain essential oils last for about 3 years when they are stored closed, or for about 2 years when they are stored open. Eau de toilettes last for 5 years when the store is closed, or for 2 years when the store is open.
Nursery
9. Pacifier (4 – 6 weeks)
When it comes to latex pacifiers, they should be replaced, without taking into consideration their state or the period they are used. Latex easily breaks, and provides an ideal place for the development of germs.
10. Car seats (6 – 10 years)
The foam and plastic worsen over time and lose their shape, so they do not provide protection any more. Usually, it is best to buy a new child car seat rather than a second-hand one.
Wardrobe
11. Bra (1 – 2 years)
Bras also do not last forever; when they lose their shape, they also lose their elasticity, they are very big or very small, and even uncomfortable to wear. All this indicates that it is about time to buy a new bra.
12. Running Shoes (1 year)
Even though you are not a gym hermit or a marathon runner, when your running shoes reach 250 – 300 miles, the cushion starts to break down, causing joint pain.
Kitchen
13. Spices (1 – 3 years)
When they expire, spices begin to lose their taste and smell. For example, ground spices should not be kept for over 6 months. If you have a bottle of nutmeg, you should pitch it.
14. Flour (6 – 12 months)
If it is first-grade, it can be kept for about 6 months, but if it is high-grade, it can be kept for a year.
Pantry
15. Fire Extinguishers (15 years)
If your fire extinguisher is damaged, if it has cracks, you should repair it immediately.
16. Disinfectants (3 months)
Disinfectants are no longer effective after being used for over 3 months.
17. Mosquito repellents (2 years)
If you only go camping once a year, you should not bring it for the third or even for the fourth year. The mosquito repellent is useless after 2 years.
Conclusion
Although we often don’t think about it, many objects around us have an “expiration date.” If we don’t replace them in time, they can lose their function and even negatively affect our health and comfort.
Therefore, make it a small habit, from time to time, check not only what is in your kitchen, but also in the entire house. By doing so, you will not only protect your health but also enjoy a safer, more comfortable home.