Your favorite pillow, the kitchen sponge, and
old bottles of liquor are just a few things that made our "must-toss"
list.
These items that we
all have around the house don’t have an unlimited shelf-life. Your favorite
pillow, the kitchen sponge and medication are just a few things that made our
“must-toss” list. Here’s when it’s time to say goodbye.
1. Toothbrush
When to toss: Every 3 – 4 months
Your toothbrush is a
magnet for bacteria — not a pleasant thought about something that’s supposed to
clean your teeth! Bacteria on toothbrushes can come from toilet spray (if you
flush with the lid open), splashes from the sink while washing hands, and your
own mouth, which can contain 100 to 200 species of oral bacteria.
Replace your
toothbrush every three to four months “or sooner if the bristles become frayed
with use,” according to the American Dental Association.
More tips
·
Don’t:
Share a toothbrush, especially with someone who is sick.
·
Do:
Always rinse your toothbrush thoroughly after brushing. Allow it to air
dry.
·
Don’t:
Store brushes in closed containers, since bacteria thrive in moist
environments.
·
Do:
Soak toothbrushes in antibacterial mouthwash after using, since this may
decrease the growth of bacteria.
2. OTC medication
When to toss: Once a year
When it comes to
medication and safety, follow the “spring cleaning” rule, says to Marjorie
Phillips, M.S.Pharm., R.Ph., and member of the FDA Drug Safety and Risk
Management Advisory Committee.
Once a year, around
the same time, throw out all expired medications, both prescription and OTC.
Expiration dates guarantee that, with proper storage in a cool, dry place, the
drug will retain 90% of its original potency until that date, she says.
Afterward, the medication may have degraded enough to lose potency or, even
worse, contain harmful degradation-related byproducts.
(Tetracycline is one
drug whose byproducts can cause injury if it’s been sitting around for too
long, but Phillips recommends checking with a pharmacist about individual
meds.)
Medication doesn’t
magically stop working on the expiration date; it’s just safest to follow that
guideline, because it’s really hard to know which meds might be risky or just
not work as well, says Phillips.
Only one common
medication displays a tell-tale sign that it has degraded beyond safe use: non
coated aspirin tablets. “When aspirin starts going bad, you may detect a
vinegar smell,” says Phillips. “That smell is one of the degradation byproducts
within tablets.”
3. Smoke detector batteries
When to toss: Once a year
If you’re guilty of
taking out the smoke detector batteries while you’re cooking and forgetting to
put them back, here’s a scary statistic: “Three of every five home fire deaths
resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms,” according
to the National Fire Protection Association.
While the smoke
alarms themselves should be replaced every 10 years, smoke detector batteries
should be tested and replaced more often. First, find out if your smoke
detector runs on replaceable 9-volt batteries or non-replaceable lithium
batteries.
The 9-volt
batteries should be replaced every year, according to the U.S. Fire
Administration, while lithium batteries will last for 10 years.
4. Liquor
When to toss: Once a year
The good news:
airtight, unopened bottle of booze with no dairy-based ingredients will last
almost forever.
The bad news: Once
you pop that cap, spirits like vodka, rum and gin begin to deteriorate. After
about six months, alcohol vaporizes, sugars crystallize, and in dairy-based liqueurs
like Bailey’s and Godiva, cream curdles. Experts suggest replacing liquor
every year or so, and sniffing and/or taste-testing bottles you’ve had longer.
5. Makeup
When to toss: 3 months to a year, depending on the
product
We’re all guilty of
keeping makeup past its prime, whether it’s a favorite lipstick or our more
dramatic, special-occasion eyeshadow. And though the FDA doesn’t require
cosmetics to have a printed expiration date, beauty products have a definite
shelf life, says Ron Robinson, a cosmetic chemist and founder of BeautyStat.com,
who offers the following expiration guidelines:
·
Mascara: 3-6 months
·
Eyeliner: 3-6 months
·
Eyeshadow: 3-6 months
·
Lipstick: 1 year
·
Face powder: 1 year
“After that time,
[makeup] is more at risk for growing bacteria or mold — especially if not
closed tightly, and kept in a cool, dry environment,” says Robinson.
In a 2010 report, ABC News
tested past-its-prime makeup and found 11 different types of bacteria,
including staph, strep, and bacteria normally found in our intestinal system.
Pay special attention to eye makeup and eye creams that are packaged in pots —
they are more susceptible to contamination, Robinson says. “The eye area
contains mucous membranes which are an entry point for possible infection,” he
advises.
6. Herbs and spices
When to toss: Every 1 – 4 years
Aside from their
being a dusty, sticky mess in your cabinet, old bottles of dried herbs and
spices won’t hurt you, says Janet Brill, Ph.D.,
R.D.N. — they’ll just add less zip to your meals. “There are no health
concerns, they simply lose their potency,” says Dr. Brill.
Seasoning purveyor
McCormick offers these guidelines for shelf life:
·
Ground spices: 3-4 years
·
Whole spices: 4 years
·
Leafy herbs: 1-3 years
·
Bottled seasoning blends: 1-2 years
Faded color and loss
of aroma are two other ways to ID old herbs and spices.
7. Pillows
When to toss: Every few years
Reality check: Most
pillows (and mattresses) are infested with microscopic creatures called dust
mites who feed off the dead skin cells we shed in our beds.
The good news is that
mites only cause problems if you are allergic — about one out of every four or
five people are, says James Sublett, M.D., the president-elect of the American
College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI). If you have year-round
allergy symptoms that are worse after days of high humidity (the mites flourish
in humid environments), or after sleeping, you’ll probably want to get tested.
While there’s no rule
of thumb for when exactly you should replace pillows, if you can’t
remember when you bought them or they are stained or smelly, it’s time to buy
new ones. Two good ways to prolong the life of your pillows are to use
zippered, mite-proof under-pillowcases and wash
your pillowcases (and sheets) weekly.
8. Sponges
When to toss: Monthly
Considering they’re
bathed in soap and water multiple times, sponges are pretty disgusting. Filled
with bacteria and mold, they’re the top source of germs in your home, according
to WebMD.
To prevent your
scrubbers from becoming encrusted with microscopic filth, swap them out
every month, or as soon as they begin to stink (an unmistakable sign of
contamination). Preserve them on a daily basis by throwing them in the
dishwasher or microwaving damp sponges on high for 1-2 minutes (metal-free
sponges only). The heat will kill germs and keep your family healthier.
9. Sneakers
When to toss: Every five months
Do your feet often
hurt? When was the last time you bought a new pair of sneakers? If you wear
athletic shoes often and wait until they’re threadbare to replace them, the
lack of shock-absorption in your shoes could cause foot pain and other injuries
like plantar fasciitis, according to the American Academy of Podiatric Sports
Medicine (AAPSM).
Take a good look at
your shoes before you put them on again — if they don’t lay flat on the floor,
but rather lean to one side, or if the heel of the shoe is very flexible when
squeezed, it’s time for a new pair.
Prevention.com recommends
you replace athletic shoes every five months, if you walk 45 minutes to an
hour three times a week. If you walk more often than that, replace them every
three to four months. Find a more detailed explanation of
what to look for here.
10. Refrigerator water filter
When to toss: Twice a year
Because fridge
filters collect bacteria and mold over time, manufacturers’ rule of thumb is
to change them twice yearly. Many newer fridges even have a convenient
light indicating it’s time to switch.
Really, though, it
depends on use. If you have a large family who fills up frequently, you may
notice your water has an unpleasant flavor or fragrance after just three
months. If you live alone, and you tend to drink soda over H2O, it may take up
to nine months.
Minerals in the water
make a difference, as well. Folks with “hard” water — meaning it has a high
concentration of minerals — may need to replace filters more often.
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