Sure, you’re wary of spoiled milk, but other everyday non-food items also go bad over time and cause trouble for you when you least expected. That’s right, whether it’s under the sink, in your bathroom cabinet, or in the garage, just about anything in your home can expire. Read on to learn more!
Here are five expected things that don’t expire, but do!
1. Wood polish
Wood polishes like Pledge expire within a two-year span. Due to its wax compounds and essential oils, over time, these two elements separate. It can emit an oily residue on your wood items. To help lengthen its lifespan, keep polishes out of direct sunlight and at room temperature.
2. Shampoo and Conditioner
Expired shampoo and conditioner stinks, and has a strange consistency. There’s a golden rule for this kind of products. Keep an opened bottle no longer than 18 months and, an unopened for more than three years. You don’t want to use expired shampoo and conditioner because they won’t work the way they’re supposed to, and you’ll also have the risk of opening the door to an infection on your scalp.
3. Hydrogen Peroxide
If you’ve ever splashed hydrogen peroxide onto your cut and didn’t feel the expected fizz and bubbles, it’s because your bottle of hydrogen peroxide has become a bottle of plain water. It is mostly used for treating cuts and scrapes. When it is expired, it separates into water and oxygen, which makes it no longer useful as a disinfectant.
It has the shelf life of six months once it is opened, but before it’s opened, hydrogen peroxide can continue up to three years. So, if you have one that has been resting in your medicine cabinet for more than three years, it would be an excellent idea to replace it.
4.Laundry Detergent and Bleach
Bleach, just any other cleaning product, expires. You can only keep it for about six months when it’s stored in temperatures between 50 and 70 degrees.
Whether it’s liquid or powdered detergent, you shouldn’t keep it for years on end. Once opened, a detergent is good for about six months just like bleach, while the unopened bottles for about nine months to a year.
5. Household cleaning products
All house cleaning products have an expiration date. Considering some items usually stick around for years on end, you might want to consider making all-natural cleaners using essential household ingredients, so you can save money and make only what you need each time you’re going to clean.
For example, white vinegar makes an excellent germ killer and deodorizer. Sea salt can act as a scrubbing abrasive, and lemon juice has anti-mildew properties. The choices are endless when you go with all-natural cleaners. You can also hire a professional house cleaner, so you don’t have to worry about expired cleaning products.
So there you have it! You should check the things that expire on its label for the expiration date. You might be using expired products that can pose a danger for you and your family. Always remember that household cleaners do best in a dry and stable temperature place.