Five Non-Food Household Items That Have an Expiration Date
Senior Care in Marina Del Ray CA
Most seniors are aware of the expiration dates printed on food items. Food that has expired has often lost its freshness, good taste, and it can even cause sickness. For this reason, it is important that seniors take note of these expiration dates and get rid of expired food. But, did you know that there are many other household items that shouldn’t be used after they reach a certain age? In order to maintain a safe and healthy home, seniors and their caregivers should be aware of the expiration dates of these items and get rid of them when they get too old:
1. Over the Counter Medications
Medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and cold medicine have printed expiration dates on their packaging. Once they’ve passed their expiration date, they may lose their effectiveness.
2. Make-up
Make-up, especially eye make-up, can actually be a breeding ground for bacteria. Mascara can typically be used for about 3-4 months and lipsticks can be used for up to 2 years. After that, they should be tossed to prevent infections and the spread of germs.
3. Sunscreen
Sunscreen (and moisturizers that contain sunscreen) will typically remain effective for about 3 years. Some sunscreens will have their expiration date printed on the bottle and this date should not be ignored.
4. Cleaning Supplies
Cleaning supplies do not stay effective forever. Once opened, laundry and dish detergents will only last for about 1 year and aerosol disinfectant will only last for 2 years. Window cleaner can be used for up to 2 years, but bleach is only good for about 3 to 6 months!
5. Common Garage Items
Many seniors keep opened containers of things such as paint or motor oil in the garage just in case they are ever needed. However, paint is only good for about 2 to 5 years once it is opened and an opened container of motor oil should be disposed of after about 3 months.
Seniors can work together with their home care aides to make sure that they aren’t using any expired household products. For items that don’t come with a printed expiration date on them like cans of paint or tubes of mascara, it is a good idea to use a permanent marker to write the date they were opened right on the package.
If you or an aging loved one needs senior care services in Marina Del Ray, CA, call Livewell Private Care at (310) 933-4986. Servicing Los Angeles, CA and the surrounding areas.
Source: http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/surprising-expiration-dates