Certain household items are sitting on your cabinets’ shelves for years and years but you continue using them. Are they safe to use? Or have they expired? Are they dangerous for your and your family’s health? Well, all you need to know is that every product has a shelf-life, which means that you can get the full potential from this product during the stated shelf-life. Once the shelf-life is over, the product significantly loses its ability to perform well, and, in some cases, it might even become dangerous. So, why would you want to hold on to a product that either does not work well or is dangerous for your health? Check out this list of items that are probably in your house and their shelf-life, which you probably didn't know about, has passed.
1. Toothpaste
In case you didn’t know, toothpaste expires as well. So, it’s important to take notice of the toothpaste’s expiry date because you use it daily to brush your teeth with it. However, when it comes to the shelf-life, toothpaste shouldn’t even last longer if you’re using them daily. But if you are not, then you should know that hoarding toothpaste isn’t going to do you any favors since it only lasts for around 2 years. The toothpaste won’t become instantly toxic by the time it hits the 2-year marker but it will be a lot less effective since the fluoride in the product will break down.
Andrea Piacquadio/ Pexels | The fluoride breakdown in the product will surely make it less effective
2. Moisturizers
Did you know your skin comes into contact with bacteria if you use an expired moisturizer? Yes, it does. Not only that but all the ingredients present in the moisturizer like retinol, glycolic acid, and vitamin c begin to break down a year after the seal is broken. However, ingredients like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid start to break down just 6 months later.! So, how do you know if your moisturizer needs to be replaced? You check the packaging on the bottle, which will indicate the shelf-life like 12M, 6M, or 24M.
Pixabay/Pexels | You should love your skin enough to use non-expired moisturizers
3. Sunscreen
The sun is out so you need to put on sunscreen. But, would the sunscreen be effective if it’s been lying on your table for a few months? Well, according to the Mayo Clinic, sunscreens can retain their strength for around 3 years but does this mean all sunscreens last that long? Nope! Some sunscreens last for a few months only and that’s mentioned on their packaging. So, make sure to check.
Kindel Media/ Pexels | Some sunscreens last for a few months and that is mentioned on their packaging
So just keep an eye out for items on the brink of expiring.
