While it’s pretty easy to know that things such as eggs, milk and other types of foods have gone bad, that can’t be said for things that don’t have a clearly stated expiration date. But don’t let that fool you. There are many unexpected items that actually have an expiration date, and you just never knew it. Most of them are things we even use on the daily! So, let’s take a look at some of these items.
There are many unexpected items that actually have an expiration date
Items That Have An Expiration Date
While some products don’t have a clearly stated expiration date, it doesn’t mean they don’t have one. While they may not have gone “bad” in a sense, they can lose their effectiveness, or even cause us sickness. Here are some items you may not have known that have an expiration date.
While items may not have gone “bad” in a sense, they can lose their effectiveness
#Toothbrush
Yep, toothbrushes expire. Half of the world population change their toothbrushes too often while the other half not enough. A general rule to follow is to change up your toothbrush for a new one every two to four months. Toothbrushes hold a ton of different bacteria in them, and they just grow over time. And if the bristles have started to splay, or you are noticing debris, it’s time for a new one. Brushes like that just aren’t as effective as you want them to be. Oh, it’s also good to replace your toothbrush if you’ve been sick.
Change up your toothbrush for a new one every two to four months
#Towels
While these are created to help us stay clean, towels can also harbor a ton of unfriendly bacteria that can cause sickness. This is usually due to the fact that these fluffy towels stay wet or at least moist most of the time, which makes them the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. And no, not even the washing machine can get rid of the bacteria that gets accumulated over time. A general rule to follow is to change and replace your towels at least yearly.
Towels can also harbor a ton of unfriendly bacteria
#Pillows
Everybody has a couple of pillows on their bed. But it’s good to keep in mind that it’s not a good idea to use them more than two years. This is because pillows tend to trap a lot of dust in them. The materials that they are made of “ingest” a ton of dead skin cells from your skin and the more you sleep on it the more dead skin cells get trapped in the pillow. This type of environment becomes perfect for breeding bacteria.
It’s not a good idea to use pillows more than two years
#Sunscreen
While sunscreens may not come with a strict expiration date, this doesn’t mean they don’t have one. According to experts, sunscreen is effective for around three years. After that they significantly lose their potency. Make sure to always check if there is an expiration date on the bottle. However, if there is not we recommend you write down when you first opened the bottle. This way you will have a clear idea of when it’s time to toss it. After all, who needs a sunscreen that isn’t effective anymore?
Sunscreen is effective for around three years
#Car Seats
Yes, even child car seats have an expiration date. Next time you find a second hand car seat for sale on Craigslist, Facebook marketplace or a yard sale, just pass it. While it may be cheaper, it’s not worth it. Car seats are created with the intent to protect your child in the event of a crash. However, these protective materials degrade and compress over time. This means that the car seat kind of becomes useless after six to ten years. All car seats are stamped with the date of manufacturing, so you can see when it’s time to throw it away. How fast a car seat loses its effectiveness also depends on how heavily it was used.
Next time you find a second hand car seat for sale, just pass it
These were some unexpected items that actually have an expiration date. Were you surprised by any? We hope you found this article useful. Now you have a general idea of what needs to be tossed out and replaced from time to time.
Were you surprised by any of the items?
Sources:
Edna ©
BuzzFeed ©
Bob Vila ©