19 Household Items That Can Actually Expire

16. Bleach (and Other Disinfectants)

Bleach loses some if its potency around three months. This shouldn’t be a problem for household laundry, but the disinfectant qualities fall below the EPA standards around this time, which means it isn’t effective for cleaning.

Solution: Toss your bleach every few months or so. Same goes for Lysol and other household disinfectants.

17. Sunscreen

According to the Mayo Clinic, most sunscreen works at full strength for around three years.

Solution: Throw out sunscreen past the listed expiration date. If it doesn’t have a date on the bottle, just note the day of purchase and toss after a few years.

18. Power Strips and Surge Protectors

Cheap power strips or ones that have been overworked can be a fire hazard, and use a lot of energy in your house. Even good-quality surge protectors are only designed to last for a certain amount of joules, which is the amount of excess electrical surges they absorb. Neither products typically come with an expiration date, but the product warranty is a good way to gauge how old they are.

Solution: Only buy surge protectors and power strips with a UL or OSHA rating, and if they start to get discolored or hot to the touch, get a new one. It’s generally a good idea to replace them every couple of years just to keep you (and your electronics) safe.

19. Spices

Dried spices often last for two to three years, but it depends on the kind, how they were dried, and how they are stored.

Solution: Refer to this chart of how long different spices last.

 

Credits: buzzfeed.com

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