16. Loofahs
Expires In: 1 month
Average Price: $5*
There’s nothing quite like that clean feeling after having a good scrub with a loofah in the tub. Natural loofahs are brilliant for exfoliating, but by their very nature they’re breeding grounds for all sorts of nasty mold and bugs.
Loofah sponge ©Andriana Syvanych / Shutterstock
Experts recommend replacing loofahs at least once a month, but every few weeks is preferable. Leave it any longer than that and you’re essentially washing yourself with mold – and no one wants that. Harmful spores and bacteria could cause painful skin infections. Make sure you dry it out as much as you can between uses.
Keeping a loofah on a shelf until it falls apart isn’t any way to win friends, but it is the perfect way to wind up with a painful Staph infection. For the sake of just a few bucks, we know which route we would rather go down!
17. Bar Soap
Expires In: 2 years
Average Price: $4*
A bar of soap can be an invaluable resource, especially in the current climate. These simple little items keep the germs at bay and make us smell nice at the same time. What’s more, they often last much longer than liquid soaps and you don’t have to worry about topping up the dispenser.
Bar Soap ©Alliance Images / Shutterstock
However, while bar soap is great, it can perish. Most brands of soap should be replaced every two years, but homemade natural soaps should be ousted within a year of purchase depending on the ingredients used. Luckily, at around $4 for a multipack, this is one vital household item that won’t break the bank.
Plus, soap can be used for all manner of things, from washing kitchen sides to even watching clothes. It might not be the ideal product of choice, but if you’re worried about getting the most use out of it then there’s plenty of options.
18. Sunglasses
Expires In: 2 years
Average Price: $30*
Imagine dropping a crazy amount of money on a designer pair of sunglasses only to discover they’ll go out of date in two years. According to a study conducted in 2016, sunglasses can wear down from exposure to the sun over time, reducing their ability to protect eyes from UV rays.
Sunglasses ©mavo / Shutterstock
That being said, sunglasses should be replaced every two years, regardless of how much you paid for them and how good of a condition they’re in. Depending on your taste in eyewear, this could prove an expensive realization for many.
No one wants to find out that their $400-dollar glasses are now defunct, but wouldn’t you rather know than be blissfully unaware? After all, what’s more important, looking good on vacation or coming back with your eyesight intact? We’ll leave that one up to you.
19. Tea Bags
Expires In: 1 year
Average Price: $4*
Tea bags are a pantry staple for many households. Even coffee drinkers have a secret stash in the cupboard for when guests visit, herbal or otherwise. Buying one bumper pack and using it as and when needed might seem like a good idea, but be careful.
Dipping teabag ©nuu_jeed / Shutterstock
After one year, tea starts to lose its flavor. Although it doesn’t strictly expire, the color, texture, and taste of the tea starts to deteriorate and will get worse over time. If you spot an expiration date on your tea box, it’s to do with the quality as it will be technically safe to consume for years to come.
While serving up out of date tea won’t make anyone sick, it could certainly be an etiquette faux pas that doesn’t bear repeating. No one wants to be known as the house with the terrible tea – although worse things have happened.
20. Motor Oil
Expires In: 5 years
Average Price: $5*
Car maintenance is an important, albeit boring part of everyday life. Every motorist knows that keeping oil topped up, with most people keeping a stash of it in the garage or even in the trunk. The overall view is that motor oil doesn’t actually expire, but companies suggest “responsible disposal” of it after five years.
Motor Oil ©icsnaps / Shutterstock
The reasons for this are disputed. Some believe the quality of the oil gets worse over time, while others think the manufacturers simply want to ensure continued sales. Either way, do you want to take the chance to find out who’s right?
Just like with expired petrol or diesel, expired motor oil could have an adverse effect on your car. When you think that oil only costs $5 and a car costs considerably more than that, it just doesn’t seem worth the risk.
21. Toothpaste
Expires In: 1 year
Average Price: $3*
Keeping those pearly whites clean and sparkling is crucial. Most of us brush twice a day, but if you’re into stockpiling toothpaste for later use, you might want to reconsider. Toothpaste won’t become unsafe to use after a year by any means, but it will lose its potency.
Toothpaste ©Wikimedia.org
The active ingredients in it won’t be as useful, meaning that whitening magic just won’t work. It’s best to ditch any toothpaste – unopened or otherwise – a year after purchasing. Luckily, most of us get through tubes at a quicker rate than that so we’ll never have to cross that bridge.
In fact, the average person goes through 6 tubes of toothpaste a year according to the World Health Organization. So, if you’re still working on the same one after 12 months, you might want to look at the bigger picture to see where you’re going wrong.
22. Dishwasher Detergent
Expires In: 3 months
Average Price: $6*
Having a dishwasher is a lovely luxury that is becoming more and more commonplace. Some households use it sparingly, while others use it daily. Depending on how much usage your appliance is getting, you might want to check the date on your dishwasher detergent.
Dishwasher Detergent @pinchme / Twitter.com
After three months, the enzymes in the detergent start to break down and cease to do a proper job. You might find that your wash isn’t coming out as clean as it once was, but before you call the repairman, try buying some fresh new cleaning products. You might be surprised at what you find.
Plates that were coming out semi-clean could have a new lease of life, proving that the problem isn’t with the machine at all, but with how long you’ve had the products. It isn’t always the case, but it’s worth a try before you shell out a couple of hundred bucks.
23. Ice Packs
Expires In: 18 months
Average Price: $1.99*
Consumers often wonder why ice packs have expiration dates on them as they’re non-consumable. Some brands don’t put expiry dates on them for this reason, but others do. There’s a good reason for that.
Ice Pack ©Image Point Fr / Shutterstock
As they’re created with a thick plastic coating, this can wear down over time. This is especially true for ice packs that double as heat pads. Frequent use after an extended period of time can cause the plastic to crack and split at a moment’s notice. Experts recommend replacing them every 18 months to two years.
If you don’t replace them it could make for some nasty accidents, especially if you use them for headaches. No one wants any solution pouring down into their eyes. Ice packs are great for any number of things, so replacing them is just the sensible thing to do.
24. Bleach
Expires In: 3 months
Average Price: $4*
Most of us have bleach in our cupboards in case of an emergency, even if we don’t use it every day. However, if you’re used to squirreling products away for a rainy day then you might want to think again. While bleach doesn’t exactly go out of date, it does start to lose its disinfectant qualities after about 3 months.
Corox Bleach ©AngieYeoh / Shutterstock
If you use it for laundry then this won’t matter so much, but if you’re using it for cleaning around the house then this could be a problem. Bleach and other household disinfectants should be replaced every couple of months.
That way, you know that the strong-smelling solution that you’re using to scrub the porcelain tub is actually doing its job and not just making you lightheaded for no reason. Bleach doesn’t cost that much either, so it’s better to be proactive on this one.
25. Smoke Detectors
Expires In: 10 years
Average Price: $20*
When it comes to health and safety, no one wants to take any chances. Smoke detectors should be tested every couple of months to ensure they’re still working, but they also need replacing. They don’t last forever.
Smoke Detectors ©Andrey_Popov / Shutterstock
After 10 years, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide monitors can begin to fail. If you have any doubts about the age of your alarms it’s best to replace them and start new so you know where you stand. At an average cost of $20 per item, it’s worth it for the peace of mind and won’t cost a fortune.
A faulty smoke detector can cost lives, so the best thing to do is make sure that you’re buying a new one when you’re supposed to. It can be a little tricky to remember, but most units have a little label that says the date of installation so that you don’t forget.
26. Pillows
Expires In: 2-3 years
Average Price: $5-10*
Buying pillows might seem like an investment for life, especially when they’re expensive ones. Sadly, that’s not the case. Even pillows that look to be in good condition should be replaced every 2-3 years. The longer you have a pillow, the more likely it is that dust mites will invade it.
Pillows ©New Africa / Shutterstock
What’s more, if it’s used frequently then the shape will warp. This can lead to bad neck pain and uncomfortable nights. Better to replace it every couple of years than sacrifice years of good sleep. Thankfully, they’re cheap to replace in most cases.
27. Toothbrushes
Expires In: 3 months
Average Price: $3*
We know toothpaste can expire, but what about toothbrushes? It’s easy to let these everyday items linger in the bathroom and become part of the scenery until the bristles fall out, but when you think about it, the answer is obvious. Toothbrushes can be a breeding ground for bacteria, leading to infections and other nasties.
Electric Toothbrush Heads ©Raul Topan / Shutterstock
Every toothbrush should be replaced every 3 months. What most people don’t realize is that they also need to replace their toothbrush after each illness. If you’ve had a cold, tonsillitis, or similar, you can risk getting sick again if you don’t buy a new one.
28. Pacifiers
Expires In: 2-5 weeks
Average Price: $5*
Pacifiers are must-haves for a lot of parents who rely on them to get a decent night’s sleep. If a baby is used to having one, losing them can be an utter nightmare. Some toddlers might have a favorite pacifier, but they should be thrown out every 2-5 weeks.
Pacifiers ©Dragana Gordic / Shutterstock
The longer one is used, the more likely it is for the latex to crack and become a breeding ground for nasty germs. The last thing any parent wants is to inadvertently give their baby a bug – no matter how desperate they are for a full eight hours of shuteye!
29. Spices
Expires In: 1-3 years
Average Price: $4*
Herbs and spices tend to hang around the rack until the jars are empty. After all, if it looks the same and smells the same, it must be okay, right? Unfortunately not. Even dried goods can go off. While consuming outdated herbs and spices isn’t usually harmful, they won’t have the same taste.
Spices ©monticello / Shutterstock
As a general rule of thumb, these condiments should be replaced every 1-3 years. It may be down to personal preference rather than a hard and fast rule, but be sure to give your spice rack a once over every now and then so you’re not doing your cooking a disservice.
30. Frying Pans
Expires In: 3-5 years
Average Price: $20*
Buying frying pans when you first move into a house can seem like a one and done investment. However, even the pricier non-stick skillets have a limited shelf life. According to experts, pans should be replaced every 3-5 years to be on the safe side.
Frying Pans ©DenisProduction.com / Shutterstock
Non-stick pans have a coating that can start to flake and peel off when they become old. Although consuming small quantities of this is supposedly not harmful, it’s still not something you want to see in your scrambled eggs. It’s better to buy cast iron or make sure you replace the set every couple of years.