91. Facial Toner
Expires In: 1 year (opened)
Average Price: $5-$10 per bottle*
Toner is used to cleanse the skin and shrink your pores. It also moistures, refreshes and protects your skin. If you’ve been down the beauty aisle in Target or your local drugstore, you’ve probably seen quite a few brands of toner.
Facial Toner ©Evgenyrychko / Shutterstock
This extra layer of protection isn’t going to last forever, but it will last quite some time. Toners expire one year after the initial use. Steer clear of toner that has passed its expiration date or smells different than it should. Using an expired toner that has gone bad can cause irritation and dryness of the skin.
92. Hairspray
Expires In: 3 years (unopened), 18 months (opened)
Average Price: $2-$20 per bottle*
Your hairspray’s expiration date depends on whether or not it has been opened. If the hairspray is unopened, it should last or three years. After you use the canister or break the seal, that date shrinks to eighteen months, if not less (check the label on the can).
Hairspray ©stockfour / Shutterstock
Hairspray that has been stored in too-hot or too-cold conditions can also go south, and you can tell if the spray is off if the smell is more acidic than you remember. If the spray doesn’t have much of a hold anymore, that is another sign that it is past its prime and ready to be recycled.
93. Furniture Polish
Expires In: 2 years
Average Price: $10-$30*
Furniture polish is a great way to get the wood in your house gleaming and fresh. Many polishes, Pledge included, have expiration dates within the two-year mark. This might vary based on whether they are canisters or wipes.
Furniture Polish ©Africa Studio / Shutterstock
If the polish contains antibacterial ingredients and is also a multi-surface cleaner, that expiration time can be shortened to a year. When furniture polish does expire, you might notice that it has a bad smell or leaves streaks on your wood. If furniture polish goes bad, it can have the opposite effect of making the wood dirtier and duller, rather than cleaner and shinier.
94. Hand Cream
Expires In: 1-2 years
Average Price: $5-$40*
You can tell the expiration date on the back of lotions and hand creams by looking at the open jar image on it. Usually, you’ll see a “12M,” “24M,” or longer icon. The “M” refers to months, and the number is the count. Hand creams usually last one or two years but double-check the package to be sure.
Hand Cream ©itakdalee / Shutterstock
While using the lotion past its date may not be harmful, expired hand cream will often smell off. The cream also will likely not do its job as well, leaving your hands with less hydration than you want. It’s best to toss the hand cream and replace it with a new bottle or jar.
95. Fire Blankets
Expires In: 7 years
Average Price: $20-$30*
A fire blanket is a common household safety device. It is designed to extinguish fires, and the blanket contains a sheet of fire-extinguishing material. When a fire erupts, place the blanket over it to smother it. Fire blankets have prevented kitchen mistakes from becoming tragedies time and again, and it’s recommended that everyone have one or two in their house.
Fire Blankets ©olesea vetrila / Shutterstock
However, these handy safety devices do not last forever. They lose their effectiveness after seven years, so they need to be replaced after that time. The last thing you want is to throw a fire blanket onto a conflagration and end up making the fire worse.
96. Dentures
Expires In: 7-10 years (or whenever dentist says)
Average Price: $1,000-$2,000*
Your dentist will usually let you know when it’s time to replace your dentures. Generally, if you take care of your dentures, they will last anywhere from seven to ten years. Even the most durable and high-quality of these oral devices needs replacing eventually.
Dentures ©Sergii Kuchugurnyi / Shutterstock
They don’t last forever, and you can tell when it is time for new dentures by the way they feel. If they are causing discomfort, feel loose, are falling out, or are hurting your gum tissues, you need to replace them. If you’re having trouble speaking clearly or your dentures are discolored or damaged, that’s also a sign that they need replacing.
97. Frozen Fruit
Expires In: 6-9 months
Average Price: $6-$15 per bag*
Frozen fruit, as we all know, lasts a lot longer than regular, fresh fruit that you get from the produce section of the grocery store. The longevity is why some people prefer to be frozen over fresh when it comes to fruit.
Frozen Fruit ©Brent Hofacker / Shutterstock
Longer-lasting though frozen fruit is, this food is good for six to nine months before it goes bad. But, that isn’t absolute. How long the frozen fruit lasts depends on factors like how it is stored and if it has been opened. As always, you will want to check the “Best By” date to be sure you don’t accidentally eat expired food.
98. Shower Curtains
Expires In: 6 months
Average Price: $20-$80*
Shower curtains, as well as shower curtain liners, need to be replaced every six months. Your curtain doesn’t necessarily need to be washed unless it has somehow gotten dirty, but it does need to be replaced every half-year. You should also clean it every now and then. When you have a liner, it’s easy to see if there is mildew, mold, or grime on it.
Shower Curtains ©gmstockstudio / Shutterstock
When you’re done with your old shower curtain, there might be something you can use it for, as opposed to tossing it in the trash. You can use it as a tablecloth for craft time or as a floor covering if you’re moving items that could make a mess.
99. Peanut Butter
Expires In: 1 year (but check date to be sure)
Average Price: $2-$6 per jar*
Gooey, delicious peanut butter can usually remain for months at room temperature without going bad. Peanut butter has a high oil content and low moisture level, which keeps it fresh for a while, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore the expiration date on the canister.
Peanut Butter ©VelP / Shutterstock
Peanut butter can lose its flavor and even go rancid after a year. Signs that the PB has gone bad include a loss of aroma, dry, hard texture, and bitter or sour taste. Rancid food might not make you deathly ill, but the smell and taste will be quite unpleasant, so you won’t want to eat it past the expiration date anyway.
100. Retainers
Expires In: 6 months-3 years
Average Price: $150-$300 for a single dental arch*
Retainers help correct the alignment of your teeth to give you a pearly white smile. Obviously, there are rules about when and how you should clean your retainer. But, the question of when you replace your retainer depends on the type you have.
Retainers ©AUWAE PHOTO/Shutterstock
If you have a bonded retainer, which means that the retainer is attached to the back of your teeth, you only have to replace it every three years, if not more. If your retainer is removable, it has a shorter lifespan. Typically, these retainers last anywhere from six months to a few years. Ask your dentist about the replacement timeline if you’re not sure. Obviously, if your retainer doesn’t fit properly or gets damaged, you should get a new one ASAP.
101. Dish Cloths
Expires In: 1 month (or 30 uses)
Average Price: $3-$6*
You’re not going to like this, but, according to Healthline, there might be some nasty bacteria lurking on your dishcloth. Researchers conducting studies on dishcloth contamination found that E. coli, along with other nasty bacteria, was present on the cloths. These bacteria can possibly cause food poisoning, as well as other foodborne illnesses.
Dish Cloths ©Africa Studio/Shutterstock
You should replace your dish cloths every month. Or, conversely, you should replace them after thirty uses. To clean them after use, which you should do every time, wash them on high heat in your washing machine. If you really want to sanitize them, use bleach.
102. Candles
Expires In: 6-12 months
Average Price: $5-$40*
We all have a favorite candle scent. If you love your candle, you’ll probably burn it down to the end of the wax before it goes bad. As a rule of thumb, a highly fragrant candle has a life span of six months to one year. The lifespan varies widely, depending on which ingredients are used in the candle.
Candles ©New Africa/Shutterstock
Another rule of thumb to note is for unlit candles. It’s a good idea to light your candle at least within one year to 16 months of purchasing it. You can tell if a candle has “gone bad” if there is a loss of color, change in texture, or the smell is weak or “off.”
103. Oats
Expires In: 6 months-3 years
Average Price: $3-$8*
Oats are a lot of peoples’ go-to breakfast. They are nutritious and filling, making them a great way to start the day. Though oats are a dry good, they do expire from six months to three years, depending on what type of oats they are. If the oats are flavored with dry cream or fruit, their lifespan is shorter, lasting just six months on average.
Oats ©Sea Wave/Shutterstock
Instant oatmeal lasts one year, while rolled or steel-cut oats can last for one to two years. It’s not recommended to eat expired oats, not so much because they will make you sick, but because they might not have as many nutrients in them as unexpired oats.
104. Mothballs
Expires In: 2 years (unopened), 2-3 months (in use)
Average Price: $5-$6 per pack*
If a mothball is of good quality, it will last up to two years in the bag unopened. The bag of mothballs will no doubt have the expiration date listed on the front. When in use, the majority of mothballs last between two and three months before they start to dissolve.
Mothballs @ebay
Their dissolve speed depends on the humidity and temperature. As these insect-fighters mix with the surrounding air, they turn into gas. Fumes often stick to fabrics after storage, which means you have to air out and wash the items to get rid of the smell. However, that’s far easier to do than fix insect-made holes.
105. Door Hinges
Expires In: Depends on hinge (listen for signs)
Average Price: $10-$30 per hinge*
Door hinges are crucial to ensure your door functions properly. They not only allow you to open and shut the doors, but hinges also provide the doors with support. Over time, as with anything, hinges suffer from wear and tear. It’s likely that you’ll have to replace them, even on old doors.
Door Hinges ©Dmitry Kalinovsky/Shutterstock
If you’ve noticed that your door has begun to sag, replacing the hinges is a way to fix that. Loud squeaks when you open and shut the door, along with visible signs of rust or decay, are also signs that it is time to hit up Lowe’s or Home Depot and get new hinges.