46. Ibuprofen
Expires In: 4-5 years
Average Price: $6*
Some consumers are lucky enough to use medicines like Pfizer’s Advil sparingly, meaning that there may be a pack lingering in the bathroom cabinet for quite some time. While it’s a good thing not to rely on painkillers, it’s always best to double check when they were bought.
Ibuprofen ©Maddie Red / Shutterstock
According to an Insider interview with Dr. Kim Langdon, “The expiration dates are somewhat arbitrary and required by regulations, but the most significant risk is that they lose effectiveness over time rather than a safety issue.” So, Ibuprofen can still be taken but it just won’t get rid of your aches and pains.
47. Sugar
Expires In: 2 years
Average Price: $3*
Like flour, sugar tends to hang around the kitchen until it gets entirely used up. For those that don’t use it all that often, it can seem like an everlasting product that’s good to have in the pantry in case a cake needs to be made. Like a lot of things, we forget that it has an expiry date.
Sugar ©Africa Studio / Shutterstock
Sugar needs to be thrown out and replaced every 2 years or the quality and taste. That being said, there’s no set date for when sugar can’t be used as it doesn’t really go off. It just starts to decline in quality once it’s opened.
48. Washing Machine
Expires In: 8 years
Average Price: $500*
Washing machines can be costly to replace, so voluntarily splurging on a new one may seem like every spend thrift’s idea of a nightmare. That being said, if you want to make sure your clothes aren’t being tainted with mold from aging inner tubes and parts, it might be the only way forward.
Washing Machine ©Africa Studio / Shutterstock
Consumer Reports advises customers to replace any washing machine that’s over eight years old. That way customers can be safe in the knowledge that their appliance isn’t on its last legs and isn’t a breeding ground for harmful germs.
49. Printer Ink
Expires In: 1-2 years
Average Price: $20*
Printer ink is another everyday item that many of us pick up from the store when we see it’s on offer. Business owners might even buy it in bulk, but unless you’re moving through it at a fast pace, it’s best to spare yourself the expense.
Printer Ink ©Thaweeporn / Shutterstock
On average, printer ink and toner only lasts for 1-2 years. Higher end names like HP are the same, so it doesn’t matter if you splurge more or go for a budget version. Although the products might work after this time, it’s a gamble that could end up costing you more in the long run.
50. Bed Sheets
Expires In: 2-3 years
Average Price: $30*
Bed sheets can be washed frequently, but that doesn’t mean that they live forever. Experts say that sheets should be replaced every 2-3 years. After this time, they start to go threadbare and not only will you see the decline, you’ll feel it.
Bed Sheets ©Photographee.eu / Shutterstock
Pillow cases should be changed even more frequently as they’re in contact with your face. A lot of this is down to personal preference, but if your sheets don’t feel as soft and inviting as they used to, it might be worth taking a trip to Walmart and spending $30 on some new ones.
51. Boxed Wine
Expires In: 1 year
Average Price: $15/5 liters*
As Wine Folly put it, boxed wine is not “designed” to age. If unopened, the box will last you 6-8 months. After you open the box, you have six weeks to drink it. Though boxed wine lasts longer after opening (a bottle will go sour after just one week), the container prevents it from “aging like fine wine.”
Boxed Wine ©oleschwander / Shutterstock
You can tell if boxed wine has gone bad by the coloration. If there is a change in color and a presence of opaqueness, that is how you know that your beloved Franzia or Carlo Rossi will taste like vinegar or even wood.
52. Fabric Softener
Expires In: 1 year
Average Price: $13.99*
Whether your fabric softener is in liquid or dryer sheet form, it will maintain its ability to soften your clothes for a year before it is useless. While including expired fabric softener in your laundry loads won’t hurt your laundry, it certainly won’t help or be effective.
Fabric Softener ©Teerasak Ladnongkhun / Shutterstock
If you’re checking the date and realizing that your fabric softener is expired, don’t be discouraged. There are several uses for old fabric softener outside the laundry room, including removing wallpaper, removing hard water stains, removing food that has been burnt or baked onto pans, cleaning paintbrushes, and even minimizing static electricity.
53. Dish Soap
Expires In: 12 to 18 months
Average Price: $1.98*
According to Spoon University, dish soap is something you should “never” keep after it expires. Dish soap lasts 12 to 18 months before expiring. After it expires, the bacteria cleaning properties are lowered (if not eliminated), and the dish soap is rendered useless. You might as well clean your dishes with water only.
Dish Soap ©Olga Miltsova / Shutterstock
Dish soap also, after expiring, won’t lather and wash your dishes well. This one isn’t likely to affect many people, as dish soap, after being opened, doesn’t last that long unless you buy a giant bottle. Fun fact: don’t dilute the soap in the bottle, as that can cause microbial growth over time.
54. Deodorant
Expires In: 3 years
Average Price: $4-$8*
As Outside Online put it, deodorant doesn’t “technically” have an expiration date, and it’s likely that your antiperspirant will work for years. However, you should replace your deodorant within three years, assuming you still have it for that long. There is an expiration date on the stick.
Deodorant ©4 PM production / Shutterstock
The expiration date usually is within the 1-3 year mark, but three years should be your maximum. Deodorant will lose its constitution, and the formula, fragrance, and odor-fighting power will likely deteriorate, rendering it useless. Also, according to Time, expired deodorant loses its anti-bacterial properties, which means that harmful bacteria and microbes can grow back.
55. Shampoo/Conditioner
Expires In: 3 years (unopened)
Average Price: $6*
If shampoo and conditioner expire, you will likely be able to tell. The texture, color, and smell of the shampoo/conditioner will change, making it smell and look off. Shampoo might lose its lather and leave your hair feeling sticky. If the contents separate, the shampoo or conditioner could also have a foul smell, leaving your hair dirtier than it was before.
Shampoo/Conditioner ©Max4e Photo / Shutterstock
Even when unopened, you should get rid of your shampoo and conditioner after three years. Expired shampoo/conditioner might even spread bacteria to your scalp, leading to a scalp infection with redness, sores, and irritation. Scalp infections might even lead to hair loss.
56. Socks
Expires In: 6 months
Average Price: $5.99-$20*
Obviously, you should replace your socks, no matter how beloved, when there are holes in the heel or toe area, or if you have to constantly pull them up over your heel during the day. No matter whether you’re wearing high socks or anklets, slippage is a sign that they need to be replaced.
Socks ©Drazen Zigic / Shuterstock.com
In general, you should replace your socks after six months. Cotton socks last half a year or less, especially if you are on your feet all day. Compression stockings last for a shorter duration, and those should be replaced every four months (or six, at the absolute maximum).
57. Chocolate
Expires In: 1 year from production date
Average Price: $2.27/bar*
Medical Daily said that expired chocolate is safe to eat, but it will likely be stale. Chocolate doesn’t have an expiration date, which means that there’s no use-by date that you have to meet before the product becomes unsafe (like dairy products or meat). However, it does have a “best by” date, which means that, once that date has passed, the quality won’t be at its “best.”
Chocolate ©k.nykyforova / Shutterstock
Expired chocolate is likely to taste stale. The consistency might be softer. If you snap the bar in half, you won’t hear a “crack” sound. Dark chocolate especially will lose the intensity of the flavor.
58. Air Freshener
Expires In: 2 years
Average Price: $1-$3*
Air fresheners generally expire two years after the manufacturing date. The whole point of an air freshener is to smell good and (literally) freshen the air. The aerosol might still work in the can, but the other chemicals, which tend to have half-lives, will have expired. The air freshener’s scent might be diminished or even eliminated.
Air Freshener ©New Africa / Shutterstock
If you have a car air freshener, it will likely need to be tossed after one year (maximum). That is, unless you have a PURGGO Car Air Freshener, which absorbs scents instead of covering them up. The manufacturer of this product says that the PURGGO can last over a year.
59. Lip Balm
Expires In: 5 years (unopened)
Average Price: $2*
The date by which you should toss your lip balm depends on what it has in it. If the lip balm has skin protectants and sunscreen, Burt’s Bees, a cosmetics company, recommends that you ditch the balm after one year once it has been opened. If unopened, you have five years to use it before the ingredients become ineffective.
Lip Balm ©puhhha / Shutterstock
Chapstick products expire after two years. Burt’s Bees recommends that you throw out the balm after twelve months after opening. To store your lip balm, make sure you keep it out of direct sunlight. You should also avoid extreme temperatures when storing.
60. Eye Drops
Expires In: 28 days
Average Price: $5.29*
This one might take you by surprise. Eye drops need to be thrown out after they expire, usually after twenty-eight days. The reason is that they can become contaminated. Contaminated eye drops can wreak havoc on your eyes, causing ailments as minor as redness and irritation or as serious as loss of eyesight.
Eye Drops ©9nong / Shutterstock
If unopened, they will still expire one to two years after they are manufactured. After being opened, abide by the expiration date on the package. It’s rare that eyedrops will have an expiration date past three months of use. Opened ones are more likely to be exposed to bacteria than unopened drops.