Even Candles Have An Expiration Date

Filed under: Storage & Cleaning, Storage & Organization, Cleaning

From a kitchen sponge to those candles gathering dust on your bookshelf, when home items should be tossed.

I don't play around with a product's expiration date. If that jar of peanut butter in my fridge has an imprinted date that is now in the past, then into the garbage it goes.


I suspect I'm not alone in this habit.

But it's easy to foget about products in the home that aren't ingested. I'm talking about all of the products we employ to clean, cook or beautify our houses as well as our appearance. Some of these come with an expiration date, but many do not.

We checked in with the Good Housekeeping Research Institute to find out when we should be tossing commonly used household products.

Baking Soda
It's a good thing that a box of baking soda is cheap because the recommended replacement time if you ask Arm & Hammer is every 30 days. We checked in with for more details. "Baking soda is at peak odor-absorbing performance for the refrigerator within one month after opening," says Good Housekeeping Research Institute's Carolyn Forte, the Home Appliances and Cleaning Director. "It will continue to work after that, but perhaps not as quickly. It can still be used effectively after 30 days, however, for cleaning surfaces and deodorizing drains."

Photo: Corbis

Candles
If the candle no longer has an odor then it has gone bad. It isn't necessary to toss, but if perfume is an important part of your candle-lighting ritual then by all means do not hesitate to do so. Forte sums it up nicely: "A candle without a scent is not harmful if burned. You just won't get the full benefit of the candle experience."

All-purpose surface spray
I tend to snap up beautifully fragrant all-purpose surface sprays (preferably with natural ingredients, like those from Caldrea or Mrs. Meyer's) when they go on sale at discount stores like TJ Maxx. Right now I'm armed with two choices: lemongrass or citrus. Walmart's web site suggests replacing the spray every six months. It's a good thing that the product can be applied to most any surface -- bookshelves, countertops, windows, etc. - because otherwise it might take longer than six months to deplete the bottle.


Dish Rack
If you can see cracks in the support system or rust (if it's metal), it is time to buy a new one -- you don't want the heavy dishware stacked in the drainer to suddenly drop onto the floor (because then you will be shopping for new place settings). You also don't want rust to attach to the plates and bowls you use for mealtime.

As for plastic dish racks, Forte has this to say: "Germs don't eat the plastic, but as the plastic ages and starts to break down, bacteria, with the right conditions of food and moisture, can grow in the cracks and crevices. When it reaches a point where it is worn and can no longer adequately be cleaned, it's time to toss it." So if you are scrubbing and scrubbing a yellowed dish rack, it's time to spring for a bright, white version!

Glass cleaner
Real Simple editors think that a bottle of Windex, or any similar product (perhaps under a generic name) used to clean any glass surface or window, can be good for up to two years. However, when we polled Forte, she expressed the contrary: "I have never heard that glass cleaner expires. I believe it is formulated to last longer than two years."

Kitchen sponge
We don't even want to think about the number of germs hiding in a sponge. After using it to wipe the kitchen table, countertops, the sink and the stove, a lot of bacteria can build up. And most of it is invisible to the naked eye. When you can see that icky grime, it smells disgusting (a sign of bacteria growth), or "the sponge starts to break down and cleaning is no longer effective," says Forte, it's definitely time to toss it.

But if you're keeping a clean sponge you will never know when it is that time. Forte offered up quick sanitizing methods as a safety net. Sponges should be sanitized weekly, she says, in a solution of bleach and water. Rinse well and dry before using again. "We have also found that putting sponges in the dishwasher with heated water and drying cycles sanitizes them almost as well, but not as completely as bleach and water," she says.

There is a lot of talk, too, about microwaving a kitchen sponge for 30 seconds as a sterilization method. Don't be afraid to do this. When scientists at Agricultural Research Science in Maryland put this to the test, they removed 99.99999 percent of the bacteria.

Mop
If you ask us, knowing when to replace a mop is among the biggest quandries when it comes to keeping or tossing household products. After just one use, a mop is going to look dirty no matter how many times it is rinsed. Forte helped us sort it all out by likening a mop to a cleaning sponge. Sanitizing regularly will prolong the life of your mop. "Sponge mops can be soaked in bleach and water; string, strip or microfiber mops should be washed in the washing machine," says Forte. "One of the reasons disposable and microfiber mops have become so popular is that they eliminate the cleaning issues associated with traditional mops."




Pot holders
I've often had a look-see attitude about my potholders. If I can see crusted remains of sauces or cookie batter on the fabric, then it is time to invest in a new hand mitt. (I still haven't converted to silicone.) Turns out that cleanliness is the key to longevity with pot holders. Sharon Franke, who is the Kitchen Appliances and Technology Director at the Good Housekeeping Research Institute, urges consumers to keep pot holders clean and also neatly trimmed. Here's why. "Bacteria can grow on stains. Oil or sugar stains can catch on fire. If pot holders develop loose or frayed threads or ends, they should be discarded. The threads or ends can easily catch on fire," she says.

Generally speaking, your pot holders -- whether these are squares or oven mitts -- should be flame-resistant. It's also nice to have brightly colored ones so that you can find them easily when the pasta is boiling over or the chocolate-chip cookies baking in your oven are at risk of turning crisp. Fante's Kitchen Wares Shop in Philadelphia strongly urges you to look over the pot holders regularly. If there are any holes or tears, replace immediately. Otherwise, you may burn yourself.


Sink Drain
If you haven't replaced your sink drain in, oh, five years, here is where you can feel as if you have done something right. Forte, of Good Housekeeping Research Institute, says that as long as metal sink drains are kept clean and in working order, there is no need to replace sink drains. "If they malfunction and no longer hold water, then they should be replaced," says Forte.

Small Appliances
Now that we've covered common household products it would be silly to not touch on small appliances. Haven't you ever wondered when it's time to splurge on a new toaster or microwave -- and not just because you like the fancy-schmancy red chrome one?

We polled Good Housekeeping Research Institute for answers. "Small appliances do not need to be replaced as long as they are in good working order," says Franke. "Any appliance with a damaged cord or plug shold be replaced." Some other red flags and clues it is time to toss it: a coffeemaker that takes an unusually long time to brew; any appliance that gets hotter than it used to while operating; when the automatic shutoff feature no longer works; and if you can't properly close the microwave door.

For more about cleaning, don't miss these great stories:
DIY Detective: PAO Labels and Expiration Dates
Green Spring Cleaning: Disposing of Toxic Household Items Safely
The Do's and Dont's of: Choosing Healthy Cleaning Products

For more about expired household products, here's a video:

 

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