Many household items, such as pillows, chopping boards, and others, must be replaced from time to time, because they may harbor bacteria or toxic substances, and can impact our body.

The following products all expire sooner than you’d think and you must replace them regularly:

1. Sunscreen

Replace every 3 years maximum.

If you store your sunscreens properly, a bottle should last you about 2-3 years since you bought it. After that, the sunscreen loses its potency and can no longer protect you from the sun as it used to. Make sure you store your sunscreens in a dry place out of direct sunlight and rapid temperature changes. Heat, and not only sunlight, can affect the potency of the sun cream, so don’t store it in your car or a part of your home that isn’t air-conditioned.

2. Bath Sponges

Replace every month.

Bath sponges are constantly in a humid and hot environment, the perfect breeding ground for fungi and bacteria, so it’s a must to replace them every month. If you notice that your sponge has changed color or smells differently, toss it immediately, even if you’ve had it for less than a month.

3. Toothbrush

Replace every 3-4 months.

You probably know this one, but it doesn’t hurt to repeat it: toothbrushes must be replaced every 3-4 months. Like sponges, they can harbor harmful microorganisms, but they also lose their firmness and shape and become less effective at cleaning your teeth with time.

4. Shaving Razor

Replace every 5-7 shaves.

These guidelines pertain to every type of disposable shaving razor. These have to be replaced after 5-7 uses because they become dull and can cause cuts over time. Also, we recommend you don’t store your shaving razor in the shower, as the humidity may cause the metal to rust.

5. Hairbrush

Replace or thoroughly wash every 6 months to a year.

Replacing hairbrushes regularly is very important both for your scalp’s health and a good hairdo. Styling products, dust, and your skin tend to accumulate on the brush and mix into a waxy substance that can make your hair look oily and flat over time. Apart from that, an old, dirty brush can scratch and irritate your scalp, causing redness and a dry, flaky scalp. Needless to say, you should clean your brush regularly in addition to replacing it from time to time.

6. Mascara and Liquid Eyeliner

Replace every 3 months.

Makeup shelf life varies from product to product, but the two makeup items that must be replaced diligently every 3 months is mascara and liquid eyeliner, as we use these directly on our eyelashes and they make contact with our eyes all the time, but unlike eyeliners, you cannot remove the possible bacteria or mold growing on these as you do when sharpening a pencil.

7. Other Makeup and Skincare Products

You will find an open can symbol with a number in it on the back of most makeup and skincare products. This number will show you how many months you have to use up a product, so, a 6 will mean you have to use it up in 6 months. Most cream and liquid skincare and makeup items, e.g. lipsticks and foundations, are usually good for about a year, whereas most powder products, such as eyeshadows and blushes typically last for 2-3 years until they expire. As for beauty tools, a high-quality makeup brush can last you years and can be used until it becomes too bent and sparse, but makeup sponges must be replaced a lot more often – every 3 months.

8. Toothpaste

Replace every year to a year and a half.

Replacing toothbrushes regularly is a must, but don’t think you can stock up on toothpaste in bulk, as this product, too, has its expiration date. When toothpaste is expired, it becomes grainy, starts to separate and stops smelling like it used to. This is because the fluoride in the paste is no longer active and the essential oils the paste contains to give that refreshing smell go rancid.

9. Bar Soap

Replace every year and a half to 2 years.

Even if you take care of your bar soap really well and keep it dry and not moist and mushy, you should replace it after 2 years. If not, however, you should probably throw it out after a month of use, as a moist bar of soap just standing there on the edge of your bathtub unprotected is essentially a delicious and accessible treat for harmful bacteria.

10. Food

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), proper food storage helps maintain safety as well as food quality by keeping flavor, color, texture and nutrients in food.

Room temperature such as in a pantry or in a cupboard: Many staples and canned foods have a relatively long shelf life. However, foods stored for longer than recommended times or beyond date on the package may change quality, color and flavor.

Refrigerator: Refrigerators should be kept at or below 40°F (4°C). Use a refrigerator thermometer to check! These short, but safe, time limits will keep refrigerated food from spoiling or causing someone to become ill. Because product dates are not a guide for safe use of a product, here are a few tips to follow:

• Purchase the product before "sell-by" or expiration date.
• Follow handling recommendations on product.
• Keep meat and poultry in its package until just before using.
• If freezing meat and poultry in its original package longer than 2 months, cover these packages with heavy-duty foil, plastic wrap or freezer paper; or place the package inside a freezer bag.

Freezer: Freezers should be kept at 0°F (-18°C) or lower when measured with a refrigerator/freezer thermometer. Because freezing keeps food safe indefinitely, the following recommended freezer storage times are for quality (flavor, color, texture, etc.) only.

11. Mother’s milk

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The views expressed in this article should not be considered as a substitute for a physician’s advice. Always make sure to seek a doctor or a professional’s advice before proceeding with the home treatment plan.