With the new year comes a desire to clean out our lives: we want to get healthy, organized, and happy, all at once and with minimal effort. But even though changing our lives for the better is (unfortunately) a difficult process, not every step along the way has to be difficult, too. Cleaning out your room or workspace can have a tremendous effect on your mental perception, so if it isn’t already your annual tradition to toss away your trash and reorganize your binders, I recommend taking it up. To help you with this process, here’s a list of things you should be keeping an eye out for—make sure you have your trash bag ready at your side.
1. Makeup
How long to keep your favorite beauty products depends on the kind you're using. Mascara and liquid eyeliner should generally be tossed every 3 to 4 months, because you are introducing new bacteria every time you use them. Lipstick and lipgloss lasts a little longer at around 6 months, while liquid foundation can be kept up to 1 year (don't dip your fingers into the bottle to ensure cleanliness). Powders last the longest, ranging from 18 months to 2 years unless you see any signs of decay.
2. Water bottles
If you're anything like me, you sometimes end up unintentionally hoarding water bottles and then returning to them days later, thirsty but wary if they're still good to drink. While unopened bottled water lasts for 2+ years both in a pantry and refrigerator, opened bottled water lasts for about 2-3 hours in a pantry and 2-3 in a refrigerator. Also practice common sense: if the water is cloudy or has an odor, best to stay away. In addition, freezing bottled water is not recommended due to the chemicals contained in the plastic and their tendency to break down in changing temperatures.
3. Pillows
Most of us keep the same bedding for longer than we should, especially if we don't practice proper cleaning habits. Pillows can be tossed as little as every 6 months to as long as 3 years, depending on how often you wash your pillowcases or pillow covers. If you don't, dust mites, dirt, dead skin cells, and oils can accumulate and cause allergic symptoms.
4. Mattresses
This is probably not on your mind very much, but since we're talking about pillows, might as well mention that you should probably replace your mattress every every 7 years or so for maximum comfort and hygienic purposes.
5. Shampoo
As a general rule of thumb, all shampoos, conditioners, and hair styling products can last 1-2 years if they're opened and 3 years unopened. Again, use common sense if they seem to be damaged or contaminated in any way.
6. Other toiletries
Moisturizers, eye and skin creams, sunscreen, and anti-aging and -acne treatments can all be kept for about a year, while shaving cream, toothpaste, perfume, nail polish, and cologne can be kept for 2 years. For a complete list of products, visit lifehacker.com.
Happy cleaning!
