Hygenic Haven? at Her Active Life

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cabinet Open up your bathroom cabinets. Is the area under your sink a clean and pristine storage space, populated solely by guest towels and an extra roll or two of toilet paper? Didn’t think so. For most of us, bathrooms are a space that can quickly go from hygienic haven to washroom wasteland, as we accumulate medications, body washes and accessories that add clutter – and concern?

Yup – if you don’t double check and clean out the contents of your bathroom every few months, you may be at a greater risk of health problems, drug interactions, allergic reaction or infection. Expired medications and improperly stored items can be dangerous, so take a few minutes to spring clean your restroom with this handy guide.

Expired Meds: No matter how benign the medication might seem, any expired drug needs to be tossed. Using expired medicine, even over-the-counter stuff, can cause life-threatening problems, as the contents might degrade or change with time. If the item doesn’t have an expiry date, toss it after two years without exception – from now on, think ahead, and write the date you acquire any new medicine on the label.

What to do with them? Don’t flush anything down the toilet or in the trash. Instead, hand the expired pills, ointments and syrups over to a pharmacist, who can dispose of them safely.

Makeup: Some makeup products are safe to use until they dry up or take on a wacky odor. Others, like mascara and eyeliner, should be replaced every three months to avoid the risk of an eye infection. Foundation and concealer will last for around a year, and lipstick can endure for up to three, if you store it in a cool spot. As with medications, check for expiry dates and try to label items when you buy them.

While one large study found that 92% of women hold onto their makeup for longer than the recommended period (and who can blame them – new mascara every three months? Really?), try to dispose of it in a timely manner - eye infections and facial rashes aren’t exactly the goal of using the stuff, anyways.

Vitamins: Don’t think that your stockpile of vitamins and “natural” health items are immune to expiration. These products can still have side effects and become ineffective after their expiry date. Stick with the date on the label, or two years after purchase, much like regular medication.

Usually, the worst that can happen with multivitamins is a loss of potency (especially with fats like Vitamin E or liquids), meaning that you aren’t getting the dose you thought you were. While they won’t hurt you, they sure aren’t helping you, so you may as well toss ‘em and get a replacement bottle.

Razors and Brushes: The timeline is a little more flexible with these items, because it depends on how often you use them and how you store them. Replace your razors when the blade becomes dull, discolored, or the moisture strip wears away. You can make razors last longer by storing them somewhere dry and keeping the cover on when not in use.

To prolong the life of your hairbrush, clean it whenever the bristles are clogged with hair (at least every month) and rinse it with shampoo in warm water, then allow it to dry. Replace your brush if you ever have any kind of icky scalp infection.