I Didn’t Know That Could Expire!

As you read this, I’m on vacation. You know, a trip like you may already have taken, which was for most of us postponed many months by the pandemic. One of the reasons we’re going now is that we had miles that were about to expire. We’d pushed the trip back to the calendar limit allowed, and it was down to use it or lose it.

A trip to a warm spot in the fall always means scrounging around in the closet for things that may be out of season in the stores or, likely in these times, out of stock due to supply chain problems. Whether it’s thrifty, or being a hoarder in a past life, I usually have things that I can “use the last of” to not carry back from holiday. But is use it before you lose it really the way you should go here?

We’re all used to checking expiration dates on food (though I admit to sometimes taking that as a “suggestion”), but I realized as I rummaged around looking for that half-full bottle of SPF 70 sunscreen, that I never considered sunscreen might have an expiration date. I figured it would be used or left behind somehow at the beach before it lost effectiveness! Well, turns out, I was wrong. Sunscreen does expire – and is usually good for about three years. 

But what inspired me to write about this is bigger than sunscreen that you might source for your clients. In some instances, event promos can also include first aid items, like band-aids or antiseptic wipes. I always steered away from almost everything else but sunscreen in the first aid category in order to avoid liability risks, and you should too. When it’s unavoidable and what’s requested, this is a reminder to be incredibly confident in your supplier and, even then, still check and double check that sourcing, regardless of whether or not your clients are savvy enough to insist on it. Being proactive and having a strong “buyer beware” approach is the best idea if you can’t deflect from a request to source these materials in the first place.

The folks at Lifehacker developed a guide to when you should replace items in a first aid kit.  It’s the reference I use, and perhaps you and your clients would find it useful, too. Bandages lose the stickiness in about three years; wipes are good for one year. Both things I can add to the sunscreen and other items that expire list — and things I didn’t know. 

Since I’m in that vacation mode, I thought I might veer off my normal beaten path here and mention nine more consumer items that you might not know expire. Both for safety and peak performance, it’s a good idea to change these items out at the end of their life cycle:

Bike helmets. They should always be replaced after a crash, or any time the helmet starts to show cracks or other signs of damage. But even without crashes and obvious signs of wear, bike helmets aren’t intended to last forever. Check with the manufacturer for their recommendations or, if you can’t find the information you’re looking for, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends not keeping bike helmets more than 5 to 10 years.

Gasoline. Use your gas within 3 to 6 months of purchase. According to Lifehacker’s guide: How to Safely Dispose of Old Gasoline, if it’s been stored in a hot area or if the cap isn’t on tight, gasoline can go bad even sooner.

Child Safety Seats. Like bike helmets, child safety seats should be replaced after a crash or after they reach their expiration date, whichever comes first. A car seat should last six years, and in my experience, the manufacturers generally do a good job of making expiration information readily available 

Fire Extinguishers. While fire extinguishers don’t have a strict expiration date, disposable ones should be replaced after 12 years, and rechargeable ones should be recharged after six years.

Paint. It’s a good idea to save some paint cans after finishing a project, for touch-ups, but paint doesn’t have an infinite life span. Manufacturers recommend you use latex paint within a year or two. If it’s stored in good shape, it may be usable up to 10 years.

Smoke Alarms. Of course, you reminded your client to change their batteries when they changed their clocks at the beginning of this month (and you did too, right?). But did you know that smoke alarms themselves should be changed after ten years? It’s easy to check the manufacture date when you’re changing the battery, so go do this after you finish reading this article. 

Batteries. You knew that I couldn’t go without finding a way to slip the topic of batteries in. Old batteries will not only have less than peak performance, they’re also more likely to leak. Even if you can’t find the “Best By” date, alkaline disposables should only last five years, and rechargeable twice that, at most. Are you one of those people that keep their batteries in the refrigerator? Get them out now! Batteries are best stored in a cool, dry place at normal room temperature. Avoiding areas that are damp, hot, or humid (like the fridge) will keep the metal from rusting.

Bleach. The shelf life for bleach is all over the board depending on who you talk to. It might be three, six, or twelve months, but one simple way to tell is to, yes, smell it. Basically, the stronger the smell, the more effective the bleach.

Disposable Hand Warmers. I love the convenience of disposable hand warmers but have found that they don’t always last from one season to the next. The Hot Hands brand says the expiration date is four years. And note that if you have sensitive skin, don’t use these directly on your skin — I’ve learned that the hard way.

I started with sunscreen and hopefully shared some valuable information on other things that expire that many people might not think about. Whether that information helps keep you and your family safe or it’s something you’re going to pass along to help keep your clients safe, it’s all good. Until next time, I’ll be on a boat. Using my newly purchased, non-expired sunscreen.