Shelf Life

Did you ever go into your cabinet or pantry and wonder "How long should I keep this item"?


Well I found this really interesting article today and thought everyone might like the information about every day products and the shelf life.

A handy keep-or-toss guide to 75 foods, beauty products, and household goods.

 75 Surprising Expiraion Dates

Brown sugar
Indefinite shelf life, stored in a moistureproof container in a cool, dry place.
Chocolate (Hershey bar)
1 year from production date
Coffee, canned ground
Unopened: 2 years
Opened: 1 month refrigerated
Coffee, gourmet
Beans: 3 weeks in paper bag, longer in vacuum-seal bag (after this time, color or flavor may be affected, but product is still generally safe to consume)
Ground: 1 week in sealed container
Coffee, instant
Unopened: Up to 2 years
Opened: Up to 1 month
Diet soda (and soft drinks in plastic bottles)
Unopened: 3 months from “best by” date.
Opened: Doesn't spoil, but taste is affected.

I don't think I have had many of the foods or cleaners in my closet long enough to worry about the shelf life.. I don't buy in bulk or have more than two of each item around the house... I do keep one cleaner in the down bath and one in the up bath.. but what is under the kitchen sink is usually 'it'!
I'm so not one of those people that keep stuff,, if I don't use it I either give it away or toss it... I like no clutter in my closets.


Now Make up.. I'm guilty of keeping that much too long.. but I do toss it after a year if it's not used up....  Take a look at a few of the items mentioned in the article and click on the link at the end of my post to see the page...
Very interesting indeed!

Body bleaches and depilatories
Unopened: 2 years
Used: 6 months
Body lotion
3 years
Conditioner
2 to 3 years
Deodorant
Unopened: 2 years
Used: 1 to 2 years
For antiperspirants, see expiration date
Eye cream
Unopened: 3 years
Used: 1 year
Face lotion
With SPF, see expiration date. All others, at least 3 years
Foundation, oil-based
2 years
Foundation, water-based
3 years
Hair gel
2 to 3 years
Hair spray
2 to 3 years
Lip balm
Unopened: 5 years
Used: 1 to 5 years
Lipstick
2 years
Mascara
Unopened: 2 years
Used: 3 to 4 months
Mouthwash
Three years from manufacture date
Nail polish
1 year
Nail-polish remover
Lasts indefinitely
Perfume
1 to 2 years
Rubbing alcohol
At least 3 years
Shampoo
2 to 3 years
Shaving cream
2 years or more
Tooth-whitening strips

Fire extinguisher, nonrechargeable
12 years
Laundry detergent, liquid or powdered
Unopened: 9 months to 1 year
Opened: 6 months
Metal polish (silver, copper, brass)
At least 3 years
Miracle Gro, liquid
Opened: 3 to 8 years
Miracle Gro, liquid, water-soluble
Indefinite
Motor oil
Unopened: 2 to 5 years
Opened: 3 months
Mr. Clean
2 years
Paint
Unopened: Up to 10 years
Opened: 2 to 5 years
Spray paint
2 to 3 years

The article talks about the 'Fire Extinguisher'... mine has been sitting under the kitchen sink for 6 years now.. wonder if it still works? They say 12 years!

I've enclosed the link to the article if you would like to read it.  I need to look around the house for some of these products and maybe toss a few.... hmmm?

Click here to read the article

 

"Happy Tossing" 

Building the Surround

 I've been thinking of building my fireplace surround for several weeks now, and have looked at so many photos from so many sites.. I do know what I want it to look like in my mind.. so I take a bit from one photo and a bit from another.
This morning I spent the better part of an hour measuring and re-measuring each piece of wood that needs to be cut... took my measurements to my favorite Home Depot Guy and he was so good to me.  We took a  4' by 8' sheet of cabinet pine and he cut each of my measurements... 13 cuts in all.... I'm truly amazed with myself,, "It all fit"!

Wed morning update.
 Looking at my photo I've noticed I may need to take the wall base board off, to get the surround close to the wall?  One nice thing about using this 'cabinet pine' the wood is soft and the nails and screws go in so easy.
Question?..... do I need to use wood glue along with the screws?  Will ask the HD guy this morning.

This is what I have done so far.

Right now  it's all nailed together.  I have wood screws to put it together but I needed to see if the insert would fit. There are cinder blocks under the fire/heat  insert to give it height.
Funny thing, Mr. Neither almost had a stroke when he saw me cutting the carpet out of the space.. I want it standing on the sturdy concrete floor.  The new flooring will be put around it because it's going to be a built in. 

I used this photo from another blog as a pattern of sorts, but my idea will be to get more wood tomorrow and build low bookcases on either side.

The design of the fireplace surround above is nice and hopefully I will be able to replicate the look.
I want to put the TV on the wall above but for now it's standing on the mantel with the cable box just sitting on the top of the insert.  I'm debating adding a wood shelf for the cable box,  but then so far it's looking ok where it is?  I may make a different decision once it complete?

 When I get the book cases put together there will be another post showing how it's looking... this is a rather big job but it's going to cost me under $100.00 to complete the project.   This price will include the pine for the mantel and then the decorative molding to complete the look.  I already have the primer and paint from other projects.

So far I'm feeling good about how it's coming along!

To be continued!

I'm joining a few  parties this week

Whatever goes Wenesday

Penney Pinching Party 

Rainy days and Monday

I woke this morning to rain and rather loud thunder.  They say, "it's going on all day".
This is the time of year Florida gets really good, sometimes scarey thunder storms and it will go on for several months  into rainy season and I just love the thunder!

Perfect day to think about building my Fireplace.

I ordered my "Amish Heat Surge Fireplace Insert", it arrived this week.

 I have had the heater on most of this past week due to the unusual cold that has spread to our area.... and  the heat,  the heat/surge produces  is  all they said it would be!
I have not had to turn on the central heat at all... and they also say "It uses
the electric of a coffee pot"... that remains to be seen, but I'm hopeful!

The flame is as close to real fire as it can get.   I've look at several over the past
year. Then I took a chance and ordered this one from a TV add.  The electric
savings is really what got me to buy this one. I'll admit I am getting my entire downstairs heated with this unit and I'm thrilled with it so far. 
Now to wait for the electric bill to come in?

This is my empty blank canvas!

My thoughts are to make a 5ft  tall surround. One that I can hang stockings on at Christmas and it must look real.  I can picture what I want it to look like in my mind. The surround will be raised, about 16" off the floor... hmmmm?
Mr Neither wants to hang his TV on the wall above. Not the one shown but a larger one, but I question that?   They say a TV will take away from the fire... I'd rather see the fire really, since I'm not a TV watcher.  This is where my decorating instincts take over.. Picture this,,, "A really nice wood framed mirror and a few candle sticks"!

We will have to pull straws on this one.  

Lets get the surround built then we can have this conversation!  Besides, don't we have to pull the cords behind the wall.. who wants to see cords?  It is starting to get complicated and I have not even started!

I need to go back and find the blog where I borrowed this photo.. It's been days so if you see your photo here.. please send me a message and I'll give credit where due! Your fireplace surround is so perfect and I am going to use it for a pattern of sorts!  Thank you in advance for the inspiration!
I just did a search and found Terry's blog,,  "Forever Decorating"
If you want to see more, click on over and see her "Man Cave"!


  My thoughts are to also build some book cases on either side and give the room some design and storage for my many books.

I'll tell you,, the rain has the house feeling damp and chilly but this nice little fireplace is doing a great job.  Did I tell you, "It's on wheels/casters and can be rolled anywhere in the house you need a bit of extra heat!  And one nice extra touch, the heater came with a remote control.. Flame up or down,, heat hi or low.  Very cool!
I'll post more on the next project in my never ending reno of my town house.. it's been a year now and 'room by room'   it will get done!


If you all have any photos or ideas for me,, please send them via the comment box or my email.  I need all the help I can get!

Enjoy your week!

Sandy

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