WHEN TO GET RID OF THOSE DORM ROOM ITEMS

Reporting by Isabelle Jones

Peek into the medicine cabinet or rummage through the bathroom caddy. Peer into the fridge. If the sights and smells are anything but pleasant, it’s time for a little spring cleaning.
  
Some may have the good intentions to throw out the old loaf of bread or the toothbrush that has seen better days, but others just might not know when to toss what.

FIVE YEARS OR LESS
  
Beginning in the bathroom and bedroom: condoms, toothbrushes, makeup, loofahs and mesh sponges should all be pitched after certain lengths of time.
  
Before rolling on a condom, check the expiration date. The general shelf life of lubricated condoms is five years, but ones with spermicide have a shorter shelf life, says Lisette Anderson, a Planned Parenthood outreach specialist.
  
Store condoms in a cool place, not in a wallet or glove compartment, but don’t put them in the refrigerator, Anderson says.
  
According to the Web sites for Durex and Trojan brand condoms, they recommend storing condoms in a dry place as well.
  
Anderson recommends squeezing the individual package before using the condom to make sure air is inside. If there is no air, don’t risk using the condom.

It’s easier to spot obvious defects such as rips or holes in the condom. The Trojan condom Web site suggests feeling the condom before use can help people spot other damage. If the condom is brittle, gummy, sticky or is not a uniform color, don’t use it.

EVERY THREE MONTHS

While unopened condoms can last for five years, other items should be thrown out and replaced much sooner.

Frayed, discolored bristles — if a toothbrush looks like that, it’s time for a new one.  Toothbrushes should be replaced approximately every three months, says Kathy Stralka a registered dental hygienist of Martin Dental Care in Kent. However, if people can’t remember how long they’ve used the same toothbrush, certain physical signs on the brush will indicate when it should be thrown out. If the bristles start to flare out or change color, as some do to let users know it’s time to be replaced, a new brush is needed, Stralka says.

If a toothbrush is kept too long, teeth won’t get as clean as they could get with a better brush.

“The bristles aren’t doing what they are supposed to be doing,” Stralka says.

Some Kent State students have different philosophies about toothbrush replacement.

Sophomore criminal justice major Robert Clouden Jr. says he doesn’t replace his brush until he visits the dentist and gets a new one.

Stephanie Grechny, a sophomore fashion merchandising and accounting major, replaces her toothbrush each year.

Stralka also says to get a new toothbrush after recovering from a cold or other sickness so bacteria isn’t lingering on the brush.
    
CHECK EVERY TWO MONTHS

When it comes to makeup, it’s not as simple. Different kinds of makeup have varying shelf lives. They also last different lengths of time after being opened.

Clinique brand foundations generally last a year unopened and four to five months once opened and used daily, says Terrie Panasiti, Clinique counter manager of the Stow-Kent Macy’s.

Other makeup brands, such as Revlon and Almay, have certain foundations that last 24 months after opened.

If old foundations are used, they may cause sensitive skin to break out, burn, tingle or become eczematous, which can include itching, redness and inflammation, Panasiti says.

If foundations begin to smell odd or break down and change consistency, don’t use them, says Marcia Harding, a Clinique consultant at Stow-Kent Macy’s says.

Makeup brushes and sponges do not need to be disposed at regular intervals, but they do need to be cared for properly, Panasiti says.

Wash sponges after every use and wash brushes once a week if only one person uses them. If they are cleaned properly, they will last longer.

Sophomore business major Amanda Bignall cleans her brushes every two months with rubbing alcohol.

THREE MONTHS

Mascara lasts three months after opened, even though most will use it up before then with daily application, Panasiti says.

Both Revlon and Almay have mascaras that last six months after opened.

Panasiti advises not to pump the mascara before using it. People may think they are extracting more from the tube, but they are actually letting more air reach the mascara, drying it out. This can cause it to get flaky and more likely to cause eye infections.

People should check manufacturer instructions if they are unsure how long to use a product. Some brands of makeup, including the previous three, have a picture of an opened jar with a number next to it, such as 6M, on some of the packages. This means the products last six months once opened.

“If all else fails, read the box,” Panasiti says.

FOUR WEEKS

Don’t wash with a mesh sponge or loofah if it’s been around longer than four weeks.  Heather Funk, owner of the Boutique at Trillium Creek, a dermatology and skin care center in Medina, says loofahs and mesh sponges should be replaced every two to four weeks because bacteria collects on them. She says old sponges and loofahs become discolored and bits of visible, dead skin accumulate in them.

For a cleaner loofah or mesh sponge, Funk says to rinse them after use and wash them out with shampoo or conditioner, towel-dry and keep them out of the shower. Keeping them out of the damp shower helps keep bacteria away.

Using an old mesh sponge or loofah can result in bacterial infections on the skin that may require a topical or oral prescription to treat, says Nicole Flesher, spa director at John Robert’s Spa.

Sophomore advertising major Kendra Neeb says she replaces her loofah every year, while Chad Patete, a sophomore biology and pre-med major, says he replaces his each semester.

SIX DAYS

After the bathroom, move into the kitchen. Some everyday foods can be forgotten in the depths of the fridge or the clutter of the counter.

Bread and eggs need to be discarded at the appropriate time. Store-bought bread generally lasts about six days, says Ed Hoegler, chef instructor of Kent State’s hospitality management program.

The type of bread, whether it is more natural or made with more preservatives, can affect its shelf life, says Jodie Luidhardt, registered dietician and coordinator of the nutrition outreach program at Kent State.

If bread is refrigerated, it can last a couple more days, Hoegler says. Bread kept in the fridge needs to be warmed or set out to bring it back to room temperature, he says.

Sometimes, bread kept in the fridge can be dry or soggy in some spots due to the moisture in the refrigerator, Hoegler says. At that point, bread can be ground down to make breadcrumbs.

When it comes to spoilage, checking for mold is key, Luidhardt says.
Freshman exploratory major Natalie Riggs says she has picked off mold from the last pieces of bread so she could make a sandwich.

But, Luidhardt says, cutting around mold and eating the bread isn’t safe.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Web site, the visible mold on the surface layer of bread is not the only mold in it. Mold has roots, which can penetrate through the bread.

TWO WEEKS

Eggs can last about two weeks, Hoegler says. But make sure the refrigerator is around 33 to 36 degrees Fahrenheit. The shelf life is decreased if the temperature is more than 36 degrees. Food can become hazardous or spoiled if it is left in temperatures ranging from 40 to 140 degrees, the temperature danger zone for food, for a long period of time. If food needs to be refrigerated, don’t let it sit out for more than one to two hours.

Sometimes, people may not remember when they purchased eggs and don’t know if they are still safe to eat.

“Crack it, and your nose will tell you right away,” Hoegler says.

In addition, the egg white may spread out in older eggs, unlike the tighter circle of egg white in a fresh egg, he says.

Make sure to check eggs for cracks before eating them as well, to avoid the risk of salmonella, Luidhardt says.

Now, no more excuses. Don’t ignore those eggs in the fridge, the toothbrush at the sink or the condoms in the drawer. Monitor their duration of use or possession, and when time is up, throw them out.