Spring Cleaning

It’s time to shake off winter along with the clutter that sometimes goes with it.   Do you feel the urge to clean and reorganize everything from files to closets?   A few other areas may warrant spring cleaning attention too.

Last fall, I had my first cold in several years.  As I dug through the medicine stash, every. single. box. of cold medicine was expired.  I’m talking YEARS past its expiration date!   None of us enjoy a trip into the store while sick and the general public would thank those with contagious illness to stay home.  This is why it is an excellent idea to go through medications, first aid kits, and other medicine cabinet supplies annually.  Now, we have a reminder – April is Medicine Cabinet Clean Out month.  This month, discard expired medication following these recommendations from the FDA.   Replenish first aid supplies like band aids, antimicrobial ointment, and ace bandages.   Purchase any medications you are likely to need within the next few months.  No more Nyquil from 2013!

When is the last time you cleaned out your cosmetic bag and brushes? Cosmetics are subject to bacterial and fungal contamination and have the potential to cause infections, especially eye products like mascara.   Cosmetics expire but it’s not always easy to tell when that happens;  many products now contain a PAO (period after opening – see photo below).  If you aren’t great at tracking when you opened a product, a good rule of thumb is to discard any cosmetics that have changed color, separated or clumped up, or smell differently than when first opened.  Mom Skoop provides a handy expiration chart https://momskoop.com/printable-cosmetics-expiration-chart/  if you’d like to track those things manually.  I recently read that there’s also an app for that!

And about those brushes….do you clean them every few weeks?  Me neither.  Most brushes should be washed every two to four weeks depending on use.  How to clean them?  Baby shampoo is one option. Check out what the experts say:  https://intothegloss.com/2015/04/how-to-clean-makeup-brushes/

Periodic replacement of athletic shoes is a given but have you ever thought about your sports bra collection?  The consensus appears to be that sports bras break down and aren’t as supportive as they should be after 6 to 12 months of use.  This depends upon training type and load as well as washing and drying methods. Using a dryer will break them down faster.  It can be hard to say goodbye to your favorites but once you notice changes in elasticity of the bottom band, any loss of support, or wear and tear of the straps, it is time to go shopping!

Several more areas may need to be included on that spring cleaning to-do list:  the refrigerator (I dread this one!), teeth (if it's been longer than six months, it's time to call the dentist's office...I've got it on my list!) and your purse or bag (check for medications and cosmetics here too).

Here's to spring cleaning and spring wellness!