You may be surprised to know that toiletries have shelf lives just like our food and drink, but they are not as quick to spoil. If you are planning on storing toiletries for a long time, have a look at our advice on what to do with them…
1. Check the label
Most products will have an expiration date printed on the label, but it looks a little different from the dates we usually see on food packets. Look for the small picture of a jar with a number and the letter ‘M’ next to it, for example 12M. This is a product’s Period After Opening (PAO) date and this tells you how many months it can be used after opening.
A product may not ‘go off’ like food if used after those months, but its effectiveness could decrease. It’s especially important to keep note of the PAO date for toiletries such as sun cream which may not protect you against sun damage if used after this date.
2. Use this handy guide
Here is a list of common toiletries and their general expiration dates to give you an idea of how long you can keep them in use for:
- 1-2 months: loofas, sponges
- three months: mascara, liquid eyeliner
- one year: moisturisers, creams, sun cream, anti-ageing products, liquid foundation and concealer
- two years: shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, toothpaste, perfume, nail polish
- three years: deodorant, mouthwash, soap, lipstick, lip gloss
But toiletries unused in their packaging will last a lot longer.
Cosmetic Info has a detailed explanation of the laws and regulations put in place for toiletries and their expiration dates. They also show you how to care for your products to make them last for as long as possible in storage.
It’s worth including these expiry dates on your self-storage inventory so that you know when you should take your toiletries out and start using them.
3. Keep away from heat and humidity
If you want your toiletries to last for a long time, keep them away from heat and humidity, even if they are sealed. If you are storing toiletries that you don’t want to spoil quickly, consider using a climate-controlled storage unit, which regulates temperature and humidity. Have a read of our blogpost on whether climate-controlled storage is necessary and decide whether it is the right choice for you.
4. Protect your toiletries in storage with insurance
The best way to keep your toiletries as safe as possible in storage is to insure them. This will protect you against damage and theft. There is no point worrying about expiry dates if your toiletries and your money aren’t protected!
Some self-storage units will include insurance in their package, but not all of them do. Also, you may find a better price if you look elsewhere. At Store and Insure we offer a competitive price from less than £1.35 per week – get a quick quote from us today!
There is no hassle in storing your toiletries in a self-storage unit, as long as you keep a note of when to take them out.
