It's nice to finally crawl into bed at the end of a long day, but how often do you consider the expiry dates of pillows and other items that makes up your bed?

MOLLY MAID previously provided household product expiry dates for the bathroom and kitchen. Now it's time to conquer the bedroom.

Pillows

Expiry Date: 2 years

Dust mites and dead skin cells are only a couple of the treasures found in your pillow. Microorganisms feed off of each other and multiply as time goes on.  Investing in a new pillow every few years is a good idea. Use a special pillow cover as well.

Mattresses

Expiry Date: 8-10 years

A high quality mattress should supply proper support for many years. To assist in the longevity of your mattress, flip it twice a year and rotate bottom to top.

Sheets

Expiry Date: 1 week

Changing bed sheets should be done on a weekly basis. Naturally produced body oils can build up on sheets and pillow cases and can actually result in breakouts or skin irritation. Of course, the sheets themselves can last many years when properly washed. Plus, there's nothing like crawling into a freshly made bed.

Making sure that the products you use and the foods you eat are safe can be a challenge.  The professional cleaning experts at MOLLY MAID recommend these guidelines:

Dishcloth

• Expiry Date: 1 day
• Bacteria use damp dishcloths as a breeding ground so you should change your dishcloth every day.  Microfibre clothes are a great alternative to a traditional dish cloth. Click here to find out why.

Cutting Board

• Expiry Date: As soon as deep grooves or cracks develop
• When deep cracks or grooves develop it is difficult to properly clean and sanitize your cutting boards, and that can allow a build-up of food particles and bacteria.

Leftovers

• Expiry Date: 2- 4 days
• Leftovers shouldn't sit in your fridge any longer than a few days. They need to be kept at a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius or colder.

• Mustard Expiry Date: 1 year
• Ketchup Expiry Date: 6 months
• Mayo Expiry Date: 2 months
• Remember, the law only requires expiry dates on products with a shelf life of 90 days or less, so not all products will be marked with a 'best before' date.

The general - and safe - rule of thumb is: "When in doubt, throw it out".  The above mentioned guidelines are recommendations only.  Refer to the manufacturer's guidelines for exact dates of individual products purchased.

You use certain bathroom products every day, but how long should you continue to use the same item before you replace it?

MOLLY MAID provides these guidelines for expiry dates of household products you often use in the bathroom. Of course, you should always look for the manufacturers' guidelines as well.

Toothbrushes

• Expiry Date: 3 months
• The Canadian Dental Association recommends tossing your toothbrush every three months - to avoid a build-up of bacteria and because of wear.

Makeup

• Mascara Expiry Date: 3 months
• Powders, lipsticks, eye pencils Expiry Date: 6 months
• Makeup is exposed to bacteria on your face, and that's why you want to follow these guidelines to limit the accumulation of germs.  If makeup hasn't been opened it has a shelf life of about two years if stored in a dry, cool place.

Razors

• Expiry Date: As soon as dullness appears (usually after 10-15 uses)
• If your razor is dull you will experience pulling and irritation when shaving.  This can cause cuts and 'razor burn' on your skin and that can feel quite uncomfortable.  The quality of razor used can help improve its lifetime.

Check back in the coming weeks to learn about the expiry guidelines for kitchen items and bedroom items.