Getting older means that you have lots of things in your home that probably should be thrown out. Some may even have expiration dates. I have developed some rules for when food or other items can be discarded.
In the kitchen, discard foods when…
you don’t remember having the original meal that created that particular leftover.
there’s something growing on the food that is a different color than the original item.
the liquid/sauce that is in the bottle has caked so firmly over the screw cap that you can no longer open the bottle without using carpenters’ tools or smashing it against the counter.
you can no longer read the expiration date.
it doesn’t pass the smell test, although thresholds for this may vary.
In the pantry, discard foods when…
the can is bulging and threatens to explode.
it’s a food that you don’t like, never liked, and will never like. You probably bought it because someone said it was good for you or it was on sale.
the seasonings/spices have been around so long that they have no aroma and add nothing to the taste of foods, although you can keep some to add a little color to food.
In the medicine chest/bathroom cabinet, discard items when…
there’s a medication or lotion that you remember packing and moving from your last home, and haven’t used since, and you moved more than ten years ago.
they have an expiration date that’s more than two years old. Note- this applies to kitchen and pantry too. However, you might want to keep any anti-anxiety medications. Even if they lost some potency, the placebo effect can be helpful.
In the closet, throw out or give away…
clothes you haven’t worn for many years. You will never be that size again, and the style is not likely to come back.
shoes that are too tight. You may love them, but they hurt your feet whenever they are worn for more than fifteen minutes. Your feet will never get smaller.
Congratulations, you have now discarded 80% of what was in your closet.
All around the house, discard…
tchochkes that you don’t care about. You don’t remember how you got them and you never really liked them. If the people who gave you a tchotchke come to visit, they won’t remember what they gave you anyway.
piles of papers. If the letter is more than 3 months old, get rid of it. If it was a bill, they probably sent you a newer bill, with a late fee. You should pay that one. If it’s from a charity, don’t worry, they will keep sending you solicitations.
piles of magazines or newsletters. If you have a subscription just start reading the newer ones and discard the old ones. If you keep postponing reading any of them, cancel the subscription.
And speaking of expiration dates:
I wish… maybe… that I knew the expiration dates for people close to me. If I did, I would know who I wanted to visit soon, and who could wait. I also would know who to make peace with… or who could wait a little longer. And who I still needed to pay back or return/or get back something that was loaned.… or not.
As to my own expiration date… I don’t want to know that, but if I did…likely I would want to extend the date… or would I?
Reflections on Aging 
Yup, sounds familiar. Re expiration dates on meds. Like to throw some out, but heard that could be toxic to water supply, etc. my pharmacy refused to take them . They said there was one day per year that police would take them. Nobody seems to know what that day is. I want to know if it’s only old people who find the world so complicated!
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