Ever wondered if the canned goods you've forgotten at the back of the pantry are still safe? Or if that congealed mass of floor wax can still do it's job? Stop guessing and let this article help you find out the perfect storage conditions for common household and kitchen items.

In this day and age, one of the cardinal rules is "waste not, want not," so the guidelines listed below will help you make sure you consume your food before it goes bad on you (or you throw expired food and other items out before anyone can accidentally find out it's gone bad the hard way) and that you use detergents and other household products during their optimal period.

Keeping these things in mind will also help you save: for example, if you know you won't use a whole bag of tomatoes in the time it takes for them to go bad, then you can buy smaller packs; if you rarely use a particular household cleaning solution, you might be inspired to find ways to improvise using more common household items.

(First published in Good Housekeeping Magazine, Home 101 Info section as "Shelf Life Issues" in November 2004; adapted for use in Female Network)

Want to read more useful pantry-related articles? Check these out:

• 10 Basic Pantry Items You Should Always Have
• Housekeeping 101: 7 Tips for Organizing Your Pantry
  

Check out this FN article to know about the lifespan of your cosmetics:

• Beauty Loot Lifespans: When to Throw Out Your Old Makeup

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