My medicine cabinet contains archaeological wonders that would make Indiana Jones weep.

Here's the kohl eyeliner first used by Cleopatra in 53 B.C., then again by Elizabeth Taylor playing Cleopatra in 1963!

Here's Queen Elizabeth I's lipstick, circa 1558, and Twiggy's mascara, circa 1966! Here's a tube of the original Chapstick created by Dr. C.D. Fleet in the early 1880s! And look - Pleistocene face powder made from the crushed bones of the woolly mammoth!

Wait a minute - what's this 1,000-year-old fruitcake doing in here?

It's probably time to toss some of this stuff.

But how to know what should go? Most medications have expiration dates, although studies by the federal government have found that many drugs - when carefully stored away from forest fires and vats of battery acid - last a lot longer than manufacturers say. Personal-care items like shampoos, creams and cosmetics sometimes have manufactured dates, or "use by" dates, but others give no clue.

And it can make a difference. New York legislators are considering a bill that would require sunscreen products to be clearly labeled with expiration dates and storage recommendations. The bill's sponsors point out that it wouldn't add any manufacturing costs since many such products already have coded expiration dates that only the company can decipher.

"Sunscreen products have an effectiveness life of three to five years," the bill's sponsors say. "In light of how important these products are in combating skin cancer, it is appropriate that the consumer know that sunscreen is not protective against the sun's rays after a certain point."

(As reasonable as that argument sounds, the same bill has passed the House for the past 12 years, only to die in the Senate, possibly of skin cancer.)

Anything that looks like oatmeal but isn't actually oatmeal or begins to smell like Epoisses de Bourgogne, a cheese so obnoxious that it has been banned from public transport in its native France, obviously needs trashing. But mascara gone bad harbors secret bacteria, so it makes sense to follow a general guideline and toss it before you poke yourself in the eye and go blind.

The U.S. military has saved millions by proving that many drugs, both prescription and over-the-counter, outlast their use-by dates, but it's still not a good idea to ignore expiration dates, at least for medicine that matters.

So here's a guide to spring cleaning for your medicine cabinet. As for the fruitcake, no worries - it just keeps getting better.

Disposing of expired medicines safely

Even small quantities of household meds can disrupt or destroy useful microorganisms in the sewage treatment system and contaminate downstream water resources. Here's a guide to tossing those out-of-date drugs.

• For pills, remove patient information from the container and fill with household glue. For liquids, solidify with an absorbent such as kitty litter. This makes it less likely to leach into the water system from the landfill.

• Securely wrap the medication in several layers of newspaper and enclose in a plastic trash bag. Put this bundle into your regular trash.

• Store trash containing disposed medicines out of the reach of kids and pets until it can be picked up by your trash-disposal service or taken to the landfill.

• Extremely toxic drugs, such as those used to treat cancer, should be returned to a hospital for proper disposal.Source: Boulder County And The Colorado Department Of Public Health And Environment

Beware of the bacteria

To give your personal products and pills the longest life span, keep them stored in a cool place, keep the lid on tight; never share your cosmetics with anyone else. A good rule: If it looks, smells or feels funky, toss it. Organic products lack chemical preservatives, so they may need to be replaced sooner. Over-the-counter medications all have expiration dates, but they can last longer if stored properly.

Cosmetics

• Mascara

3-6 months

• Eye liner

Pencils: Up to 2 years

Liquids: 3-6 months

• Lipstick

1-2 years

• Foundation

1-2 years

• Blush

1-2 years

• Nail polish

1 year

•

Nail polish remover

Indefinitely

• Hair spray

2-3 years(Water-Based Lasts Longer Than Oil-Based, And A Pump Bottle Lasts Longer Than A Screw Top.)

Medicine

• Decongestant

1-2 years

• Acetaminophen

1-2 years

• Antacid

1-2 years

• Pepto-Bismol

1-2 years

• Prescription medications

Only to the expiration date. After that, medications won't be effective, and could even be harmful

Personal care

• Antiperspirant

check expiration date

• Mouthwash

3 years from manufacture date

• Bar soap

18 months to 3 years

• Bath gel

3 years

• Body lotion

3 years

• Shampoo

2-3 years

• Conditioner

2-3 years

• Sunscreen

about 6 months at 100 percent strength

• Self-tanner

6-12 months

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