Keeping a home clean is a constant task that requires personal effort and cleaning products. It is not very common for cleaning products to lose their expiration date since we use them often, but in some cases, it can happen. If you have expired cleaning products, or sometimes they expire, you should read this article.
There are many ways to replenish household cleaning products. The most common is to wait until the product is out of stock and then purchase a new replacement. However, this is not always the best idea, as products are used less often and may already have expired depending on their packaging date.
Why is the expiration date important for cleaning products?
Although we usually associate expiration dates with other products, such as food or medicines, household cleaning products also have expiration dates.
If, after reading the article, you thoroughly review the products you accumulate in your home, you will find the expiration date of all of them (or the vast majority) printed on the containers.
There are two main reasons to replace an expired cleaning product. The first is simple; the more time passes, the less effective some products become. That does not mean they lose all efficacy or the full potential of their components. In general, with time, this efficacy decreases and, in some cases, will eventually disappear.
The other reason is that cleaning products based on chemical mixtures may lose their efficacy, but they do not lose their toxicity. That does not mean the toxicity is multiplied but can be maintained. On the other hand, although the containers are sufficiently prepared to last longer than the product’s expiry date, over time, the containers can also deteriorate and suffer damage and leakage.
What happens when the product does not have an expiration date?
It is normal for the product to have the expiration date included, but this may not be the case.
Recommendations are varied, but generally, as a basic measure, any cleaning product older than two years after opening should be discarded.
On the other hand, it will also depend on the type of product. For example, bleach is considered to lose effectiveness six months after opening.
The perfect summary is that, once the expiration date has passed, do not use the cleaning products. If you cannot calculate exactly because the date is not printed, it is better to throw away bottles or containers that look bad, very old, or leaking: this is a good idea for cleanliness, hygiene, and the health of your home.