Stocking laundry products like detergents is captivating, especially when they are on sale. Everyone prefers to stock detergents to save money and to keep them for the times whenever they need them. Most people think that buying detergents in bulk can cause loss due to their expiry. But, does a laundry detergent gets expire? is the actual question. And if yes, then for how much time can you stock detergents, or what is their shelf life? All these questions are to be answered in this guide.
Factors causing laundry detergents to expire
Laundry detergents do not actually expire; instead, their efficacy decreases with time. Every detergent has an expiry date and labels over the bottle or pack. After the expiry date, these detergents do not become toxic, but their effectiveness decline gradually. Few common factors that can cause laundry detergents to expire or can decrease their effectiveness are:
- Shelf life of the detergent
- Type of the detergent
The shelf life and type of the detergents for the expiration date are interlinked. Some detergents have a short shelf life, while others have a long. So, you need to understand in detail which detergents expire or lose their effectiveness quicker than others.
Liquid Laundry Detergents
The most common form of laundry detergent used extensively is liquid laundry detergent. Liquid detergents have an expiry date mentioned over their bottle, sometimes under the tag “Best Before”. After the due date, the manufacturer can’t take responsibility for that product. It is preferable to use these detergents after gentle shaking. Some factors like changes in the temperature can cause these detergents to lose their efficacy. Extreme hot and extremely cold temperatures can cause clump formation. Thus, if you use such detergent in your washing machines or laundry, it can clog them. Avoid using such detergents and discard them after clump formation. If a liquid detergent has no expiry date mentioned over it, you need to follow these rules to estimate its expiration date.
- Use an opened liquid laundry detergent within six months for good quality cleaning
- Use an unopened/sealed liquid laundry detergent after purchasing within 9 months to one year
Powdered Laundry Detergents
Moisture is the only factor that decreases the effectiveness of a powder detergent. Besides exposing to moisture, these detergents generally do not expire quickly than liquid detergents. After exposure to moisture, these detergents become hard and cakey. Thus, they are of no use at that time as their efficiency lowers down. Other than this, powdered detergents usually have more than a year shelf life. But if they become hard after moisture exposure, you should quickly discard them. That’s why try to avoid stocking up powdered detergents as they can lose their effectiveness by little moisture exposure.
Opened powdered detergents can get expire, but unopened powdered laundry detergents usually do not expire.
A homemade laundry detergent can expire after the formation of molds and mildews. Homemade detergents do not have any bacterial inhibitors in them. That’s why they can expire more quickly than all other detergent types. Moisture and temperature are the two main factors that can deteriorate these detergents. Thus, it’s better to make such detergents in small quantities. Besides this, you also have to store these detergents in secure and controlled places. Air-tight containers are best to keep these detergents safe and fresh.
Single-dose Laundry Detergents
Single-dose laundry detergents are made with water-soluble polyvinyl film. These detergents are convenient to use, but they are sensitive to moisture. The polyvinyl film of these detergents dissolves quickly in water. So, if you touch them with wet hands, they can cause clump formation. It can also degrade the detergent into its ingredients, ultimately losing effectiveness. The best duration for their usage is after six months of their purchase. If you have to stock them, use air-tight containers and avoid touching them with wet hands.
Bleaches
Bleaches are another favorite type of detergent. A beach detergent can be in powder and liquid form. After opening these detergents, it’s better to use them within six months. Bleaches in liquid are volatile, and that’s why they can get expired within a few weeks from opening. Generally, an expiry date is always mentioned over there, but if not, then do not use them after 6 months from their opening. Oxygen-based powdered bleaches can lose their effectiveness after 8 hours.
Summary of detergents’ stability
| Detergent Type | Expiry depending upon shelf life |
| Liquid Laundry Detergent
(Opened) |
Best to use within six months after purchase. |
| Liquid Laundry Detergent
(Sealed) |
Best to use before the expiry date but if not mentioned then use it within 9 months to 1 year after purchase. |
| Powdered Laundry Detergent
(Opened) |
After clump formation or cakey appearance, discard them. |
| Powdered Laundry Detergent
(Sealed) |
They do not usually expire. |
| Homemade Laundry Detergent | Best to use them within two months of their manufacturing. |
| Single-dose Laundry Detergent | Best to use within 6 months after purchase. |
| Bleaches (Chlorine and Oxygen-based) | Chlorine bleaches are best to use within 6 months from opening.
Oxygen-based bleach solution loses its efficacy after 8 hours. |
How to maximize the shelf life of laundry detergents and maintain their freshness?
By adopting the following methods, the shelf life of laundry detergents could be maximized, and we can keep them fresh and effective for longer periods.
Store them in moisture-free places
Most of the detergents expire when they come in contact with moisture. The humidity content degenerates the detergents into their ingredients and affects their efficacy. Thus, try to store the laundry detergents in moisture-free and dry places.
Use air-tight containers for storage
To avoid clump formation and dampness, use air-tight containers. After opening a pack of powdered detergent especially, keep them in an air-tight jar to maintain their freshness for the maximum period. Close the lid of the container or jar immediately after use to preserve the shelf life of detergent.
In the case of liquid detergents, tightly close the bottle cap or lid to avoid spillage and volatilization.
Avoid exposing them to extreme temperatures
Detergents are sensitive to extreme temperature conditions. Too hot or too cold temperatures can deteriorate the structure of chemicals present in detergents. Hence, they make detergents expire and can decrease their shelf life. Thus, store them at moderate temperature places.
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Final Words
Laundry detergents possess a shelf life, and they expire after a certain period. Careful storage and handling can maximize the shelf life of a detergent. Thus, you can stock them for a few months after checking their expiry date. After that date, it’s better to discard them than to use them.
FAQs
1. Can a sealed laundry detergent expire?
Sealed or unopened liquid laundry detergents expire or lose effectiveness after 9 months to 1 year of manufacturing. While sealed powdered laundry detergents hardly expire. Every detergent has an expiration date mentioned over it.
2. Where to store laundry detergents?
The best places to store laundry detergents are:
- Air-tight containers
- Dry and moisture-free places
- Locked cabinets
- Moderate temperature drawers and rooms
3. What happens when a laundry detergent expires?
Expiry detergents become less effective and less functional. An expired detergent may show clump formation that can clog your laundry and washing machine. Although they are already dangerous to human skin after expiration, if you come in contact with them, they can cause severe itching.
4. Do laundry detergents pods expire?
Yes, laundry pod detergents expire within 15 months of their manufacturing. It is recommended to use them before 15 months for better results. They can be used after the expiry date but will not be effective like before.
