Crystal Cleaning explains how to dispose of past-their-prime cleaning supplies, meaning: expired cleaning products do exist!
If you look closely at your cleaning supplies, you’ll notice that many of them include a printed expiration date. However, how many of us are likely to check this fine print? The next time you’re embarking on a significant cleaning spree, check the product’s expiration date or manufacture date. Your inspection should include checking bleach bottles, cleaning spray, and dishwashing liquid. If you find any of these past their prime, follow the steps below to dispose of them safely.
In Short: Cleaning Products Can Expire
Brian Sansoni, senior vice president of communications, outreach & membership at the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) reaches out to explain why cleaning products can expire. He explains, “Like many products purchased at the grocery store, cleaning products can degrade over time. Even if they contain preservatives, that doesn’t mean they last forever. As they begin to break down, it might affect how well the enzymes work or change the pH, resulting in a less effective product.”
Once a cleaning product is expired, some of the claims the product makes, such as the percentage of germs it kills on a surface, may no longer be valid.
Pro tip: The next time you open a new cleaning product, use a permanent marker to date it, so you know when you opened it.
Is it safe to use expired cleaning products?
Expired surface cleaning sprays and dishwashing liquids likely won’t damage the surfaces they’re intended to use. However, they won’t clean as effectively. You may have to use a little more of the product or clean for longer to get the same results.
“However, when it comes to disinfectants and hand sanitizers, it needs to be within that shelf life to have the desired effect. This is especially important now, as we fight coronavirus,” Sansoni says. Be sure to double-check the expiration dates on disinfectants and hand sanitizers and replace them as needed.
How long do cleaning products typically last?
The easiest way to tell if your cleaning supplies are expired is to check the date printed on the bottle or box. If there isn’t any expiration date, there may be a manufacture date. If there isn’t that, use the general guide below to determine if the product is expired.
- Bleach: Once opened, bleach has a surprisingly short shelf life and becomes less effective after six months.
- Multi-surface cleaning sprays: Most cleaning sprays will last for two years.
- Dish detergent: About one year to 18 months.
- Laundry detergent: Lasts for six months to 1 year after opening.
- Disinfecting sprays: About two years after the manufacture date.
- Hand sanitizer: always check for an expiration date on the bottle—most last for 2 to 3 years.
How to help your cleaning products last longer
“The expiration date tells you how long that shelf life is under typical conditions (at room temperature, stored out of direct sunlight, etc.),” Sansoni remarks.
Therefore, if you’re storing your hand sanitizer in a hot car, it could be losing potency faster. It may end up containing less than 60 percent alcohol (the amount needed to be sufficiently adequate, according to the CDC) before it even reaches its expiration date.
Pro tip: Store your cleaning supplies in a cool, dry spot to help them last longer.
How to dispose of expired cleaning products
If you find some decades-old cleaning products in the back of your cabinet, how do you dispose of them safely? A small amount can typically be diluted in water and poured down the sink. For more massive amounts, check if there are any disposal instructions printed on the container. If not, call your local hazardous waste disposal facility for their recommendations.
Keep in mind that certain cleaning chemicals should never be combined—such as bleach and ammonia—and that holds when disposing of them, too. Pouring these chemicals down the sink at the same time can create a toxic gas. Always practice caution when disposing of chemicals.
Contact Us
Need assistance with organizing your cleaning supplies? After all, expired cleaning products do exist. Yet, maybe you just need a reliable cleaning company to make your life easier? That’s what Crystal Cleaning is all about! Call us for a FREE QUOTE today! 727-313-4560.
