If you’ve been scrubbing down your surfaces with less that perfect results or your clothes aren’t coming out of the wash gleaning, it could be because your cleaning products have gone off.
You might never have questioned whether cleaning products have an expiry date, but it turns out that they have a shelf life – just like food.
According to Apartment Therapy, the components will start to break down over time – especially once they’re open – meaning they become less effective.
While most won’t be harmful to use, you may have to use twice the quantity or put in extra effort to get a good result.
Read on to find out how long you have to use up your store cupboard stash.
Dishwasher detergent starts to go off within six months of opening, but can last up to a year
Laundry Detergent
Once opened you have six months to use it up before it starts to break down.
It has a shelf life of nine to 12 months when unopened, so think twice before buying an enormous stash on special offer.
Laundry capsules
You should try to use withing 15 months and store in an airtight container to stop the casing from dissolving.
Fabric softener
While an unopened bottle is good for around two to three years, you’ll see it start to break down and separate around six to 12 months after first removing the lid.
Washing soda
Lasts indefinitely as long as you store it in a dry environment.
Dryer sheets
Luckily dryer sheets don’t go off, but they will lose their fragrance over time if you leave the box open. Store in an airtight bag to keep them fresh.
Furniture polish
You have about two years to finish a bottle before it starts to go off.
Bleach
It’s hard to imagine the might bleach losing its punch, but it has a relatively short life span of six months before it starts to break down.
It won’t become more toxic and it’s still fine to use, but you might need to use more to get the results you want.
Oxi stain powder
This has no use-by date as long as they powder is kept dry.
Baking soda
You should use up within six to 12 months of opening.
Borax
Another one that lasts indefinitely, as long as it’s kept dry.
Bar Keepers Friend
The stain remover won’t deteriorate if you keep it dry.
Vinegar is a multi-purpose cleaner and has an almost indefinite shelf life. Antibacterial wipes start losing effectiveness after a year
Castile soap
This long-lasting product is good up to 3 years.
Vinegar
Those who prefer to use vinegar as a multi-purpose cleaner instead of chemical products will be pleased to know it has an almost indefinite shelf life and doesn’t break down.
Dishwasher detergent
It starts to lose effectiveness around six months, but may last up to a year
Multi-Surface Cleaners
Your all-purpose spray has a two-year shelf life, but antibacterial varieties will lose their effectiveness after a year.
You have two years to use your furniture polish before it starts breaking down. Bleach is suprisingly quick to deteriorate and will change after just six months
Cleaning wipes
You have two years before they start to lose effectiveness, but only half that for those that contain antibacterials.
Window Cleaner
You’ll get two years out of a bottle before it starts to break down
Metal polish
It usually lasts for three years, but you should throw away if you notice excess water or lumps forming.