Did you know that your standard everyday household substances, from hand soap to dishwashing liquid and even laundry powder, have an expiry date? These are all products that we use on a daily basis, which means it’s easy to forget about them. They’re inconspicuous and not exactly something you need to use quickly. However, this does not mean they should be taken for granted. Many of these substances have a shelf life and can go bad if not used in time. This list below details the top 9 household items that are usually overlooked when it comes to their lifespan. Each one of these has a shelf life or usage period after which they will become ineffective at best or harmful at worst.
- Bleach
One of the most popular household substances, bleach is an important chemical for your cleaning arsenal. However, you need to be careful with its storage and shelf life. While many people will stock up on bleach and store it in their cupboards, you should always be mindful of its expiry period. When you open a new bottle of bleach, you should use it within 6 months. If you don’t, it can corrode your rubber gloves and break down your cleaning tools. It can also become less effective at cleaning and disinfecting and be harmful to your health. If you want to keep your household items fresh and safe, you should consider investing in air fresheners. These come in many different scents and can be used in any room in your house. They’re a great way to keep your home smelling fresh and clean, and they also have other benefits. Some air fresheners act as deodorizers, which means that they can neutralize and eliminate unpleasant smells.
- Dishwashing Liquid
As a bit of a surprise, dishwashing liquid has a shelf life. Regardless of the brand you buy and the price, it’s still subjected to the same expiry date as the cheapest detergent on the market. That said, it’s not a substance that’s going to harm you if you use it past its expiration date, it will just not be as effective. Dishwashing liquid, like other household cleaning products, contains detergent. This is a chemical that breaks down grease, grime, and dirt. Unfortunately, detergent won’t last forever. It begins to lose its effectiveness after a certain amount of time, which means you need to buy new cleaning products to keep your house clean. This can be a costly (and unnecessary) habit. To avoid this, you can use your dishwashing liquid until it’s completely run out, then you can simply throw it away. This way, you won’t have to worry about it going past its expiration date and losing its effectiveness.
- Dry Shampoo
If you use dry shampoo on a regular basis, you need to be careful with the expiration date. Dry shampoo can be a handy product to have around the house, especially if you have a busy schedule. It’s a good way to give yourself a quick refresh between washes and add some body to your hair. However, dry shampoo has a shelf life. Most dry shampoos will have a date printed on their packaging. This means that after this date, the product is no longer effective. Dry shampoo works by absorbing the oil from your hair and scalp and replacing it with other ingredients. If you use dry shampoo after this date, it won’t work properly. You’ll still be able to add volume to your hair, but you won’t be able to remove the oil at the same time. This can lead to your hair becoming oily much quicker and requiring another wash sooner. It’s best to throw your dry shampoo away after its expiration date has passed.
- Hand Sanitizer
Whether you buy a travel-size hand sanitizer or a full-sized bottle, you need to make sure to follow the directions on its packaging. When you buy hand sanitizer, you need to keep in mind that it’s not a permanent solution to your hygiene concerns. It’s something that you need to use regularly as part of your daily routine. However, hand sanitizer has an expiration date. This date is printed on the bottle, and once it passes, the product will no longer be effective at killing germs. You can extend the lifespan of your hand sanitizer by keeping the bottle in a cool, dark place. This will prevent it from breaking down and going past its expiry date. If you don’t want to give up using hand sanitizer, but you’ve almost run out, there are a few things you can do. You can try diluting the rest of the bottle with water to make it last longer. Or, you can simply use less of the product.
- Laundry Detergent
If you have a large family, you’re probably already familiar with the need to swap out your laundry detergent every few months. We don’t often think about it, but detergent has a shelf life. After a certain amount of time, it will lose its effectiveness and be less useful at getting your clothes clean. Detergent is a chemical that helps break down stains and dirt from your clothes. It’s not something that you should use sparingly or only put a small amount in your washing machine. There is a minimum amount that you should use. If you don’t, you risk damaging your clothes. You’ll be able to tell if your detergent is losing its effectiveness if your clothes aren’t as clean as they used to be. While you can buy laundry detergent in bulk, it’s best to rotate your brands every few months. This will prevent them from expiring.
- Shaving Cream
Most people don’t pay attention to the shaving cream’s expiry date. However, it’s important to note the date on the packaging. Shaving cream is a product that you use every single day. This means that it’s even more important to be careful with its lifespan. The best way to make sure that your shaving cream lasts as long as possible is to store it properly. The best place to keep your shaving cream is in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight. This will prevent it from breaking down and becoming less effective. If you don’t buy your shaving cream in a can, you’ll also want to make sure that it’s properly sealed so that it doesn’t dry out while it’s not in use.
- Surface Cleaner
If you use a surface cleaner to get your countertops or other household surfaces squeaky clean, you also need to keep in mind its expiry date. Just like many of the other substances on this list, surface cleaner can go bad. If it’s past its expiration date, it won’t be as effective at getting your surfaces clean. Surface cleaners are made of different chemicals and solvents that break down the dirt and grime from various surfaces. This includes dirt from your kitchen counters and bathroom sink. If your surface cleaner is past its expiration date, it won’t be able to break down this dirt.
- Dishwasher Tablet
If you regularly use your dishwasher, you need to be careful with the dishwasher tablet you use. These tablets can sometimes have an expiration date printed on them, but some brands don’t. In this case, you should keep an eye on their recommended usage period. Dishwasher tablets are sometimes overlooked when it comes to cleaning the inside of your dishwasher. Dishwasher tablets are designed to help break down the grime and dirt that’s built up inside your machine. They’re a great alternative to putting bleach directly into the machine. However, if you don’t regularly change your dishwasher tablet, it will become less effective and be less helpful at cleaning your dishes. This is because dishwasher tablets have a shelf life. They’re made of different chemicals, so they’re not permanent. Once they’ve expired, they won’t be able to clean your dishes effectively.
- Toothpaste
Toothpaste is something that many of us use on a daily basis. This means that it’s important to be aware of its expiration date. Many kinds of toothpaste come with a lid that has a printed “best before” date on it. This date is the time by which the product should be used up. You don’t need to worry about it going bad and being harmful to your health. It will just lose its potency, meaning it won’t be as
Conclusion
Expiring household items like bleach and dishwashing liquid are a common sight in most homes. But it’s important to remember that these aren’t just household necessities. They also have a shelf life, which means that they should be used before they expire. A lot of people use their expired products until they break down and become ineffective. However, this doesn’t mean the product is safe to use. In fact, expiring products can become harmful after they’ve gone past their planned expiration dates. When you’re in the planning stages of buying a new product, you should always check its expiry date. If you buy an item that’s past its expiry date, you need to understand that it’s no longer as effective as it was when it was first manufactured.
Household Chemical Storage Guide from SolvChem Custom Packaging Division, an organization offering chemical blending service 
