How long does liquid laundry detergent last?

[lordkenmore]

How long does a liquid laundry detergent last before going bad? Powdered seems to last forever if kept dry (although the scent may fade), but I get the impression that liquid detergent might not survive.

 

I have, er, I mean a guy I know has gotten a little carried away with detergent purchases recently due to sales too good to pass up. So I, er this guy I know has more liquid detergent on hand than ever before...

 

So how long does detergent that's been opened last? And how about detergent that is still apparently in factory sealed bottles?

 

[mrboilwash]

If it`s an enzyme containing liquid it should be used within 1 1/2 - 2 years after its manufacturing date for best results. Detergents usually don`t go bad after 2 years but they might become considerably less effective because enzymes are generally not that stable in liquid formulations.
As long as you don`t expect top results and when properly stored (cool and dry) you should be able to use it for a long time. Apart from the usual preservatives found in liquids they might also contain ingredients with preserving properties like alcohols some particular surfactants or a higher Ph (in case of non-enzyme heavy duty detergents).
It`s difficult to give a general advice, just use common sense which means if it smells or looks different or when the consistancy has change you better toss it.
As for powders while they won`t go off as long as they`re kept dry some ingredients like bleaches and enzymes will certainly lose efficiency as well when they age.

 

[supersuds]

According to replies 11 and 12 in this thread, about 50 years?

Moving Stuff Around and Downsizing a Bit

Just moved a bunch of stuff around and downsized a bit, here is what the larger room of my basement looks like now...

www.automaticwasher.org

 

[launderess]

Will say it really depends.

Had some Wisk single packets (coin-vend size for use in laundromats)that was from the 1980's or so, and contents were a congealed gloppy mess. Clearly having gone off and thus not going to give best performance.

Thing to remember about liquid and gel detergents is they are just that; various ingredients mixed in water. Depending upon amount of preservatives used and a few other factors shelf life may vary between a year to several.

Know for liquid fabric softeners P&G recommends use within a year, otherwise they can go off. Having made the mistake of purchasing several bottles of Downy "free and gentle" at a very good price, was shocked that the opened bottle's contents had turned to muck < one year after purchase. Contacted P&G and after giving date code off bottle they were able to confirm when the stuff was produced and said it simply was past shelf life.

Because liquid detergent bottles are largely not clear; it is hard to tell but best thing to look for would be changes in color, and or product that has begun to separate. Once saw an older bottle of Tide liquid laundry detergent at local hardware store. This bottle was clear and you could see liquid inside had changed color slightly. Label had also begun to fade, so passed the thing up.

 

[tomturbomatic]

The thing you have to watch out for in storing these products is their eating through the plastic bottles a making a terrible sticky mess on the shelf etc. where they are stored.