How old is too old???

[polkanut]

Yesterday I stopped at an estate sale and found a nice little stash of vintage samples.  In the box were samples of Calgon (w/ silver label), Sunlight dw detergent (8.7% phosphates), Cascade liquid (1986 w/ 5.9% phosphates), a partial carton of 1st generation Electrasol tablets (8.7% phosphates), and finally an unopened 4oz bottle of Jet-Dry made by Economics Laboratory, St. Paul, MN.

 

All of these containers look and feel like they were kept in dry conditions, and the contents seem to be free-flowing.  Would these products be ok to use, or do you think their effectiveness has deteriorated over time?   

 

[launderess]

Generally If Powdered Products Are Still Free Flowing - Shou

Calgon - Am on the last of several vintage silver boxes of Calgon. Noticed no problems and it did what phosphates were supposed to do.

Electrasol Tablets - Purchased tons of canisters locally as the product was marked down to nil as it was being discontinued (replaced by newer versions), and by the time one got into the last several containers the tablets had turned into hockey pucks. Seemed to disslove well enough and did the job, but never bothered afterwards.

Powdered DW detergents are known to break down and or loose cleaning power as they age, especially if the carton was kept open and or stored in moist conditions. This is why directions on the carton say to store in a cool dry place and close promptly after use. Also never store DW detergent under sinks or other damp areas. If the product is a "steal" take it home and see how it works. Worse come to the worse you can use it as a pot and pan pre-soak or in the pre-wash cycle.

Liquids - If contents have begun to separate and or not look "right" toss them.

 

[polkanut]

Yes, the entire bin was $1.50.  There was also a partial bottle of Lestoil, a partial of lemon scented Pine-Sol, a newer full can of Easy Off oven cleaner, a vintage shaker container of Comet w/ Chlorinol-G, and finally a container of Copper-Glo copper cleaner copyright 1961.   

 

I did try a 1/2 cup of the Calgon per directions on the box and it was amazing!  I haven't felt water that slippery in a looonnnggg time.  I got my money's worth out of it by using it in conjunction with the suds-saver option on my Maytag Dependable Care machine.  I did 3 loads with that wash water.  The Copper-Glo worked great on our Revere Ware cookware.  My wife couldn't believe it was ours.  

 

[frigilux]

Tim---I used to keep a bottle of Lestoil to remove heavy grease stains when I had a top-loading washer. Recently, I noticed something oozing out of my detergent cabinet. The Lestoil had eaten through the plastic bottle and escaped. If your partial bottle is a glass one, you probably don't have to worry about it.

 

[launderess]

IIRC Vintage Calgon Powder

Was a mixture of two phosphtaes, STPP and sodium hexametaphosphate. The latter (at least today)is more expensive than the former but does have better (slightly) properties for sequestering certian minerals.

 

[polkanut]

Eugene,

It's in a plastic bottle, and the liquid has separated.  This might very well end up in the trash.  I don't want or need anything eating through its container!