Shelf life of Laundry Detergents

[scoots]

I came across an article called "What not to buy at Warehouse Clubs" at Kiplinger.com and one item specified was Liquid Bleach and Detergents (although powered detergents which I use have a longer shelf life). Is this correct?

 

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Quote from article:</span>

 

<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">These products lose their efficacy after six months, says RetailMeNot’s Bodge. So if you don’t have a big family and don’t wash lots of laundry, you won’t get through a warehouse club’s supersize bottle of bleach or detergent fast enough. Instead, Bodge recommends looking for deals on these items at the grocery store or big-box store. The dollar store also is a great place to buy cleaning supplies (see What to Buy at Dollar Stores). Or buy the supersize box of warehouse clubs’ powdered detergent, which won’t lose its efficacy, Bodge says. </span>
Read more at http://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/...arehouse-clubs/index.html#VDckHrTLxJy2ESIs.99

 

[launderess]

Liquid laundry detergents can degrade over time. Have some older vend sized Wisk liquid packets where the contents have broken down into goo.

Chlorine bleach also degrades with long storage. It basically breaks down into salt and water IIRC. Clorox and other bleaches have a date code somewhere on the bottle. If you don't use chlorine bleach often better to purchase the smaller quart sized bottles than gallons.

Powdered detergents long as they are stored in cool and dry areas can last years. Unlike liquid detergents certain parts of powdered detergents are coated with substances to prevent them from reacting with others while in storage. So oxygen bleach won't degrade enzymes and so forth.

 

[scoots]

Thank you Launderess

... for your informed and concise answer.

 

[launderess]

Another Thing

Caution should be exercised when purchasing liquid laundry product or anything else for that matter.

Since they are made from water all liquid consumer detergents/cleaners must contain preservatives. Those chemicals have a set lifespan. Once the preservatives begin to day off or are dead then whatever product is ripe for and probably will go "off". How long things will last depends upon several factors. I've used NOS shampoos from the 1980's that were still great. OTOH fabric softeners from just 2001 have been a gunky and foul mess.

P&G places date codes on all their products. Am willing to bet if you looked at all the Tide, Downy, etc... that is found at Big Lots, Nationwide Warehouse, and so forth it is expired or nearly so products.

Supermarkets here throw out all sorts of goods, but you never see laundry or other housecleaning products. My guess is unsold but expired things to back to distributor who sells them off somehow or somewhere.