topic Re: Expiration date for Laundry detergent? in Home

Expiration date for Laundry detergent?

drizzellla — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 17:27:10 GMT

OK - I can't say I ever looked for or saw an expiration date on the laundry detergent.

But according to Better Homes and Gardens - Laundry soap is another household staple with a surprisingly short shelf life. All laundry products have a use by date—the time varies based on the type of product—but generally, laundry soaps and detergents will lose their effectiveness after six to nine months.

Re: Expiration date for Laundry detergent?

Carmie — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 17:35:54 GMT

Well, if I have any detergent that is out of date, I am still gonna use it.

My clothing is never really dirty anyway. I never check for expiration dates on detergent either.

Re: Expiration date for Laundry detergent?

We rescue cats — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 17:40:58 GMT

Never checked for an expiration date and I doubt I will ever find a need to do so.

Re: Expiration date for Laundry detergent?

hkrgrl — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 17:48:44 GMT

i am using up All free and clear that my DD left, about 5 years ago!!

i have found no issue with it. and really my clothes are not that dirty.

i have another big one under laundry sink and i will use it as well.

what would do with it anyway? trash it? sounds like a waste to me. and i am not wasting anything these days!!

Breathe, breathe in the air, don't be afraid to care, look around, choose your own ground

Re: Expiration date for Laundry detergent?

4kitties — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 18:05:24 GMT

The last time my Walmart did a reset of the store they clearanced out a whole bunch of laundry detergents and I stocked up. I am still using the last bottles and pacs of it. It is just fine. I do not believe it goes bad that quickly.

Now fabric softener does. I had some that got old and it thickened up and I had to toss it.

Re: Expiration date for Laundry detergent?

lynnie61 — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 18:08:43 GMT

Well, I never heard that. I have three or four large bottles. Our clothes are not heavy duty soiled, so I'm guessing I'm good to go. No way I am tossing it. Anything for a sale.

Re: Expiration date for Laundry detergent?

Tinkrbl44 — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 18:50:23 GMT

@drizzellla wrote:
OK - I can't say I ever looked for or saw an expiration date on the laundry detergent.

But according to Better Homes and Gardens - Laundry soap is another household staple with a surprisingly short shelf life. All laundry products have a use by date—the time varies based on the type of product—but generally, laundry soaps and detergents will lose their effectiveness after six to nine months.

@drizzellla

Huh? I just checked my Tide with Downy. No expiration OR use-by date.

BH&G might end up issuing a correction with this one.

Just HOW can soap no longer be effective after only 6 months?

Re: Expiration date for Laundry detergent?

Bookplate — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 19:34:10 GMT

And this is why it is not advisable to eat laundry detergents!

Re: Expiration date for Laundry detergent?

We rescue cats — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 19:52:22 GMT

@Bookplate wrote:
And this is why it is not advisable to eat laundry detergents!

Bwahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahaha!!!!!!

Re: Expiration date for Laundry detergent?

threecees — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 21:16:39 GMT

I look for expiration dates on food items, never laundry detergent.

I have a stash in my basement pods and liquid, no idea when I bought it.

Never had an issue with it being bad.

Not falling for dates on laundry detergent no matter if there is one or not.

A gimmick to keep buying more and more from the companies if it's over the

date.

Re: Expiration date for Laundry detergent?

Kachina624 — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 22:42:24 GMT

I've never heard of an expiration date for clothes detergent but i have heard that dish washing detergent loses its effectiveness remarkably fast.

Re: Expiration date for Laundry detergent?

Pooky1 — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 00:36:18 GMT

I never new laundy detergent had an expiration date.I will have to check when I do laundry. I always buy a big bottle of all free and clear detergent from bjs wholesale club. Now that I read this.I remember hearing that you shouldn't buy big amounts of laundry detergent but I never have a problem buying those big jugs bjs sells.

Re: Expiration date for Laundry detergent?

deeva — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 15:12:48 GMT

I use common sense when it comes to expiration dates. There's no way I'm throwing out old laundry detergent or dishwashing liquid based on some arbitrary date set by a manufacturer.

And I no longer trust a lot of what Better Homes and Gardens says.

Re: Expiration date for Laundry detergent?

Still Raining — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 16:16:53 GMT

You guys are troublemakers 😂

So I got up to check, because I never, never noticed. All I saw was a warning to not chug down the whole bottle. Ya think?

Re: Expiration date for Laundry detergent?

Tinkrbl44 — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 19:17:17 GMT

@deeva wrote:
I use common sense when it comes to expiration dates. There's no way I'm throwing out old laundry detergent or dishwashing liquid based on some arbitrary date set by a manufacturer.

And I no longer trust a lot of what Better Homes and Gardens says.

@deeva @drizzellla

I read that Americans throw out approximately $2 billion in perfectly good food every year, based on thinking the sell by or use by dates actually mean something. They don't.

This issue was recently addressed in CA when a law was signed to ban "sell by" dates on packaged food items.

Here's the news blurb:

"AB 660 will close this gap by requiring manufacturers to use the same phrase for date labels across their products. Starting July 1, 2026, “BEST if Used By” will be used to communicate peak quality, and “Use By” will be used to communicate product safety. To further reduce confusion on food date labeling, AB 660 prohibits the use of consumer facing “sell by” dates, reducing the likelihood of confusing “sell by” dates with quality and/or safety dates. This small change will accelerate California’s progress towards achieving a more efficient and secure food system."

Re: Expiration date for Laundry detergent?

LavernLuvsShoes — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 19:30:22 GMT

@Tinkrbl44 wrote:
I read that Americans throw out approximately $2 billion in perfectly good food every year, based on thinking the sell by or use by dates actually mean something. They don't.

They certainly don't to me - Common sense says that if it looks, feels or smells bad, it's time to toss it.

Re: Expiration date for Laundry detergent?

Twins Mom — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 19:30:46 GMT

@4kitties I would do the same. Agree with softener. I looked for smaller bottles because I use sparingly but they are mostly large. Went with less expensive brand.

Re: Expiration date for Laundry detergent?

Twins Mom — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 19:33:23 GMT

@Tinkrbl44

And if no dates obvious, how can consumer check? Some of these dates are so poorly placed and printed, I get out magnifying glass.

I buy when on sale, and sometimes I have several bottles. No shame.

Re: Expiration date for Laundry detergent?

Venezia — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 19:54:38 GMT

Okay, I've never once looked for an expiration date on a bottle of laundry detergent or dishwashing liquid and I have no intention of starting now.

Sometimes I think these things are just ridiculous. If it were April 1st, I'd understand this "information". But seriously?

Re: Expiration date for Laundry detergent?

Tinkrbl44 — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 20:06:09 GMT

@Twins Mom wrote:
@Tinkrbl44

And if no dates obvious, how can consumer check? Some of these dates are so poorly placed and printed, I get out magnifying glass.
I buy when on sale, and sometimes I have several bottles. No shame.

@Twins Mom

Are you talking about laundry soap ... or food here?

I don't understand your "shame" reference, but have you ever seen an expiration date on laundry soap?

I haven't ever seen this, and I just checked the four bottles of detergent I currently have. Nada.

If you have detergent that smells funny, or you've had it for ten years, just go the company's website and contact them. No biggie.