How long is the shelf life of washing powder?

Author of the article:

Muzyko Tatyana Andreevna - lawyer.

The time during which the active chemical compounds function fully is considered to be the shelf life of the washing powder.
The legislator stipulates a storage time of 9 months for products containing whitening products or dietary supplements. For everyone else, this period is set by the manufacturer.

What is regulated

1. GOST 32479-2013 “Laundry detergents”. Establishes general requirements for life safety, public health, and environmental protection.
2. GOST 25644-96 “Synthetic powder detergents”. Applies to raw materials, technical requirements.
3. GOST 22567.5-93 “Synthetic detergents and surfactants.” Regulates the method for determining the pH of aqueous solutions.
4. GOST 52488-2005. Applies to powdered, granular, agglomerated, molded, paste and liquid household laundry products.

Defoamers

Defoamers are added to powders for automatic washing machines. After all, excess foam during washing can come “out of the ears” - through the holes in the drum, foam can get into the tray for pouring powder and even come out.

Which, by the way, is what happened during the examination with Ariel powder. Fortunately, there was no short circuit. But this does not mean that you are insured against it, especially since, including the washing machine, we often leave and, therefore, will not be able to notice and react to this potential danger in time.

In the examination, the least amount of foam was obtained from Pemos; the other powders showed themselves to be average in this regard. The exception is “Myth 3 in 1”; it did not dissolve completely even in warm water. And although there is little foam, it’s not great either. Why? This means that powder particles may remain on the laundry. Ideally, the powder should dissolve quickly and completely, and there should be just enough foam to ensure that the laundry is washed well.

Lipstick, wine, brilliant green. How to clean stains from your favorite item

More details

Marking

The product data list includes the following:

• Name;
• what method: automatic, manual, station wagon;
• types of fabrics;
• machines: professional, automatic, activator type;
• amount of ingredient by type of wash;
• compound;
• normative and technical act;
• manufacturer (country, address, company);
• warning notices;
• weight or volume of a substance;
• storage conditions;
• disposal method;
• shelf life, date of manufacture, expiration date;
• how long can it be stored?
• barcode;
• dangerous moments of use, how to avoid them;
• Can it be used after the expiration date?

Dear readers! To solve your problem right now, get a free consultation

— contact the lawyer on duty in the online chat on the right or call: +7 (499) 938 6124 — Moscow and region.
+7 (812) 425 6761 — St. Petersburg and region. 8 (800) 350 8362 - Other regions of the Russian Federation You will not need to waste your time and nerves
- an experienced lawyer will solve all your problems!

ATTENTION: the text and pictures on the packaging must be well and clearly printed, this protects against counterfeiting.

Where to hide the powder?

More often, the easiest and most affordable option is chosen - to hide the powder from water, heat and sun. But in reality it turns out that finding such a place is extremely problematic. Especially if, in search of profit, you purchase an economical but bulky package of 6-9 kg. The situation is aggravated by the lack of a separate pantry or closet.

But you need to choose a place for storage, so we start looking for the most suitable place. You should follow the following recommendations:

1. We think about children and animals. First of all, we exclude easily accessible places where a small child or pet could get hold of dangerous chemicals. It must be remembered that a plastic bag or cardboard pack is easily torn by teeth, crumbles and tastes. Every thinking person knows about the possible consequences of such an experiment for the life and health of a growing organism.
2. We exclude the kitchen. Ideally, it is better not to consider residential premises at all. Toxic substances can penetrate into the air even from completely sealed packaging, after which they remain on food, furniture, clothing, floor and wall coverings. In a logical way, dangerous components penetrate the body, gradually accumulating and causing intoxication.
3. We are looking for a closed shelf or cabinet. Sun rays should not penetrate through the walls. It is better if the doors are closed with a magnetic lock.
4. We avoid the bathroom. The problem is high humidity.
5. Let's keep our distance. Household chemicals are always stored separately. Placing powders, baby clothes, towels, washcloths, dishes in one drawer is strictly prohibited!
6. Don't forget about batteries. The farther the detergent is from the battery, the longer it will serve its owners.
7. We don't go far. Running across the entire apartment every time you do laundry is an unenviable and potentially dangerous prospect. Therefore, we immediately narrow the search field and look for a place not far from the washing machine.

Doubts often arise as to whether laundry detergent can be stored in the cold. For example, an indoor balcony is considered as an option during the cold season. Here the answer is ambiguous: on the one hand, the powder will not be damaged by minus temperatures and sudden temperature changes, but on the other hand, it will take a long time to carry it to the washing machine.

Deadlines

The shelf life of washing products is long, from 3 to 5 years. But each brand has its own shelf life, which is set by the manufacturer. This depends on the composition and shelf life of the chemical base of the product. GOST stipulates only the period of storage time for substances containing bleaches and biologically active additives.

IMPORTANT: you should not purchase washing powder if the date of manufacture is not indicated: it may be counterfeit.

Why are expired household chemicals harmful?

Washing powders are, first of all, chemicals, so the terms and storage conditions must be treated with due attention. Almost all such products have a limited time of use. Finding out if there is an expiration date is quite simple. This information must be indicated on the packaging. You can verify this by picking up any powder of a well-known brand, for example, Myth, or Losk.

The quality of the detergent affects not only the result of cleaning things, but also human health. It contains surfactants that help remove dirt, but can also have a negative effect on the skin of the hands, especially if it is expired. In addition, the use of low-quality products can cause allergic reactions of the respiratory tract, skin irritation in the form of rashes and eczema.

Absorbed into the skin of the hands or body, the surfactants of expired powder can negatively affect protein, fat and carbon metabolism and even the composition of human blood. All this just shows how important it is to responsibly choose household chemicals and store them.

Kinds

The duration of storage depends on the constituent components. Children's powder contains biologically active additives - enzymes. They clean stains on laundry from food, natural juices, fats, etc.

The service life of dietary supplements is short, so the powder is stored for about 2 years. Once the package is opened, the sales time is 6 months. If the storage period has expired and the ingredient has not been used, it cannot be used further.

When washing by hand, manufacturers add softening agents to the composition for safety. These could be hand care products or soap. The basis of the supplements are fats, the use of which is short.

Liquid laundry detergent contains several times more active ingredients than regular powder. Contains conditioning agents. Water is an essential component, and the product cannot withstand long-term storage.

Laundry capsules have additions with a whitening effect and conditioner. Water and related components are highly perishable products and cannot be stored for long. Each capsule is a separate package; the shelf life from the moment the pack or package is opened is not taken into account here.

The chemical compound for an automatic machine is the most concentrated substance. It does not contain chlorine additives, the granules take a long time to dissolve. The period of use is long - 3-5 years. It begins to lose its properties, like all household chemicals, six months after opening the container.

Air conditioners soften and scent clothes when washing. These properties are imparted by cationic active substances dissolved in water. A sealed bottle of conditioner retains its quality for up to 2-3 years.

Choosing washing powder

For many housewives, when choosing household chemicals, the issue of price is not in last place. On store shelves there are powders of a higher price category, such as Ariel, Tide, as well as budget-level brands: Biolan, Lotus and others. Many people believe that an expensive product has better properties, but this is not always true. First, you need to pay attention to whether the product has passed certification. It is especially important to make sure of this before purchasing products for washing children's clothes.

Without a doubt, the product must be well packaged in appropriate original packaging that is free of visible damage. Powder in a plastic bag, which is sold by weight, raises doubts about the guarantee of its quality, so it is better to refuse such a purchase.

How to store it correctly

Washing powder releases toxic products. When choosing a storage location, you need to remember several conditions:

• ensure inaccessibility for children and pets;
• prevent proximity to food and household items;
• Do not store in hot rooms, near heating radiators, or in the bathroom.

If the package is closed, high temperature may have a negative effect. Active substances decompose and become unusable. Open containers are affected by humid environments. From a crumbly substance, the laundry product turns into a stone formation.

IMPORTANT: it is convenient to store the powder directly close to the washing machine in a dry, inaccessible place.

A practical and reliable storage place is a plastic container with a lid lock. Children, and especially animals, will not open the storage; it will protect the powder from moisture, direct exposure to sunlight, and spillage during transportation.

Factors that affect shelf life

The following factors influence the preservation of the operational characteristics of the powder:

1. Compound . Depending on the active substances and additives used, the shelf life may vary significantly.
2. Package . Must protect from contact with air and moisture.
3. Illumination . The storage place should be dark. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight.
4. Temperature . The optimal value is +15°С-+25°С. In warm conditions, the composition is compressed into a lump.
5. Humidity . Should not be higher than 60%.

Is it possible to use expired

After the expiration date, the detergent becomes less effective. Aggressive elements lose their activity and do not bring the expected results.

When the substance comes into contact with air, it oxidizes, chemical compounds change in composition, causing an allergic reaction. Particles of spoiled powder are not sufficiently washed out of clothing and irritate the skin and respiratory tract. This is fraught with various complications for the body.

If a person suffers from bronchial asthma or allergies, the use of expired powder is unacceptable, and for healthy people there will be no benefit from household chemicals that have become unusable.

Dear readers! To solve your problem right now, get a free consultation

— contact the lawyer on duty in the online chat on the right or call: +7 (499) 938 6124 — Moscow and region.
+7 (812) 425 6761 — St. Petersburg and region. 8 (800) 350 8362 - Other regions of the Russian Federation You will not need to waste your time and nerves - an experienced lawyer will solve all your problems! Or describe the situation in the form below:

If it's expired, can it be washed?

The main question that any housewife asks: “What to do if the expiration date has expired and the product has not been fully used?”

Definitely, you should not wash with such a powder . It is no longer possible to achieve ideal cleanliness and freshness of laundry and remove all stains by washing with an expired product.

Also, do not forget that dense, clumped granules that have changed the smell are very difficult to wash out of the fabric fibers. Contacting human skin through clothing, they can cause severe irritation and redness, and when inhaled, accumulating in the lungs, triggering an asthma attack in allergy sufferers.

It is especially dangerous to use expired powder to wash the clothes of young children, whose immune system is sensitive to contact with harmful chemicals.

Adviсe

Many people, in order to save money and time, try to purchase goods in large quantities, including washing powder. The stores themselves contribute to this by offering daily promotions to reduce costs when purchasing goods in large volumes.

We advise you to approach the purchasing process more consciously and buy goods in the amount that you can use within a year. Then it will be easier for you to control its expiration date and not look for additional storage space.

If you still decide to purchase powder in large quantities, then it is better to choose small packaging, this will allow you to avoid opening all the packages at once, but gradually, which will have a beneficial effect on the storage time of the product.

Buy plastic containers for storing powder; they are sold at any hardware store or hypermarket (Fix Price, IKEA, Obi, etc.). This is very convenient, the tightly closing lid prevents the spread of odors throughout the apartment, and a reliable latch will not allow your children and animals to get to the contents of the container.

What to do with expired powder

First, identify an expired product: it clumps, hardens, acquires a strange and strong odor, and changes color.

Washing with expired powder will not be of good quality. Also, using expired products is fraught with skin irritation: granules, especially outdated ones, are difficult to wash out when rinsing. Irritation of the mucous membranes is possible when inhaling such products.

Never wash children's clothing with expired detergent; throw away the pack if you suffer from allergies or asthma.

If the product is not suitable for washing and it’s a shame to throw it away, try using it to wash some surfaces.

Tip Store the powder in an airtight plastic container in a cool, dry place, near the washing machine.

The expiration date is indicated for a reason: it is better to use the powder before its abilities wear off. Take care of your health: a pack of new laundry detergent is not that expensive.

The time during which the active chemical compounds function fully is considered to be the shelf life of the washing powder.

The legislator stipulates a storage time of 9 months for products containing whitening products or dietary supplements. For everyone else, this period is set by the manufacturer.

Powder examination results

How to check soda for quality

The first step is to smell the powder to determine whether it has absorbed foreign odors. Then, using a clean, dry spoon, take a little soda and take a good look at the structure: are there any lumps, is it wet, etc.

Place 1 tsp in a bowl. NaHCO3 powder, then pour in approximately the same amount of table vinegar or lemon juice (if you don’t have juice, use citric acid diluted in a small amount of water). If a violent reaction occurs (the mixture “hisses” and begins to actively release foam), the product is still suitable for use.

Create suitable storage conditions

A substance as dangerous to humans as powder is extremely demanding in terms of storage conditions. High temperature and humidity, direct rays of the sun and the powder will be hopelessly spoiled. This applies more to already opened packages. This factor must be taken into account when you decide to look for storage space.

The combination of two things: heat and moisture turns loose granules into one large lump in a matter of hours. There is only one good news - this substance will cope with its main function of washing things, but separating the required amount from the total lump will not be easy.

What is the shelf life of regular and boiled sausages?

It will be even worse if the powder is left near the radiator in the bathroom. After a few days you can safely throw it away. All properties are lost from high air temperatures, as is the case when the packaging is exposed to the sun. It will no longer be possible to wash anything with this product. This is why it is so important to close the powder package tightly. The best way is to put a plastic bag over the original packaging and tie it tightly or fasten it with a clothespin. Open only when you are going to wash.

Under what conditions should it be stored?

1. The optimal storage temperature for washing powder is +15°C - +25°C.
2. In this case, air humidity should not exceed 60%.
3. And the container with the powder itself must be protected from sunlight.

If you leave the powder in a damp and too warm place, after a day it will be compressed into one large lump. Even if the quality of washing with this product does not change much, breaking it into parts before each use will be very inconvenient.

Do not store washing powder near heating radiators or other heat sources.

Already on the second day of such storage, the stain remover present in any type of powder will begin to break down. This means the quality of washing will become very low. The same consequences should be expected from storing the product on windowsills, in direct sunlight.

In order for the product to maintain its quality, the packaging must be sealed after each use. If it is cardboard, it is placed in a plastic bag, which is also tightly tied. Zip bags, metal clips or ordinary clothespins are well suited for this.

How much soda to keep in the house

Baking soda requirements vary by application. You will be surprised to learn how much sodium bicarbonate is wasted per year during active use.

This table will allow you to plan the approximate consumption of the product and stock up correctly for future use, without excess. Based on its data, you can buy enough soda powder to last for a year. And there will be no more expired soda on your shelves.

Recommended amount of soda reserves in the house for a year: 3.5–6.5 kg per person, depending on the intensity of use.