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.

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.

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?

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— contact the lawyer on duty in the online chat on the right or call: +7 (499) 938 6124 — Moscow and region.
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ATTENTION: the text and pictures on the packaging must be well and clearly printed, this protects against counterfeiting.

Conditions under which laundry detergents will not deteriorate

The rules for storing bulk or liquid powders are the same. Although the “chemistry” has a long service life, there are some recommendations that will help it not lose its properties.

• You should not leave store containers, especially open cardboard boxes, in areas with high humidity. Loose granules actively draw in moisture, causing a lump to form. The powder will not lose its properties, but will be inconvenient to use.
• Liquid and bulk detergents lose their washing ability when left near heating devices and in direct sunlight for a long time.
• We do not recommend using powders after the expiration date. The chemical composition of products changes over time and they become ineffective when washed. Be careful when purchasing. You should not take packages without expiration date markings. This is a gross violation of consumer rights.

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.

What to do with expired powder

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

We suggest you read: How to wash viscose in a washing machine

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Top 3 alternatives

Consumers who prefer to use German washing powders can pay attention to the following brands:

Persil Sensitive

This is a hypoallergenic composition that can be used to care for children's clothes and clothes of people with hypersensitive skin. The trademark belongs to the German company Henkel, which has established itself as a reliable and trusted manufacturer.

The average price for a 3 kg package is 550 rubles. Read reviews here and here.

Frosh Citrus

This is a highly concentrated washing powder. It contains no fragrances or phosphates, and the formula is supplemented with enzymes and bleach. The line of detergents is quite extensive, and the quality of washing is rated as high. One package weighing 1.35 kg is enough for 20 washes.

The price starts from 550 rubles per pack. Reviews can be found here and here.

Meine Liebe Kids

Washing powder from a German manufacturer, intended for children's laundry. There are no fragrances in the composition, it is consumed very economically, easily dissolves and rinses. The formula does not contain phosphates and chlorine. Concentrated powder, one kilogram is enough for 33 washes.

The cost of packaging is about 250 rubles. You will find reviews on this and this review site.

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:

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.