Are My Cleaning Products Still Good?

You have a bunch of cleaning products under the sink, and you don't use them all the time. You don't see an expiration date on most of them and you wonder if they are still effective. Here are some basic rules of thumb to help you decide:

Is it in a plastic container? If it is, inspect the container for discoloration, cracks, brittleness. If you see any symptoms it may mean that the product is breaking down and may no longer be effective or safe to use.

Do you have a bottle of bleach water for sanitizing? When mixed with water, bleach breaks down and looses it's disinfecting properties within about 24 hours. You should make it fresh each time that you use it.

Powder Cleaners/Drain Cleaners - If the color has changed or if it has lumps you need to discard it. If drain cleaner has clumped and you use it, it could blow out a pipe causing a larger problem and possible injury.

As always, before just thowing in the trash, check with your local waste disposal company to make sure that you dispose of it properly to protect water supplies and the environment.