Throw Your Cleaning Products Away Immediately If You Notice This
Cleaning products expire like many other products. On every bottle, there is either an expiration date or a manufacture date that you can reference to know if it is time to replace your cleaning products. Even if the product still smells good, it may be expired. You don't want to use an expired cleaning product because it won't clean as effectively, according to Better Homes & Gardens. Even though cleaning products have preservatives, the ingredients will still break down over time.
Depending on the type of cleaning product, it can last from six months to three years before expiring. If your cleaning products don't have any dates on them, it's a good idea to write the date you purchased them on the bottle. According to Real Simple, bleach will last six months, multi-surface cleaners will last two years, disinfecting sprays will last two years, hand sanitizer will last two to three years, dish detergent will last one year, and laundry detergent will last six months to one year.
How to dispose of your cleaning products
When your cleaning products expire, it's time to dispose of them. Cleaning products use many different chemicals to clean, so it's important to read the label before deciding which method of disposal to use. If the product is water-soluble, it can be poured down the drain with running water, according to Better Homes & Gardens. Products that are water-soluble are all-purpose cleaners, detergents, and stain removers. This is also only recommended if there is a small amount of the product left to dispose of, and you need to be careful of mixing chemicals. Bleach and ammonia are frequently used in cleaning products but should never be mixed. If they were mixed, they would create a toxic gas so pour them down the drain at separate times (via Real Simple).
If your cleaning products contain hazardous chemicals, it is recommended that you check the manufacturer's instructions on the label or contact your local waste disposal center to find out what the best way to dispose of them is. Products that contain hazardous chemicals are oven cleaners and cleaners in aerosol cans. After you've disposed of the cleaning products, most empty containers can be recycled.