Shelf Life of Chlorine Bleach and How to Maximize It

Bleach is one of those household chemicals that loses its activity over time. It doesnt matter whether or not the bleach container has been opened or not. Temperature is the primary factor affecting how long bleach remains active. According to Cloroxâ„ ¢, the amount of hypochlorite that is added to their bleach depends on the season in which it is manufactured, because temperature affects the decomposition rate of sodium hypochlorite. So, more hypochlorite is added to bleach made in the summer than in cooler months. Clorox aims to maintain a 6% hypochlorite concentration for at least six months after the manufacturing date, assuming the bleach is stored around 70Â °F. It takes about 4-8 weeks from the time chlorine bleach is made to when it gets to a store so that you can buy it to take home. This leaves you 3-5 months where the bleach is at the effectiveness level stated on its label. Does this mean bleach is useless after 3-5 months? No, because you probably dont need 6% hypochlorite for laundry and home disinfection. The 6% hypochlorite level is an EPA disinfection standard. If you store your bleach where it can get warmer than 70Â °F, like 90Â °F, the bleach is still effective for around three months. How Long Is Bleach Good? So, when you buy a bottle of bleach, it has a shelf life. The bleach will be highly effective for around 6 months and fine for home use for around 9 months. Clorox recommends replacing any bottle of bleach that is over a year old. Another way to tell if your bleach is expired is to note its odor. Dont open the bottle and take a whiff! The human sense of smell is sensitive to bleach, so you should be able to smell it as soon as you pour it from its container. If you dont smell any bleach, its likely most of the product has decomposed into salt and water. Replace it with a fresh bottle. Maximizing the Bleach Shelf Life If you want bleach to remain as effective as possible for as long as possible, avoid storing it in extremely hot or freezing conditions. Generally, this means its better to store a bottle of bleach in a cabinet inside the house, which has a relatively stable room temperature, as opposed to a garage or outside storage shed. Bleach is sold in an opaque container. Dont switch it out for a clear container because exposure to light will degrade the chemical more quickly. Like other hazardous chemicals, make sure its kept away from children and pets. Its also a good idea to store bleach away from other household cleaners because it can react with many of them to release toxic fumes.