Do chemicals have a shelf life?

[Brody Robert]

I found a thing of extreme clean at my moms house. I got pretty excited at first then remembered I haven't used extreme clean for years. I'm talking years.. This thing is probably 6 years old.

It's not clumpy and still smells like extreme clean, Kinda of nice yet harsh. Like a nice harsh smell.

Would it lose potency after half a decade of should it still be good?

I kind of don't want to spray an old moldy chemical down on a customers carpet. Yet, in a weird way I kind of do!

What say you?

 

[Nate The Great]

Everything has a shelf life, even your peter........ Use it as most as you can...... Or lose it......

I have and used chemicals from anywhere within 6 months to 20 years old... As long as use your judgement you should be fine... I wouldn't use anything that's already mixed up as water does go bad... Some say solvents leach through plastic bottles, so be careful on that...

 

[J Scott W]

Powders generally have a longer shelf life than liquids as long as the powder stays dry. It may lose a little potency over the years, but I expect your 6 year old product will still do a decent cleaning.

 

[icleancarpetz]

Baneclene detergents stay good for years even when mixed rtu. Amazing ecomical stuff.

 

[Lyman]

Use it on a rental or rat nasty apartment, I would not risk one of my cheerleaders with old product. (cheerleader-A happy customer that tells everyone what a nice job you did)

 

[Larry Cobb]

Oxidizers and Reducers have a limited shelf life (months).

Powders keep better, but still lose potency.