Key Takeaways
Does Laundry Detergent Expire?
Laundry detergents come in liquid, powder, individual pods, detergent sheets, and homemade recipes.
Take a closer look at the stability of each jot down of detergent.
The Spruce / Letícia Almeida
Powdered Formula Laundry Detergents
Powdered laundry detergents do not expire or lose effectiveness unless exposed to moisture.
If a powdered detergent becomes hard or cakey, it should be discarded.
The powder will probably not dissolve correctly or entirely in the washer, leavingsoap depositson your clothing.
The Spruce / Taylor Nebrija
Trying to separate the packs is nearly impossible and even dangerous.
The contents of the packets can quickly spurt, causing eye irritation.
Even single-dose packs that contain dry ingredients can burst or dissolve and should be discarded.
The Spruce / Taylor Nebrija
The challenge with laundry sheets is keeping them dry and not exposing them to humidity.
The downside is some of these options have a shorter shelf life, depending on the ingredients.
Is It OK to Use Expired Laundry Detergent?
The Spruce / Taylor Nebrija
Give the bottle a good shake each time before using it.
“Lumpy” detergent should not be used in automatic dispensers because it may clog them.
Quick Tip
Pour the liquid directly into the empty washer drum before youload in dirty clothes.
The Spruce / Eric Brockob
Do Other Laundry Products Expire?
The Spruce / Sarah Lee
The Spruce / Anastasiia Tretiak
