Covid-19 Discussion (Non-Political Only)

[George Cantstandya]

(04-16-2020, 10:45 AM)grampahol Wrote: Wha....wait.. Bleach has an expiration date? You mean after 5 years you can drink it? C'mon man.. Unless you've been storing bleach since maybe 1834 it's still good to go.

Bleach starts to break down after about a year even when stored properly and becomes less effective.


From The Scripps Research Institute:  https://www.scripps.edu/newsandviews/e_20060213/bleach.html

Quote:Bleach can expire. After a shelf life of six months, bleach starts to degrade. Even in its original bottle, bleach becomes 20 percent less effective as each year goes by.

From the CDC on disinfecting with Bleach for Covid-19: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/disinfecting-your-home.html

Quote:Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.

From an article posted on the Michigan State University website:  https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/covid-19-disinfecting-with-bleach

Quote:

• Bleach expires 1 year from production.
• Bleach can start to lose potency quickly after opening if not stored correctly.
• Homemade cleaning solutions made with bleach lose efficacy after 24 hours.
  

Will expired, or old bleach still disinfect surfaces?

No, bleach loses efficacy with time and exposure to heat and light. So, after one year unopened on a shelf, if stored incorrectly in direct sunlight, or at a temperature above 77ºF, it begins to degrade and continues to deteriorate. 
Once the product loses potency, it can no longer disinfect properly, and you need to dispose of it properly by diluting the remaining bleach with a large amount of water before it pouring into a sink drain.

From Clorox:  https://www.clorox.com/how-to/laundry-basics/bleach-101/clorox-regular-bleach-should-be-replaced-every-year-and-stored-as-directed-for-optimum-performance/

Quote:When properly stored, a bottle of bleach has a one year shelf life. Beyond a year, it should be replaced because the sodium hypochlorite active begins to rapidly break down into salt and water