PSA: Bleach Expires | Rant: Bleach Expires

[fishcurl]

Who didn't know that bleach expires?

*raises hand*
*crickets chirping*

Okay, it looks like many of you know this already. But for those that didn't...

I was all set to nuke my black bush algae contaminated plants with a bleach/water solution this evening when I noticed *sniff*sniff* my bleach didn't smell like bleach.

Thinking it ought to smell...er...bleachy, I asked the internets. Turns out bleach loses its effectiveness over time.

WHAT??? So you're telling me this dusty....*checks date* bottle of 10 year old bleach isn't any good????

Apparently so. And usually it's only good for about a year or so.

http://chemistry.about.com/b/2011/03...shelf-life.htm

So for those of you needing to disinfect aquarium equipment (or plants in my case) and like to use a bit of bleach - check the expiry date on it. If it's past-due, you might want to think of getting a new bottle.

I know I am

[Kytkattin]

Yes, I recently learned all about bleach, and the fact that it has a 'half-life' as my radiology brain wants to call it. My mom is bleaching rocks she got at the river for her koi pond.

Good news? Bleach costs like $2. It is just inconvenient that you have to go out and buy it.

[fishcurl]

Half-life, love it!

Inconvenient for sure. Unless you send your husband out for bleach at 8:30 p.m. on a Saturday night. Not that I did that *shifty eyes*

[Pitluvs]

I use bleach to clean my kids stuff, with white clothes, on the floors, cleaning in general and with the tanks. Usually a 2L bottle lasts me a month LOL I bleach my tub a lot.

Everything pretty much has an expiry... so everyone go check your bleach bottles!

[nel3]

can bleach remove discoloration on white aquarium decorations?

[LittleBettas]

I didnt know bleach expires...
lol, I just bought a new bottle though cause my dog knocked over my OTHER brand new bottle of bleach (forgot to put the cap on all the way) so.... luckly cheap carpets apparently are not affected by bleach

[Littlebittyfish]

I had no idea it expired. I honestly don't keep bleach around anymore though...I had a roommate pour a bottle on my laundry once...
wished that bottle was expired!haha

[fishcurl]

Yikes! There's a lot of bleach spillage going on :o

I don't normally use the stuff myself. Last night was the first time in years that I even used it.

nel - I'm sorry I don't know. I'd start with a weak dilution and spot test.

[nel3]

Originally Posted by fishcurl

Yikes! There's a lot of bleach spillage going on :o

I don't normally use the stuff myself. Last night was the first time in years that I even used it.

nel - I'm sorry I don't know. I'd start with a weak dilution and spot test.

thank you, i'll keep that in mind when the decorations get to that point (1 week in IAL and all good so far).

[AngelicScars]

I didn't realize it expires, but I also don't have to worry about it. I use bleach often to clean (not fish tanks though).