Often, effective stain removal is only possible with the use of harsh chemicals. These are the majority of washing powders, excluding hypoallergenic and children’s detergents.
To reduce the negative impact of the powder on the body, it is worth organizing its proper storage. In addition, the storage conditions determine the safety of the product itself – otherwise the powder may petrify or lose its properties.
To properly organize the storage of washing powders, follow our recommendations.
Terms of storage
It is believed that the powder does not deteriorate for years, so many manufacturers “forget” to indicate the expiration date on the package. If you did not find the terms on the pack, then it is better to refuse to buy the product, the sale of which violated the legislation of the Russian Federation.
The shelf life is affected by the presence in the composition of the product of active ingredients that remove stains. The shelf life of the product usually expires when the activity of these components ends. In closed packaging and under proper conditions, this period is no more than 5 years from the date of manufacture.
This does not apply to special powders for children’s things enriched with enzymes (natural BIO-components) – these products do not lie longer than 3 years, and sometimes the period is only 2 years.
Can the product be used after the expiration date? Experts do not recommend. And if your family has asthma or allergies, then you should get rid of expired “chemistry” as soon as possible.
How to store washing powders at home: conditions
There are three factors that quickly ruin detergents:
- High indoor humidity.
- Direct sunlight.
- Elevated temperature.
If there was an impact of at least one of the listed factors, then washing with such a powder is useless: it has lost its properties.
How to store the powder? We proceed from the opposite:
- Do not leave the powder where the temperature and humidity are high. Only 24 hours – and a stone is formed in the pack. You can wash them, but it’s up to you to decide whether it is convenient to split a block.
- Do not leave packs near radiators – after a couple of days, such a product can be sent to a landfill. Stain removers in powder under such conditions are destroyed, and it will not work to wash things.
- Leaving the product on the windowsill, especially on the south side, you will soon get the same result as described above.
What to do:
- Seal the pack tightly after each use.
- Wrap cardboard packages in cling film or a plastic bag, tightly tying it.
- A ZIP package is also great. For the same purposes, you can use clips and clothespins.
Storage
It is not always possible to guess with the place of storage of powder detergents, especially if you are used to buying packages of impressive sizes for 5-10 kilos. When choosing a place, be guided by the following criteria:
- Lack of access to storage space for children and pets. Cats are especially interested in researching the composition of laundry detergents, often tearing plastic bags and cardboard boxes with their teeth. It is better not to risk it – the animal can try the chemical.
- Kitchen, living room, bedroom – all these rooms are not suitable. Powder particles, getting into the air even from a closed pack, eat into furniture, get food and into the body. It’s not worth risking your health in vain – it’s better to nail another shelf in the bathroom.
- The higher the shelf or cabinet, the better. And a pantry or a toilet are the most suitable places for their location. Towels and baby clothes are often dried in the bathroom – it is categorically not recommended to store the powder in this room, even in the closet.
- Try to store the powder near the washing machine – you should not carry it from the balcony through the whole house either.
What to store
The ideal solution would be to pour the product into a special container. A household plastic container is perfect, here are its advantages:
- If the lid closes hermetically and is additionally fixed with latches, the risk of spillage is minimal. Children or pets will not open such a box.
- Polyethylene or polypropylene, from which the containers are made, does not allow moisture and sunlight to pass through. Therefore, you can store directly in the bathroom.
- Manufacturers specifically make volumetric containers of 5-10 liters narrow to simplify placement in small rooms.
- Ergonomics: carrying handles, convenient recesses, filling spouts, measuring cups. All this and much more simplifies the operation of the container.
- Price and availability. You can find a container in almost any hardware store by choosing the right color, volume, size and shape.
Now you know the rules that will not only protect you from the chemical effects of detergents, but also help extend their shelf life and place them compactly in a suitable room.