Can bleach go bad? Yes, and it happens faster than you may think.

Whether you’re cleaning out your cleaning caddy, tossing the toxins with us, or trying to decide if you should bulk buy bleach, this article provides details on when bleach expires, along with a list of safer and healthier alternatives.

Does Bleach Expire? 

It may seem like a powerful cleaner and disinfectant, such as bleach, should last forever, but that is not the case.

An open bottle of bleach typically starts degrading after about six months, while an unopened bottle can last 12-18 months if stored according to the manufacturer’s directions.

Unfortunately, most cleaning products print “manufactured on” dates or “production codes” (the date the product was made) versus “expiration dates”.

They do this because a product’s expiration date can vary based on how it’s stored and when it’s opened.

However, production codes typically contain more information than just the expiration date and can be challenging to interpret (think multiple letters and numbers in code form).

Most cleaning companies provide instructions on how to decode this on their websites, so check there for detailed information.

The best way to determine when your bleach expires is to write the date opened or a “use by” date directly on the bottle with a permanent marker and store it properly in a cool, dark place away from direct light and heat. 

The real risk of having bleach in your home, whether expired or not, stems from its caustic and highly toxic effects on humans, pets, and the environment, which we’ll discuss further in subsequent sections.

Related reading: Is Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach) Toxic?

Signs Your Bleach Is Expired

If, like most people, you didn’t write the “open date” or “use by dates” on your bleach, there are ways to check its freshness.

Before you investigate, remember that bleach is a highly toxic and caustic chemical that can cause severe eye, skin, and lung irritation or damage, and even death if not handled with extreme caution.

The best situation would be to wear rubber gloves and eye protection, and to open the bottle outdoors, away from babies, children, and pets.

Never inhale bleach.

1. Look for color changes. Bleach is typically a very light yellow. If it’s darker, it’s likely gone bad or heading that direction.

2. Check the production code. Visit the manufacturer’s website for decoding instructions.

Bleach also loses some of its potent smell as it ages. Therefore, many experts recommend smelling it to try to detect changes.

We do not and cannot recommend this in good faith. Bleach is highly toxic to the lungs and nasal passages, and studies have shown even passive exposure can result in various harms (more on this to come).

If you’re dead set on doing a smell test, do it outside and do not inhale directly. Rather, pour a small amount into a bucket with water and wave your hand over it to waft the scent up to your nose.

If you don’t notice a strong chlorine smell, it’s likely gone bad.

However, once again, you’d be better off not smelling it at all. Bleach isn’t expensive, and your health matters too much.

Plus, we’re about to share some safer and even more affordable bleach alternatives.

What Happens When Bleach Expires 

Sodium hypochlorite is the main active ingredient in bleach and begins to break down after approximately six months, leaving behind essentially salt and water.

That doesn’t mean your bleach is completely ineffective after six months of opening or 12-18 months unopened; it just means it’s less effective than it was when it was fresh out of the factory.

You can still use it, but just know it may not have the disinfecting prowess of a fresher bottle.

Why You Should Swap For a Safer Alternative 

If you’ve just figured out your bleach is expired, now is the perfect time to read up on safer and effective bleach alternatives.

Yes! Despite what you may have heard, it is absolutely possible to have a clean and healthy home, as well as brilliantly white laundry, without resorting to toxic bleach.

Need some convincing? 

Here are some of the documented side effects of using bleach to clean your home or laundry.[1-11]

• Bleach is an EPA-registered pesticide
  
• Bleach is highly toxic to the environment, specifically aquatic life
  
• It is corrosive to skin and eyes and can cause severe burns
  
• Bleach fumes create VOCs, which can trigger, cause, and/or contribute to allergic reactions, asthma, COPD, chronic respiratory problems, and headaches
  
• Disinfectants, including chlorine bleach, increase the rate of miscarriage and preterm birth according to the Centers for Disease Control. Although the exact concentration at which they exert this effect is unknown
  
• Bleach combined with other chemicals and organic matter (like dirt or human excrement, for example) creates a chloramine gas, which is highly irritating and corrosive to the eyes, lungs, and skin
  
  • Case in point, a Taiwanese study showed an increased risk of cancer in those who showered in highly chlorinated water
    
• Chloroform and nitrogen trichloride fumes from bleach can cause and/or contribute to asthma, DNA damage, cancer, and many other illnesses
  
• Disinfectants, like chlorine bleach, negatively impact the human microbiome, which compromises immunity and many other bodily functions
  
• Passive exposure to bleach in the home can cause an increased susceptibility to respiratory illness and other illnesses in children
  
• Bleach can encourage the growth of mold and mildew. This may sound counterintuitive, however, we now know that bleach only kills surface mold, while introducing water to the sub-surface (invisible) mold, allowing it to return and thrive. This is one reason the EPA no longer recommends bleach for mold remediation
  
• Bleach degrades and weakens fabrics over time
  
• Bleach can cause yellowing of white fabrics over time 

Finally, bleach fumes can accumulate and linger on surfaces and in the air. 

They can even seep out of sealed bottles, exposing you while you’re cleaning, but also passively for as long as they’re sitting in your home.

If this is the first time you’re learning about this, don’t beat yourself up.

The truth is, we’ve all been sold a lie about the necessity of bleach for generations, while the short- and especially long-term health and safety issues have been hidden or severely downplayed.

Now that you know the truth, you can make a healthier choice!

Let’s explore some of the best bleach alternatives.

Related reading: Can You Be Allergic To Bleach?

Safer Alternatives 

Breaking up with chlorine bleach is one of the simplest and best things you can do to improve indoor air quality and reduce toxin exposure at home.

However, finding effective alternatives is essential.

Here we offer five affordable, human-safe, and environmentally responsible bleach alternatives you can use to clean, disinfect, and whiten your clothes without compromise.

Branch Basics Oxygen Boost

Branch Basics Oxygen Boost combines the power of sodium percarbonate (also known as powdered peroxide or oxygen bleach) with baking soda to create a potent two-in-one formula that whitens, brightens, removes stains, and disinfects.

Sodium percarbonate uses the power of oxygen activated by warm or hot water to lift away stains, dirt, and grime. 

It also functions as a human- and environmentally safe disinfectant. How safe? 

Sodium percarbonate is so safe, it’s the only product approved for disinfecting organic aquaculture production.[12] It is a MADE SAFE-approved ingredient!  MADE SAFE is the strictest certification available, as it is the only human health and ecosystem-focused product certification program that does not compromise on ingredient safety. 

We and our customers love using Oxygen Boost for:

• Near-effortless stain removal on clothes or light-colored carpets
  
  • Use as a soaking aid or directly on light-colored fabrics
    
• A laundry booster, whitener, deodorizer, and brightener
  
• A scouring agent
  
• For cleaning toilets, bathtubs, showers, and sinks
  
• Kitchen cleaning
  
• For cleaning tile grout
  
• For eliminating stains on blenders
• Removing burnt-on food from pots and pans
• And so much more

Learn all about this powerful, mineral-based bleach alternative in: How To Use Branch Basics Oxygen Boost.

Vinegar

Vinegar is a favorite among DIYers and toxin-conscious cleaners because it’s versatile, inexpensive, and easy to use.

Vinegar’s magic comes from its acetic acid, a naturally occurring compound that dissolves dirt, grime, soap scum and more, lifts and removes stains, and even kills some types of germs.

To be clear, although vinegar has been shown to kill certain pathogens, such as E. coli and Salmonella [12], it does not match the disinfecting properties of bleach.

However, it can be used with (not combined with, but alongside) hydrogen peroxide to rival bleach’s germ-killing properties. 

Learn how in: How To Naturally Disinfect Surfaces [Complete Guide]

Here are some ways to use vinegar as a bleach alternative:

• Add half a cup of vinegar to the final rinse of your washing machine cycle for softer, brighter, and whiter clothes
  
• Soak dingy whites in a sink or water basin with 1 cup of vinegar overnight, and launder as usual to brighten and remove that grayish twinge
  
• Use vinegar as a stain remover on clothing, carpets, upholstery, and more
• Always test an inconspicuous place first
  
• Make a DIY all-purpose cleaner by combining 1 part vinegar with 1 part distilled water to clean surfaces, mirrors, stainless steel, and more
  
• Use vinegar as an all-purpose deodorizer

Learn more in: 12 Ways To Use Vinegar In Your Home 

Hydrogen Peroxide

3% hydrogen peroxide (in the brown bottle) is one of the most underestimated bleach alternatives for cleaning, disinfecting, whitening, brightening, and stain removal.

Additionally, it breaks down into hydrogen and oxygen in water, making it completely environmentally friendly, safe for humans, and safe for pets.

Here are some of the ways to use it as a bleach alternative:

• Add a spray nozzle and use it to disinfect surfaces, sinks, toilets, door knobs, etc.
  
  • Studies have shown 3% hydrogen peroxide is as effective as bleach and other chemical disinfectants for killing germs
    
• Add 1 cup of peroxide to your laundry instead of bleach for whiter, brighter whites
  
• Use to kill mold and mildew on tile grout, shower curtains, and throughout the home
  
• Use to remove stains on light-colored clothing, works great on food stains, coffee, tea, blood, grass stains and more
  
  • If hydrogen peroxide isn’t enough, give it a soak in Branch Basics Oxygen Boost

Get the full scoop on the power of hydrogen peroxide (and why it’s considered a low-tox cleaner and disinfectant) in: How To Use Hydrogen Peroxide As a Safer Alternative for Cleaning, Disinfecting, and More.

Baking Soda 

Like vinegar, baking soda cannot replace the disinfecting power of bleach.

It can, however, whiten, remove stains, clean up mildew, and deodorize with no harmful fumes or chemicals.

Here are some ways to use baking soda as a bleach alternative:

• Combine baking soda with Branch Basics Bathroom dilution to clean tile grout
  
• Add 1 cup of baking soda to your washing machine to deodorize, whiten, brighten, and soften clothes
  
• Try baking soda to remove stains on clothing and carpets (test an inconspicuous area first)
  
• Use with vinegar and hot water as a natural drain cleaner. Note: Typically, we don’t recommend mixing vinegar with baking soda in cleaning solutions, as they neutralize each other. However, in this case, the fizzing action of the combination aids in drain cleaning
• Create your own DIY soft scrubbing cleaner by combining baking soda with pure liquid castile soap and water, and use it as a substitute for bleach-based cleaners. Following with 3% peroxide or steam to naturally disinfect

Get more baking soda cleaning tips in: The Power Of Sodium Percarbonate For Cleaning 

Steam Cleaning

Handheld dry vapor steam cleaners utilize superheated, low-moisture steam for disinfecting, sanitizing, and cleaning surfaces without the use of chemicals, fumes, or waste.

You invest one time, and you have a natural mechanical disinfectant at your fingertips for years.

Just turn it on, aim, and steam away germs on surfaces, toilets, sinks, floors, or anywhere you need extra disinfecting power.

Our favorite is the Ladybug Dry Steam Cleaner, which kills an extensive range of bacteria, viruses, pathogens, and even biofilms more effectively and efficiently than chemical disinfectants.

Get more details on why bleach is no match for dry steam cleaners in: 9 Natural Alternatives To Bleach.

Toss The Toxins with Branch Basics 

You came here to learn if bleach goes bad, which we answered in the first sections.

If you stuck around this long, chances are you’re now rethinking your relationship with bleach, which is truly something to celebrate!

At Branch Basics, we are dedicated to helping people create healthier homes by identifying and replacing harmful products with safe alternatives.

Our all-in-one cleaning line was designed to simplify this process. One human-safe, plant-based, biodegradable, MADE Safe Certified Concentrate plus water creates enough refillable cleaners (All-Purpose, Bathroom, Foaming Wash, Laundry, and Streak-Free) to replace every cleaning and laundry product with harmful ingredients in the home.

We also offer free content, as well as our Toss The Toxins Online Course, to help you identify harmful and potentially harmful products and replace them with safe alternatives in your home.

To learn more about Branch Basics all-in-one cleaning system see:

Want to learn more about what’s in your cleaning and laundry products? 

Start with this beginner’s reading list for more helpful tips:

• 7 Toxic Cleaning Products To Avoid & Safe Swaps
  
• Natural Stain Remover Rescue! How To Remove 7 Of The Toughest Stains Naturally
  
• How To Toss Your Toxic Laundry Detergent
  
• The Toxic Chemicals Hidden in Dryer Sheets & Fabric Softener
  
• The Effects Of Fragrance On Human Health

You’re also invited to check out our podcast and join us on social (@branchbasics) for endless healthy cleaning and lifestyle inspiration, information, and community support.

References:

1. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Sodium-Hypochlorite
2. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Sodium-hypochlorite#section=GHS-Classification 
   
3. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/reproductive-health/prevention/disinfectants.html 
   
4. https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-09/documents/chlorine.pdf 
   
5. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4056765/
   
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9718740/ 
   
7. https://www.lung.org/clean-air/indoor-air/indoor-air-pollutants/cleaning-supplies-household-chem 
   
8. https://community.aafa.org/blog/cleaning-when-you-have-asthma-the-dirty-truth?nc=1#:~:text=Bleach%20is%20a%20common%20asthma,is%20being%20used%20when%20possible
9. https://lhsfna.org/bleach-and-other-disinfectants-increase-copd-risk/#:~:text=New%20research%20links%20using%20disinfectants,shortened%20to%20%E2%80%9Cquats%E2%80%9D)
   
10. https://oem.bmj.com/content/72/8/602%20 
    
11. https://www.epa.gov/mold/mold-remediation-schools-and-commercial-buildings-guide-chapter-1 
    
12. https://www.globalseafood.org/advocate/pros-cons-sodium-percarbonate/ 
    
13. https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2018/04/vinegar-can-help-home-cooks-battle-bacteria-on-leafy-greens/