Monday, April 18, 2022 / by Teresa DiPeso
Expired! 6 Surprising (and Concerning) Household Items That Actually Go Bad
It turns out, milk isn’t the only thing that can turn sour in your home. Besides all the obvious food items that can go bad and wreak havoc in your kitchen, a surprising number of household items can (and do) expire, often without any clear signs that they are past their prime.
We’re talking about the things that might seem like they were made to last forever, like cleaning solutions and kitchen accessories. And while the aftermath of these expired items might be slightly less dramatic than eating spoiled food, they can still cause their fair share of health and safety hazards.
We spoke with leading home experts to find out what surprising expired items you might have hanging around your home—plus all their best tips on chucking things before they go bad. Here are six nonfood items whose expiration dates you’ll want to check ASAP.
1. Dish soap

It sounds crazy, but soap does expire.
And while using it won’t necessarily make you sick—it will affect the cleaning power of the solution and likely have a seriously diminished effect when it comes to combating any bacteria.
“Here’s a shocker: Dish soap expires after about two to three years, but that timeline could speed up if left open,” says Brian Nagele, CEO of Restaurant Clicks. “Sodium lauryl sulfate is the main ingredient and lather-producing agent in these products. And over time, the compound starts to degrade, especially when exposed to oxygen.”
Takeaway tip: Nagele suggests using the lather test to determine whether your dish soap is expired.
“If it’s not lathering, your soap might be turning,” he adds.
2. Laundry detergent

Another surprisingly soapy culprit that might expire without your even knowing? The detergent in the far reaches of your laundry room.
“If your laundry detergent passes the expiration date for a long period of time (especially in less than ideal conditions), the active agent components may become ineffective,” says Lily Li, founder and CEO of the home service app Hygea. “This will, in turn, reduce the product’s overall effectiveness.”
Takeaway tip: To keep your clothes feeling and smelling fresh, use up an opened bottle of laundry detergent within six months to a year.