Disinfectants are intended to destroy or irreversibly inactivate microorganisms (e.g., viruses, bacteria, and pathogenic fungi), but not necessarily spores and inanimate objects. Due to these beneficial properties, disinfectants are used for routine cleaning, treatment, as well as infectious waste spill containment and clean-up. It is important to note that disinfectants are known to have a limited shelf life that reduces the potency of the active ingredients to destroy or limit the growth of microorganisms, especially infectious or pathogenic ones. Whereas some manufactured disinfectants may be stabilized to extend their usefulness, others are limited to a year or less once the protective seal or cap has been removed.
Bleach is the most popular disinfectant found in laboratories and is used quite often in the previously described ways. Clorox is one of those bleach brands that are generally found in research, clinical, and teaching laboratories. Clorox, like other manufacturers, usually will list an expiration date or some identification code that is unique to the day, year, and the manufacturing site. If there is no identification, the manufacturer should be contacted to learn how the shelf life is to be determined or the product replaced. Once determined, the container should be dated and replaced prior to the expiration period.
The Clorox Company acknowledges that their bleach product has a one year shelf life beginning with the day of manufacture. The shelf life will rapidly decrease depending upon use, temperature, relative humidity, and sunlight. Clorox has provided their code system to assist in determining the shelf life of their product. An example of their code system (e.g., G18099) on a bleach bottle would be as follows: The first two characters (G1) identify the plant or location of the manufactured product. The third character (8) is the year the product was made or 2008. The fourth, fifth, and sixth characters stand for the day of the year the product was manufactured. For example, it would be the 99 day or April 8th.
Please contact EHS, if you have any questions regarding disinfectants and expiration date information.